Most AI rollouts don’t fail because the technology isn’t ready. They fail because the right people weren’t at the table.
In our work with firms climbing the AI Maturity Framework, we’ve seen a clear pattern: adoption sticks when a cross-functional, empowered team owns it from the start. That team always includes change champions, but it’s broader than that title alone implies.
AI transformation is not a solo effort. It’s a systems change. And systems don’t change without the right stakeholders aligned across leadership, delivery, operations, and enablement.
Here’s who needs to be in the room–and what each role brings.
The Executive Advocate: Tone From the Top
Change doesn’t scale without visible executive support.
The executive advocate isn’t just a sponsor in name. They connect the transformation to firm strategy, unblock resourcing, and model the behavior they expect others to adopt. They don’t disappear after kickoff; they stay close to progress, reinforce wins, and ensure the firm’s priorities don’t get lost in translation.
You’ll know you have the right executive advocate if:
- They’re personally using AI in their own workflows
- They talk about the initiative in all-hands, not just pilot team meetings
- They’re committed to success metrics beyond short-term efficiency
The Frontline Champion: Trusted by the Team
This is the person practitioners turn to when something isn’t working. They’re often a manager or senior associate—not the most senior, but the most respected.
They understand the engagement lifecycle better than anyone because they’re still in it. When they test a new workflow, others follow. When they say, “This makes my life easier,” people listen.
The frontline champion brings:
- Workflow credibility
- Honest, actionable feedback
- Peer-level trust
They are your internal signal boost—and often the cultural tipping point for adoption.
The Systems Partner: Your IT and Ops Counterpart
Many pilots fail because the tech works, but the systems around it don’t.
If your IT, ops, or compliance leaders aren’t involved, AI outputs might not flow into the next step of the engagement. Or security questions may delay implementation. Or licensing logistics create friction no one planned for.
Your systems partners:
- Ensure integrations don’t create bottlenecks
- Translate firm standards into system configuration
- Flag risks early and help resolve them quickly
When they’re engaged from the beginning, your AI adoption avoids the dead ends.
The Enablement Lead: Making It Stick
AI transformation isn’t just a rollout. It’s an ongoing behavior shift. Someone needs to own training, coaching, and communications—especially after the initial launch.
The enablement lead helps translate the new workflow into muscle memory. They reinforce usage, surface wins, and make it safe to ask, “How do I do this again?”
They’re the difference between adoption that spikes and adoption that sticks.
The Culture Carriers: The Enthusiasts You Didn’t Expect
Every firm has a few people who are just excited. They may not be in official roles. But they talk about the new thing at lunch. They send you screenshots of success. They help others troubleshoot, just because they want to.
Find them early. Give them visibility. Recognize their impact. They’re often the ones who push their teams through the slow middle of change.
And they’re often the reason adoption takes hold.
Adoption Isn’t a Department. It’s a Team Sport.
The firms that advance through the AI Maturity Framework don’t just roll out tools—they build coalitions.
Those coalitions include executives who set the direction, practitioners who model the new way, operators who ensure continuity, and enablers who reinforce the message.
When one of those voices is missing, adoption stalls. When they’re aligned, momentum compounds.
If your firm is planning an AI rollout, don’t start with the software.
Start by building your table.
December 17, 2025
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