It was an inspiring day at Engage London, hosted by Everest Group — an event that brings together leaders and innovators shaping the future of global business services (GBS), sourcing, and technology. I was honoured to deliver the closing Keynote: "The Connected Advantage with AI: From Ambition to Scaled Value." My session explored how organisations can move beyond AI experimentation and isolated pilots, by connecting strategy, data, people, process and governance. The real competitive advantage comes when AI is not treated as a standalone initiative, but as a business-wide capability that delivers trusted, measurable value at scale. I also spoke about the importance of strong leadership, readiness across people and process, and building the right foundations to scale AI responsibly. I've now written three books on applying AI to business — the most recent published in November 2025 — but in a field moving this fast, staying current is a daily discipline, not a one-time effort. Events like Engage London are genuinely invaluable for that reason, and I came away with a great deal to reflect on. The panel sessions were particularly rich, and several themes stood out: GBS leaders are becoming the custodians of experience. They are increasingly orchestrating work with a bird's-eye view across the total workforce — a significant shift in how the function is understood and valued. The "3 Ss" were a standout insight: self-service, self-adaptation, and self-healing. These three principles offer a compelling framework for thinking about where intelligent automation is heading. GBS has a critical role in governing the AI estate. Trusted data, and people and process readiness, were highlighted as non-negotiables — not optional extras — in any serious AI programme. Resilience remains central to sustained competitive advantage. Amid so much disruption and uncertainty, the organisations that build resilience into their operations will be the ones that endure. One comment that particularly resonated was around intellectual curiosity as a leadership quality. In the AI era, the ability and willingness to keep asking questions is arguably as important as any technical skill. Another powerful observation was about the human dimension of AI adoption: enabling humans to act at the pace of AI, while AI strives to act with the empathy of humans. It's a thought-provoking framing that I'll be carrying into future conversations. There were also excellent insights from Rolls-Royce — a company I had the pleasure of collaborating with for my previous book launch. The reflections shared on cultural change driving sustained behavioural change were memorable: embedding the right mindset into hiring, onboarding and assessment criteria; the shift from awareness to daily habits; and ensuring governance is underpinned by constant dialogue and feedback rather than top-down mandates. Well done to the entire Everest Group team for curating such a thought-provoking event and for the excellent organisation throughout the day. To find out more about Katie's keynote topics and availability, visit the Keynotes page.

Jambo! Heading home from my latest trip - this time to Zanzibar. I’ve dreamed of visiting for 30 years or more, ever since my dad shared with me a marriage certificate from 1941, which revealed that my grandmother (the Nan I adored) married the Sultan of Zanzibar’s son, and seeing in the certificate’s margin an intriguing ‘police exhibit one’ stamp.  That’s what inspired me to research her complex life story spanning different geographies, and write an historical fiction novel. I recently completed the first draft of 100k words; next step is to edit it and find an agent/publisher. I’ve had 2 - soon to be 3 - business books on AI published by Kogan Page Publishing but this is a whole new experience. This is about giving her a voice; it’s her legacy. Please let me know if you’re aware of any potential interested parties. 🙏 This visit was to the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. I’ve travelled far and wide, but this was my first sighting of the exquisite Indian Ocean. The highlight was a walking tour in Stone Town – the old part of the city. The Sultans commissioned many of the incredible buildings. There’s also a museum dedicated to Freddie Mercury who was born in Zanzibar. And I had a rare opportunity to join a school graduation party. My Guide Kassim was a gem – so well informed and so kind. As a business trip it has not been all plain sailing. I’ll remain professional and spare the details. Suffice to say you never give up learning, and doing business across borders and different legal jurisdictions can pose real challenges. A huge positive learning is the Swahili phrase “pole pole" (pronounced pole-ay pole-ay) meaning “slowly, slowly" or "take it easy" and it reflects a cultural philosophy of patience, an unhurried approach to life, and a mindful appreciation for the present moment. It encourages a calm, relaxed mindset, often encountered in the laid-back lifestyle of East Africa, but also used as practical advice for achieving goals. Wise words for many of us living and working in hectic towns and cities…