Episode 2: The C-Suite Conundrum — Redefining Leadership in the Age of AI | Convergence

CONVERGENCE – The Signature Series

Episode Description

Is the CITO the new “AI Business Leader, and the solution to the emerging C-suite Conundrum?

In the second episode of CONVERGENCE podcast, we dive deep into the “AI Leadership Crisis” and why the C-Suite roles must transform to survive the coming #BusinessShakeup

The CITO brings a hybrid skill set blending technology expertise, business acumen, and human-centered leadership to navigate AI’s complex organizational impact. This role acts as an orchestrator to align innovation, transformation, culture, ethics, and strategic execution, which echoes the emerging trend where CIOs or Chief AI Officers drive enterprise-wide AI adoption and integration rather than purely technical silos.

While the world debates algorithms, hosts Lauren Hawker Zafar and Faisal Hoque argue the true challenge is a profound leadership crisis. The old playbooks are obsolete, and the age of AI demands a new breed of leader.

In this second episode of Convergence, Faisal discusses his viral MIT Sloan Review article, which proposes a radical new C-Suite role: the Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer (CITO).

Tune in to learn The Real AI Crisis: Lauren and Faisal introduce the episode’s core argument: the AI revolution isn’t about technology, it’s about a failure in leadership.

Uncover why organizational culture, emotional intelligence, and psychology are the most critical skills for navigating the AI transformation, and get actionable advice on how you can start to learn, unlearn, and relearn for the future.

Discover why treating AI as just a tech problem leads to spectacular failures like those at Zillow and Air Canada, and why success hinges on mastering the messy intersection of machine intelligence and human ingenuity.

Tune in to learn why organizational culture, emotional intelligence, and psychology are the most critical skills for navigating the AI transformation, and get actionable advice on how you can start to learn, unlearn, and relearn for the future.

Quick Jump To:

  • 00.00 Introduction: The True AI Challenge—Leadership Crisis
  • 01.30 Rethinking C-Suite Roles for AI Transformation
  • 03.00 The New Hybridity: Human & Tech Convergence
  • 04.30 Why AI is Not Just a Tech Problem
  • 06.00 Leadership Failures: Lessons from Zillow & Air Canada
  • 07.30 The Case for a Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer (CITO)
  • 09.00 The CITO Paradox: Risk or Necessity?
  • 12.00 Skills & Mandate: Who Can Lead AI Transformation?
  • 13.30 Governance & Power Struggles in the New C-Suite
  • 15.00 Future-Focused Innovation: From Quarterly Mandate to Decade-Long Vision
  • 16.30 Human-Centric KPIs: Measuring AI Success Beyond Technology
  • 18.00 Accountability for AI Personas & Human Touch

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Pranay Sanklecha

Dr. Pranay Sanklecha

Pranay belongs to the small group of writers and thinkers with an aptitude for and experience in both business and philosophy. He was admitted to Oxford at the age of 15, graduated at 18 to become a commodities trader, and then returned to academia five years later to begin a research and teaching career as a philosopher. He now works as a philosophical consultant to business and a writer and editor. Pranay’s areas of expertise include intergenerational justice, with a particular focus on how changes in technology and society alter what it means to be human, and the practical application of philosophy to life and business. His work includes an edited volume on justice and climate change for Cambridge University Press, parts of the UN IPCC’s 5th Assessment Report, and many articles for leading non-academic publications. A passionate cricket fan, he also writes about the sport as a correspondent for ESPN.

Research Leadership Paul Scad

Dr. Paul Scade

Paul is a bestselling and award-winning writer and editor with more than twenty years of research, writing, and editorial experience. His commercial writing work spans a wide range of genres, with an emphasis on thought leadership, organizational leadership, technology, and healthcare. In the last five years, Paul’s projects have been serialized in a major national newspaper, reached the Amazon non-fiction Top 10, and been awarded the British Medical Association’s Psychiatry Book of the Year award. Paul trained as an academic historian of philosophy and spent fifteen years teaching and researching at leading universities in Europe, the U.S., and Asia. His research on Stoic and Platonic thought has been published by the leading academic presses in the world (including both Oxford and Cambridge University Presses), and he continues to work as a writing coach and editor for senior historians and scientists. Paul is an honorary fellow in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Liverpool.

