AI Knowhow

The classic tech debate—build or buy—gets a high-stakes upgrade in the age of AI.

Courtney Baker sits down with David DeWolf and Mohan Rao to unpack why two-thirds of vendor-led AI projects succeed while most in-house efforts fall short. Spoiler: it's not just about speed or cost—it's about compounding intelligence.

You'll learn why the real question isn't "build or buy," but "what problem are we solving?" Plus, insights from new MIT research, a $2.8T infrastructure forecast, and you'll hear how one of David's AI predictions seems to be coming true.

Try Knownwell free for 30 days: www.knownwell.com/30days

Watch episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JR_iftK-afw

What if your business could actually get smarter the more it uses AI?

Courtney Baker, David DeWolf, and Mohan Rao unpack what it takes to build a true learning organization—one that compounds intelligence, adapts fast, and reshapes its structure around speed, not silos. Forget one-off AI wins. This is about systems that evolve.

Pete Buer kicks things off with a sharp take on the decline of college degrees in an AI-first economy. If skills like adaptability and problem-solving are the new currency, how should leaders rethink hiring, training, and culture?

Plus, a standout interview with Jason Mlicki on how professional services firms can still build authority when AI owns the search bar. Want to get found in a no-click world? Jason shares the five ways to break out of the walled garden.

This episode is your cheat code for staying relevant—and getting ahead.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J_KPe2tsGc

📘 See your AI readiness at: https://www.knownwell.com/experience

Best practices once drove growth. But in the AI era, they might be your biggest barrier to progress.

Courtney Baker, David DeWolf, and Mohan Rao break down why rigid frameworks like Lean, Agile, and NPS are no match for real-time transformation. They explore how AI is rewriting the rules—and why success now depends on constant reinvention, not static playbooks.

David steps into "AI in the Wild" to unpack a headline-grabbing statement from Walmart's CEO: every job—2 million of them—is about to change because of AI. What does that mean for leaders everywhere?

Later, Courtney sits down with Andy Sitison, CTO of Share More Stories, to talk about human-centered transformation. They dig into practical AI ethics, how to protect authenticity in a world of generative noise, and what it really takes to build trust with technology.

📘 Download The New Retention Playbook: Knownwell.com/playbook

💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/knownwell

🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tYS_O8ByXCI

What if the biggest threat to next year's revenue isn't churn—but the quiet erosion of loyalty you never saw coming?

With 85% of professional services revenue riding on existing clients, old tools like NPS and gut instinct just won't cut it anymore. In this special edition, we're taking you inside the Knownwell platform itself—no roundtable, no guests—just a front-row seat to how real-time commercial intelligence is changing the game.

Knownwell Chief Marketing Officer Courtney Baker and Chief Product and Technology Officer Mohan Rao walk through the platform live, showing how executives can go from blind spots and firefighting to confident, data-backed decisions in minutes. Watch as they simulate a Monday morning at a fictional agency—and reveal how Knownwell helps leaders prep for surprise client calls, uncover hidden growth opportunities, and balance energy across a full portfolio.

This isn't just a product demo. It's a blueprint for how high-performing teams are staying ahead of risk, strengthening client relationships, and winning renewals—without the guesswork.

👉 See Knownwell in action. Book your personalized demo now: https://www.knownwell.com/demo

You should definitely watch this episode on YouTube to see Knownwell in action:

https://youtu.be/aZa85STT33k

We're celebrating 100 episodes of AI Knowhow and asking: what have the last two years of AI actually taught us?

Courtney, David, and Mohan rewind the tape to trace how far AI and executive thinking have come since episode 1 of the show all the way back in September 2023. What began as a curiosity is now a boardroom priority. But while the tech has sprinted ahead, the biggest barriers aren't technical: they're cultural, organizational, and deeply human.

The team shares what's surprised them (Wendy's drive-thru, anyone?), what still hasn't landed (where's the breakout AI-native device?), and what leaders need to carry into the next two years.

And Pete Buer joins to reflect on some of his favorite conversations and the people shaping the future with care, not just code.

It's a candid, insightful, and sometimes humorous look back, and a launchpad for what's next.

00:00 Introduction and Milestone Celebration 01:33 Reflecting on Two Years of AI 02:12 Lessons Learned and Future Outlook 06:26 AI in Everyday Life 08:46 Unmet Expectations and Surprises 16:13 Reflections on 100 Episodes 21:09 Looking Ahead to the Next 100 Episodes

Make sure to check out www.knownwell.com.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/awG-DWpnGEc

AI is fast becoming a utility—accessible to everyone, everywhere. But if the tools are the same, where does competitive advantage come from?

Courtney Baker, David DeWolf, and Mohan Rao explore the new sources of differentiation when AI is no longer scarce: proprietary data, clean pipelines, workflow integration, and a culture that learns faster than rivals. They even tackle whether generalists or specialists are better positioned to thrive in this new era.

Pete Buer sits down with Kleio CEO Philippe Wellens to unpack why 95% of AI pilots fail, how to orchestrate AI agents with guardrails, and the right way to measure ROI and time-to-value when agents are taking real action inside your business.

