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Problem-Solving in the AI Era: The New Leadership Currency
From humanoid helpers to industry-crossing innovation: this week's insights on staying ahead
Matt Zembruski
February 21, 2025
"I think far more important than knowing how to code is having that agency and that drive to go get it built out."
Leadership Takeaway: While technical skills remain valuable, the true competitive edge lies in your team's ability to identify problems worth solving. Cultivate environments where critical thinking thrives alongside AI adoption. Your organization's future success depends not on who has the most advanced AI tools, but on who can direct those tools toward the most meaningful challenges. How will you shift your leadership focus from technical execution to strategic problem identification?
Leadership Takeaway: The race for domestic robotics is accelerating, creating new opportunities in home automation and assistance. Forward-thinking leaders should consider how robotics partnerships could enhance their product ecosystems. As these technologies mature, prioritizing intuitive design and safety will be crucial for consumer adoption. Is your organization prepared to compete in a world where humanoid assistants become household fixtures?
Leadership Takeaway: Industry boundaries are becoming increasingly permeable in the AI era. Brown's successful pivot demonstrates how leadership skills and innovation mindsets can transfer across seemingly unrelated sectors. Consider how your own expertise might create unique value in unexpected industries. What adjacent markets could benefit from your leadership perspective and problem-solving approach?
Leadership Lens: Joaquin Duato, CEO of Johnson & Johnson
Leadership Story: Joaquin Duato leads Johnson & Johnson through its most significant transformation in decades. With 30+ years at the company, he's strategically pivoted the healthcare giant away from consumer products toward higher-growth pharmaceuticals and medical technology.
His boldest move? Spinning off the consumer division as Kenvue to focus J&J's $60+ billion R&D and acquisition firepower on addressing complex medical challenges. Despite ongoing talc litigation challenges, Duato has remained committed to evidence-based decision-making while positioning the company for future growth.
Leadership Lesson: Strategic focus often requires difficult decisions. Evaluate your organization's portfolio with brutal honesty—what should you stop doing to amplify your impact in high-potential areas? Which non-core activities are currently diluting your organization's resources and attention?
Leader's Library: The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail
Title: The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail Author: Clayton M. Christensen Publication Year: 2016 Page Count: 288 "This book addresses a tough problem that most successful companies will face eventually, and it offers useful advice for sustaining long-term success." — Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft |  |
"The reason why it is so hard for existing firms to capitalize on disruptive innovations is that their processes and their business model that make them good at the existing business actually make them bad at competing for the disruption."
Leadership Takeaways
Create a "Disruption Lab" – Dedicate resources to exploring technologies that might cannibalize your current offerings
Seek Small Markets First – Look for opportunities your competitors consider too insignificant to pursue
Reward Productive Failure – Celebrate teams that generate valuable insights through unsuccessful experiments
Today's Leadership Question
What problem are you solving today that most people don't even recognize exists yet? Share your thoughts by replying to this email — I read every response.
"The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious."