Neil D. Morris
AI Strategy Advisor • Author • Speaker
After more than 25 years leading IT in public and private organizations across aerospace, defense, and regulated environments at every scale, I now consult and advise leaders navigating AI transformation.
Having led initiatives that both succeeded spectacularly and failed painfully, I distilled those lessons into the Seven Pillars framework designed to give leaders the tools to avoid the 95% failure rate.
Background & Credentials
- 25+ years leading IT across aerospace, defense, and regulated environments
- AI strategy consultant and advisor
- Two-time Orbie-nominated CIO
- Built and scaled AI/ML programs from concept to production
- Keynote speaker on AI strategy and leadership
- Forbes Technology Council member
- Author of "Why AI Fails: The Leadership Discipline Behind the 5% Who Succeed"
My Philosophy
Technology doesn't fail organizations—leadership does.
After watching billions of dollars disappear into AI initiatives that never delivered value, I realized the problem was never the algorithms. It was the absence of fundamental leadership disciplines that made transformation possible.
The organizations that succeed don't have better data scientists or more advanced tools. They have leaders who understand that AI transformation is fundamentally a change management challenge—and they approach it with the same discipline they'd bring to any strategic initiative.
That's why I wrote Why AI Fails. Not as another technology book, but as a leadership playbook. Because the 5% who succeed aren't doing anything magical. They're simply mastering fundamentals that the 95% skip in their rush to deploy the latest model.
"The fundamentals practitioner wins. Every time."
Speaking Topics
Keynotes and workshops tailored for executive audiences seeking practical AI transformation guidance.
Why 95% of AI Initiatives Fail
The leadership gaps that kill transformation—and how to avoid them
The Seven Pillars of AI Leadership
A practical framework for building AI capability that lasts
From Pilot Graveyard to Production
How to scale AI beyond proof-of-concept
Building Assets, Not Dependencies
The capability vs. vendor trap—and how to escape it
Let's Connect
Whether you're looking for a keynote speaker, strategic advisor, or just want to discuss AI transformation challenges, I'd love to hear from you.