AI Leadership Readiness Assessment
95% of AI pilots fail - not because of technology, but because of leadership gaps
A facilitated diagnostic session that evaluates your leadership team across 9 critical capability intersections using the proprietary Empathetic AI Leadership Matrix™
The Challenge
Research reveals a stark reality about AI implementation failure
Not because the technology doesn't work, but because organizations struggle with the human and organizational complexity of implementation
MIT State of AI in Business 2025
Far above workflow integration (15%), organizational culture (11%), or engineering talent (8%)
Harvard Business Review, Fortune 50 executives research
The leadership capability gap is real and measurable
Harvard Business Review
As HBR concluded:
"The 5% of companies succeeding with AI aren't necessarily those with the most impressive technical rosters - they're the ones that systematically develop leadership capabilities rather than betting success on technical expertise alone."
McKinsey research on organizational transformations confirms the pattern:
70% of transformations fail due to leadership and change management gaps, not technical problems. Leaders fail to set compelling aspirations, build conviction for change, or establish the infrastructure to sustain transformation.
The Empathetic AI Leadership Matrix™
A framework developed from 17 years of identifying what causes technology implementations to fail
9 Intersections Assessed = 27-Point Organizational Diagnostic
We systematically evaluate three leadership capabilities across three AI implementation stages (Planning, Development, Deployment). Each intersection represents a specific area where leadership gaps cause implementation failure.
Based on 17 years of cross-industry experience supporting digital transformations and reaching 30,000+ users globally, these three capabilities consistently determine success:
- Emotional Intelligence: addressing stakeholder anxiety and building trust
- Ethical Decision-Making: establishing governance and accountability
- Cultural Responsiveness: ensuring AI works fairly across diverse contexts
The assessment evaluates these capabilities across three implementation stages (Planning, Development, Deployment), identifying exactly where your leadership gaps could derail success.
The Empathetic AI Leadership Matrix™
27-point organizational diagnostic
How It Works
A structured, facilitated process delivering actionable insights
Pre-Briefing Call
30 minutes
- Understand your AI implementation context
- Identify key stakeholders to participate
- Clarify assessment objectives
Facilitated Assessment Session
2.5 hours
- Structured session with 3-5 leaders (Small), 6-10 leaders (Mid-Size), or 10+ leaders (Enterprise)
- Systematic evaluation across 9 Matrix intersections
- Interactive capability gap identification
Diagnostic Report & Recommendations
- 27-point readiness scoring across all capability areas
- Identification of critical gaps and strengths
- Prioritized recommendations for development
- Roadmap for building leadership readiness before deployment
What You'll Discover
Precise insights into your leadership readiness for AI implementation
Your 27-Point Readiness Profile
Your leadership team's capability scores across all 9 critical intersections
Implementation Stage Risk Assessment
Identify which phases face the highest leadership gaps
Critical Capability Gaps
Pinpoint specific weaknesses requiring immediate attention
Prioritized Development Roadmap
Know exactly where to focus resources before AI deployment
Investment Options
Transparent pricing - we believe in showing costs upfront
Small Team
Perfect for focused leadership groups
- Pre-briefing call (30 minutes)
- 2.5-hour facilitated assessment session
- Comprehensive 27-point diagnostic report
- Prioritized recommendations and development roadmap
- Self-guided development resources
Mid-Size Team
Ideal for cross-functional teams
- Pre-briefing call (30 minutes)
- 2.5-hour facilitated assessment session
- Comprehensive 27-point diagnostic report
- Prioritized recommendations and development roadmap
- Self-guided development resources
Enterprise
Tailored for large organizations
- All Small/Mid-Size Team features
- Multiple team assessments
(same framework applied across different teams/departments) - Executive summary reporting
(leadership-level synthesis across teams)
Why Different Tiers?
Larger leadership teams require:
- More time to ensure everyone's perspective is heard
- Deeper analysis across multiple departments and contexts
- More complex stakeholder dynamics and organizational readiness factors
Our tiered approach ensures you get the depth of assessment your organization needs without paying for complexity you don't require.
All prices USD. No hidden fees.
New Zealand customers: 15% GST applies.
International customers: Local taxes apply where applicable.
Why This Matters
Prevention vs. Recovery
The Cost of Leadership Gaps
World Economic Forum and PwC research shows that long-term AI value emerges when technology is paired with human adaptability and trust. Research cited by WEF found that 90% of jobs will be affected by AI, and job augmentation-not just automation-drives sustainable productivity gains.
The capability gap is expensive: AI implementations involve far more than technology costs. Organizations face significant expenses in data preparation, governance frameworks, integration work, and adoption support-costs that often equal or exceed the technology investment itself.
Most organizations invest in strategic planning (consultants) and technology (vendors) but never validate whether their leaders can actually guide successful implementation. This assessment fills that gap.
Leadership readiness assessment prevents problems that cost hundreds of thousands in:
Delayed Timelines and Extended Vendor Engagements
Failed pilots requiring complete redesign extend costly vendor relationships
Failed Pilots Requiring Complete Redesign
Leadership gaps force expensive rework and lost momentum
Abandoned Implementations and Wasted Technology Investment
Sunk costs in technology that never reaches production
Damaged Stakeholder Relationships and Organizational Credibility
Long-term reputational costs that affect future initiatives
What Happens After the Assessment?
You Receive:
- Comprehensive diagnostic report with 27-point scoring and gap analysis
- Prioritized development roadmap specific to your identified gaps
Your Choice on Next Steps:
Many organizations use the assessment to guide internal development. Others find value in our facilitated leadership programs or implementation advisory services. We'll discuss what makes sense for your context, timeline, and budget.
Your assessment stands alone as valuable regardless of whether you engage further.
Research Foundation
Our assessment is grounded in peer-reviewed research and industry studies
Research Sources
-
Harvard Business Review - What Companies with Successful AI Pilots Do Differently (2025)
https://hbr.org/2025/09/what-companies-with-successful-ai-pilots-do-differently -
McKinsey & Company - Why do most transformations fail? A conversation with Harry Robinson (2019)
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights/why-do-most-transformations-fail-a-conversation-with-harry-robinson -
McKinsey & Company - Common pitfalls in transformations: A conversation with Jon Garcia (2022)
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights/common-pitfalls-in-transformations-a-conversation-with-jon-garcia -
MIT - State of AI in Business 2025: The GenAI Divide (2025)
https://mlq.ai/media/quarterly_decks/v0.1_State_of_AI_in_Business_2025_Report.pdf -
World Economic Forum - Cost, productivity gains and the human factor - a CFO's guide to AI investment (2025)
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/10/cost-productivity-gains-cfo-ai-investment/
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule your assessment and identify your leadership capability gaps before they derail your AI implementation
Questions about which tier is right for you?
Contact us to schedule your AI Leadership Readiness Assessment
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