While firms across the profession are eager to prove AI’s promise, most are still experimenting without direction or measurable ROI. In our webinar, experts from Schellman and K2 Enterprises joined me to discuss what separates dabbling from disciplined adoption.
The conversation underscored a single truth: lasting AI impact comes from structure, not just speed.
Here are the five key takeaways from the session:
Focus on governance before gadgets
Every firm wants to move fast with AI, but speed without structure leads to risk. Establishing governance, policies, and data safeguards first is what enables sustainable innovation later.
The Fieldguide AI Maturity Framework (AMF) helps firms set those foundations with a clear roadmap and shared language. By aligning teams around maturity milestones, firms can confidently pursue use cases that deliver value while maintaining trust and compliance.
Choose partners who protect trust
As Randy Johnston, VP of K2 Enterprises reminded attendees, not all AI is created equal–or truly responsible. Many vendors overstate capabilities or underdeliver on security.
Firms should vet potential partners for data governance, purpose-built functionality, and transparency. Look for explainability, responsible data handling, and domain expertise in accounting and assurance. “There are lots of great AI technicians,” Johnston said, “but many don’t understand the regulatory environment you live in.”
The right partner doesn’t just add technology, it extends your trust framework.
Move from champions to operators
AI success stories often start with individual champions experimenting in isolation. True transformation happens when firms turn those wins into repeatable, governed processes.
As Schellman’s Director of Client Product Innovation, Todd Miller, explained, the firm’s deliberate, multi-track approach–small pilots, structured evaluation, and intentional scaling–helped convert enthusiasm into operational consistency. “Fast is slow, but slow is fast,” he noted. Building the foundation first enables lasting acceleration later.
Empower people for change
Technology only works when people do. The firms advancing fastest treat change management and training as core to their AI strategy. That means giving teams space to learn, recognizing early adopters, and turning individual curiosity into firmwide capability.
Upskilling, communication, and visible leadership support are what turn AI from a side experiment into an everyday habit.
Measure what matters
The most advanced firms treat AI like any other performance initiative: they measure utilization, adoption, and impact.
Fieldguide’s AI Insights Dashboard gives firms visibility into how and where AI is used across teams and service lines. By surfacing utilization trends and benchmarking against peers, leaders can target enablement where it counts and replicate what works.
The Bottom Line
Technology isn’t the obstacle. Change management is. Firms that combine strong governance, trusted partnerships, operational discipline, empowered teams, and measurable outcomes are already seeing AI move from theory to tangible business impact.
Curious where your firm stands on the AI maturity journey? Schedule a demo to see your baseline and discover the fastest path from pilots to proof.
November 13, 2025
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