Struggling with AI strategy? In this episode of Impact with Digital, your host Jay Tikam introduces the AI SWIFTER Framework, a 9 Pillar strategy designed to guide CEOs, business owners, and executives through successful AI implementation.

This is part two - a follow on from Part 1, where we focused on the AI Hype and noise that leaves leaders overwhelmed and confused about their next step to AI strategy, in a world where everyone is pushing them to do something - rather than do the right thing.

If you are tired of the AI hype and the fear of costly mistakes, or the fear or missing out, this episode gives you a strategic blueprint for building AI solutions that deliver real business value and has the potential to SHIFT your business to new unthinkable heights.

Jay Tikam dives into each of the 9 +1 Pillars of the AI SWIFTER Framework:

• Alignment: Ensuring AI solves the right problem for the right people at the right time when needed in your business.
• Innovation: Driving purposeful AI innovation within your organisation and most importantly, creating an environment for experimentation.
• Skills: Developing the necessary skills for AI Success, & finding hidden talent that may already be lurking within your company.
• Workflow and Adoption: Effectively integrating I into existing workflows and ensuring the solution developed is actually used and proves valuable for stakeholders.
• Infrastructure: Building a robust AI infrastructure to cope with the demands of AI solutions.
• Frameworks & Models: Choosing the right AI tools and techniques.
• Tracking & Learning: Measuring AI performance for continuous improvement.
• Ethics & Controls: Implement AI responsibly and ethically, being mindful of risks and managing reputation.
• Results & Scale: Achieving tangible business outcomes and scaling AI solutions with repeatable modular approach that speeds up innovation and development. Ensuring the AI solution delivers enduring benefits rather than just following a latest craze.

The +1 component is present across all 9 pillars and its known as DISCOVERY. It plays a crucial role as an ongoing process for AI Strategy. Learn how to avoid AI failure and unlock the transformative potential of AI with the AI SWIFTER Framework.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the relentless noise around Artificial Intelligence?

Is your board pushing for an AI strategy?

Are consultants selling fear while employees worry about job losses?

In this eye-opening episode of Impact with Digital, host Jay Tikam speaks directly to CEOs, founders, and senior leaders navigating the chaotic, high-stakes world of digital and AI transformation. This is Part 1 of a powerful two-part series that breaks through the confusion—and reveals why most AI and digital initiatives fail before they even begin.

• Why 70–85% of AI initiatives fail—and what that means for your business

• The six types of AI failure every executive must understand

• Real-world cautionary tales from Air Canada, Amazon, and Wells Fargo

• The internal and external pressures pushing companies into AI before they’re ready

• The silent fears executives feel—but rarely voice

Digital transformation isn't about being the first to adopt AI, it’s about being the first to get it right. Whether you're a corporate executive, SME owner, or tech leader, this episode brings clarity, empathy, and strategy to a world drowning in buzzwords and fear-based selling.

👉 This is your map through the chaos, so you can lead with confidence instead of confusion.

• 00:00 – Feeling the Pressure: The overwhelming AI noise in the boardroom
• 01:00 – The Inner Dialogue: What executives really feel
• 02:30 – It’s Not Just You: AI anxiety is everywhere
• 03:00 – Noise from All Sides: Boards, vendors, regulators, and staff
• 06:00 – Public Confidence vs Private Doubt: Who do you trust?
• 09:00 – What If It Fails? Real fears, real risks
• 11:40 – Six Ways AI Projects Fail: From adoption issues to ethical landmines
• 16:00 – AI Gone Wrong: Case studies from major brands
• 21:30 – Why AI Initiatives Crash: The hype, the data gaps, the poor planning
• 25:00 – The Late-Night Questions: What keeps leaders awake at night
• 27:00 – The Real Risk: Doing AI for the wrong reasons

🎧 Next up in Part 2:

Jay shares a step-by-step framework to make your AI and digital strategy actionable, people-first, and impact-driven.

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In this episode of Impact with Digital, we dive into a critical problem in AI adoption: 90% of AI initiatives fail—not because of the technology itself, but because companies approach AI as a tech-first initiative rather than a business-value-driven transformation.

Our guest, Andrey Kaluzhny, CEO of 8Allocate, shares insights into:

✅ Why AI implementations often fail to deliver business value

✅ The common mistakes companies make when adopting AI

✅ The stakeholder-first approach to AI & digital transformation

✅ Why Ukraine has become a global leader in IT & AI talent

✅ The importance of ecosystems and partnerships in digital success

Andrey brings over 20 years of experience in software development, financial technology, and AI innovation, working with organisations across Ukraine, Poland, and Romania to drive digital transformation.

🎯 Key Takeaways

🚨 AI is not a magic bullet!

• Many AI projects fail because companies implement AI for the sake of AI—without aligning it to business goals and measurable value.
• Organisations must start with business strategy first, then integrate AI where it drives impact.

📊 Data is the foundation of AI success.

• Companies often jump into AI solutions before organising a strategy.
• A successful AI implementation starts with data collection, data quality, and stakeholder needs before introducing automation.

🌍 Ukraine is a rising powerhouse in AI & software engineering.

• With world-class engineers, a strong mathematical background, and a thriving tech ecosystem, Ukraine is one of the best places to source high-quality AI & IT talent.
• The Ukrainian tech industry is scaling fast, offering cost-effective, top-tier software development services.

🤝 The power of strategic partnerships.

• Large enterprises and banks often fail at digital transformation because they try to replicate FinTech models internally.
• The smarter approach? Partnering with FinTech innovators instead of competing against them.

⚠️ Why stakeholder buy-in matters.

• Digital transformation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, processes, and culture.
• Without alignment from leadership & teams, even the best technology won’t succeed.

💡 Quotes from the Episode

💬 "90% of AI actions fail because they focus on technology first instead of business value." – Andrey Kaluzhny

💬 "If you don’t get stakeholder buy-in, even the best AI solution won’t succeed." – Jay Tikum

💬 "Ukraine’s IT industry is one of the most scalable and cost-effective in Europe, with world-class AI and software engineers." – Andrey Kaluzhny

💬 "Technology is just a tool. The real question is—are you solving the right...