This article was originally published in The Forbes CEO Newsletter.
In a recent Forbes C-Suite interview, Boyden CEO Chad Hesters discussed how companies should approach AI leadership as the technology becomes more embedded in business strategy. Rather than appointing a single executive—such as a Chief AI Officer—to manage AI, Hesters advocates for a distributed approach that empowers employees across all levels to identify and experiment with tools that can improve their work. He explains that leading companies are adopting a dual-track model, where the CTO sets the conditions for bottom-up innovation and the Chief Innovation Officer (if present) prioritizes top-down investments. This creates a system where ideas can flow, be tested for security and privacy, and implemented responsibly. Importantly, Hesters notes that managing AI is not just about technology—it also involves cross-functional collaboration to address issues like energy consumption, data ethics, and long-term sustainability.
Hesters urges CEOs not to start by asking who should “own” AI, but rather by identifying the critical competencies needed to achieve their company’s strategic goals. AI should be used as a tool to strengthen those specific areas, not as a distraction filled with trendy, unfocused investments. He shares that Boyden itself has evaluated over 40 AI tools in recent months, adopting only the few that directly support their mission of delivering higher-quality, faster service to clients. Ultimately, Hesters emphasizes that AI leadership must be embedded in the collective mindset of the executive team, ensuring decisions are strategic, inclusive, and aligned with long-term value creation.
Read Chad's interview here.
You can read the full article here.
