Show: AI For the C Suite · Publisher: Chad Harvey / PivotPoint AI · Host: Chad Harvey
Episode URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TObfIEiiXlc
Publish date: 2026-04-14
Duration: 3658.0s
Default source credibility: MEDIUM — Mid-market (200-2000 emp) executive interviews. Named speakers but host runs an AI consulting practice — treat recommendations that align with host’s book of business as MEDIUM; named guest metrics stay HIGH.
- Mid-market companies generate 100-500 GB of data daily, making AI essential for analysis and extracting insights from this massive volume.
- Many organizations are stuck in the ‘tinkerer’ phase, experimenting with AI tools without a clear, organization-wide strategy aligned with core business goals.
- Top-down AI mandates often lead to low adoption; involving employees in identifying AI use cases fosters psychological safety and higher engagement.
- HR leaders are critical for successful AI adoption, needing to update job descriptions, personalize learning & development, and create incentives for AI initiatives.
- CEOs must ask ‘What’s in it for my employees?’ to drive motivation, increase adoption rates, and ensure ROI from AI investments.
Extracted quotes
| # | Credibility | Speaker | Org | Timestamp | Topic | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HIGH | Dr. Sam Zolfagharian (President and Co-founder) | Jaytech | 1:55 | 09-ai-adoption-cycle | One misconception that myself had was AI is just for big tech company because back in time we had AI engineers, we had experts in AI and we’ve been working to see how we can leverage machine learning and AI models for figuring out how an airplane could be designed, which materials we need to consider, even for 3D printing how we can optimize the process itself. And I’ve never thought that such a technology could be accessible in such a small device one day. |
| 2 | HIGH | Dr. Sam Zolfagharian (President and Co-founder) | Jaytech | 4:31 | 07-adoption-challenges | Based on the research by Statistica, a medium-sized company actually generates between 100 to 500 gigabytes per day. So if you think about it, it’s really impossible to be able to analyze that data to be able to get the most out of it and get some insights. |
| 3 | MEDIUM | Dr. Sam Zolfagharian (President and Co-founder) | Jaytech | 18:05 | 11-education-approaches | A few years ago, like it was three years ago, we had an AI workshop with board members. It was a full day AI workshop. […] One of the board members, she was a senior lady. She came to us and she was like, ‘I’m a little bit skeptical about AI and I’m not sure I’m worried about the next generation if they’re going to have job and what we’re going to do.’ After the workshop, it was like an 8-hour session, she came to us and this is the exact sentence that she said, she was like, ‘You converted me.’ |
| 4 | MEDIUM | Dr. Sam Zolfagharian (President and Co-founder) | Jaytech | 22:37 | 07-adoption-challenges | The reason is executives brought those tools. It’s not like pushing those tools. So the adoption rate is low. There are many cases that people are reaching out, asking how they can get the highest ROI from Microsoft Copilot because Microsoft is pushing Copilot in all their products to all their users, and people want to make sure that they get, and it’s not cheap, so they want to make sure that they get the highest ROI. If it’s push, it’s really difficult to get that adoption rate. […] One of the quotes from their employees was, ‘You’re bringing these AI tools to replace me. So I’m not going to do anything,’ because it’s coming from the top level. |
| 5 | MEDIUM | Dr. Sam Zolfagharian (President and Co-founder) | Jaytech | 46:09 | 07-adoption-challenges | In most companies HR people are not involved in those conversations. I was talking to a CEO and he was like, ‘Oh, I haven’t thought to include my HR.’ And I believe HR is a backbone of a company because they’re in charge of hiring, they’re bringing talent to the company. They’re in charge of L&D, learning and development, and they’re in charge of bonuses and incentives. These are critical pieces for people to work. So for changing that mindset, my suggestion is include your HR leaders in those conversations. |
| 6 | MEDIUM | Dr. Sam Zolfagharian (President and Co-founder) | Jaytech | 47:25 | 11-education-approaches | I bet probably 60% of job descriptions are still the same even though AI is here. And also with learning and development, the new process, you can help people to find their way to know why AI is here, how it can help them so at least we won’t end up in that Luddite situation. […] Back in my time in corporate, they were rolling out the same L&D for everyone with 30 years of experience, with one year of experience, or just a fresh grad. Personalize it based on who they are, what they do, their level of expertise, and also incentivizing them. Right now, most AI initiatives are happening without any rewards, any incentives, and employees wonder, ‘What’s in it for me?’ |
| 7 | MEDIUM | Dr. Sam Zolfagharian (President and Co-founder) | Jaytech | 56:44 | 07-adoption-challenges | Put yourself in your employees’ shoes and say, ‘What’s in it for them?’ Why should they support your vision? Because it’s a CEO-led initiative. […] Put yourself in your employees’ shoes and ask yourself, ‘What’s in it for them?’ The reason is, I’ve been working with executives and also employees, and we’ve had several conversations around, ‘I’m busy with my day-to-day work, I need to finish this project in a week, and why should I help? Why haven’t I been promoted? I’ve been working on this AI, I’ve been helping for the last 6 months but nothing happened. Why no bonuses? Why no even town hall recognition as simple as this?’ And then they get demotivated. They’re smart employees, by the way. They want to do it, they have the passion, they have the energy, but after 3 months that energy drops because they don’t see any appreciation. They don’t see anything. They wonder, ‘Why should I be involved? What’s in it for me?’ And I think that’s the question every executive should ask themselves: ‘What’s in it for my employees?’ |
Per-quote detail
1. Dr. Sam Zolfagharian — Jaytech (1:55)
One misconception that myself had was AI is just for big tech company because back in time we had AI engineers, we had experts in AI and we’ve been working to see how we can leverage machine learning and AI models for figuring out how an airplane could be designed, which materials we need to consider, even for 3D printing how we can optimize the process itself. And I’ve never thought that such a technology could be accessible in such a small device one day.
