“Trust is going to be one of the biggest differentiators in the AI and Gen AI landscape.” — Frances Karamouzis, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst

Episode highlights:

• Why AI ROI largely depends on trust (3:00)
• How CIOs should factor trust in ROI discussions (6:07)
• 2 specific measures to reinforce trust in AI systems (8:42)
• The critical relationship between trust and control (14:08)
• How to build trust with employees so that they will embrace AI (16:53)
• The top mistake CIOs make when implementing AI (22:25)

Fran Karamouzis is a Distinguished VP Analyst in Gartner's Research and Advisory Group, focusing on AI, hyperautomation and intelligent automation. Fran is focused on research that addresses strategy, value creation, use cases, business cases and disruptive trends. Fran has appeared and/or contributed to reports showcased on 60 Minutes, CNN, CNBC, PBS, Business Week, Forbes and the Council for Foreign Relations. Fran earned a bachelor's degree in International Business and Accounting from New York University. She also completed her M.B.A. in Finance at New York University.

“When we just look at immediate financial returns, oftentimes we miss the full picture of the value that gets created.” - Rita Sallam, Gartner Distinguished VP Analyst, Data and Analytics

By 2025, nearly a third of GenAI projects will be abandoned due largely to unclear business value. To prove GenAI’s transformative value to executives and CFOs, this episode’s guest offers an insider’s perspective. Rita Sallam is a Distinguished VP Analyst for data and analytics and a former CFO. Her experience and expertise provide critical insights for:

• Projecting the total cost of GenAI via use cases (3:50)
• Managing costs as the pilot phase moves to implementation (8:24)
• Calculating your GenAI budget (12:00)
• Measuring GenAI ROI (Spoiler: It’s not cost reduction) (14:43)
• Convincing CFOs that GenAI’s value may not appear on the balance sheet (21:25)

“The moral of the story is: The closer CIOs stick to the CEO, the easier it’s going to be to help guide the rest of the C-suite through technology uncertainty.” (6:26)

This year, the vast majority of CEOs are shifting strategies. At the core of these changes lie digitalization and technology, which introduce unprecedented responsibilities — and opportunities — in the CIO-CEO relationship. Listen now as Gartner Senior Principal Analyst Jennifer Carter shares exclusive best practices and insights on:

• Addressing profit needs via productivity and technology experimentation (3:21)
• Generative AI and creating digital cohesion (5:53)
• How introverted CIOs can build strong connections with extroverted CEOs (8:33)
• Getting critical one-on-one time with busy CEOs (11:59)
• A top mistake CIOs should avoid with CEOs (21:20)

Jennifer Carter is a senior principal analyst in the Executive Leadership of Digital Business (ELDB) practice. She advises executives on how to navigate C-suite dynamics — in particular building effective engagement with CEOs, creating high-performing, collaborative teams, and influencing stakeholders. Jennifer also covers changing culture through the art of culture hacking and taking a people-first approach to enterprise change communications. Furthermore, Jennifer discusses key topics regarding the future of work, such as leadership in remote and hybrid environments and implementing a human-centric work design. Prior to Gartner, Jennifer studied power dynamics within Chinese imperial courts at the University of Florida and spent years in Gartner’s Executive Programs organization. She has a passion for evaluating complex organizational and leadership challenges and uses her diverse background to inspire executives to think outside of the box.