Leadership and Generative AI: Essential Strategies to Address the Challenges of Our Time

Generative AI emerged as a central discussion during the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, emphasizing its transformative potential. This technology promises to convert today's most complex challenges into actionable, tangible solutions. It empowers organizations to address previously unsolvable problems and design a more equitable, sustainable, and inclusive future. This evolution is unparalleled in modern history by its nature, depth, and impact.

The global outlook is optimistic. According to a study by NTT DATA, nearly 70% of C-level executives express confidence in Generative AI, a sentiment echoed across Latin America. However, optimism alone is not enough. The same study reveals a significant gap: 78% of regional organizations have a clear GenAI strategy, but only 53% have aligned it with their core business objectives.

For CEOs, the first critical step is direct involvement. Leaders must grasp the full potential and implications of Generative AI, identify areas within their organizations that it can enhance, and ensure its deployment is ethical, secure, and beneficial to all stakeholders. This approach reduces resistance and clarifies that the technology is not about displacing jobs. Instead, it aims to elevate uniquely human qualities such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence, creativity, and determination. While Generative AI will not eliminate jobs, those who fail to adapt to its integration may face professional challenges.

Cultural change is very important. CEOs must foster an environment where the entire organization understands the significance, impact, and potential risks of Generative AI. This includes clarifying its implementation goals and establishing governance mechanisms to ensure its responsible use.

A key challenge lies in workforce readiness. Two out of three Latin American organizations acknowledge that their employees lack the necessary skills to use this technology. Encouragingly, over half of these companies plan to implement training programs imminently. Investing in talent development ensures employees can effectively leverage emerging opportunities, maximizing the value of Generative AI.

Generative AI is set to fundamentally transform the way we work and live. In the face of this accelerating transformation, leaders bear a critical responsibility: to unlock its potential, inspire others to explore its capabilities, and, most importantly, channel its power toward societal benefits. What we see today is merely the beginning of its transformative journey, signaling the dawn of unprecedented possibilities.

Leaders must step forward as active participants, guiding their organizations through this evolution and ensuring that Generative AI serves as a force for progress and positive change rather than remaining passive observers in this era of disruptive innovation.