I read and research broadly and daily — so my clients don't have to. Here's the evidence I find most actionable, with an honest read on what it means for leaders navigating AI adoption right now.
The most current, credible research in leadership coaching and AI adoption — reviewed and sourced weekly.
Microsoft's 2026 Work Trend Index finds organizational factors — culture, manager support, talent practices — account for more than twice the impact on AI outcomes that individual mindset does (67% vs. 32%). When managers visibly model AI use, employees report a 30-point lift in trust, a 22-point lift in critical thinking, and a 17-point lift in AI's reported value — yet only 26% of AI users say leadership is consistently aligned on strategy.
Microsoft WorkLab →If you've ever wondered whether coaching for your leadership team is really worth it, the research says yes: the ICF/PwC Global Coaching Client Study found coaching returns 5 to 7 times its cost, and most clients report real, measurable gains in performance. That's exactly why every coaching engagement I run is built around outcomes you can actually point to — not just a sense that something's working.
ICF →Key findings
What this means for you
These aren't three separate tips — they're one chain. Fix the budget (01), read the resistance as signal instead of a fight (02), and structure (03) is what makes the fix hold instead of drifting back.
Most organizations spend 90% of their AI investment on technology and 10% on people. BCG's data shows the return on investment is almost exactly the reverse. If your AI initiative is underperforming, check the budget allocation before the technology.
31% of knowledge workers admit to working against their company's AI initiatives. That's not a personality problem — it's a signal. Fear of Becoming Obsolete (FOBO) is real, and ignoring it creates the very resistance organizations are trying to avoid. Address the fear, and the resistance often dissolves.
Organizations that apply structured change and upskilling programs to AI adoption see 3–4× higher adoption rates. That gap isn't about the technology — it's entirely about how you manage the human side of the transition. Structure isn't bureaucracy. It's what makes the difference between a $10M investment and a $10M lesson.
Curated reading
I read and research broadly and daily so you can read selectively. These are the reports, articles, and frameworks I find most actionable — not just trending.
Research published by Kelly Fidei
These perspectives were published through the Infosys Knowledge Institute, drawing on real-world transformation work with Fortune 500 organizations.
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