--- title: "Women|Future Webinar Recap: Future-Proofing Your Organization using an AI Strategy" description: During the first Women|Future Webinar of 2026, industry leaders explored how organizations can develop practical AI strategies and prepare their workforce for a rapidly evolving future. image: https://blog.stevieawards.com/hubfs/wfw26/June%20Horizontal%20(2).png --- [![stevie-awards-full-logo](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stevie%20Awards%20Blog%20Theme%20Files/stevie-awards-full-logo.png?width=347&height=70&name=stevie-awards-full-logo.png "stevie-awards-full-logo")](http://stevieawards.com) Click to View Posts by Stevie® Awards Categories # Women|Future Webinar Recap: Future-Proofing Your Organization using an AI Strategy Posted by [Amanda Del Signore](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/author/amanda-del-signore) on Mon, Jun 29, 2026 @ 11:53 AM ![Amanda Del Signore](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/f262570a31a1068aa53830f20ca581fb) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future consideration—it is already transforming the way organizations operate, compete, and innovate. During the first Women|Future Webinar of 2026, "[Future-Proofing Your Organization: Crafting an AI Strategy to Navigate Risks and Unlock New Opportunities](https://events.zoom.us/ev/AmljafujHuxQPUQoG1wSs71fzndIiTwsvyzMaV75suSM3Nc0anP6~AiJxasmozRSvvd8Qx_RPaUGRwDgOuEEvWdw7eLeMK9tLMdS2RTxZYTPH_g)," industry leaders explored how organizations can develop practical AI strategies, balance innovation with risk, and prepare their workforce for a rapidly evolving future. [![June Women Future Webinar](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wfw26/June%20Horizontal%20(2).png?width=1600&height=900&name=June%20Horizontal%20(2).png)](https://events.zoom.us/ev/AmljafujHuxQPUQoG1wSs71fzndIiTwsvyzMaV75suSM3Nc0anP6~AiJxasmozRSvvd8Qx_RPaUGRwDgOuEEvWdw7eLeMK9tLMdS2RTxZYTPH_g) The Women|Future Webinars are an annual series of free webinars hosted by the Stevie® Awards, designed for women small business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in starting a business. The first webinar took place on June 17, 2026 and featured insights from past Stevie Award-winning women from leading global organizations. Speakers included: - Ipsita Mohanty, Applied Science Manager at Amazon and Vice Chair of IEEE Women in Engineering - Mariesa Coughanour, Head of the Growth Office and AI Workforce Transformation for Cognizant Consulting - Jaya Eripilla, VP, Senior Technology Manager at Bank of America - Casey Foss, Chief Growth Officer at Penta Group **The Cost of Standing Still **One of the strongest themes throughout the discussion was that organizations face significant risks when they delay AI adoption. While concerns about security, governance, and compliance are valid, panelists emphasized that companies that fail to build AI capabilities today may quickly lose ground to competitors that are actively experimenting and learning. As Casey Foss noted, organizations are already seeing a widening gap between employees who embrace AI tools and those who do not. Rather than focusing solely on the risks of AI, leaders should also consider the risks of inaction. **Start With Business Problems, Not Technology **The panel repeatedly stressed that successful AI strategies begin with business objectives rather than technology selection. Instead of asking, “What is our AI strategy?” organizations should ask, “How can AI help us achieve our business goals?” Leaders were encouraged to identify high-impact business challenges, define measurable outcomes, and then determine whether AI is the best solution. Whether the goal is to improve customer experiences, increase operational efficiency, or accelerate decision-making, AI should serve as a strategic enabler rather than a standalone initiative. **Governance and Innovation Must Work Together **While organizations are eager to move quickly, panelists emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with responsible governance. Building clear policies, involving security teams early, and establishing guardrails can help organizations reduce risk while still empowering employees to experiment and innovate. Mariesa Coughanour highlighted that employees are often already using AI tools independently. Rather than resisting this reality, organizations should create frameworks that support responsible experimentation, encourage collaboration between business and technology teams, and provide visibility into emerging use cases. **People Remain the Competitive Advantage **Although AI capabilities continue to advance rapidly, panelists agreed that uniquely human skills will become even more valuable in the future. Trust, judgment, empathy, leadership, and relationship-building remain difficult to replicate through technology. As organizations automate routine tasks, employees will increasingly focus on supervising systems, making complex decisions, and building meaningful connections with customers and colleagues. Jaya Eripilla emphasized that organizations should view AI as a collaborator rather than a competitor. The goal is not to replace human expertise but to augment it—allowing employees to spend more time on higher-value work that requires creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. **Creating a Culture of AI Adoption **The panelists also highlighted the importance of organizational culture in successful AI adoption. Companies that foster excitement, psychological safety, and learning opportunities are more likely to uncover innovative ideas across their workforce. Examples included AI innovation challenges, hackathons, gamification programs, and AI fluency initiatives designed to help employees build confidence and practical skills. Rather than limiting AI exploration to a small group of specialists, organizations should encourage broad participation and provide employees with opportunities to contribute ideas and solutions. **Focus on Proof of Value **When beginning an AI journey, panelists recommended focusing on projects that demonstrate clear business value rather than small experiments that fail to generate meaningful impact. Organizations should prioritize initiatives with measurable outcomes, whether through increased revenue, improved customer experiences, reduced operational costs, or greater employee productivity. Demonstrating tangible results helps build organizational momentum and encourages broader adoption. **One Final Piece of Advice **When asked for their most important recommendation for leaders looking to future-proof their organizations, the panelists delivered a consistent message: invest in your people. Providing AI training, fostering a culture of experimentation, and preparing employees to work alongside AI technologies will be critical for long-term success. Organizations that empower their workforce while maintaining strong governance will be best positioned to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an AI-driven future. As the discussion concluded, one message stood out above all others: AI is not a temporary trend. It is becoming a fundamental part of how work gets done, and organizations that combine technology, strategy, and human potential will be best equipped for what comes next. Upcoming Women|Future Webinar Sessions Join the next two webinars to discover practical strategies to build credibility through business awards, and get firsthand perspectives from women entrepreneurs who have successfully built and scaled their businesses. Register individually for each webinar you wish to attend: # Your Competitive Edge: How Earning Business Awards Boosts Recognition Jul 15, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT   [**Register Today**](https://events.zoom.us/ev/AlnrBpKTJ1nimeu7yPjuI5pZuNCQD3VINNL7DLE_mNjTh0vksLnU~AqpZoW3i5_dahKDhPP7ZcwffNy7wzdXZBTf2mle4KTUbjj0Oj2XYhZNfAQ) [![July Women Future Webinar](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wfw26/July%20Horizontal.png?width=1600&height=900&name=July%20Horizontal.png)](https://events.zoom.us/ev/AlnrBpKTJ1nimeu7yPjuI5pZuNCQD3VINNL7DLE_mNjTh0vksLnU~AqpZoW3i5_dahKDhPP7ZcwffNy7wzdXZBTf2mle4KTUbjj0Oj2XYhZNfAQ) # The Founder Mindset: Overcoming Fear, Failure & Doubt to Build a Business Aug 12, 2026 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT   [Register Today](https://events.zoom.us/ev/AifOiXZUPUHAw0ZB191vF8OyFehF8FiN4KkgvpepR9QMWVZIOgvB~Aqq28QvSWy2pYeebC-sErBarrMWVU-jqqyX_nU-zpz7xC-hydm0ZrmB6-w) [![August Women Future Webinar](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wfw26/August%20Horizontal.png?width=1600&height=900&name=August%20Horizontal.png)](https://events.zoom.us/ev/AifOiXZUPUHAw0ZB191vF8OyFehF8FiN4KkgvpepR9QMWVZIOgvB~Aqq28QvSWy2pYeebC-sErBarrMWVU-jqqyX_nU-zpz7xC-hydm0ZrmB6-w)   Topics: [stevie awards for women in business](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/stevie-awards-for-women-in-business), [Women Future Conference](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/women-future-conference), [women future webinars](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/women-future-webinars) ### Request an entry kit for one or more of the stevie awards programs [Remove my information](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/future-proofing-your-organization-key-strategies-for-building-an-ai-ready-business#) Entry kit will be sent to you by email. We don't sell or disclose email addresses. Review our [privacy policy.](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/future-proofing-your-organization-key-strategies-for-building-an-ai-ready-business#) ### Recent Articles ![Die Klimaschutz-Kategorien der German Stevie® Awards 2026](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hubfs/GSA2023/GSA23-Climate-Social.jpg) On July 3, 2026 ### [Die Klimaschutz-Kategorien der German Stevie® Awards 2026](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/die-klimaschutz-kategorien-der-german-stevie-awards-2026?hsLang=en-us) Tags: [German Stevie Awards](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/german-stevie-awards), [Kategorien](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/kategorien), [German Stevie Awards 2026](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/german-stevie-awards-2026) ![Women|Future Webinar Recap: Future-Proofing Your Organization using an AI Strategy](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hubfs/wfw26/June%20Horizontal%20(2).png) On June 29, 2026 ### [Women|Future