Charlene Li
@charleneli.bsky.social
Catalyzing transformation to maximize human potential as an author, speaker, advisor & executive coach. NYTimes bestselling author of 6, soon to be 7, books.
2025 was the year of the AI policy. If your company doesn’t have a policy, you risk being left behind.
Here’s how to get started with a strong AI policy:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Here’s how to get started with a strong AI policy:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
It’s 2025. Where’s Your AI Policy?
Most of the time, if your employees are using AI tools independently, things will be fine. But what happens if your employees are using AI…
medium.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
2025 was the year of the AI policy. If your company doesn’t have a policy, you risk being left behind.
Here’s how to get started with a strong AI policy:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Here’s how to get started with a strong AI policy:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Compliance might be the competitive advantage that you’re missing.
Here’s the key: Explainability is a customer feature ✨
Read the breakdown here: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Here’s the key: Explainability is a customer feature ✨
Read the breakdown here: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Stop Treating Compliance Like a Burden. It’s Your Competitive Advantage
Here’s the question that separates winning organizations from struggling ones: Are you treating AI regulation as a constraint, or as a…
medium.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Compliance might be the competitive advantage that you’re missing.
Here’s the key: Explainability is a customer feature ✨
Read the breakdown here: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Here’s the key: Explainability is a customer feature ✨
Read the breakdown here: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Unpopular opinion: Regulations aren’t constraints.
They’re forcing functions for better practices.
Your customers want to know how you use AI, and your teams should understand it, too.
It’s compliance-as-best-practice.
They’re forcing functions for better practices.
Your customers want to know how you use AI, and your teams should understand it, too.
It’s compliance-as-best-practice.
December 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Unpopular opinion: Regulations aren’t constraints.
They’re forcing functions for better practices.
Your customers want to know how you use AI, and your teams should understand it, too.
It’s compliance-as-best-practice.
They’re forcing functions for better practices.
Your customers want to know how you use AI, and your teams should understand it, too.
It’s compliance-as-best-practice.
Have we entered the era of fully autonomous AI?
Probably not.
There’s a lot of hype out there, but there’s some truth, too. Read my full breakdown:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Probably not.
There’s a lot of hype out there, but there’s some truth, too. Read my full breakdown:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Agentic AI: Cutting Through the Hype to Find the Reality
Here’s what I keep hearing: “2025 is the year of the agent!” “Agentic AI will replace knowledge workers!” “It’s fully autonomous and…
medium.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Have we entered the era of fully autonomous AI?
Probably not.
There’s a lot of hype out there, but there’s some truth, too. Read my full breakdown:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Probably not.
There’s a lot of hype out there, but there’s some truth, too. Read my full breakdown:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
ROI isn’t the most important consideration when it comes to AI.
It’s about finding a platform that fits your organization – one that your teams will *actually use.*
Value creation through people and process change is the real ROI.
It’s about finding a platform that fits your organization – one that your teams will *actually use.*
Value creation through people and process change is the real ROI.
December 4, 2025 at 1:42 PM
ROI isn’t the most important consideration when it comes to AI.
It’s about finding a platform that fits your organization – one that your teams will *actually use.*
Value creation through people and process change is the real ROI.
It’s about finding a platform that fits your organization – one that your teams will *actually use.*
Value creation through people and process change is the real ROI.
Here’s what you need to be asking AI:
👉 “Before you start, show me your reasoning.”
It might cost more tokens or time, but it cuts errors in half, and that’s always worth it.
👉 “Before you start, show me your reasoning.”
It might cost more tokens or time, but it cuts errors in half, and that’s always worth it.
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Here’s what you need to be asking AI:
👉 “Before you start, show me your reasoning.”
It might cost more tokens or time, but it cuts errors in half, and that’s always worth it.
👉 “Before you start, show me your reasoning.”
It might cost more tokens or time, but it cuts errors in half, and that’s always worth it.
AI adoption requires speed.
Take too long to implement it and you’ll find the tech has already evolved, leaving you behind.
