Think about how your business runs today. Finance has a leader. Sales has a leader. HR has a leader. Each function has someone who owns it and connects it to everything else.
AI needs that person too.
AI isn't purely a technology thing. Your tech team is absolutely essential and a critical partner in much of what you will do with AI. But the person leading your AI strategy needs to understand something bigger — how your departments connect, where the friction lives, and how a decision in one area ripples into the others.
That's a cross-functional thinker. Part strategist, part AI translator, part business analyst — all leader.
For smaller organizations we call this the AI Champion. For larger teams it looks more like a Director or VP of AI. The title matters less than the clarity of the role. This person is accountable and connecting the dots.
You Don't Have to Hire Full-Time
You may be thinking, "I can't hire a full-time AI leader" — and you don't have to. Many organizations bring in part-time, fractional leadership to get the foundation right. This is faster, lower risk, and by the time you're ready to hire, you actually know what you're looking for.
The question isn't whether your organization needs this person. It's how soon you find them.
— Vivian Welsh, Co-Founder & President, Vivians.io