AI Explored Podcast: How AI Helps Leaders Accelerate Business Growth

Host: Michael Stelzner | Guest: Jeff Woods

Introduction

In the April 1, 2025 episode of AI Explored, host Michael Stelzner engages in a transformative discussion with Jeff Woods, author of AI Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions and founder of the AI Driven Leadership Collective. Tailored for marketers, creators, and business owners, this episode delves deep into how leaders can strategically implement AI to drive substantial business growth and gain a competitive edge.

Guest Background and Journey into AI

Jeff Woods begins by sharing his journey into the world of AI, rooted in his college experiences and shaped by mentorship from industry leaders like Gary Keller of Keller Williams. Jeff recounts how his role as Chief Growth Officer at Jindal Steel and Power in India led to a remarkable increase in the company's market cap from $750 million to $12 billion in four years (02:36 - 05:06). This success was partly attributed to the timely adoption of AI technologies that streamlined operations and enhanced strategic decision-making.

Notable Quote:

"Ask what are the skills I can master that are so valuable they'll serve me no matter where I go." – Jeff Woods (02:37)

The Essence of Leadership in AI Adoption

Jeff emphasizes that the crux of successful AI adoption lies not in the technology itself but in the leadership's ability to harness it effectively. He asserts, "AI adoption is not the goal of any company. Building a better business and better lives is. But nobody was talking about the difference that made the difference, which was you, the leader. It's never been about the technology. It's always about the people who wield it" (02:36).

Key Points:

• AI should serve the overarching goals of business improvement and enhanced lives.
• Leadership plays a pivotal role in steering AI initiatives, ensuring they align with strategic objectives.

Becoming an AI-Driven Leader

Jeff introduces a pragmatic framework for leaders to integrate AI into their workflows:

1. Context: Define the situation or task at hand.
2. Role: Assign a specific role or perspective to the AI (e.g., act as an HR professional).
3. Interview: Engage the AI with targeted questions to extract meaningful insights.
4. Task: Delegate specific tasks to the AI based on the gathered information.

He illustrates this with a real-world example where he used ChatGPT to refine a business pitch, resulting in securing a significant deal by identifying and addressing gaps in his proposal (15:35 - 18:25).

Notable Quote:

"It's not about asking AI questions. It was actually turning the tables and have AI ask me questions." – Jeff Woods (06:21)

Practical Applications and Success Stories

Jeff shares compelling use cases demonstrating the transformative power of AI in leadership:

1. Refining Business Pitches: By simulating board interactions with AI, Jeff was able to anticipate objections and fine-tune his proposals, leading to successful deal closures (15:35 - 18:25).

2. Enhancing Board Relations: In collaboration with a hostile board, Jeff utilized AI to create detailed personality profiles and simulate board member reactions. This approach led to more productive meetings and improved board relationships (25:06 - 28:39).

3. Strategic Competitive Advantage: Jeff discusses how AI enabled Domino's Pizza in China to reduce store opening times from four months to two weeks, showcasing a significant operational efficiency boost (41:57 - 42:43).

Notable Quote:

"AI is just my thought partner. I made some tweaks, but I put it in there, I sent it, I got the deal done." – Jeff Woods (17:39)

Framework for AI Implementation: Five Levels of Maturity

Jeff outlines a five-tiered maturity model to guide organizations through AI adoption:

1. Foundational Competence: Leaders and key executives gain essential AI skills and establish basic AI infrastructure.
2. Early Adoption: A select group of innovative leaders start implementing AI use cases, fostering a culture of experimentation.
3. Strategic Expansion: AI proficiency spreads across significant portions of the organization, enhancing cross-departmental collaboration.
4. Optimization: Existing processes are fine-tuned using AI to maximize efficiency and value delivery.
5. Transformation: Comprehensive AI-driven transformation redefines business operations and strategic direction.

Notable Quote:

"Big changes start with small actions. Here's what I don't want you to do. I don't want you to run and train everybody on this because not everybody's an early adopter." – Jeff Woods (22:20)

Key Skills for AI Success

Jeff identifies three critical skills leaders must develop to effectively leverage AI:

1. Identify Strategic Use Cases: Prioritize AI applications that offer the most significant impact.
2. Effective Communication with AI: Utilize structured frameworks to interact with AI tools efficiently.
3. Maintain Leadership Control: Ensure AI serves as a thought partner, enhancing rather than replacing human decision-making.

Notable Quote:

"Your competitive advantage with AI is not in knowing everything about AI, but in surrounding yourself with the right people, asking the right questions and harnessing collective knowledge." – Jeff Woods (34:39)

AI Transformation and Competitive Advantage

Jeff elaborates on the transformative potential of AI, using Domino's Pizza in China as a prime example. By integrating AI into their operational workflows, Domino's achieved unprecedented efficiency in store openings, slashing the timeline from four months to two weeks. This strategic application of AI not only enhanced operational efficiency but also provided a sustainable competitive advantage in the fast-paced market (41:57 - 42:43).

Notable Quote:

"How do you harness technology to completely change the game instead of it taking you four months... to two weeks they are open and serving pizzas." – Jeff Woods (42:48)

Conclusion and Call to Action

Jeff Woods concludes by inviting leaders to join the AI Driven Leadership Collective, a curated network of C-level executives focused on leveraging AI to drive strategic growth. He underscores the importance of collaboration, continuous learning, and strategic questioning in staying ahead of the AI curve.

Final Thoughts:

• Leaders must prioritize becoming AI-driven to effectively guide their organizations through AI adoption.
• Collaboration and strategic use of AI can unlock new levels of business growth and operational efficiency.

Notable Quote:

"AI is a tool that can absolutely help you do it. It is also a tool that can distract you from it. It is you and how you think strategically." – Jeff Woods (10:21)

Notable Quotes

1. On Leadership and AI:

   "AI adoption is not the goal of any company. Building a better business and better lives is." – Jeff Woods (02:36)

2. On Using AI as a Thought Partner:

   "It's not about asking AI questions. It was actually turning the tables and have AI ask me questions." – Jeff Woods (06:21)

3. On Strategic Use of AI:

   "Your competitive advantage with AI is not in knowing everything about AI, but in surrounding yourself with the right people, asking the right questions and harnessing collective knowledge." – Jeff Woods (34:39)

Final Takeaways

This episode of AI Explored provides invaluable insights for leaders aiming to integrate AI into their strategic frameworks effectively. Jeff Woods' pragmatic approach, combined with real-world success stories, offers a roadmap for transforming AI from a mere tool into a cornerstone of business growth and competitive strategy.

For more insights and detailed show notes, visit Social Media Examiner's Podcast Page.

Connect with Jeff Woods:

• LinkedIn: Jeff Woods
• Website: AILeadership.com

Follow Michael Stelzner:

• Social Media Examiner

This summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, highlighting key discussions, frameworks, and actionable insights to help leaders harness AI for business growth.