Here’s how leaders can use speed to their advantage, while still making smart decisions:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Take too long to implement it and you’ll find the tech has already evolved, leaving you behind.
Here’s how leaders can use speed to their advantage, while still making smart decisions:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
The Human Side of AI: Why Speed Matters More Than You Think
Do you remember when ChatGPT first came out? It was November of 2022, and I started getting calls.
medium.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:03 PM
AI adoption requires speed.
Take too long to implement it and you’ll find the tech has already evolved, leaving you behind.
Here’s how leaders can use speed to their advantage, while still making smart decisions:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Take too long to implement it and you’ll find the tech has already evolved, leaving you behind.
Here’s how leaders can use speed to their advantage, while still making smart decisions:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Do you know the differences between these types of AI?
🔮 Predictive AI uses your data to forecast what's likely to happen.
✨ Generative AI creates new content by learning patterns.
🤖 Agentic AI acts on your behalf, booking meetings, managing workflows, completing tasks.
🔮 Predictive AI uses your data to forecast what's likely to happen.
✨ Generative AI creates new content by learning patterns.
🤖 Agentic AI acts on your behalf, booking meetings, managing workflows, completing tasks.
November 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Do you know the differences between these types of AI?
🔮 Predictive AI uses your data to forecast what's likely to happen.
✨ Generative AI creates new content by learning patterns.
🤖 Agentic AI acts on your behalf, booking meetings, managing workflows, completing tasks.
🔮 Predictive AI uses your data to forecast what's likely to happen.
✨ Generative AI creates new content by learning patterns.
🤖 Agentic AI acts on your behalf, booking meetings, managing workflows, completing tasks.
Do you need a custom AI model? Probably not.
Here’s a roadmap that can help you decide whether you should build a custom model from the ground up or simply customize an existing model to make it work better for you.
⬇️
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Here’s a roadmap that can help you decide whether you should build a custom model from the ground up or simply customize an existing model to make it work better for you.
⬇️
medium.com/@charleneli/...
How to Build the Custom AI Model You Actually Need
Picture this: You’re in a strategy meeting and someone on your tech team confidently announces, “We need to build a custom AI model.”
medium.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Do you need a custom AI model? Probably not.
Here’s a roadmap that can help you decide whether you should build a custom model from the ground up or simply customize an existing model to make it work better for you.
⬇️
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Here’s a roadmap that can help you decide whether you should build a custom model from the ground up or simply customize an existing model to make it work better for you.
⬇️
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Effective AI users are using their time to develop the skills that make them uniquely human:
🔹 Empathy
🔹 Intuition
🔹 Self-reflection
🔹 Judgment
🔹 Wisdom
That’s ✨integrated intelligence.✨
🔹 Empathy
🔹 Intuition
🔹 Self-reflection
🔹 Judgment
🔹 Wisdom
That’s ✨integrated intelligence.✨
November 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Effective AI users are using their time to develop the skills that make them uniquely human:
🔹 Empathy
🔹 Intuition
🔹 Self-reflection
🔹 Judgment
🔹 Wisdom
That’s ✨integrated intelligence.✨
🔹 Empathy
🔹 Intuition
🔹 Self-reflection
🔹 Judgment
🔹 Wisdom
That’s ✨integrated intelligence.✨
AI is constantly evolving, and fast.
🕳️ The only pitfall is thinking that you know everything.
🏆 Continuous learning is the foundation of long-term AI success.
Here’s how I stay ahead of the curve:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
🕳️ The only pitfall is thinking that you know everything.
🏆 Continuous learning is the foundation of long-term AI success.
Here’s how I stay ahead of the curve:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Taking Control of your AI Learning
Last week, I shared that when it comes to AI adoption and empowering your people to harness AI tools, training is just the beginning. The…
medium.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
AI is constantly evolving, and fast.
🕳️ The only pitfall is thinking that you know everything.
🏆 Continuous learning is the foundation of long-term AI success.
