In an era where AI dominates headlines but practical implementation remains challenging, La Fosse recently convened senior technology leaders to cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters: creating tangible business value through artificial intelligence.

Turning AI potential into business reality

Our exclusive roundtable, facilitated by Mal Minhas (CPTO, Gumtree), Simon Farnsworth (CTO, ITV) and Lucie Cassius (Head of Client Growth, La Fosse), brought together technology executives from leading organisations to share candid insights about their AI journeys.

The consensus was clear: successful AI isn’t about chasing the latest model or algorithm, it’s about strategic implementation that drives measurable outcomes in three key areas:

  • Revenue growth through enhanced products and services
  • Cost reduction across operations
  • Increased velocity in business processes and decision making

“Most organisations are prioritising revenue growth rather than cost reduction alone,” noted one participant, highlighting a shift towards seeing AI as a growth enabler rather than simply an efficiency tool.

From theory to practice: AI use cases that deliver

The most compelling discussions centred around practical applications already delivering results:

  • Content creation: Companies leveraging generative AI to transform marketing and creative outputs
  • Development acceleration: Engineering teams using AI-powered coding assistance to dramatically increase velocity
  • Product enhancement: Businesses implementing AI-supported listings to drive revenue, with examples ranging from advanced SEO tagging at News UK to product enhancements at Checkatrade

Investment priorities: people first, technology second

A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the critical importance of balanced investment across:

  • People: Training, hiring, and upskilling existing staff
  • Technology: Tools, infrastructure, and AI models
  • Processes: Governance, workflows, and best practices

Interestingly, attendees emphasised that successful AI transformation often hinges more on people than technology. “Finding cultural champions who already understand your business and upskilling them in AI can be more effective than hiring external AI specialists,” shared one technology leader.

Several participants cautioned against premature optimisation or deep dependency on single AI models, advocating instead for starting with smaller experiments that can scale as confidence grows.

Data: the foundation that makes or breaks AI success

The roundtable highlighted data readiness as perhaps the most critical, yet often overlooked, factor in AI success.

Leaders emphasised that without robust data governance, observability, and infrastructure, even the most sophisticated AI initiatives will falter. Specific focus areas included:

  • Ensuring data quality through comprehensive monitoring and alerting mechanisms
  • Building scalable data infrastructure that integrates with existing platforms like Salesforce
  • Establishing clear ethics policies and principles around AI usage and data privacy

Organisational structure: no one-size-fits-all approach

One fascinating insight was the variety of approaches to AI governance and leadership. While some organisations have created dedicated AI roles, others have distributed responsibility across existing technology functions.

“There’s no standardised approach yet for AI governance,” one attendee observed. “Leadership varies between CTO, CPTO, CDO, COO, or hybrid models, depending on organisational context.”

What matters most is clarity around who owns AI strategy and implementation, regardless of where it sits in the org chart.

Breaking down silos: AI as a business decision

Perhaps the most definitive conclusion was that AI strategy must be business-driven rather than technology-led.

“AI should ultimately be viewed as a service to business functions rather than a standalone tech initiative,” summarised one CTO. This requires education and digital literacy across all levels of the organisation to ensure alignment between technical capabilities and business objectives.

The experience paradox: junior staff leading the way

In a notable reversal of traditional experience dynamics, many attendees observed that junior team members often show higher enthusiasm and adaptability towards AI compared to more senior staff who may be sceptical or resistant.

This presents both challenges and opportunities: leveraging the passion and aptitude of younger employees while ensuring their efforts remain aligned with broader strategic objectives.

Actionable recommendations

Based on the collective wisdom shared during our roundtable, several clear recommendations emerged:

  • Identify cultural champions: Find enthusiastic internal staff who understand company culture and operations, then upskill them in AI instead of hiring externally.
  • Prioritise data governance: Conduct thorough reviews of data readiness and implement strong governance and monitoring tools to ensure high-quality inputs for AI models.
  • Start small and iterate: Begin with manageable experiments before committing deeply to specific AI models or technologies.
  • Establish clear ownership: Define who owns AI strategy within your organisation, understanding this may vary between technical and business functions.
  • Focus on business outcomes: Ensure AI projects are driven by clear business objectives rather than purely technical ambitions.
  • Broaden AI literacy: Provide training and resources across the company to increase AI understanding and drive adoption.
  • Leverage junior talent: Create opportunities for younger, tech-savvy employees to contribute meaningfully to AI initiatives.
  • Develop clear AI policies: Formulate and communicate AI ethics, policies, and principles company-wide.

Continuing the conversation

This roundtable is part of La Fosse’s ongoing commitment to bringing together technology leaders to share insights and solve common challenges.

The insights shared during this session underscore the importance of practical, business-focused approaches to AI implementation. As organisations continue to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, the value of peer learning and shared experiences becomes increasingly apparent.

La Fosse regularly hosts exclusive events for senior technology leaders across various specialisms. These sessions provide a forum for open discussion and knowledge exchange in a trusted environment.