Daniel J. Jacobs's Linkedin Analytics

88% of AI projects fail. Is your €2M POC next? “We spent 18 months and €1.8M building an AI system… a vendor delivered better results in six weeks.” That’s what one EMEA CIO shared at the Munich Digital Transformation Forum. He’s not alone. Across Europe, smart CIOs are ditching DIY AI for vendor solutions that are: Faster to deploy Built for compliance (think GDPR & the EU AI Act) Proven to scale across markets Why now? Because your time is your real currency—and most AI projects burn it. In my latest article, I break down: The VendorSync Framework™ for selecting the right AI partner Five vendor tools already transforming EMEA firms What MIT Sloan, Gartner, and IDC data say about what works (and what fails) Read: Why Smart CIOs Choose Vendor AI Over DIY Let’s talk: Are you still building—or are you scaling? Drop your AI pivot story in the comments. #AI #DigitalStrategy #CIO #EUAI #Compliance #EMEA

Who's really driving change in your organisation? The answer might surprise you. Ever notice how transformation initiatives get stuck in the same old pattern? → Top-down mandates → Siloed decision-making → Change resistance at every level Here's the uncomfortable truth: The most powerful change agents aren't always wearing the fanciest titles. They're your: 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 The ones who speak both business and tech, making complex ideas simple and actionable. 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲-𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 Those rare individuals who connect silos and spark collaboration naturally. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 The ones who embody the change you want to see—inspiring others through action. 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 Not by title, but by trust—the people others actually listen to. 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸-𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 Those willing to experiment, fail, and learn—showing others it's safe to try. Here's what most miss: Real transformation doesn't flow through org charts. It flows through relationships. Want change that sticks? → Find your natural connectors → Empower your translators → Support your risk-takers → Amplify your culture carriers Because when transformation comes from within, it doesn't need to be forced from above. --- Follow Daniel J. Jacobs for more insights on driving real change in complex organisations. ♻️ Share this to help someone rethink their approach to transformation. #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #ChangeManagement #OrganizationalChange

We're cracking the cloud cost code ↳ I need your insights Let's be honest—your cloud spending isn't the problem. Your cloud chaos is. Every day I see organisations... → Chasing cost metrics in silos → Missing the revenue impact story → Letting cloud ROI become a black box The harsh reality: 78% of CIOs admit they've lost visibility into cloud value 62% of CFOs call their cloud metrics "educated guesswork" (Gartner's latest numbers don't lie) Here's what's really happening: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 → Operations obsesses over uptime → Finance fixates on spend → Strategy chases speed → Nobody connects the dots But market leaders? They're turning cloud chaos into a competitive edge. Here's the playbook that works: 1. 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗞𝗣𝗜𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 ↳ Map every cloud initiative to business impact ↳ Track contribution to growth metrics ↳ Measure speed-to-market gains 2. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 ↳ Create unified CIO-CFO dashboards ↳ Align technical and financial metrics ↳ Enable data-driven decisions 3. 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 ↳ Quarterly reviews of cloud ROI ↳ Cut waste, amplify wins ↳ Optimise for business outcomes Remember: Cloud isn't a cost centre unless you treat it like one. The question isn't "How do we spend less?" It's "How do we prove more value?" What's your biggest cloud visibility challenge? --- Follow Daniel J. Jacobs for more content like this. ♻️ Share this to help others master their cloud strategy.

81% of companies are overspending on cloud. But Lufthansa and Parexel aren’t panicking — they’re proving you can cut costs without killing innovation. This isn’t a “how to save money” thread. It’s a playbook for CIOs, CTOs, and CFOs who need agility and accountability in 2025. Backed by MIT Sloan, Flexera, and Nutanix — this is cloud cost control without compromise. 👉 Read the full breakdown here

You're going to hate to hear this, but... Digital transformation isn't a project. It's a mindset. Ever notice how companies throw millions at new tech, yet still struggle to evolve? → Fancy tools gather dust → Teams resist change → ROI remains elusive Here's the uncomfortable truth: You can't transform by installing software. You transform by rewiring beliefs. Most organisations are stuck playing defence: • Chasing quick wins • Following "best practices" • Measuring activity, not impact But real transformation?  It starts with these brutal realities: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵𝘀: → Culture eats strategy for breakfast → Tools don't fix broken processes → Change happens from within 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱: 1. Start with belief systems 2. Build from purpose 3. Measure mindset shifts 4. Fund behavioural change 5. Scale what sticks One CEO told me they had 12 digital initiatives running. Not one was transforming anything. The companies that win? They don’t just adopt digital. They become digital. They create systems where belief fuels behaviour—tech just follows. Curious how to rewire your culture without burning out your teams? Let’s talk. — 🔁 Share this to help a leader stop chasing tech and start driving change. 👤 Follow Daniel J. Jacobs for more no-BS insights on IT, leadership, and transformation. #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #Innovation #ChangeManagement #ITStrategy