Research Leadership Faisal Hoque

Faisal Hoque

Faisal Hoque is the founder of SHADOKA and NextChapter and serves as a transformation and innovation partner for CACI, an $8 billion company focused on U.S. national security. He is a #1 Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author with ten award-winning books to his name. His new book, TRANSCEND: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI, was named a ‘must read’ by the Next Big Idea Club and selected as a Financial Times business book of the month. It became an instant bestseller—across multiple categories—on the USA Today (#1 in Computers, #1 in Philosophy, #3 in Business & Economics, #5 in All Non-Fiction), Los Angeles Times (#7 in All Non-Fiction), and Publishers Weekly lists. 

For thirty years, he has been developing commercial business and technology systems, and enabling leadership teams at MasterCard, American Express, GE, Home Depot, French Social Security Services, US Department of Defense (DoD), US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), PepsiCo, IBM, Chase, and others with sustainable growth.

Today, Faisal is a highly sought-after innovation and transformation (digital/AI, business, organization) partner for both public and private sector organizations, and recognized as one of the world’s leading management thinkers and technologists. As a founder and CEO of multiple companies, he is a three-time winner of the Deloitte Technology Fast 50™ and Fast 500™ awards. Faisal is a contributor at the MIT’s IDEAS Social Innovation program, Thinkers50, and the Swiss business school IMD. His work has appeared in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Business Insider, Fortune, Inc., Yahoo Finance, Fox, ABC, CBS, and others.
Faisal’s work and life are profoundly influenced by a distinctive fusion of Eastern philosophy and American entrepreneurial spirit. He frequently speaks at international conferences, business schools, corporate gatherings, and business summits. Inspired by personal experiences, Faisal is a passionate advocate for cancer research, raising awareness and supporting research efforts to combat the disease.
You can learn more at his website and connect with him on LinkedIn and X.

Organizational Transformation

This research area focuses on how organizations can adapt and transform in response to rapid technological advancements, market shifts, and changing societal expectations. We explore strategies for building agile, future-ready organizations that thrive in uncertainty.

Key Research Questions

  • How can organizations successfully implement transformation initiatives to remain competitive?
  • What role does culture play in fostering or inhibiting organizational transformation?
  • How can businesses balance short-term adaptability with long-term sustainability in their transformation efforts?

Focus Areas

  • Agile Organizations: Research into organizational structures and practices that enhance agility and responsiveness to change.
  • Cultural Transformation: Examining how organizational culture impacts the success of transformation efforts.
  • Sustainable Business Models: Investigating how businesses can transform for sustainability while maintaining profitability.

Innovation with AI and Digital Technologies

We focus on the intersection of human-centered innovation and cutting-edge technology, particularly the integration of AI and digital tools in business operations. This area investigates how organizations can leverage these technologies to drive transformation while maintaining ethical and sustainable practices.

Key Research Questions

  • How can AI be effectively integrated into leadership and decision-making processes?
  • What are the ethical implications of AI and digital technologies in business?
  • How can businesses use AI to enhance creativity, efficiency, and innovation without sacrificing human values?

Focus Areas

  • AI-Driven Leadership: Exploring how AI can support leadership and decision-making without replacing human judgment.
  • Ethics in AI: Investigating the ethical considerations of AI, including bias, transparency, and accountability.
  • Digital Transformation: Examining how businesses can harness digital tools to drive innovation and operational efficiency.

Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship

This area focuses on how entrepreneurs and corporate intrapreneurs can develop innovative, sustainable ventures. We examine how entrepreneurial ecosystems can be cultivated within both startups and established organizations, emphasizing agility and human-centered design.

Key Research Questions

  • How can entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning?
  • What strategies help balance entrepreneurial risk with sustainable, long-term growth?
  • How can organizations support intrapreneurship to drive internal innovation?

Focus Areas

  • Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Examining how entrepreneurs can build ventures that prioritize long-term success and societal impact.
  • Corporate Intrapreneurship: Studying how organizations can create environments where internal innovation thrives.
  • Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Research into the systems and networks that support entrepreneurial success in various industries.

Transformational Leadership

Research in this area explores how leadership can drive change and foster innovation while maintaining a human-centered, mindful approach. We focus on strategies that enable leaders to navigate complexity and uncertainty in the digital age.

Key Research Questions

  • How can mindful leadership inspire long-term, sustainable change in organizations?
  • What leadership traits are most effective in driving innovation and organizational agility?
  • How do leaders balance human-centered leadership with technology-driven decision-making?

Focus Areas

  • Mindful Leadership: Research into leadership practices that emphasize mindfulness, empathy, and purpose in decision-making.
  • Leadership in the Digital Age: Exploring how digital transformation impacts leadership styles and strategies.
  • Adaptive Leadership: Investigating how leaders can remain flexible and responsive to rapid technological and market changes.