- Credibility: HIGH — Named executive at an identifiable organization, providing specific past application details from her experience at Autodesk in 2015.
- Topic tag:
09-ai-adoption-cycle
2. Dr. Sam Zolfagharian — Jaytech (4:31)
Based on the research by Statistica, a medium-sized company actually generates between 100 to 500 gigabytes per day. So if you think about it, it’s really impossible to be able to analyze that data to be able to get the most out of it and get some insights.
- Stat: 100 to 500 gigabytes per day, measured by Statistica research
- Credibility: HIGH — Named executive providing a specific metric with a cited source (Statistica) and denominator (per day for medium-sized companies).
- Topic tag:
07-adoption-challenges
3. Dr. Sam Zolfagharian — Jaytech (18:05)
A few years ago, like it was three years ago, we had an AI workshop with board members. It was a full day AI workshop. […] One of the board members, she was a senior lady. She came to us and she was like, ‘I’m a little bit skeptical about AI and I’m not sure I’m worried about the next generation if they’re going to have job and what we’re going to do.’ After the workshop, it was like an 8-hour session, she came to us and this is the exact sentence that she said, she was like, ‘You converted me.’
- Credibility: MEDIUM — Named executive providing a specific anecdote about an 8-hour workshop converting a skeptical board member, demonstrating the impact of education.
- Topic tag:
11-education-approaches
4. Dr. Sam Zolfagharian — Jaytech (22:37)
The reason is executives brought those tools. It’s not like pushing those tools. So the adoption rate is low. There are many cases that people are reaching out, asking how they can get the highest ROI from Microsoft Copilot because Microsoft is pushing Copilot in all their products to all their users, and people want to make sure that they get, and it’s not cheap, so they want to make sure that they get the highest ROI. If it’s push, it’s really difficult to get that adoption rate. […] One of the quotes from their employees was, ‘You’re bringing these AI tools to replace me. So I’m not going to do anything,’ because it’s coming from the top level.
- Credibility: MEDIUM — Named executive describing common organizational failures and employee resistance based on client experiences, including a specific quote from an employee.
- Topic tag:
07-adoption-challenges
5. Dr. Sam Zolfagharian — Jaytech (46:09)
In most companies HR people are not involved in those conversations. I was talking to a CEO and he was like, ‘Oh, I haven’t thought to include my HR.’ And I believe HR is a backbone of a company because they’re in charge of hiring, they’re bringing talent to the company. They’re in charge of L&D, learning and development, and they’re in charge of bonuses and incentives. These are critical pieces for people to work. So for changing that mindset, my suggestion is include your HR leaders in those conversations.
- Credibility: MEDIUM — Named executive identifying a common organizational oversight (HR exclusion) and providing a clear, reasoned recommendation for improvement.
- Topic tag:
07-adoption-challenges
6. Dr. Sam Zolfagharian — Jaytech (47:25)
I bet probably 60% of job descriptions are still the same even though AI is here. And also with learning and development, the new process, you can help people to find their way to know why AI is here, how it can help them so at least we won’t end up in that Luddite situation. […] Back in my time in corporate, they were rolling out the same L&D for everyone with 30 years of experience, with one year of experience, or just a fresh grad. Personalize it based on who they are, what they do, their level of expertise, and also incentivizing them. Right now, most AI initiatives are happening without any rewards, any incentives, and employees wonder, ‘What’s in it for me?’
- Stat: 60% of job descriptions are still the same (estimated by speaker)
- Credibility: MEDIUM — Named executive providing an estimated statistic and specific examples of current L&D failures and lack of incentives hindering AI adoption.
- Topic tag:
11-education-approaches
7. Dr. Sam Zolfagharian — Jaytech (56:44)
Put yourself in your employees’ shoes and say, ‘What’s in it for them?’ Why should they support your vision? Because it’s a CEO-led initiative. […] Put yourself in your employees’ shoes and ask yourself, ‘What’s in it for them?’ The reason is, I’ve been working with executives and also employees, and we’ve had several conversations around, ‘I’m busy with my day-to-day work, I need to finish this project in a week, and why should I help? Why haven’t I been promoted? I’ve been working on this AI, I’ve been helping for the last 6 months but nothing happened. Why no bonuses? Why no even town hall recognition as simple as this?’ And then they get demotivated. They’re smart employees, by the way. They want to do it, they have the passion, they have the energy, but after 3 months that energy drops because they don’t see any appreciation. They don’t see anything. They wonder, ‘Why should I be involved? What’s in it for me?’ And I think that’s the question every executive should ask themselves: ‘What’s in it for my employees?’
- Credibility: MEDIUM — Named executive offering a core strategic question for CEOs, supported by specific examples of employee demotivation and its impact on AI adoption.
- Topic tag:
07-adoption-challenges
Extracted 2026-04-14T09:05:18 via scripts/podcast_mine.py (Gemini gemini-2.5-pro).