The Lucent Perspective
In The Lucent Perspective, host Rebecca Hastings interviews executives and leaders from the tech sector to learn about their successes, most valuable lessons learned, challenges, solutions and insights. Rebecca is an executive headhunter who has built leadership teams and helped technology companies rapidly scale. If you're looking to learn about startup and scale-up technology companies and hear from some of the most entrepreneurial and innovative leaders, join Rebecca Hastings and guests on The Lucent Perspective.
The Lucent Perspective
How Agentic AI is Changing Business and Leadership with Gary Crawford
In this episode of The Lucent Perspective, Rebecca Hastings speaks with Gary Crawford, an AI strategy expert and Founder of Owendale Advisory, a consultancy helping businesses adapt to the intelligence era.
With rapid AI advancements, including agentic AI, businesses face new challenges and opportunities. Gary shares insights on AI-driven organizations, leadership evolution, and talent strategies in a changing landscape. He explores AI’s impact on hiring, business transformation, and strategic decision-making.
Key Topics Covered
- What agentic AI is and how it differs from traditional AI.
- Why AI is moving from a tool to an autonomous workforce contributor.
- The impact of AI-driven automation on hiring and career development.
- How businesses should rethink talent strategies as AI expands.
- Why leadership teams must understand AI beyond the buzzwords.
- How agentic AI is shaping finance, healthcare, and software.
- Risks of delaying AI adoption and why hesitation is costly.
- The future of AI in business models and organizational structures.
Episode Highlights
[00:57] Introduction to Gary Crawford and his AI strategy expertise.
[02:33] What agentic AI is and how it operates autonomously.
[04:39] Why AI adoption is a business transformation, not just a tech shift.
[06:48] How AI is disrupting hiring and reshaping talent strategies.
[10:49] The risks of over-relying on AI for decision-making.
[15:08] How AI is transforming traditionally slow-adopting industries.
[22:53] Common misconceptions about AI and its business impact.
[31:12] Structural and cultural shifts businesses must prepare for.
[35:53] Why delaying AI adoption could leave companies behind.
[40:52] How leaders can strategically experiment with AI.
[47:31] Final thoughts on AI’s impact on leadership and strategy.
About Gary Crawford
Gary Crawford is the Founder & Chief Advisor at Owendale Advisory, where he helps businesses align AI opportunities with strategic goals. With a background in working with C-level executives, boards, and leadership teams, Gary specializes in AI transformation, business strategy, and executive coaching. His experience spans financial services, healthcare, energy, public sector, and retail, making him a sought-after advisor on AI-driven innovation.
📌 Connect with Gary:
🔗 LinkedIn
🔗 Owendale Advisory
Rebecca Hastings, Founder and Director at The Lucent Group
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hastingsrebecca/
Would you like to be a guest? Book a time to speak with Rebecca: https://calendly.com/rebeccahastings/discovery-call
The Lucent Group Ltd website - https://www.thelucentgroup.co.uk/
The Lucent Perspective website - https://thelucentperspective.com/
Rebecca has extensive talent and executive search experience supporting digital and technology businesses through complex changes and fast-paced scale-up periods. She works with businesses advising on C-level, technical, sales and commercial appointments, workforce planning, strategic talent management, recruitment processes and associated technology and employer brand development.