AI Innovators™ Interview Series

Real conversations with leaders shaping the future of artificial intelligence in business

Welcome to the AI Innovators™ Interview Series presented by the AI Leaders Council.

This series highlights pioneering executives, entrepreneurs, and practitioners who are redefining how artificial intelligence is used in business. In concise and focused interviews, we explore each guest’s career journey, their perspective on AI’s role in their organization, and the opportunities they see on the horizon.

The conversations are designed to be direct, engaging, and insightful, offering practical lessons and new ideas for executives across roles and industries. Each interview delivers a unique window into how AI is transforming leadership, decision-making, and enterprise value creation.

We have many interviews that will be published soon. In the meantime, if you are interested in participating as an interviewee, please complete the form below.

Glenn Hopper AI<br />

Glenn Hopper

Managing Director and Head of AI, VAI Consulting

In today’s episode, Glenn Hopper, Managing Director and Head of AI at VAI Consulting, joins us to discuss how AI is reshaping the finance and accounting landscape. A former CFO, Glenn is the author of the Amazon best-seller Deep Finance: Corporate Finance in the Information Age and the new book AI Mastery for Finance Professionals. He also serves on advisory boards, teaches executive education for Duke University’s CFO Program, and works with organizations worldwide on AI adoption and strategy.

Glenn shares his insights on:

  • Why “digital evolution” is replacing digital transformation in finance
  • The critical difference between generative AI and “classic AI” — and when to use each
  • How training, education, and change management drive successful AI implementation
  • Top-down vs. bottom-up AI adoption and how both approaches create value
  • Lessons from failed pilots and how to avoid the “trough of disillusionment”
  • The rise of agentic workflows, dashboarding 2.0, and what’s next for finance leaders
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OJ Laos

OJ Laos

Director of AI, Armanino

In today’s episode, OJ Laos, Director of AI at Armanino, one of the nation’s top 20 accounting and technology firms, shares how Armanino is applying AI both internally and externally—from process automation and predictive analytics to organization-wide deployment of Microsoft Copilot.

He also discusses:

  • How Armanino founded its internal AI Lab and what it’s achieved
  • Key lessons learned from leading AI adoption across a 3,000-person firm
  • The importance of transparency, usage metrics, and employee empowerment in successful AI initiatives
  • Opportunities and challenges shaping the future of AI in professional services
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Interested in being interviewed by the AI Leaders Council?

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