Solid Ground, Not Shifting Sand: Leading Through AI

September 17, 2026 · 0:00 read

Aaron Baker never got a memo saying his job had changed. Between co-chairing the rvatech/Data + AI Summit and fielding a steady stream of "who should we put on this?" requests at CapTech, he went from doing the work to handing it out, and part of him still wonders if that counts as cheating. The two

Aaron Baker never got a memo saying his job had changed. Between co-chairing the rvatech/Data + AI Summit and fielding a steady stream of "who should we put on this?" requests at CapTech, he went from doing the work to handing it out, and part of him still wonders if that counts as cheating.The two Aarons get into how a network becomes influence, why a handoff takes more than one conversation, and how to keep your footing while AI shifts every week.Show outline<ul><li>00:00 From doing the work to handing it out</li><li>04:38 People know that you know people</li><li>09:48 The first-job lesson about being right</li><li>13:15 Why handing off feels like cheating</li><li>17:08 Looking for a mentor, becoming one</li><li>24:03 Solid ground when AI keeps shifting</li><li>28:58 Let AI take the brainless work</li><li>32:12 The growth goal for his 20-year-old self</li></ul>Takeaways<ol><li>Influence grows when people know that you know people. Aaron makes his network visible by sending colleagues a monthly list of Richmond networking events.</li><li>When you bring hard news two levels up, the relationship counts at least as much as being right.</li><li>A handoff is a process. Ask what this person needs to know from where they sit, and say whether you're offering an idea or setting a requirement.</li><li>Anchor on what the AI news cycle won't wash away: the business process, the system design, your own expertise. Hand AI the brainless tasks, and stay sharp enough to catch it when it's wrong.</li><li>Keep a concrete growth goal for every season, or you'll do whatever comes your way.</li></ol>Resources mentioned<ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394374143?tag=newgenerat066-20" target="_blank">Architected Intelligence</a> by Jacob Miller and Jeremy Mumford</li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H2LHFC56?tag=newgenerat066-20" target="_blank">The AI Thinking Model</a> by Liz B. Baker</li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rvatech.com/event_type/data-summit/" target="_blank">rvatech/Data + AI Summit</a></li></ul>Connect with Aaron Baker<ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-baker-ct/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li></ul>Connect with Aaron Lee<ul><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronleeco" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li><li><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://newgeneration.media/episodes?utm_source=show_notes&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ngl-ep88" target="_blank">All episodes</a></li></ul>