AI FOMO: Stop Watching, Start Winning

The Business Emergency Room: For Leaders Facing Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity & Ambiguity (VUCA)

AI isn’t some future threat on the horizon. It’s already changing how businesses operate, and the question is whether you’re keeping up or falling behind.

In this 50th episode of The Business Emergency Room, Maartje van Krieken gets real about “AI FOMO” and why so many leaders are stuck thinking instead of doing. Most companies say they’re exploring AI, but only a small fraction have actually changed how their business runs. So what’s holding them back? And what might it cost to keep waiting?

Maartje shares examples that go way beyond marketing copy and chat tools. Think AI systems that manage warehouse traffic in real time, flag legal risks in massive contracts, guide field technicians on complex repairs, or adjust prices based on raw material costs before your team even opens a spreadsheet. These aren’t futuristic experiments… They’re happening right now.

You don’t need to become a tech expert to bring AI into your business. What you need is a clear sense of where things break down, where the process slows, and where your team is stretched thin doing work that tech could handle better. That’s where AI business integration, operational efficiency, and intelligent automation come into play.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to take action, maybe this is it. What would change if you picked one process and explored how AI could make it faster, smarter, or less painful? What’s the risk of staying still while everything else moves forward? Maartje offers a grounded, no-hype way to start answering those questions.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 AI FOMO and the Leadership Gap

01:17 The Truth About AI Adoption in Business

03:02 Why Waiting to Act Carries Real Risk

05:04 Practical Use Cases of Intelligent Automation

14:12 Five Strategic Steps to AI Business Integration

22:22 Building Long-Term AI Capability and Confidence

23:48 Moving from FOMO to First Mover Advantage

Links

Connect with Maartje van Krieken:

https://www.thechaosgamesconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartje/

https://maartjeturnschaosaround.substack.com/

Host Maartje van Krieken is a crisis strategist and decision-making expert who thrives in high-stakes business environments. Combining disaster management training, hands-on experience in global industries, and leadership skills honed as a seasoned sailor, she helps businesses navigate chaos with precision. Whether tackling transformation, scaling challenges, or leadership bottlenecks, Maartje delivers actionable insights to turn turbulence into traction.

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm