After this session, you should be able to:

• Assess organizational readiness for AI adoption; identify the specific "soil work" needed before “planting” AI.

• Navigate the change curve: Identify where your staff sit on the change management curve (e.g., shock, denial, experimentation) and apply strategies to lower anxiety, address fear of replacement, and foster psychological safety.

• Articulate a "mission multiplier" strategy draft - a concise, one-page AI strategy statement that connects technology directly to mission impact, ensuring you avoid "AI for AI's sake."

• Utilize an impact/effort matrix to filter ideas, distinguishing between "quick wins" (to start immediately) and "strategic bets" while eliminating low-value distractions.

• Establish lightweight governance that integrates "human-in-the-loop" checkpoints.

• Identify at least one external resource (such as a corporate tech grant, university data science partnership, or foundation capacity-building fund) to accelerate your AI roadmap without draining the budget.