Are you ready to face the AI facts about what it really takes to lead in the age of disruption?
If you’re a CEO or senior leader trying to navigate the chaos of AI transformation, this episode is your roadmap. Jim Schleckser sits down with Geoff Woods, bestselling author of The AI-Driven Leader, to reveal the hard truths and surprising opportunities behind AI adoption. You’ll see how Geoff went from leading a global industrial powerhouse to helping executives turn AI into their ultimate competitive advantage.
You’ll discover how to:
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Use AI as a thought partner to sharpen strategy and decision-making.
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Separate hype from the AI facts that actually drive performance and growth.
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Lead your team through change with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Listen now to uncover the AI facts that can transform how you think, lead, and compete in the years ahead.
The Mindset Behind AI-Driven Leadership
[00:01:10] – The One Thing That Drives Growth
Jim and Geoff kick off by revisiting the concept of “The One Thing,” the idea that focus equals growth. Geoff explains how narrowing your company’s attention to what truly matters creates exponential results—an idea that later becomes crucial in applying AI effectively.
[00:08:35] – From Steel to Strategy: Geoff’s Unlikely Path to AI
Geoff recounts his journey from Chief Growth Officer at Jindal Steel to becoming an AI leadership expert. His experience realigning a 100,000-person workforce taught him that sustainable success depends on adapting people, strategy, and technology together.
[00:17:40] – The Question That Sparked an AI Transformation
When Geoff first encountered ChatGPT, he didn’t ask, “What can this tool do?”—he asked, “What skill should I master next?” That shift from curiosity to commitment became the foundation for his philosophy of AI as a daily leadership discipline.
[00:23:55] – Using AI as a Thought Partner, Not a Tool
Instead of treating AI like a task assistant, Geoff reframed it as a thought partner. By teaching leaders to use AI to ask better questions, he shows how to elevate strategic thinking rather than automate surface-level work.
[00:31:10] – CRIT: The Framework That Changes Everything
Geoff introduces his CRIT method—Context, Role, Interview, Task—a simple framework for communicating effectively with AI. It’s a repeatable process for turning vague prompts into precise, high-value outputs, and it’s a major step toward mastering real-world AI use.
The AI Facts That Every Leader Needs to Hear
[00:38:20] – The AI Boardroom That Saved a CEO
One of the episode’s most compelling stories: Geoff helps a CEO use AI to create “virtual board members,” predicting reactions and objections before a real meeting. The result? A six-month turnaround that saved the company’s leadership team—a true testament to the power of applied AI facts in action.
[00:49:15] – How to Train Sales Teams the AI-Driven Way
Geoff explains how his company uses AI to review sales calls, generate instant coaching feedback, and rewrite scripts based on real data. This system transforms how teams learn—faster, smarter, and with measurable results grounded in AI facts, not guesswork.
[00:57:40] – The Truth About Competitive Advantage in the AI Era
Here, Geoff breaks a common myth: AI itself is not your competitive advantage. Instead, the real differentiator lies in how leaders apply it to strengthen their company’s unique capabilities. The AI facts are clear—technology levels the field, but leadership defines who wins.
[01:06:15] – Human Skills in a Machine World
Looking beyond automation, Geoff discusses how AI can liberate—not replace—people. The key is to double down on human skills that are valuable, rare, and costly to imitate, ensuring that leaders stay relevant in an AI-driven economy.
[01:12:05] – The 100x Value Experiment
In a standout close, Geoff shares how his assistant used AI to rethink her role, redesign her workflows, and ultimately make both of them more valuable. It’s the perfect proof that when leaders embrace the right AI facts—and apply them with focus—the results can be transformational.
About Geoff Woods
Geoff Woods is the #1 international bestselling author of The AI-Driven Leader, host of the AI-Driven Leader podcast and the Founder of AI Leadership where he empowers leaders to harness AI, escape operational overwhelm, and think strategically to accelerate growth. As the former Chief Growth Officer of Jindal Steel & Power, his guidance helped their market cap grow from $750 million to over $12 billion in four years. He also co-founded the training and consulting company behind The ONE Thing, where he coached and advised companies with annual revenues from $10 million to $60 billion.