5 ways to grow your business with AI - without leaving employees behind

2026-03-02 · Source: News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Data Science & Analytics · Depth: Intermediate, medium

Summary

Colgate-Palmolive's Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Diana Schildhouse, outlines a human-centered approach to AI adoption aimed at driving business growth and innovation. The strategy emphasizes integrating professional talent with technological capabilities, ensuring humans remain central to all AI initiatives. This involves focusing on specific business challenges, implementing a dual horizontal and vertical framework for AI tools and priority areas, and enabling local teams to explore new use cases within a governed AI Hub. The company also fosters a strong learning culture with mandatory AI training and robust governance, all while rigorously measuring the value of AI applications through revenue increases, efficiency gains, IP creation, and global scalability.

Key takeaway

For CTOs and VPs of Engineering tasked with scaling AI, your strategy must prioritize human integration and robust governance. Implement a structured approach that enables local innovation within secure environments, supported by mandatory training and clear value measurement. This ensures AI adoption drives tangible business growth while mitigating risks and fostering a skilled workforce.

Key insights

Integrating human talent with AI capabilities drives business value by focusing on human-centered problem-solving.

Principles

• AI augments talent, not replaces staff.
• Governance enables successful AI implementation.
• Measure AI value through tangible business outcomes.

Method

Colgate-Palmolive's method involves a human-centered design approach, horizontal tool deployment, vertical priority area focus, local exploration via an "AI Hub," mandatory training, and continuous value measurement.

In practice

• Use human-centered design for AI solutions.
• Establish an internal "AI Hub" for safe exploration.
• Mandate AI training for all users.

Topics

• AI Strategy
• Human-Centered AI
• AI Governance
• Generative AI
• Machine Learning Models

Best for: CTO, VP of Engineering/Data, Executive, Director of AI/ML, AI Product Manager, Business Analyst

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET.