AI in Business Insights

It was an inspiring day at Engage London, hosted by Everest Group — an event that brings together leaders and innovators shaping the future of global business services (GBS), sourcing, and technology. I was honoured to deliver the closing Keynote: "The Connected Advantage with AI: From Ambition to Scaled Value." My session explored how organisations can move beyond AI experimentation and isolated pilots, by connecting strategy, data, people, process and governance. The real competitive advantage comes when AI is not treated as a standalone initiative, but as a business-wide capability that delivers trusted, measurable value at scale. I also spoke about the importance of strong leadership, readiness across people and process, and building the right foundations to scale AI responsibly. I've now written three books on applying AI to business — the most recent published in November 2025 — but in a field moving this fast, staying current is a daily discipline, not a one-time effort. Events like Engage London are genuinely invaluable for that reason, and I came away with a great deal to reflect on. The panel sessions were particularly rich, and several themes stood out: GBS leaders are becoming the custodians of experience. They are increasingly orchestrating work with a bird's-eye view across the total workforce — a significant shift in how the function is understood and valued. The "3 Ss" were a standout insight: self-service, self-adaptation, and self-healing. These three principles offer a compelling framework for thinking about where intelligent automation is heading. GBS has a critical role in governing the AI estate. Trusted data, and people and process readiness, were highlighted as non-negotiables — not optional extras — in any serious AI programme. Resilience remains central to sustained competitive advantage. Amid so much disruption and uncertainty, the organisations that build resilience into their operations will be the ones that endure. One comment that particularly resonated was around intellectual curiosity as a leadership quality. In the AI era, the ability and willingness to keep asking questions is arguably as important as any technical skill. Another powerful observation was about the human dimension of AI adoption: enabling humans to act at the pace of AI, while AI strives to act with the empathy of humans. It's a thought-provoking framing that I'll be carrying into future conversations. There were also excellent insights from Rolls-Royce — a company I had the pleasure of collaborating with for my previous book launch. The reflections shared on cultural change driving sustained behavioural change were memorable: embedding the right mindset into hiring, onboarding and assessment criteria; the shift from awareness to daily habits; and ensuring governance is underpinned by constant dialogue and feedback rather than top-down mandates. Well done to the entire Everest Group team for curating such a thought-provoking event and for the excellent organisation throughout the day. To find out more about Katie's keynote topics and availability, visit the Keynotes page.

Jambo! Heading home from my latest trip - this time to Zanzibar. I’ve dreamed of visiting for 30 years or more, ever since my dad shared with me a marriage certificate from 1941, which revealed that my grandmother (the Nan I adored) married the Sultan of Zanzibar’s son, and seeing in the certificate’s margin an intriguing ‘police exhibit one’ stamp.  That’s what inspired me to research her complex life story spanning different geographies, and write an historical fiction novel. I recently completed the first draft of 100k words; next step is to edit it and find an agent/publisher. I’ve had 2 - soon to be 3 - business books on AI published by Kogan Page Publishing but this is a whole new experience. This is about giving her a voice; it’s her legacy. Please let me know if you’re aware of any potential interested parties. 🙏 This visit was to the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. I’ve travelled far and wide, but this was my first sighting of the exquisite Indian Ocean. The highlight was a walking tour in Stone Town – the old part of the city. The Sultans commissioned many of the incredible buildings. There’s also a museum dedicated to Freddie Mercury who was born in Zanzibar. And I had a rare opportunity to join a school graduation party. My Guide Kassim was a gem – so well informed and so kind. As a business trip it has not been all plain sailing. I’ll remain professional and spare the details. Suffice to say you never give up learning, and doing business across borders and different legal jurisdictions can pose real challenges. A huge positive learning is the Swahili phrase “pole pole" (pronounced pole-ay pole-ay) meaning “slowly, slowly" or "take it easy" and it reflects a cultural philosophy of patience, an unhurried approach to life, and a mindful appreciation for the present moment. It encourages a calm, relaxed mindset, often encountered in the laid-back lifestyle of East Africa, but also used as practical advice for achieving goals. Wise words for many of us living and working in hectic towns and cities…

AI is no longer a buzzword – it’s business-critical. I’ve seen that change in the 6 years since my first AI book was released, compared to the landscape today and the case studies I researched for book 3 (due out in November.) AI is impacting every sector, including insurance. I’m featured in the latest issue of Modern Insurance Magazine – which delves into how AI is transforming every aspect of insurance – from underwriting and fraud prevention to customer experience and claims. You can read the full issue here . On page 13, I explore ethical and responsible AI adoption, as does Sagacity Charles Skamser breaks down the emerging AI landscape and what it means for insurers. There are real-world applications from organisations including FibriCheck, I Love Claims, Steeper Group, Geo Sec, SkinVision and A3 Alternative Accommodation Agency Ltd. There are insightful contributions from the Editorial Board and from the following: Carpenters Group, Digilog UK, e2e Total Loss Claims Management, NWVA, FMG, ParaCode, QuestGates, National Windscreens, Lyons Davidson Limited, Auxilis, Thatcham Research, Rapid Repair Network, Witness Wise, CMG, Copart UK Limited, and Laird Assessors. A Fraud Prevention Spotlight offers expert input from Adele Sumner, Allianz, WHITELK Fraud Performance Consulting, FRISS, RGI Solutions, Charles Taylor, and Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB). I've worked with many Associations, across multiple sectors. This issue features many Association Insights, including BIBA, Motor Accident Solicitors Society (MASS), FOIL - the Forum of Insurance Lawyers, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), Chartered Insurance Institute, Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA), IAEA, CHO on legislative change, ethical innovation, and the broker’s evolving role. The team even asked ChatGPT for its thoughts. What does AI think about its role in the industry? Big thanks to editor Hayley Dalton.