Here’s how I stay ahead of the curve:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
🕳️ The only pitfall is thinking that you know everything.
🏆 Continuous learning is the foundation of long-term AI success.
Here’s how I stay ahead of the curve:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Does your company really need a custom AI model?
Try customizing existing models with your data first:
▶️ Fine-tune it with homegrown data
▶️ Use RAG to feed it new info on a regular basis
Have you tried either of these approaches? Which do you prefer?
Try customizing existing models with your data first:
▶️ Fine-tune it with homegrown data
▶️ Use RAG to feed it new info on a regular basis
Have you tried either of these approaches? Which do you prefer?
November 4, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Does your company really need a custom AI model?
Try customizing existing models with your data first:
▶️ Fine-tune it with homegrown data
▶️ Use RAG to feed it new info on a regular basis
Have you tried either of these approaches? Which do you prefer?
Try customizing existing models with your data first:
▶️ Fine-tune it with homegrown data
▶️ Use RAG to feed it new info on a regular basis
Have you tried either of these approaches? Which do you prefer?
Without AI policies:
🕵️ Many employees are afraid to reveal their AI use
🤔 Customers feel less confident if your AI policy isn’t clear
A culture of trust and transparency is key.
Here’s how:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
🕵️ Many employees are afraid to reveal their AI use
🤔 Customers feel less confident if your AI policy isn’t clear
A culture of trust and transparency is key.
Here’s how:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
It’s 2025. Where’s Your AI Policy?
Most of the time, if your employees are using AI tools independently, things will be fine. But what happens if your employees are using AI…
medium.com
October 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Without AI policies:
🕵️ Many employees are afraid to reveal their AI use
🤔 Customers feel less confident if your AI policy isn’t clear
A culture of trust and transparency is key.
Here’s how:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
🕵️ Many employees are afraid to reveal their AI use
🤔 Customers feel less confident if your AI policy isn’t clear
A culture of trust and transparency is key.
Here’s how:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
I co-wrote “Winning with AI” with Katia Walsh, and here’s what we discovered:
> You don’t need a separate AI strategy
> You *do* need an AI roadmap that supports your existing business strategy
It’s a simple shift, but it changes everything. 🗺️
> You don’t need a separate AI strategy
> You *do* need an AI roadmap that supports your existing business strategy
It’s a simple shift, but it changes everything. 🗺️
October 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I co-wrote “Winning with AI” with Katia Walsh, and here’s what we discovered:
> You don’t need a separate AI strategy
> You *do* need an AI roadmap that supports your existing business strategy
It’s a simple shift, but it changes everything. 🗺️
> You don’t need a separate AI strategy
> You *do* need an AI roadmap that supports your existing business strategy
It’s a simple shift, but it changes everything. 🗺️
Whose job is AI: IT, or HR?
👉 IT’s job is to maintain system stability, not shake things up
👉 AI requires a cultural shift that HR can facilitate
Dig deeper: medium.com/@charleneli/...
👉 IT’s job is to maintain system stability, not shake things up
👉 AI requires a cultural shift that HR can facilitate
Dig deeper: medium.com/@charleneli/...
AI Isn’t an IT Project: Here’s Who Should Be Leading Your AI Efforts
Let me start with a question: Who should be leading your AI efforts?
medium.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Whose job is AI: IT, or HR?
👉 IT’s job is to maintain system stability, not shake things up
👉 AI requires a cultural shift that HR can facilitate
Dig deeper: medium.com/@charleneli/...
👉 IT’s job is to maintain system stability, not shake things up
👉 AI requires a cultural shift that HR can facilitate
Dig deeper: medium.com/@charleneli/...
💬 "We're not ready for AI yet."
Every AI transformation hits this wall: the reluctant executive who's dragging their feet.
⏩ Address their underlying fears
⏩ Make them the hero
⏩ Practice “show, not tell” with the results
Every AI transformation hits this wall: the reluctant executive who's dragging their feet.
⏩ Address their underlying fears
⏩ Make them the hero
⏩ Practice “show, not tell” with the results
October 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
💬 "We're not ready for AI yet."
Every AI transformation hits this wall: the reluctant executive who's dragging their feet.
⏩ Address their underlying fears
⏩ Make them the hero
⏩ Practice “show, not tell” with the results
Every AI transformation hits this wall: the reluctant executive who's dragging their feet.
⏩ Address their underlying fears
⏩ Make them the hero
⏩ Practice “show, not tell” with the results
95% of AI pilots fail.
Want to be in the 5%? The answer is committing from Day 1, investing the necessary resources, and empowering your teams to actually *use* your AI pilots.
Here’s how: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Want to be in the 5%? The answer is committing from Day 1, investing the necessary resources, and empowering your teams to actually *use* your AI pilots.
Here’s how: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Stop Doing AI Pilots and Start Creating Strategic Impact
If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one to hear it, does it make a sound? Here’s a better question. If your AI pilot succeeds…
medium.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:01 PM
95% of AI pilots fail.
Want to be in the 5%? The answer is committing from Day 1, investing the necessary resources, and empowering your teams to actually *use* your AI pilots.
Here’s how: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Want to be in the 5%? The answer is committing from Day 1, investing the necessary resources, and empowering your teams to actually *use* your AI pilots.
Here’s how: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Don't let AI become another expensive shelfware. Make this quarter count.
As we race towards the end of the year, it’s time to take stock of your AI investments.
❓ Are your AI tools adding value?
❓ Are your teams using AI effectively?
❓ Are key stakeholders aware of AI-supported achievements?
As we race towards the end of the year, it’s time to take stock of your AI investments.
❓ Are your AI tools adding value?
❓ Are your teams using AI effectively?
❓ Are key stakeholders aware of AI-supported achievements?
October 14, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Don't let AI become another expensive shelfware. Make this quarter count.
As we race towards the end of the year, it’s time to take stock of your AI investments.
❓ Are your AI tools adding value?
❓ Are your teams using AI effectively?
❓ Are key stakeholders aware of AI-supported achievements?
As we race towards the end of the year, it’s time to take stock of your AI investments.
❓ Are your AI tools adding value?
❓ Are your teams using AI effectively?
❓ Are key stakeholders aware of AI-supported achievements?
If your executives don’t have AI fluency, how are they supposed to assess the value of your AI initiatives?
Here’s the leadership approach that works: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Here’s the leadership approach that works: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Executive AI Fluency: The Missing Link in Transformation
Here’s what I keep hearing from organizations: “Our AI initiatives aren’t delivering the results we expected.”
medium.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM
If your executives don’t have AI fluency, how are they supposed to assess the value of your AI initiatives?
Here’s the leadership approach that works: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Here’s the leadership approach that works: medium.com/@charleneli/...
The most dangerous phrase in AI adoption?
"I've got this figured out."
🚀 The best AI leaders aren't the ones with all the answers
💡 They're the ones asking the best questions.
"I've got this figured out."
🚀 The best AI leaders aren't the ones with all the answers
💡 They're the ones asking the best questions.
September 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The most dangerous phrase in AI adoption?
"I've got this figured out."
🚀 The best AI leaders aren't the ones with all the answers
💡 They're the ones asking the best questions.
"I've got this figured out."
🚀 The best AI leaders aren't the ones with all the answers
💡 They're the ones asking the best questions.
This year’s Burning Man festival wasn’t what anyone expected. Here’s what Burners taught me about preparation:
🔥 Map out your plan
🔥 Prepare for disruption
🔥 Adapt and pivot
Here’s how: medium.com/@charleneli/...
🔥 Map out your plan
🔥 Prepare for disruption
🔥 Adapt and pivot
Here’s how: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Plan Your Burn, Then Burn Your Plan: Leadership Lessons From Burning Man
What Burning Man 2025 taught me about leading when your best-laid plans get blown away
medium.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
This year’s Burning Man festival wasn’t what anyone expected. Here’s what Burners taught me about preparation:
🔥 Map out your plan
🔥 Prepare for disruption
🔥 Adapt and pivot
Here’s how: medium.com/@charleneli/...
