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18 leaders share their take on the pace of technological change
The world is moving faster than ever, and technological innovation is at the center of it all. From generative AI to data-driven automation, change is happening at lightning speed—and business leaders are faced with a choice: embrace it, resist it, or try to strike a balance.
Below, 18 Fast Company Executive Board members share how they really feel about the current pace of tech change, and what it means for their industries, their teams, and their leadership mindset.
1. TECH CHANGE MEANS EXPLORING BOLD IDEAS TOGETHER.
Rapid tech change fuels creativity, curiosity, and co-creation. It's not about fearing the unknown—it's about exploring, evaluating, and evolving bold ideas together. Through emerging technologies and human-centered design, we reduce friction and solve real-world challenges. We don't just unlock new possibilities—we innovate to create meaningful impact in the world around us. – Val Vacante, dentsu
2. ADVANCED TECH CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT MISSION-CRITICAL INDUSTRIES.
Seeing the ways advanced technology can positively impact mission-critical industries like first responders, federal warfighters and field service members energizes me. Workers need efficiency and seamless collaboration, and tech helps deliver that. Curiosity, an open mindset, and willingness to embrace change can help teams stay ahead of the curve and ensure effective technology deployments. – Dominick Passanante, Panasonic Connect
3. FASTER INNOVATION MEANS FASTER SOLUTIONS TO PRESSING WORLD CHALLENGES.
I believe technology is a force for good. The faster we innovate, the faster we solve the world's most pressing challenges in health, sustainability, and more—but only if we innovate responsibly, which is why leaders of innovation must put people at the heart of technology and innovation. Confidence is the new currency in this fast-changing world. – Joe Depa, EY
4. IT'S EXCITING, BUT WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF HUMAN-CENTERED USE.
I have never been more energized by the changes we are making at our business, thanks to generative AI—the process improvements, the elimination of tasks people didn't want to do anyway—all with a human-centered, responsible approach to the tech. Conversely, it concerns me about what will happen if people don't treat this tech in a human-centered way. – Brian McHale, Brandience
5. TECHNOLOGY SHOULDN'T OUTPACE HUMANITY.
Technology is the treadmill on which we all crawl, walk, or run, depending on our personal affinity for change. We just have to make sure we don't run so fast that we leave our humanity behind. – Tim Maleeny, Quad
6. INNOVATION IS POWERFUL WHEN APPLIED WITH PURPOSE.
I'm energized by the pace of technological change, especially when it's applied with purpose. In clinical research, AI and other innovations are helping reduce complexity, improve data quality, and anticipate patient behavior. Embrace technology that makes science more human-centered and outcomes more reliable. When innovation respects both people and data, it drives real progress. – Krinx Kong, Cognivia
7. TECH AMPLIFIES OUR ABILITY TO DELIVER RESULTS.
I'm energized by technological advancements because they enable the transformation of traditional services. We've developed proprietary tech solutions that streamline complex immigration processes while maintaining our 97% approval rate. Technology doesn't replace expertise; it enhances our ability to deliver exceptional results while focusing on what matters most: our clients' success. – Muhammed Uzum, Grape Law Firm PLLC
8. INNOVATION DEMANDS GOVERNANCE AND COLLABORATION.
I think you can be both energized and concerned. On the one hand, we're seeing an amazing level of innovation and advancement, especially around AI. At the same time, there is an increased need for risk management and governance to ensure companies remain compliant. We have to keep communicating with one another as the pace quickens. – Caitlin MacGregor, Plum
9. CHANGE FUELS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
I'm energized by the pace of technological change—it's a catalyst for innovation and competitive advantage. Embracing it allows us to evolve faster, serve customers better, and unlock new opportunities. Fear slows growth; adaptability fuels it. Change isn't the threat—it's the strategy. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors
I am 100%, absolutely energized. I've been in MarTech consulting since 2010, and very little has changed in the space fundamentally in the past decade. Yes, there are new companies, but most simply repackage old functionality. AI has given marketing a chance to rethink everything: Process. Integration points. Data sources. It's so exciting. – Andrea Lechner-Becker, GNW Consulting
11. BUILDING SECURE INNOVATION FROM THE START IS ESSENTIAL.
The pace of tech change energizes me, but with innovation comes risk. The challenge is securing by design—embedding security from the start so that innovation doesn't just disrupt, but drives positive impact without leaving us vulnerable. The speed of progress is thrilling, but we must ensure that what we build today doesn't expose us tomorrow. – Katrina (Katya) Rosseini, KRR Ventures
12. EDUCATION THRIVES ON AGILITY AND TECH.
The pace of technological change is both a challenge and an opportunity. In education specifically, tech allows us to personalize learning, scale globally, and reach children in ways that weren't possible before. Of course, it demands constant adaptation, but that's the exciting part: if you build a culture of agility and learning, you don't just survive change, you lead it! – Max Azarov, Novakid Inc.
13. AI TRANSFORMS TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES.
I'm energized by technological change because it revolutionizes traditional industries like data recovery. By integrating innovative AI technologies, we're dramatically improving recovery rates and reducing processing time, ultimately benefiting our customers facing data loss crises. – Chongwei Chen, DataNumen Inc.
14. EMERGING TECHNOLOGY NEEDS ETHICAL GUARDRAILS.
I'm tingly at what's possible in the coming years with more advanced tech that can potentially double our lifespans, improve quality of life, and increase our leisure time. That said, I remain concerned about ethical boundaries and the application of emerging tech. I'm also concerned about those who might be left behind or even exploited as new technology replaces jobs or educational opportunities. – Cheryl Contee, The Impact Seat Foundation
15. EMBRACE TECH AND ADAPT CONTINUOUSLY.
I am not concerned about technological change. Technological change has been a part of humankind, if not before then, at least since the Industrial Revolution. We just need to embrace the change, be nimble, keep learning, and keep adapting. – Ruchir Nath, Dell Technologies
16. TECH NEEDS THE HUMAN TOUCH TO SHINE.
I'm mostly energized by the potential that new technology brings. At the same time, it rarely performs at its best right out of the gate and still requires that final 10 to 15 percent of smart human input to truly make it exceptional. – Martin Pedersen, Stellar Agency
17. INNOVATION ENABLES MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS.
The pace of technological change unlocks the art of the possible by creating opportunities to streamline processes, drive efficiencies, and eliminate repetitive tasks. Rapid advances empower employees to focus on strategic, high-value work, which leads to greater innovation, deeper engagement, and more meaningful contributions. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal Credit Union