Big thanks to Partnerize for inviting me to deliver the Keynote at their Partnership Day – an event dedicated to AI and innovation in affiliate marketing. My session explored wider company AI strategies, as I shared with the audience ‘stealable innovation’ whereby they can learn from other sectors, as well as a check sheet for measuring the AI potential in a business. Following my talk, Rebecca Betteridge, Hollie Macdonald, Molly Lediard, and Matilda Kousa formed a panel to discuss the future of partnerships for fashion and beauty. AI also featured heavily, as the panel shared the challenges which brands face in gaining buy-in for AI from the business. They talked about the need to educate in order to alleviate concerns; and how important time and patience are. So interesting to hear their advice on the need to shift the narrative of affiliate marketing, focusing instead on innovations with AI such as dynamic commissioning and a personalised approach at the checkout. These incredible ladies represent leading brands and organisations - Selfridges, Puig, Klarna and Fenwick and they were able to advise us all about the need to adapt to changing consumer behaviour, particular during this period of unpredictable socio economics and global uncertainty. They debated the need to research how and when customers shop; also the importance of price sensitivity, given how customers conduct online research and then visit physical stores. We learned how peer reviews have gained importance in how consumers trust brands. Thanks for these learnings. Thanks to Kate Ellis Maura Smith and all the team and congrats on staging such a great event!

What a great week of tech in sunny London! Thanks to RPC for inviting me to speak at their stunning offices in St. Katharine Docks for London Tech Week! Following opening remarks from RPC's Caroline Tuck, I gave the first Keynote on the fact that AI is no longer a distant concept – it's here and fundamentally reshaping the way businesses operate, unlocking opportunities that were once unimaginable. I walked everyone through the ways businesses can harness AI in an ethical way, how to equip your workforce in the AI era and what to consider when rolling out AI initiatives on a global scale. I was followed by Piers Wingfield – a fascinating session on how, in a single workplace, there could be up to 5 generations, each bringing different experiences, ideas and norms. While all are valuable in their own right, intergenerational conflict often stems from differing experiences. He covered how tech, including AI, is being used effectively to relieve tensions, maximise opportunities and improve workplace collaboration and culture. There was then a discussion and networking event for women in the tech industry, covering how tech usage has changed over the last 10–15 years, what the future looks like in terms of tech use in the media and entertainment and retail and consumer industries, whilst also discussing the challenges and opportunities for women in the tech industry, hearing from two incredible leaders. Big thanks to Dawn Airey CBE, Chair at Women’s Super League Football and Maria Raga Venture Partner and Angel Investor.

I've just returned from speaking in Savannah, Georgia (USA) at Nosco 's MasterMinds event. After my Keynote, I joined CEO Craig Curran to record an episode for his podcast Nosco Unpacked . We explored how AI is transforming the printed packaging industry. From reducing labelling errors to enabling hyper-personalised customer experiences, I shared real-world examples of how brands are using AI to drive smarter packaging solutions. Key takeaways from the discussion include: • AI is cutting labelling errors by up to 70%. • Smart packaging is boosting engagement through personalisation. • AI is helping teams balance creativity, compliance and speed to market. • AI is not replacing people, it's amplifying their impact. Whether you're in pharma or consumer goods, this episode is packed with insights to help you lead through innovation. Check it out below: 

Heading home from Saskatoon, Canada after a wonderful few days at the very impressive inaugural Prairie Business Summit, hosted by Edwards School of Business, University of Saskatchewan . I gave a Keynote on AI, focused on how to kickstart AI adoption for competitive advantage. I also talked about using ChatGPT to help find a literary agent for my debut novel. And my school AI programme. I have literally just finished my 3rd book for publisher Kogan Page Publishing on how to apply AI to business but like everyone else, I must learn continuously. I listened to some fabulous Keynotes, panel debates and practical workshops, hearing about step prompting, synthetic customers, the accountability of algorithms, model compression, the need for consistent use of AI, AI skill wallets and containers; how software as we know it today is over and that the future of computing involves no apps, and there will be nothing between you and your data. That nuclear fusion will offer unparalleled energy for free. The words ‘secret sauce’ were used many times. I have pages of notes but this is a quick flavour. Highlights included: A really informative, humorous session from Adam Cheyer - Siri co-founder(!) – who shared powerful insights on The Future of AI in Business and how AI, in partnership with people, significantly increases productivity. Quote: “Generative AI will be as important as the Web and Mobile. Challenges exist but ROI is starting to happen, and use cases are expanding for internal and external products. In the future, AI will offer better interfaces, both knowing and doing, and a worldwide ecosystem of partner service.” A great workshop from Scott Meyer , CEO and Co-Founder of Chipp AI – someone who shares my passion for AI in marketing and customer engagement. He outlined some great tools and frameworks involving iterative collaboration between humans and AI. Quote: “1 person with AI = 1.5-2 people without AI.” The best part of travelling around the world delivering these sessions is the opportunity to meet wonderful people and learn about local cultures. Awesome to chat to fellow speaker Ross Pambrun who shared a vision for driving growth and empowering communities in the Prairies. Coming from the UK where age is definitely not revered(!), it’s wonderful to see the respect Canada has for its elders. (I experienced the same in Australia and New Zealand.) We were lucky to hear from Elder Julie Pitzel, who blessed the food, shared prayers and inspired us with her wisdom, reminding us to keep searching for the answers, and how our spirits shine as bright as the stars. Also great to see the indigenous hoop dance by Lawrence A. Roy Jr. So…a very big thanks to the amazing Kristan Embrett Marjorie Delbaere Joelena Leader and all the team for staging such a great event., and for super moderation by the hugely energetic Heather Morrison .

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