KASCADE
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AI with confidence: what the firms getting it right do differently
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Somewhere out there, a firm like yours is past the pilots and rolling out its next AI initiative, because they know where their data sits, where the value is, that their guardrails hold and that their people will run with it.That confidence is built, not inherited. It takes governance that reaches a decision rather than avoids one, and a culture, from the board to the desk, where trying something new feels safe. Too much control and innovation grinds to a halt. Not enough, and enthusiasm can quickly turn into risk.And this goes far beyond Microsoft Copilot. It’s Claude, the AI features landing in your practice software and whatever turns up next.Kascade’s CTO, Barry Coombs, shares what’s working across the firms we support and in our own business, including what we’ve learnt when things haven’t gone to plan. You’ll leave knowing how to turn the next AI request into a yes, and what needs to be in place to say it with confidence.
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Barry Coombs
‍Chief Technology Officer, Kascade
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Barry Coombs is an industry-recognised technology blogger, speaker and Chief Technology Officer at Kascade, with more than 20 years’ experience helping organisations make better use of technology.As CTO of a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner, Barry works closely with global technology companies including Microsoft and Dell, giving him a front-row view of how cloud, cyber security and AI are changing the way organisations operate. But his role goes well beyond the technology itself. He works strategically with business and technology leaders to shape their IT strategies, navigate change and turn new technology into genuine business value.Barry is particularly passionate about the opportunities AI is creating for professional services firms, and the challenge of adopting it in the right way. His focus is on cutting through the hype to understand where AI can make a real difference, while getting the strategy, security, governance and people side of adoption right.A regular industry speaker, Barry is known for making complex technology accessible, practical and relevant, helping leaders understand not just what’s coming next, but what they should actually do about it.