I was just looking at the 30-day leaderboard and honestly… it’s not just about points. It’s about the energy behind them. To those of you who consistently contribute, jump into conversations, and share your thoughts openly—thank you. That takes effort. To the folks stepping out of their comfort zone and showing up for the weekly meetings—you’re doing the real work. It’s not always easy, and it matters more than you think. And to everyone who’s engaging, giving feedback, and being open to others ideas—that’s what builds a strong community. Special mention to the current leaderboard leaders—you’re setting the pace: @Sandi Boucher @Gopika Ashok M @Sharyn Abbott @Jerry Fletcher @Deborah Northcutt @Brian Gorman @Sheena LC Walker @Frank Soonius @Jon Kovach Jr. @Scott Harvey Whether you’re at the top of the board or just getting started, your presence here counts. Let’s keep showing up for each other.

All, Having done considerable research (for those attending our session today, yes, it was AI-assisted), I have settled on Vistage as my first major foray in my return to speaking. In fact, my session design is more a facilitated conversation with stories then a "speech." This is an entryway into my pipeline. The audience in each Chapter session is relatively small and consists of those who would benefit from my message (AI governance and integrating AI into the organization). Chapter Presidents speak to one another with some frequency. And, there are several Vistage Chapters in the New York City area. If you have experience in this area and/or are able to refer me to anyone who does or directly to any Chapter Presidents, that would be great! Likewise, I am open to taking this opportunity into other organizations. I am happy to have a brief conversation (https://calendly.com/briangormancoach/30-minute-appointment) or feel free to message me here or [email protected]. Thanks!

In our weekly get together this past Wednesday, we discovered that two of us use the same neuroscience based model of building and sustaining trust. It is drawn from the work of the late Judith E. Glaser. Attached are two documents based on this model that I often use with clients. I am hopeful that you find them useful.

Today, episode 160 of my podcast Qonversations was released. The topic is "AI and Critical Thinking." I have been hosting this podcast for almost three years, focusing on the most important topics leaders are facing in the moment. The title was intended to be Conversations, but the sponsor at the time (Quantuvos) had this thing about using the letter Q wherever they could. The title was inspired by the work of the late Judith E. Glaser who spent her life researching the neuroscience of conversation. As I quote Judith in the intro to each episode, "To get to the next level of greatness depends on the quality of the culture, which depends on the quality of the relationships, which depends on the quality of the conversations. Everything happens through conversation." If you are interested in the leadership challenges currently being driven by AI, take a listen. If you or anyone in your circle is tackling those challenges and might have something to contribute to the conversation, let me know. I am always on the lookout for guests. And, if you are interested in hearing from thought leaders an leadership challenges ranging from supporting leaders of color to toxic leadership to the next workplace revolution and more, an directory of the first 160 episodes of Qonversations is attached.

My training in cultural anthropology has given me an unusual view of the world, sharpening my eye to look beyond the surface. In our weekly groups, we have focused much of our conversation over the last month on artificial intelligence. AI is the catalyst for much of the work that I do these days as well as my writing and speaking. My focus is not on the technology, but on the ways (intentional and not) that we are shaping the future around AI. By 2021, I was saying to those around me, "We are at the equivalent of the start of the Industrial Revolution." Covid was a catalyst. The Great Resignation was a catalyst. And more recently, AI is a catalyst. Which brings me back to my cultural anthropology background. In a Substack post, I went back to the steam engine and asked, what lessons can we learn from how this technology was rolled out that we can apply to the roll out of AI? It turns out there are several, and they are important. "Lessons from the Steam Engine: AI, Leadership, and the Future of Work" is attached. I look forward to your response!