AI innovation for business: beyond the hype

AI is everywhere. Every vendor pitch includes it. Every conference has sessions about it. AI innovation is the latest hype cycle in full swing, complete with obviously AI-generated stock images (like the one on this article).

For mid-sized businesses, the question isn’t “Should we use AI?” but “What AI innovation actually makes sense for our business, and what’s just expensive distraction?”

Having worked in IT for 30 years and recently completed an MBA focusing on Design Thinking, I’ve seen enough technology hype cycles to recognise the pattern. Some AI applications genuinely solve problems. Most are solutions looking for problems to justify their existence.

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This article was first published on LinkedIn and is also on the ENVEE Digital blog. 

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Masters of Business Administration (MBA) completed

Very happy to have formally completed my MBA with distinction this afternoon at the RMIT University Graduation Ceremony! 🎓❤️ 

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IT Current State Assessment

I’ve worked with not-for-profit and community organisations for years. The pattern is relatively consistent: technology initiatives operate separately from organisational strategy, creating inefficiencies that compound over time.

Recently I worked with an NFP to deliver a comprehensive Current State Assessment for their IT function. The process revealed where things were working, where they weren’t and what needed to change.

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This article was first published on LinkedIn and is also on the ENVEE Digital blog. 

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Why SMEs Need Better Digital Organisation

Many business owners don’t realise how much time they lose every day just trying to find things in their digital infrastructure. Files buried in inboxes, websites that are hard to update, customer data scattered across different platforms – it all adds up to frustration and wasted hours.

Small and medium businesses rely on digital tools to run smoothly. But without clear systems, structured content and organised data, everything becomes harder than it needs to be.

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This article was first published on the WebSolutionZ.com.au blog.  

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Memories of Lonely Planet

From 2002 to 2005, I worked at Lonely Planet in Melbourne, in a couple of different IT leadership roles. In 2004, I was the IT Operations Manager, a role I loved. 

One of my fondest memories from that time is the "Helpdesk Blitz Day", an event I created with the intent of tackling our backlog of support tickets, improving the understanding of service delivery processes across the business, and building team morale. 

The entire IT team and many non-IT staff, including most of LP's C-suite executives, were encouraged to "donate" an hour to man the Service Desk, and they all participated enthusiastically, including our CEO. We'd ordered these caps and badges for every participant, and focused on closing as many tickets as possible while enjoying music and snacks. The event achieved every one of the stated goals, and was considered a resounding success. 🎉 

Recently, a former colleague shared a photo of his badge from that day, bringing back great memories and prompting me to dig out some photos I'd forgotten I had. I can't believe it was 20 years ago! 2004 was a pre-smartphone, pre-social media and only-just-digital camera time so there aren't thousands of photos like there would be today. The fact he shared the badge photo now tells me so much about the type of place Lonely Planet was back then, and I'm pleased I'm not the only one who remembers that day. 😊 

My time at Lonely Planet was filled with professional growth, a supportive culture and some lasting friendships. LinkedIn started around then, so my first 100 or so connections are all former LP-ers. I always remember it as a place where we worked hard but had a lot of fun. As I explore new opportunities, I reflect on the importance of culture, teamwork, and good leadership, all qualities I hope to embrace in my next role. ❤️ 

    

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