Webinar Recap: Future-Proofing Your Organization using an AI Strategy](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/future-proofing-your-organization-key-strategies-for-building-an-ai-ready-business) Tags: [stevie awards for women in business](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/stevie-awards-for-women-in-business), [Women Future Conference](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/women-future-conference), [women future webinars](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/women-future-webinars) ### Posts by Tag - [American business awards (351)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/american-business-awards) - [business awards (316)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/business-awards) - [stevie awards (271)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/stevie-awards) - [International business awards (248)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/international-business-awards) - [stevie awards for women in business (175)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/stevie-awards-for-women-in-business) - [customer service awards (172)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/customer-service-awards) - [Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards (152)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/asia-pacific-stevie-awards) - [marketing awards (145)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/marketing-awards) - [PR awards (143)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/pr-awards) - [women awards (137)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/women-awards) - [sales awards (125)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/sales-awards) - [hr awards (114)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/topic/hr-awards) ### Posts by Month - [July 2026 (1)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2026/07) - [June 2026 (10)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2026/06) - [May 2026 (4)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2026/05) - [April 2026 (9)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2026/04) - [March 2026 (6)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2026/03) - [February 2026 (7)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2026/02) - [January 2026 (4)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2026/01) - [December 2025 (2)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2025/12) - [November 2025 (8)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2025/11) - [October 2025 (7)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2025/10) - [September 2025 (10)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2025/09) - [August 2025 (8)](https://blog.stevieawards.com/blog/archive/2025/08) [![American Business Awards](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ABA_HC_0220.png?width=1800&height=416&name=ABA_HC_0220.png "American Business Awards")](https://aba.stevieawards.com) [![Stevie Awards for Great Employers](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hubfs/SAGE_HC_0220.png "Stevie Awards for Great Employers")](https://hr.stevieawards.com) [![Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/APSA_HC_0220.png?width=1800&height=533&name=APSA_HC_0220.png "Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards")](https://asia.stevieawards.com) [![Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hubfs/SASCS_v2_HC_0220.png "Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service")](https://sales.stevieawards.com) [![International Business Awards](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hubfs/IBA_HC_0220.png "International Business Awards")](https://iba.stevieawards.com) [![German Stevie Awards](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GSA_HC_0220.png?width=1800&height=539&name=GSA_HC_0220.png "German Stevie Awards")](https://gsa.stevieawards.com) [![Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/MENASA_H_0420.png?width=1800&height=532&name=MENASA_H_0420.png "Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards")](https://mena.stevieawards.com) [![Stevie Awards for Women in Business](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hubfs/SAWIB_HC_0220.png "Stevie Awards for Women in Business")](https://women.stevieawards.com) [![Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SATE-HC.png?width=2000&height=596&name=SATE-HC.png "Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence")](https://tech.stevieawards.com) [![Women Future Webinars](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WFC25/WFC%20WEBINARS%20LOGO.png?width=1800&height=810&name=WFC%20WEBINARS%20LOGO.png "Women Future Webinars")](https://women.stevieawards.com/webinars) [![Stevie Awards](https://blog.stevieawards.com/hs-fs/hubfs/StevieAwards_EmblemLogo_C_0220-1.png?width=100&height=128&name=StevieAwards_EmblemLogo_C_0220-1.png "Stevie Awards")](https://www.stevieawards.com) --- Questions? Problems? [Contact Us.](https://stevieawards.com/contact) Read Our [Privacy Policy](https://stevieawards.com/refund-delivery-policy) Copyright © 2026 Stevie Awards, Inc. All Rights Reserved. American Business Awards and International Business Awards are registered trademarks of Stevie Awards, Inc.