The other day, I met an executive for coffee. Let’s call him John Doe. John had been experimenting with AI tools on his own but was frustrated,

“My CEO says AI is a distraction. Stop talking about it in leadership. We need to hit our numbers.”

In our book Disrupt It, we argue that AI isn’t an IT upgrade but is a business transformation, so it should be CEO-led. But many leaders aren’t there yet. If it resonates with you, remember that your CEO’s point of view shouldn’t make you feel powerless in this transformation.

In companies where leadership fails to lead, change often begins with insiders who think differently. That insider might be you! If your CEO isn’t there yet, here are three moves that might work:

1. Start a Guerrilla Innovation Movement:

Don’t wait for a top-down strategy. Run Guerrilla Innovation: bottom-up, low-budget pilots that show what’s possible fast.

At one company we worked with, marketing and BD teams built their own small AI pilots before any formal AI strategy existed. They automated document processing and improved proposal turnaround. Their effort resulted in less manual work (from four weeks to 3 days), a higher win rate (+6%), and better insights. Eventually, their work earned their CEO’s attention and support.

Do this next:

  • Pick 1-2 pain points from your workflow that could be improved with AI.

  • Build scrappy pilots with off-the-shelf tools and compare existing vs. new process.

  • Publish a one-page brief about time saved, error rate reduced, money saved, or even your lessons learned.

Visible wins are often more influential than slide decks when it comes to getting buy-in.

2. Keep Growing Yourself:

If your CEO isn’t ready yet, you still can make an impact. I’ve seen non-technical leaders reinvent themselves by understanding the fundamentals of AI, and I don’t mean learning to code. One of the innovation leaders started a Friday “15-min AI Demo” series: one AI tool, one use case, and 1-3 KPIs. In two months, she had cross-functional sponsors and had a backlog of ideas and tools to pilot.

Do this next:

  • Take online courses on AI strategy and experimentation.

  • Play with AI tools and document their learning and observation.

  • Attend local AI meetups, events, or conferences to expand your field of view.

  • Host brown-bag sessions to share learning internally, build alliances, and be an internal influencer.

AI literacy plus momentum turns you into an internal influencer. 

3. Leave before it’s Too Late:

Yes, I said that! Sometimes, you do all the right things, and leadership still doesn’t get it. That may be your sign. I faced this myself. For about two years, I pushed a vision onto the roadmap. Every time, the response was the same: the leadership said, “We’re not there yet” or “The team doesn’t have time for this.” Eventually, we lost some talent and started falling behind. I knew it was time to move on, so I did. I left for something bigger that I believed in.

 Ask yourself:

  • Is this resistance to change temporary or cultural?

  • Are they cutting innovation budgets or adding more?

  • Are forward-thinker colleagues leaving?

  • Are clients challenging the status quo while your leaders insist on the old playbook?

Choosing an environment that’s building the future is often the most strategic move.

You don’t need a title to lead transformation. You need a win worth attention, urgency to keep learning, and the courage to act when others won’t. If your CEO doesn’t get AI, don’t wait for them to catch up. Start now. Show what’s possible. And if needed, move toward a place that will.

If you’re navigating this shift in your organization or just curious about what’s next, I’d love to connect. I’m always interested in exchanging ideas, learning from others, and helping leaders think through the road ahead.

🤝 And if you find this article helpful, feel free to share it with your network.