Your executives already believe AI matters. That is not the problem. The problem is the gap between belief and deployment: pilots that never scale, tools bought and abandoned, teams paralyzed by too many options. Industry surveys keep finding the same pattern; most AI initiatives stall not because the technology fails, but because nobody in the room has actually done an implementation before.
Scott Wilson has. This keynote is built from his double life: teaching AI at McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business while building custom AI tools and automation inside operating companies. Every framework in the talk has been tested against a real deployment, including executive-level automation in industrial manufacturing.
What does this keynote cover?
- The implementation gap: why AI pilots stall and what deployed projects do differently
- Identifying high-value AI use cases in your operations, with a filter for separating hype from ROI
- Build versus buy: when a custom tool wins, when off-the-shelf wins, and how to decide
- Real case studies with real costs, timelines, and results
- Managing the human side: adoption, workflow change, and executive sponsorship
What outcomes can your audience expect?
Leaders leave with a practical starting framework, a shortlist of use-case patterns that map to their own business, and realistic expectations about cost and timeline. This is a hands-on keynote in spirit: the Monday-morning question, "so what do we actually do," gets answered on stage.
Who is this keynote for?
Executive audiences, leadership offsites, industry associations, and conferences whose attendees are past AI awareness and ready for action. It pairs naturally with the full-day AI Implementation Bootcamp for teams that want to build immediately after.
Who delivers it?
Scott Wilson, McMaster AI instructor, AI automation consultant, and founding AI Faculty member. His positioning is simple: AI that actually works.
What are the formats and logistics?
Available in person or as a virtual keynote, typically 45 to 90 minutes with optional Q&A. Many clients bundle it with a workshop through corporate keynote packages.
How do you book this keynote?
Submit your details on the booking page, or compare all keynote topics.
Frequently asked questions
Is this keynote technical?
No coding background is needed. It is a business keynote about decisions: use cases, vendors, costs, and change management, illustrated with real tools.
Which industries do the case studies come from?
Manufacturing, construction, professional services, and marketing operations, with new case material added as Scott's consulting work evolves. Cases can be weighted toward your industry.
Can this be delivered as a workshop instead?
Yes. The same material expands into a half-day or full-day hands-on format; see the workshops catalogue.