Presentation Details

"Future-Ready & People-First: The AI Culture Playbook"

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AI adoption doesn’t fail because of technology. It fails because of culture.

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As Peter Drucker famously observed, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” The same is true for AI. Even the most advanced tools will stall without trust, psychological safety, and leadership alignment.

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Drawing on her work at Microsoft in human-centered design and operational AI readiness, Sarah Welty Williams shares a practical playbook for building an AI-ready culture that puts people first. She explores why resistance to AI is often rooted in fear, identity shifts, and unclear value—and how leaders can address those barriers intentionally.

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Through real-world examples from Microsoft’s internal transformation efforts and Fortune 500 accelerator programs, Sarah outlines how to assess workforce readiness, build momentum across functions, and embed responsible innovation into daily work. Participants will leave with a clear roadmap for aligning technology deployment with trust, inclusion, and performance—so AI becomes a catalyst for empowerment rather than anxiety.

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Participants will leave ready to:​​

1. Build trust and psychological safety before introducing AI initiatives.

2. Design scalable strategies that expand AI literacy across teams and functions.

3. Integrate ethics, inclusion, and governance into AI implementation from the start.

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Speaker Bio:

Sarah Welty Williams is a Principal UX Research Manager at Microsoft and a leader in human-centered design and AI-driven workplace transformation. Trained in human-computer interaction, she helps organizations navigate AI adoption through a people-first lens—ensuring technology enhances trust, engagement, and performance rather than disrupting them.

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At Microsoft, Sarah has spearheaded enterprise-wide AI transformation initiatives, aligning human experience with cutting-edge technology. She played a key role in redefining workforce models within Microsoft’s customer support division, integrating AI to improve service quality while preserving employee empowerment.

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A champion of responsible innovation, Sarah brings together diverse, cross-functional teams to co-create inclusive, ethical AI solutions. As a speaker and advisor, she translates complex AI concepts into practical, leadership-ready strategies, helping Fortune 500 organizations accelerate AI readiness while strengthening culture.