EASL Founder & CEO John P. Derham asserts that organizations are frozen on a “threshold” between past operational playbooks and an AI-driven future, stuck in a routine of optimizing and cost-cutting legacy processes rather than driving true transformation. Driven by fear, status protection, and rigid corporate attics of outdated KPIs, leadership frequently treats AI as a minor feature rather than a foundational shift. Real innovation in this era demands a culture of continuous adaptation and, crucially, “unlearning”—letting go of obsolete expertise and processes to make room for flexible platform ecosystems. To break free from status-quo thinking, Derham outlines seven practical steps: admitting you are stuck, questioning sacred cows, fostering curiosity, starting small pilots immediately, investing in unlearning, redefining success around adaptability rather than cost-trimming, and connecting beyond organizational silos.
