How AI Leadership Shapes Project Delivery (and When You Need It)

The Digital Project Manager

When is the right time to hire an AI leader, and what do they actually do once they’re in the door? In this episode, Galen Low sits down with Tim Fisher, VP of AI at Black & White Zebra, to unpack the real-world impact of AI leadership roles. Together they explore the tension between hype and practicality, the mix of skills needed to bridge tech, business, and people, and why AI leadership is less about flashy experiments and more about building trust, change readiness, and operational maturity.

Tim shares candid insights from his own path into the role, offering a grounded look at how organizations can approach AI without losing sight of their business goals—or their people. If you’ve ever wondered whether a VP of AI is a made-up job, or how AI leadership can actually smooth project delivery, this conversation is for you.

Chapters

1. Defining the VP of AI Role (00:00:00)

2. When Organizations Are Ready for AI (00:03:45)

3. Skills Needed for AI Leadership (00:07:35)

4. Bottom-Up vs Top-Down AI Implementation (00:14:00)

5. Creating a Culture of Change (00:21:10)

6. The Future of Work and Project Management (00:35:00)

7. Final Thoughts and Episode Closing (00:42:50)