Most AI deployment initiatives don't fail because of the technology. They fail because CEOs start in the wrong place.

AI is transforming business, but buying the latest tool won't create better results on its own. In this episode, Jim Schleckser talks with Christa Hill, Chief AI Learning Officer at Learnit, about why successful AI deployment begins with solving real business problems, preparing your team, and building the right mindset before choosing a single platform.

By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to:

• Discover why successful AI deployment starts with identifying business challenges instead of chasing the newest AI tools.
• Learn how to prepare your organization for AI by improving workflows, training employees, and creating sustainable adoption.
• Understand the common mistakes CEOs make during AI deployment and how to avoid wasted investments while achieving meaningful business results.

Listen now to learn the AI deployment strategies that help organizations move beyond the hype, solve real business problems, and build a competitive advantage with AI.

Check out:

05:15 | Stop Chasing AI Tools and Start Solving Business Problems

Christa Hill explains why successful AI deployment doesn't begin with the latest software. It starts by identifying the biggest challenges in your business and letting those problems determine which AI solutions you actually need.

19:45 | Why Most AI Deployments Fail Before They Begin

One of the episode's biggest insights is that organizations often automate broken processes. Christa explains why mapping and improving workflows before introducing AI dramatically increases the chances of a successful AI deployment.

40:30 | Building an AI-Ready Workforce

As AI reshapes the workplace, Christa shares how CEOs should think about hiring, training, and developing employees who can use AI as a thinking partner rather than simply another software tool.

Christa Hill helps serious leaders think, decide, and lead well in an AI-shaped world. She is the Chief AI Learning Officer at Learnit, where she leads the design of AI education delivered to organizations across North America, and the CEO of Tacit Edge North America, where she builds AI literacy programs for CEOs, executives, boards, and the operators who run their companies. A product leader and educator with more than 20 years across banking and tech, Christa has educated thousands of professionals and is the author and facilitator of more than 20 programs delivered around the world. Her work centers on a simple conviction: AI leadership is not about tools; it is about judgment, and the leaders who build that judgment now will set the pace for everyone else. Christa will take the stage as keynote speaker at The CEO Project Summit in Dallas in February.

The biggest breakthrough in your business may not come from your next idea. It may come from the other entrepreneurs you surround yourself with.

Building a successful business is about far more than selling a great product. It's about learning from setbacks, creating a strong company culture, and finding people who challenge you to become a better leader. In this episode, Jim Schleckser sits down with Nick Breedlove, founder and CEO of NVB Playgrounds, to discuss the lessons he's learned growing a niche business into a national company and why other entrepreneurs played a critical role in his growth.

By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to:

• Discover why building relationships with other entrepreneurs can help you avoid costly mistakes and accelerate your growth.
• Learn how strong company values create better teams, better decisions, and a healthier culture.
• Hear practical lessons on scaling a business, overcoming major setbacks, and letting go of the need to control everything yourself.

Listen now to hear Nick Breedlove's entrepreneurial journey and learn why surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs may be one of the smartest investments you can make as a business leader.

Check out:

22:15 | The Entrepreneurial Mistake That Cost $3 Million

Nick shares the painful story of a leadership breakdown that resulted in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit and explains how it completely changed the way he hires, builds culture, and manages his company.

28:30 | Why Values Matter More Than You Think

After years of rapid growth, Nick realized that company values aren't just words on a wall. He explains how clearly defined values became the foundation for building a stronger team and a healthier business.

32:45 | Why Every CEO Needs Other Entrepreneurs

One of the episode's biggest takeaways comes when Nick reflects on the importance of surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs. He explains how having peers who have faced similar challenges can help you avoid costly mistakes, make better decisions, and grow faster.

About Nicolas Breedlove

NIC BREEDLOVE is a visionary entrepreneur and the CEO of NVB Playgrounds, a company dedicated to creating safe, engaging, and inclusive play spaces that bring communities together. With over a decade of experience in the playground industry, Nic has revolutionized how schools, parks, and organizations approach play design by offering innovative solutions that combine creativity, safety, and durability. Under Nic's leadership,

NVB Playgrounds has become a trusted partner for clients across the country, helping them navigate the challenges of planning, budgeting, and building exceptional play areas. Nic is a sought-after speaker and storyteller who shares insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the power of play. When he's not leading his team, Nic enjoys exploring the outdoors, creating impactful content, and connecting with audiences to inspire growth and innovation

What allows some CFOs to lead with influence while others never move beyond the numbers?

Today's CFOs are expected to do much more than oversee financial performance. They must build trust, influence executive decisions, communicate with empathy, and help shape company strategy. In this episode, leadership expert and former CFO Dr. Emilia Bunea shares why technical expertise alone isn't enough and explains the mindset and behaviors that help CFOs lead executive teams, boards, and entire organizations more effectively.

By listening to this episode, you'll learn how to:

• Discover why relationship building and influence have become essential skills as CFOs lead beyond traditional finance responsibilities.
• Learn practical techniques for communicating strategic recommendations in ways that earn buy-in from CEOs, boards, and executive teams.
• Understand the leadership habits that prepare finance executives to become trusted business leaders and future CEOs.

Listen now to learn how CFOs lead with influence, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence to create stronger organizations and position themselves for greater leadership opportunities.

Check out:

05:10 | Why CFOs Lead Through Relationships, Not Just Numbers

Dr. Emilia Bunea explains the difference between an accounting leader and a true CFO, revealing why relationship management and influence are what separate finance executives from strategic leaders.

14:35 | Influence Is More Powerful Than Logic

Learn why even the strongest financial arguments can fail without emotional engagement, and how CFOs can present ideas that inspire action instead of resistance.

31:10 | Preparing CFOs to Become CEOs

Hear the leadership qualities boards look for when evaluating CFOs for the CEO role, including strategic thinking, executive presence, and building trust outside the finance function.

About Emilia Bunea

Dr. Emilia Bunea, CFA, is a leadership lecturer at VU University Amsterdam and co-founder and CEO of Ed.movie, a California-based edutainment company. She served in CFO and CEO roles at large financial corporations, most recently as CEO of MetLife Romania, and previously as CFO of ING Insurance Europe, and currently serves on the board of directors of an asset management company.

Dr. Bunea received her Ph.D. in Management from VU Amsterdam, her MBA from the University of Washington, and is a CFA charterholder. She delivers lectures and keynotes on leadership at business schools, companies, and events around the world. Her research was published in Human Resource Management Review, Corporate Governance - An International Review, Frontiers in Psychology, Academy of Management Proceedings, and shared through outlets such as Harvard Business Review and Le Monde.

Emilia Bunea is the producer and co-writer of Crossroads Life, the world's first "cinematic management case"—a groundbreaking teaching tool that combines the rigor of the case study method with the storytelling power of film. Based on the real-life leadership journey of a CFO, the film has won multiple international awards (IMDb link). Each chapter of her book, Leadership for the CFO, includes curated film scenes that bring its concepts to life.