All of that PLUS Pete has a breakdown on why nimble AI-native boutiques are outpacing the Big Four—and what that means for leaders trying to steer enterprise giants.

Curious how AI is reshaping leadership and redefining what it means to manage? Try rethinking your organization's leadership journey from the ground up. Visit www.Knownwell.com/experience to explore real-time commercial intelligence—and join the conversation on LinkedIn to tell us how you think we should train the next generation of leaders.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wwp9X_oqw9k

Will AI replace middle managers, or will it make them more human than ever?

In this episode, Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker, CEO David DeWolf, and Chief Product and Technology Officer Mohan Rao unpack AI's real impact on middle management. Is the leadership pipeline about to be disrupted? Or will we see a resurgence of mentorship, critical thinking, and apprenticeship models?

Pete Buer continues his conversation with philosopher, author, and Forbes columnist Dr. Pia Lauritzen. They dive deep into the existential risks of AI and why existential, ethical, and epistemological questions must never be left to AI

All of that PLUS Pete joins Courtney to review some AI news. This week they discuss a Wired article on how scientists are using AI to invent bizarre, yet effective experiments. The takeaway? AI isn't just about automation—it's about creative collaboration.

Don't miss insights on what leadership training might look like in an AI-first world, why critical thinking beats arithmetic, and how "question culture" could be the secret to better business decisions.

Curious how AI is reshaping leadership and redefining what it means to manage? Try rethinking your organization's leadership journey from the ground up. Visit www.Knownwell.com/experience to explore real-time commercial intelligence—and join the conversation on LinkedIn to tell us how you think we should train the next generation of leaders.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NG3fNH3aia8

AOL finally shut down its dial-up service—but the real story? Many companies are still treating AI like it's 1999. In this episode, the team explores what it takes to move from experimentation to transformation in the age of ambient AI.

Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker, CEO David DeWolf, and Chief Product & Technology Officer Mohan Rao dive into the biggest challenge facing leaders today: AI isn't just a tool—it's becoming the environment we work in. So why are so many organizations still "sneaking downstairs" to test it in isolation?

Then, Pete Buer speaks with philosopher Dr. Pia Lauritzen. She explains that the real existential risk of AI is not extinction, but losing what makes us human. She argues that blindly optimizing for speed and output might cost us the deeper questions that drive true progress.

All of that PLUS Pete has another edition of AI in the Wild. This week, he breaks down the latest MIT report on AI's impact on jobs: most displacement is happening in offshore and outsourced roles—for now. Plus, only a sliver of AI investments are delivering ROI, and that's mostly through efficiency, not innovation.

If you're still piloting AI in a silo, this episode is your wake-up call.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2eoNu4WvsFc

Growing existing clients is 95% more profitable than chasing new deals. Get the Commercial Relationship Playbook and turn relationships into your most reliable growth engine: knownwell.com/relationshipplaybook

What do corporate boards really want from AI initiatives—and how can executive teams prepare to deliver?

Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker is joined by CEO David DeWolf and Chief Product & Technology Officer Mohan Rao for a revealing discussion on how boardroom expectations around AI have evolved. From ROI to risk and organizational readiness, discover the three big priorities every board member is tracking—and how to ace the conversation before it even starts.

Then, Pete Buer interviews David Evans, founder of ArcSyne, about using AI to forecast complex futures. They explore how AI-powered scenario modeling is helping leadership teams navigate market volatility, rethink org structures, and avoid strategic blind spots. From trade policy to pricing strategy, Evans shares real-world use cases and insights that professional services leaders won't want to miss.

Stop chasing new logos—start unlocking exponential growth with the clients you already have. Download Knownwell's Commercial Relationship Playbook and turn retention into your biggest revenue driver at Knownwell.com/relationshipplaybook.

Show Notes

• Visit the ArcSyne website
• Connect with ArcSyne Founder David Evans on LinkedIn
• Connect with David DeWolf on LinkedIn
• Connect with Mohan Rao on LinkedIn
• Connect with Courtney Baker on LinkedIn
• Connect with Pete Buer on LinkedIn
• Get a guided Knownwell demo
• Follow Knownwell on LinkedIn

It's that time again—budget season. But how do you plan AI spending for a future that keeps shifting?

Knownwell CMO Courtney Baker is joined by CEO David DeWolf and Chief Product & Technology Officer Mohan Rao to unpack how leaders can budget for AI in 2026 without wasting spend or missing out. The takeaway? Don't budget for "AI"—budget for solving real business problems. From aligning with KPIs to adopting a 70/20/10 allocation model, they outline how to move from pilots to scalable, ROI-focused AI investments.

Next, Pete Buer sits down with Alex Kelleher, CEO of Quantum Rise, who makes the case for thinking in products, not projects. He explains why agility, measurable KPIs, and shared risk models are redefining how consulting delivers AI value—and how your business can adopt the same mindset.

Plus: A new segment, "What's Your Password (And Why Is It 123456)?", reveals how even global giants like McDonald's are still failing cybersecurity 101—and what AI-powered defenses can help you do better.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z8-16tvNw50

Visit Knownwell.com to see how your own company's data could be working harder for you.