🔥 Map out your plan
🔥 Prepare for disruption
🔥 Adapt and pivot
Here’s how: medium.com/@charleneli/...
Before you implement AI tools, it’s essential to have:
✅ A strong strategy
✅ Internal team alignment
✅ Execution readiness plan
How does your current plan measure up? Is your team ready to make the most of your AI investment?
✅ A strong strategy
✅ Internal team alignment
✅ Execution readiness plan
How does your current plan measure up? Is your team ready to make the most of your AI investment?
September 24, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Before you implement AI tools, it’s essential to have:
✅ A strong strategy
✅ Internal team alignment
✅ Execution readiness plan
How does your current plan measure up? Is your team ready to make the most of your AI investment?
✅ A strong strategy
✅ Internal team alignment
✅ Execution readiness plan
How does your current plan measure up? Is your team ready to make the most of your AI investment?
Your personal brand isn’t a vanity platform.
It’s a way to connect with and serve your audience, offering:
🔹Valuable insights
🔹Stories from your career
🔹Actionable roadmaps
Here’s how to build your personal brand:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
It’s a way to connect with and serve your audience, offering:
🔹Valuable insights
🔹Stories from your career
🔹Actionable roadmaps
Here’s how to build your personal brand:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
Your Personal Brand Isn’t About You
Most people get personal branding completely wrong. They think it’s about crafting the perfect bio, posting polished headshots, or sharing…
medium.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Your personal brand isn’t a vanity platform.
It’s a way to connect with and serve your audience, offering:
🔹Valuable insights
🔹Stories from your career
🔹Actionable roadmaps
Here’s how to build your personal brand:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
It’s a way to connect with and serve your audience, offering:
🔹Valuable insights
🔹Stories from your career
🔹Actionable roadmaps
Here’s how to build your personal brand:
medium.com/@charleneli/...
How can leaders train teams to use AI?
The answer: a hybrid system with:
✅ Centralized training (safety, ethics, policy)
✅ Decentralized learning (real-time experiments)
✅ Psych safety for smart mistakes
Toolkit to turn AI anxiety into fluency:
medium.com/@charleneli_...
The answer: a hybrid system with:
✅ Centralized training (safety, ethics, policy)
✅ Decentralized learning (real-time experiments)
✅ Psych safety for smart mistakes
Toolkit to turn AI anxiety into fluency:
medium.com/@charleneli_...
Empowering Teams with AI Training
“We’re going to become an AI-first company.”
medium.com
September 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM
How can leaders train teams to use AI?
The answer: a hybrid system with:
✅ Centralized training (safety, ethics, policy)
✅ Decentralized learning (real-time experiments)
✅ Psych safety for smart mistakes
Toolkit to turn AI anxiety into fluency:
medium.com/@charleneli_...
The answer: a hybrid system with:
✅ Centralized training (safety, ethics, policy)
✅ Decentralized learning (real-time experiments)
✅ Psych safety for smart mistakes
Toolkit to turn AI anxiety into fluency:
medium.com/@charleneli_...
AI disruption is here: are you prepared, or are you preserving the old ways?
I see too many leaders focused on preserving the status quo while their competitors are busy building the future.
The biggest risk isn't moving too quickly with AI, it's moving too slowly.
I see too many leaders focused on preserving the status quo while their competitors are busy building the future.
The biggest risk isn't moving too quickly with AI, it's moving too slowly.
September 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
AI disruption is here: are you prepared, or are you preserving the old ways?
I see too many leaders focused on preserving the status quo while their competitors are busy building the future.
The biggest risk isn't moving too quickly with AI, it's moving too slowly.
I see too many leaders focused on preserving the status quo while their competitors are busy building the future.
The biggest risk isn't moving too quickly with AI, it's moving too slowly.