In this episode of the CAIO podcast, I’m joined by Preetha Sekharan, VP of Digital Incubator and Applied AI and Transformation of Unum. Preetha shares her journey and insights in steering AI initiatives within the organization. She discusses the challenges of implementing AI in a regulated industry and the importance of picking the right use cases and gaining buy-in from senior leaders. Preetha emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary approach and highlights the significance of diversity and inclusion in building successful AI teams.

Key Takeaways:

(05:52) Picking the right use cases and gaining buy-in.
(07:45) Building trust in AI and overcoming skepticism.
(11:52) Converting non-believers and driving adoption.
(12:50) The role of multidisciplinary teams in AI implementation.
(14:43) The importance of change management and operational-success design.
(23:26) Applying first-principles thinking and embracing pivots.
(24:25) Fostering innovation through diversity and inclusion.
(26:51) Partnerships and collaborations in AI initiatives.
(28:44) Addressing ethical considerations and data security.
(31:59) The role of partners and vendors in AI ecosystems.
(34:57) The importance of learning from peers and mentees.
(37:23) The future of AI in the insurance industry.
(38:51) The role of open source in AI development.

Resources Mentioned:

Preetha Sekharan – https://www.linkedin.com/in/preetha-sekharan-3b32b14/
Unum – https://www.linkedin.com/company/unum/

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