The author argues that passion outweighs experience when hiring, especially in fast-moving tech. Passionate employees learn quickly, spark innovation, and energize customers and teams—often outperforming more technically seasoned peers. But passion must be balanced with humility to avoid ego and overreach. Aligning excitement with self-awareness creates adaptable, collaborative talent that grows with the organization in ways raw experience alone cannot.

Business leaders in HR, Finance, and Operations quickly embrace AI for its ability to reduce workload, while IT often resists due to past challenges with new tech. The author argues IT should shift from strict gatekeeping to strategic governance—guiding mindset, risk, and vision rather than blocking adoption. As AI reshapes talent and work, CIOs should avoid both fear and haste, focusing instead on enabling business-led digital transformation.

After 25 years in “evolutionary” tech, the author argues that true disruption comes from AI and automation, which create entirely new possibilities rather than incremental improvements. Digital personars can perform roles humans once did, raising questions about purpose, identity, and the future of work. Joining Personar, the author seeks to harness AI for meaningful societal impact while guiding businesses to rethink how humans and technology collaborate.