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Erik Ferguson

AI Strategist & Talent Development Lead

High-Level Bio

Erik brings a mix of applied HR, Technology, and Compliance expertise to the Accelerated Innovation team.  With 10+ years of experience at First Data Corp (Now Fiserv), Erik has led high-profile risk management, compliance and training programs for some of the best known brands in the world.  He also has extensive applied education experience and is a certified public teacher.  He brings a passion for technology and creative problem solving to his client work, as well as ways in which AI can empower teams and enable creativity in the workplace.

Outside of the corporate world, Erik is an accomplished musician and published composer, and has been a member of the Arapahoe Philharmonic since 2015.

Expertise

  • Applied Generative AI solution development
  • Emerging GenAI architecture and best practices
  • Targeted Talent Development Strategies

Education & Certifications

  • Microsoft AI Foundations
  • Microsoft Azure Cloud Fundamentals
  • Generative AI & Large Language Models (DeepLearning.AI)
  • B.M. / M.M. (Music Performance & Composition)
  • Colorado Substitute Teachers License
  • PHR Certification (Society of Human Resources Management)

Defining Your GenAI 'True North' - A Closer Look

Target Duration

< 30 Days

While success with GenAI will be a journey, in the early stages of adoption you’ll need to:

  • What’s all the buzz about, and what does it really mean for my business?
  • How fast do we need to move?
  • Do we have the talent to succeed with GenAI?
  • Can we explore GenAI without exposing the organization to unnecessary risks?
  • Where do we start?

Understanding GenAI

A targeted 2 – 3 hour executive workshop to help you:

    • Rapidly work up the GeAI learning curve
    • Understand its core capabilities
    • Explore its potential value for your business

 

GenAI & Your Industry

A custom GenAI Industry Report to ensure you understand key industry use cases and expected GenAI adoption rates.

Assessing Your GenAI Readiness

A targeted GenAI Readiness survey that will clearly measure your commitment to adopting GenAI and your high-level readiness across the five ‘Keys to Winning’.

Defining a Clear & Compelling Vision to Win with GenAI

A streamlined GenAI Vision development session, with applied examples, to collaboratively define your GenAI Vision in as little as 60 – 90 minutes. 

Defining an Integrated GenAI Strategy & Roadmap - A Closer Look

Target Duration

30 - 60 Days
(depending on leadership availability)

While its potential is compelling, successfully leveraging GenAI will require an integrated approach and sustained collaboration across your company. Virtually every group will have a role to play, and you’ll need to:

  • Define an integrated strategy that solves multiple challenges in parallel
  • Solve for Secure & Responsible AI requirements from the start
  • Build momentum for GenAI adoption while closing foundational talent and capability gaps
  • Embrace iterative innovation and accelerated solution delivery
  • Enable aligned adaptability as ‘what great looks like’ rapidly evolves

Accelerated Innovation has developed a streamlined GenAI strategy development solution that enables our clients to rapidly:

  • Align on a clear and actionable 12 – 18 month ‘Strategic Intent’
  • Define your specific ‘Keys to Winning’ with GenAI
  • Prioritize an integrated portfolio of initiatives, based on your specific needs
  • Identify ‘Quick Win’ opportunities
  • Define clear and aggressive measures of success
  • Identify and mitigate potential GenAI adoption risks
  • Define an actionable and adaptive GenAI Roadmap for accelerated results

 

Igniting Your GenAI Journey - A Closer Look

Target Duration

1-2 Quarters

While success with GenAI will be a journey, in the early stages of adoption you’ll need to:

  • Clearly communicate your GenAI vision and sustain energy and momentum for the change
  • Create a sandbox where team members can safely explore GenAI
  • Bring GenAI capabilities ‘to life’ for your teams with targeted solutions
  • Solve for a wide range of talent and capability gaps
  • Make sure you have the integrated insights to continually optimize your approach

Accelerated Innovation specializes in enabling and maximizing the impact of your GenAI efforts.  Our integrated ‘GenAI Adoption Lift-off’ solution focuses on:

