The Podcast · Episode 010
80% of AI Projects Are Failing. Here's Why | Ryan Drumheller
with Ryan Drumheller
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Clips from this episode
- IT Leader Humans FirstDropping Jun 2
- Becoming a True LeaderDropping Jun 5
- AI in Marketing: The Human TouchDropping Jun 8
- Having the Tough ConversationsDropping Jun 11
Key takeaways
- Less than 20% of AI projects succeed because companies skip the human planning phase and treat AI like set-and-forget automation.
- Bad data in means bad results out. Ryan calls it the "mud water" problem and it's why most AI rollouts fail.
- Every business adopting AI needs a governance committee, a clear human owner per initiative, and contracts that protect trade secrets from being used to train competitors' models.
- The fractional executive model gives small and mid-size companies access to C-level expertise without the C-level price tag.
- Real IT leadership means putting people first, quietly building a Plan B when you know the official plan will fail, and remembering that "a little good every day adds up to a lot of good in time."
About the guest
Ryan Drumheller
Ryan Drumheller is the founder of Stellar Horn Group and a Fractional CIO with over 20 years of IT leadership experience. He has led mergers and acquisitions, technology transformations, and team-building initiatives at companies across industries, with a focus on helping businesses adopt AI the right way. He hosts the Decline Invite Podcast and is finishing his first book on leadership and the IT industry, set to release later this year.
