What happens when a company tries to manage dozens of businesses across multiple states, with disconnected systems, rising costs, and constant operational pressure?

In this conversation, Karl sits down with Ryan Dewey Smith, founder of Imperium, to unpack what it really takes to build a scalable centralized operating system. Ryan shares how his team supports 40 different businesses, why most leaders underestimate the hidden cost of messy operations, and what changed when they brought AI into the mix.

But this is not a shiny “AI will fix everything” conversation. It is a grounded look at where AI actually helps, where it creates new problems, and why human oversight is still the difference between smarter execution and expensive chaos. If you care about leadership, systems, and using AI without losing your grip on the business, this episode is worth your time.

The Hidden Breakdown Most Growing Businesses Miss

Ryan pulls back the curtain on what starts to fail when organizations grow faster than their systems can handle. He shares the kind of operational tension that quietly drains money, energy, and trust long before leaders notice the real problem.

Why AI Still Needs a Shepherd

A lot of people want AI to replace effort. Ryan makes the case for something more useful. He explains why the best results come from leaders who guide the system well, not those who blindly hand over the keys.

The Biggest Expense You Should Attack First

If you are serious about using AI in your business, Ryan points to the place to start. Not where the hype is loudest, but where the financial impact shows up fastest.

What It Took to Drop Back-Office Costs in a Big Way

There is a moment in this conversation where the numbers alone make you stop. Ryan explains what had to change to create a dramatic shift in operational efficiency, and why the answer was not as simple as “buy new software.”

The Leadership Lesson Behind Every System That Works

This episode is really about more than AI. It is about feedback loops, ownership, and what leaders have to do when the stakes are high and the systems are still imperfect.

Timestamps

• 0:00 — Karl introduces Ryan and the conversation on scaling, resilience, and AI

• 3:10 — Ryan explains Imperium’s operating governance model across 40 businesses

• 9:05 — The challenge of disconnected systems and why cash flow visibility matters

• 15:40 — How Palantir became part of Imperium’s data warehouse strategy

• 21:30 — Why AI reduced costs but still required a human oversight team

• 28:15 — The risk of overtrusting AI-generated communication

• 33:50 — Where business owners should start if they want AI to drive savings

• 38:20 — The automotive garage example and how optimization created major savings

• 42:10 — Ryan’s leadership philosophy on learning, feedback, and better execution

About the Guest

Ryan Dewey Smith is the founder of Imperium, a company focused on centralized operating governance, scalable systems, and AI-supported business optimization. His team works across dozens of businesses in multiple states, helping organizations improve efficiency, reduce waste, and make better operating decisions with stronger data.

Watch/Listen

Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and systematicleader.co (http://systematicleader.co/).