Strategy Summit 2026: Why AI Transformation Needs a Human Touch

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of a human touch in AI transformation strategies with insights from Nigel Vaz.

AI needs to be central to any organization's strategy today, but many are still not implementing the technology in the most effective ways. In this four-part special series, we'll share conversations from the recent HBR Strategy Summit to help you get ahead. In this episode, HBR editor in chief Amy Bernstein speaks with Nigel Vaz, CEO of Publicis Sapient, a digital transformation company. Vaz explains that many enterprise-wide AI initiatives fail because incentives, talent strategies and a sense of trust aren't considered thoroughly enough. He shares lessons from his front row seat to AI transformations in the last few years, and how he thinks you can create real operational value at scale.

People in this episode

Host: Amy Bernstein

Guest: Nigel Vaz

Topics covered

• AI transformation
• digital transformation
• organizational strategy
• enterprise AI
• trust in technology

Keywords

• AI
• transformation
• strategy
• digital
• trust
• enterprise
• value
• incentives
• talent

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Publicis Sapient, Harvard Business Review

More episodes of HBR IdeaCast

• We All Hate Meetings—Here’s How to Make Them Work · June 9, 2026 · 26 min
• Reinventing an Organization to Do More with Less · June 2, 2026 · 28 min
• What Leads Companies to Betray Their Own Principles · May 26, 2026 · 29 min
• How to Break Free of Negative Thought Spirals · May 19, 2026 · 30 min
• The Leadership Skills That Make Transformation Stick · May 12, 2026 · 31 min
• New Skills to Navigate Continuous Change · May 5, 2026 · 31 min