Most technology pilots never make it past the trial stage. What separates the few that succeed from the many that stall?

Peter Carr, associate professor at the University of Waterloo, has spent years helping leaders navigate that shift. His work spans the Faculty of Engineering and the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, where he teaches and researches how organizations can adopt technology responsibly. He has advised dozens of companies on digital transformation, AI adoption, and the cultural and process changes needed to make it real.

In this conversation, Daniel and Peter talk about why 70% of technology projects fail, and what it takes to close that gap. They explore how executives can align business and technology priorities, why collaboration across silos is essential, and how organizations can build the confidence to adopt AI and other emerging tools. Peter also shares examples from BDC, Interac, and manufacturing firms moving from firefighting to predictive maintenance.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• ✅ Why most tech projects stall at the pilot stage
• ✅ How to build a framework for digital transformation
• ✅ What cultural and leadership shifts matter most for AI adoption
• ✅ Why training and upskilling are critical for future competitiveness
• ✅ How executives can separate noise from real strategic signals

🔗 Resources & Links

• 🤝 Connect with Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pdcarr/
• 🌐 Digital Transformation at WatSPEED: https://watspeed.uwaterloo.ca/programs-and-courses/course-digital-transformation.html
• ✨ BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada): https://www.bdc.ca/
• 📩 Subscribe to the Artificial Insights newsletter for key takeaways: https://manary.haus/podcast/#haus
• 👉 Have a guest in mind? Reach out to Daniel at [email protected]

💬 Found this useful? Share it with someone navigating digital transformation in their company.