The AI Strategy Paradox — Why SMB Leaders Can’t Wait
The Pressure Is On
Boards are no longer asking if you have an AI strategy—they’re asking where it is.
According to a recent survey, 74% of CEOs fear losing their job within two years if they fail to deliver measurable AI value【forbes.com】.
The challenge is universal: CEOs know AI is critical, but confidence in their strategies is collapsing—falling from 82% to 49% in a single year【computing.co.uk】.
The Problem With Traditional Approaches
Many leaders default to the Big-5 consultancies. The problem?
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Strategies take 6–12 months to emerge.
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Costs run into hundreds of thousands.
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By the time the deck hits the boardroom, the market has already shifted.
For SMBs under pressure, that timeline is untenable.
The Paradox You Face
Here’s the paradox:
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AI alone cannot build your strategy. Strategy requires leadership, context, and human judgment.
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But only with AI can you move fast enough to deliver something credible in time for your next board review.
You can’t outsource your leadership—but you also can’t afford the crawl of consultancy-led black boxes.
Our Solution: From A to B in 10 weeks
That’s why we’ve built a faster, pragmatic alternative:
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Start with Athena (Prerequisite):
In under 15 minutes, our free Athena Assessment benchmarks your AI readiness, highlights leadership gaps, and produces a personalised Success Map. It’s your Phase 0—a safe, simple way to start the conversation with your board and C-suite. -
Advance to Bia (10-Week Cohort Programme):
Once you’ve completed Athena, qualified CEOs and CFOs can enter our Bia AI Strategy Programme—a structured 10-week sprint that blends:-
20% your effort (decisions, leadership, vision),
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20% our guidance (frameworks, facilitation, credibility),
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60% AI acceleration (analysis, benchmarking, documentation).
The result? A board-ready AI strategy in 10 weeks, complete with:
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A 60+ page Master Strategy with financial models,
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A 20-slide Executive Board Pack,
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C-suite alignment and a transition plan into execution (“Diana” phase).
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Why Waiting Is Riskier Than Starting Imperfectly
Doing nothing erodes credibility and costs opportunity. An imperfect start that delivers momentum is more valuable than a polished plan that never arrives.
Your board doesn’t expect perfection. They expect leadership.
Take the First Step Today
👉 Begin with the Athena Assessment—your essential first step toward a credible, board-ready AI strategy.
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