AI Adoption and Organizational Adaptability with Nick Petschek

Organizations are investing heavily in Artificial Intelligence, but adopting new technology is only part of the challenge. As the pace of change accelerates and traditional approaches to long-term planning become less reliable, organizations must also develop the ability to adapt—across their strategies, cultures, leadership practices, and individual capabilities.

In this episode of the Change Management Review™ Podcast, Theresa Moulton speaks with Nick Petschek, Managing Director at Kotter, about the relationship between organizational adaptability and AI adoption. Drawing on Kotter’s research and his experience advising organizations through transformation, Nick explores why leadership and culture remain significant barriers to adaptability and why AI should be connected to business strategy rather than treated as a separate initiative.

Their conversation examines how organizations can move beyond simply purchasing and deploying AI tools toward identifying where the technology can create meaningful value. Nick also discusses the importance of creating conditions in which employees can move from a “survive” response to change toward a “thrive” response characterized by curiosity, creativity, and engagement.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why adaptability is becoming increasingly important to organizational performance.
• How management systems, organizational culture, and individual capabilities contribute to adaptability.
• Why leadership and culture can become significant barriers to organizational change.
• Why AI adoption should be connected to business strategy rather than treated as a separate initiative.
• How organizations can move beyond purchasing AI tools toward identifying meaningful applications.
• Why employee responses to AI can shift between “survive” and “thrive.”
• How leaders can create greater engagement by learning alongside employees during transformation.
• Why change professionals can play an important role in connecting business priorities with the human side of AI adoption.

Whether you’re leading AI adoption, supporting organizational transformation, or helping your organization build greater adaptability, this conversation offers a practical perspective on connecting technology, leadership, culture, and business strategy in an increasingly dynamic environment.

Guest Bio

Nick Petschek is Managing Director at Kotter, the change and transformation consultancy founded by Dr. John Kotter, where he leads the firm’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa practice from Barcelona, Spain. He has more than 15 years of experience advising senior teams and has led business transformations in more than 20 countries for organizations ranging from startups to global brands. His work spans industries including technology, government, transportation, pharmaceuticals, utilities, insurance, and healthcare, with a focus on helping organizations close the gap between aspiration and reality.