Today's guest, Hannah, joins us to discuss the AI skills crisis: why businesses are unprepared and how to fix it. Hannah talks about the rise of AI-first organizations and what it means for teams, the decline of traditional skill sets and the rise of new capabilities, why so many AI projects fail + how to avoid common pitfalls, and practical steps organizations can take to start using AI today.
Hannah Tilson specializes in translating complex AI concepts into simple, actionable strategies — enabling teams across organizations to confidently adopt AI in their everyday work and build AI-first operating models.
As artificial intelligence continues to dominate headlines and reshape industries, businesses are under growing pressure to move beyond experimentation and deliver real results.
Yet many organizations remain unprepared — lacking the skills, strategy, and confidence to embed AI into day-to-day operations.
Hannah provides practical, real-world guidance — helping businesses move from theory to execution, and from hype to measurable impact.
She was previously COO and then Interim CEO at Versed AI, a Cambridge University spin-out providing AI-powered supply chain intelligence, acquired by Exiger.
Before that, she spent over a decade with FTSE 100 companies in engineering and manufacturing, leading global procurement and workforce digital transformation programs.
Hannah holds an MA from the University of Cambridge, an MSc in Oceanography from the University of Southampton, and an MBA from Warwick Business School.