September Smith

Are You AI-Ready?

Business EN ↓ 6 episodes

The AI timelines have shifted. What was once a "5-year plan" is now a 12-month imperative. Are You AI-Ready? is the weekly signal-amidst-the-noise for business leaders and ambitious professionals who are tired of vendor hype and generic predictions. We explore what it actually takes to build an AI-ready organization—and an AI-proof career—in a world where execution is the only metric that matters. Hosted by September Smith, PEng, MA, an Engineer, AI Strategist, and Educator, this show bridges the gap between high-level strategy and on-the-ground reality. We bypass the sales pitches to bring yo...

Author

September Smith

Episodes

3X More AI Success: The Power of Process Redesign w Aldo Lares 23.03.2026 36:41

Aldo Lares , Microsoft Solutions Architect & Process redesign specialist, challenges the executive assumption that AI is a "plug-and-play" solution . He argues that true AI readiness is a "triple header" involving the redesign of processes, the elevation of talent, and the strategic selection of tools . Executive Action Items: 🔹 Identify the 20% of process improvements that will yield 80% of...

Adopt AI, Have Zero Trust - with Hector Ocadiz 12.03.2026 36:16

In this episode, we talk with Hector Ocadiz, founder of Suri Services, a Mexican "Frontier Firm" at the leading edge of AI-enabled Business Process Outsourcing. Hector argues that true AI readiness requires a "Secure AI" culture where innovation and security are two sides of the same coin. We explore why AI acts as a "Great Amplifier" of your existing organizational state—and how to ensure it scal...

AI-Readiness - 10 Elements and a "Silver Bullet" to Get There 03.03.2026 25:53

Most business leaders are overwhelmed by the 10 distinct elements required for AI-readiness—resulting in massive cognitive overload and an 80% failure rate for enterprise AI initiatives. In this episode, hosts September and Rain dismantle this daunting 10-point checklist and reveal why prioritizing the "Human Engine" is the ultimate silver bullet to mastering them all. If you’ve been treating AI a...

Why 50% of AI-Ready Success is Framing the Problem - with Eduardo Cerda 24.02.2026 35:00

Most organizations are rushing into AI "sin rumbo"—without a direction. In this premiere episode, host September Smith sits down with Eduardo Cerda , Digital Transformation & Strategy Advisor and author of AI with a Compass , to dismantle the "hype-first" approach to technology. If you’ve been treating AI as a software upgrade to be managed by IT, you are already off course. Eduardo explains w...

Strategic AI Capability: The 12-Month Countdown 24.02.2026 15:04

The professional world is about to change radically. While many business leaders have been operating on a three-to-five-year plan for AI adoption, the timeline has officially shifted. With Microsoft AI Chief Mustafa Suleyman warning that human-level performance on professional tasks is a mere 12 to 18 months away, the "buffer" is gone. In this inaugural episode, September Smith and Rain Shimizu Sm...

TRAILER: Are You AI Ready Podcast 23.02.2026 0:23

Most businesses and professionals are not "AI ready," but a "seismic shift" is expected in 12 to 18 months. Preparation for this shift needs to begin now. The "Are You AI Ready" podcast features weekly conversations with strategists, specialists, and industry leaders. These conversations aim to help listeners understand what AI readiness requires and what steps they need to take.