- talk - Main Stage - Navigating Change The Right Way
AI Transformation - What Not to Do (and What to Do Instead)
Thursday 16th October 2025 • 3:40 PM - 4:10 PMThe launch of large language models in 2023 brought AI into the mainstream, triggering a wave of enterprise transformation and innovation. Today, organisations of all sizes are racing to adopt AI, often starting with high-potential use cases, but quickly encountering the messy reality of implementation.
In this talk, we’ll share practical lessons learned from collaborating with enterprises navigating the complexities of AI adoption. While many transformation plans look good on paper, they tend to unravel when confronted with real-world challenges. We’ll explore the common pitfalls that derail AI initiatives—and offer strategies to overcome them from our experience.
About Shahzia Holtom
Dr. Shahzia Holtom is a distinguished executive leader and non-executive director with over 15 years of experience driving innovation, AI, and data excellence across global commercial and public sector industries. Currently serving as Global Head of Technical Excellence at Microsoft, she leads transformational initiatives for the consulting division with more than 8000 employees across 35+ countries.