Logic makes people think. Emotion makes people act. Yet most businesses are stuck in an endless loop of rational arguments, missing the psychological triggers that drive real decisions. Here's the uncomfortable truth: Your competitors aren't winning because they're better. They're winning because they're better understood. Let's break this down: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗚𝗮𝗽 → 95% of purchase decisions are emotional → Yet 95% of business strategies are logical → This misalignment costs you daily 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 ↳ Red Bull didn't win on taste ↳ Apple didn't win on specs ↳ Tesla didn't win on practicality They won by understanding a fundamental truth: People don't buy the best solution. They buy the one they can feel. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 Stop asking: "How can we optimise?" Start asking: "What emotional problem are we really solving?" Because in a world of endless optimisation: → Creativity isn't a luxury → It's your competitive edge → It's how you break through the noise Remember: The most powerful innovations often look illogical at first. That's precisely why they work. --- Follow Daniel J. Jacobs for more insights on driving strategic innovation. ♻️ Share this if you're ready to think differently about business growth. #Innovation #Strategy #Leadership #BusinessGrowth

Rushing Digital Transformation? You're Skating on Thin Ice. Ever feel like your digital transformation is a high-speed chase on slippery ground? You're not alone. Too many companies are sprinting towards AI, cloud, and automation without a solid strategy. It's like skating fast on thin ice—one wrong move, and you're sunk. The hard truth? → Only 30% of companies succeed in digital transformation (MIT Sloan & Capgemini) → Kodak adopted digital tech but failed to shift its culture. Result? Collapse. → Microsoft rewired its DNA under Satya Nadella and became a $3T cloud powerhouse. Here's the deal: Transformation isn't a tech project—it's an enterprise reset. Companies that nail strategy, culture, and governance outperform those chasing shiny tools every time. As a CIO, I've guided organisations across this treacherous ice. The secret? Anchoring change in leadership alignment, not just software installs. Ready to transform without the wipeout? → Let's architect a transformation that holds—under pressure, and at scale. DM me to discuss a framework that drives real outcomes. No fancy slides. No cookie-cutter templates. Just results. --- Follow for more insights on digital transformation that actually works. ♻️ Share this to help someone else navigate their digital journey safely. #DigitalTransformation #CIO #Leadership #ChangeManagement

The most successful AI implementations begin with a whisper, not a bang. One team, one problem, one solution. Strategy decks don't scale. Execution does. AI's boardroom hype is deafening, but the real magic happens in the trenches. Here's the hard truth: → 75% of CEOs believe AI will reshape their industry → Yet 40% of AI projects fail due to a lack of adoption → Most CIOs are drowning in PowerPoints, not progress It's time to flip the script. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁: • Real-world feedback trumps theoretical gains • Quick wins build momentum and buy-in • Failures become lessons, not setbacks 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 & 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘇 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹: • Started small, focused on tangible outcomes • Empowered teams to experiment and iterate • Scaled successes across the organisation 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗜𝗢𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘄: 1. Identify one high-impact problem 2. Assemble a cross-functional team 3. Set clear, measurable goals 4. Execute, learn, and adapt—fast The key? 👉 Start with one pilot. One outcome. One empowered team. That's how transformation actually begins. Ready to move from AI ambition to action? Let's talk. Read the full article, I’d love to hear your take. Follow for more insights on driving real AI outcomes. Share this to help a CIO cut through the AI noise and deliver results. #CIO #DigitalTransformation #AILeadership #Execution #EnterpriseAI #Starkhorn

Discover why Private AI is the future — and why Building Your Private AI is the guide leaders trust. A huge thank you to Kieran Gilmurray for his incredible support and for writing the foreword to Building Your Private AI. Your insights on innovation, trust, and leadership have been invaluable. In a world where privacy and innovation often seem at odds, Building Your Private AI is a strategic playbook for leaders ready to harness AI’s power, without compromising on security or ethics. Discover how Private AI is transforming industries like finance, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing. Read the full article — and grab your free Kindle copy while it’s available: https://mybook.to/qf2le AI will define the next decade. Will your business lead — or fall behind? #ArtificialIntelligence #CyberSecurity #DataPrivacy #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #Innovation #PrivateAI

Your tech team isn't a line item. It's your competitive advantage. Let's cut through the noise about offshoring and face a brutal truth: While others chase quick cost savings, market leaders quietly build sustainable tech capabilities. The difference? Strategic vision. Here's what nobody tells you about the offshoring equation: 1️⃣ The Real Numbers That Matter ↳ 25% of firms are reversing course ↳ Hidden costs eat into supposed savings ↳ Cultural friction drains productivity 2️⃣ The AI Factor ↳ Automation changes the game ↳ High-value skills trump low-cost labour ↳ Hybrid models outperform pure plays But here's the harsh reality: The problem isn't your offshoring strategy. It's your tech thinking. Think about it: ✓ Netflix didn't just cut costs ✓ They built capability engines ✓ Technology wasn't the expense—it was the multiplier 3️⃣ The Strategic Shift That Wins ↳ Focus on capability, not just cost ↳ Build hybrid delivery models ↳ Invest in AI-ready talent Here's what market leaders do differently: → They align tech with revenue → They automate strategically → They build cultural bridges → They protect core capabilities The brutal truth? While you chase cost savings, your competitors are building tomorrow's delivery models. Your next steps: 1. Audit your tech strategy 2. Map capabilities to growth 3. Build hybrid frameworks 4. Lead with intention Remember: Your tech team isn't overhead. It's your competitive edge. --- Follow Daniel J. Jacobs for more insights on tech strategy. ♻️ Share this to help someone rethink their offshoring approach. #TechStrategy #Innovation #Leadership #Growth