  • Amplifying your GenAI Message to build energy and commitment for the journey
  • Delivering a set of high visibility GenAI ‘Quick Wins’
  • Systematically solving for Secure & Responsible AI requirements
  • Enabling a cohort of GenAI Champions to lead your unique journey
  • Closing key capability gaps to securely and responsibly scale your GenAI efforts
  • Ensuring you have the data-driven insights needed for real-time decision making
  • Establishing a light-weight operating cadence to get aligned, stay aligned, and deliver high-impact results

Accelerating Your GenAI Journey @ Scale - A Closer Look

Target Duration

Varied - depending on your specific scope

GenAI’s real impact occurs when you scale and embed its capabilities within your organization’s ‘core DNA’. To do so, you’ll need to:

  • ‘Productize’ enterprise-class GenAI solutions
  • Streamline innovation and solution delivery across your business
  • Scale your GenAI Talent enablement efforts
  • Scale robust GenAI operations, security and compliance functions
  • Adopt GenAI-enabled productivity enablers across your workforce
  • Accelerate your organization’s operating cadence to compete in an AI-enabled competitive landscape

Accelerated Innovation brings decades of strategic change enablement experience to help clients accelerate and scale their GenAI impact. Our integrated GenAI scaling solutions focus on:

  • End-to-End GenAI solution ‘productization’ and hardening
  • GenAI Innovation and Agile delivery optimization
  • Integrated Talent Enablement and Management, including:
    • Curated learning journeys for internal team members
    • Accelerated Talent Attraction 
    • Targeted 3rd Party Support where delivery pace is critical
  • Enterprise capability design, scaling, and optimization
  • Sustained GenAI transformation and risk management support
  • Scaled GenAI governance and compliance support

Adapting to Outperform with GenAI - A Closer Look

Target Duration

1 - 2 Quarters
(with on-going support as needed)

The pace of business is only accelerating, and leaders everywhere are working to keep pace. To compete in a GenAI-enabled world, you’ll need to:

  • Leverage real-time insights for data-driven decision making across your business
  • Continually monitor 3rd Party GenAI innovation, competitor actions, and evolving regulatory mandates
  • Iteratively adapt your GenAI strategy, plans and tactics
  • Accelerate your innovation and delivery of GenAI-enabled solutions
  • Deliver improved top and bottom-line results to compete

Enabling improved strategic adaptability is a core focus and passion for the Accelerated Innovation team. We partner with our clients to:

  • Architect integrated measurement strategies for improved real-time insights 
  • Leverage OKRs for increased clarity, alignment, focus and measurability across their GenAI efforts
  • Adopt quarterly Strategy and Planning cadences for improved alignment and adaptability
  • Embrace Outcome-based Roadmaps to clearly define their ‘True North’, while maintaining solution flexibility and pace

Closing Targeted GenAI Gaps to Maximize your Impact - A Closer Look

Target Duration

Varied - based on your specific needs and scope

Targeted gaps in GenAI talent and capabilities can significantly impact your results. Common challenges include (but are not limited):
  • Integrated GenAI Strategy
  • GenAI Talent Management
  • Master Data Management
  • GenAI Innovation Acceleration
  • GenAI Security
  • Adaptive Quarterly Planning
  • GenAI Architecture
  • GenAI Transformation Leadership
  • GenAI UX Design
  • GenAI Product Management
  • LLM Monitoring
  • GenAI Governance

Accelerated Innovation offers targeted, custom solutions to close specific client GenAI gaps, including:

  • GenAI Vision, Strategy & Roadmaps
  • Packaged GenAI ‘Quick Wins’
  • Integrated GenAI Talent Management
  • GenAI Capability Design and Scaling
  • GenAI Innovation & Agile Solution Delivery
  • Integrated GenAI Transformation & Risk Management
  • Integrated GenAI Measurement & Insights solutions
  • Adaptive Strategy, Planning & Governance practices