Destination: Execution

March 3, 2026

Beyond the Hype: Insights from Silicon Slopes Summit 2026

Recently, I spent a few days at the Silicon Slopes Summit, in the center of Utah’s technology ecosystem. While the focus was undeniably about “what’s next” in technology, many conversations centered around the gritty, human-centric leadership required to turn AI potential into enterprise performance.

At ESG, we guide clients through large-scale transformations, especially the shift towards a human + digital workforce. In reality, the challenge isn’t AI– it’s how to effectively drive change for long-term impact. Instead of prioritizing automation, leaders must ensure their organizations are AI-ready by first defining opportunities and aligning their strategies to solve at scale. While at the Summit, the following takeaways reinforced our approach to “Making Strategy Happen” in this AI era:

Beware FOMO, FOMU, and the “Numbing Phase”.

When faced with the uncertainty of AI adoption, executives often navigate the fear of missing out (FOMO) or fear of messing up (FOMU) while employees create job scarcity-based adoption delays. It’s not uncommon for the newness of AI to create concern and reactivity that can result in workforces falling into a “numbing phase” of resorting to safe, repetitive tasks to avoid failure. Leaders must identify the risks of this transitional “digital grief” early and mitigate its impact through clear, transparent communication to encourage effective AI adoption.

Stop searching for the linear “easy button” and dig into the process.

Mountaineer Jen Drummond emphasized the importance of learning to climb up to high camps, then back down to base camp to acclimatize before the final push to the summit. The same can be applied to AI implementation. Organizations must build foundations in data and literacy, return to them throughout their process to adjust and “acclimatize”, and then scale to success.

Pierce the “Digital Illusion” to prioritize “Reality Audits”.

AI’s ability to generate polished content instantaneously and confidently can become misleading rose-colored glasses and mask underlying operational failures or employee misuse. Success in the hybrid workforce of the future requires “reality audits” that move beyond AI’s perfect dashboard towards human-in-the-loop collaboration that ensures AI is driving business value authentically rather than creating the illusion of impact.

Bottom line: This work is complex, ongoing, and requires strategic execution to be effective. AI is not just a tool you add to your team – it’s a force amplifier that requires fundamentally redesigning the team itself. At ESG, we’re not just watching this shift – we’re operating within it, alongside some of the world’s leading organizations. If you’re stuck in transition, reach out. We’ll find your pragmatic starting point.

— Ed Carr, Chief Commercial Officer, Execution Specialists Group

This content was originally shared via Ed’s LinkedIn profile here.