"Now an adviser to startups and venture capital funds on AI and business transformation, Souder spoke with Fortune 's Diane Brady before an audience of leading CFOs from Chicago and beyond, sharing observations from his global travels. Everywhere he goes, he finds businesses asking similar questions: How do we implement AI? How do we measure ROI? What does it mean for our workforce? And how do we build strategies for long-term success?"
""We're all in this unknown together," Souder said. He noted that this shared sense of challenge makes events like these invaluable for learning and connection-even as competitive pressures lead some leaders to withhold lessons or setbacks. "For many businesses, if they have big AI wins, they don't necessarily want to share them-perhaps because it's a competitive advantage," he said. "And if they're not having AI wins, they don't really want to share that either. So we're all in the same boat.""
"Why success requires a long-term vision AI will impact every job, industry, and country, Souder told the CFOs. "We need to start thinking about how we're embracing this today," he explained. "We can't wait and see how this pans out." He cautioned against postponing AI initiatives simply because other projects take priority. Souder emphasized that effective AI adoption demands collaboration across the C-suite."
Businesses across industries are asking how to implement AI, measure ROI, assess workforce impact, and build long-term strategies. No company feels significantly ahead or behind in its AI journey, creating a shared sense of uncertainty. Many organizations keep AI successes private for competitive advantage while those without notable wins also avoid sharing setbacks. AI is expected to affect every job, industry, and country, requiring immediate attention rather than delay. Postponing AI initiatives in favor of other projects risks falling behind. Effective AI adoption requires cross-functional collaboration at the executive level and a long-term vision for transformation.
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