Leading the Human Side of AI Adoption – with Rob Amor

““AI is a journey, not a quick fix.” – Rob Amor

If there’s one takeaway from this episode: successful AI adoption isn’t about chasing tools – it’s about clear goals, transparent leadership, and bringing people along the journey.

🎧 Subscribe to Brim's podcast, the AI Opportunity, on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

‍

💡 About the episode

When it comes to AI transformation, leaders often ask: Where do I even start?

In this episode, Kenny sits down with Rob Amor – former COO at Cambium, Farfetch and Tesco – to explore how COOs can lead their teams to adopt AI effectively and sustainably. From aligning teams and managing expectations to balancing pragmatism with curiosity, Rob shares what real adoption looks like in practice — and why the future of AI belongs to leaders who listen, communicate, and learn fast.

Here are some key takeaways from the conversation:

1. Start with the business problem, not the technology

“Don’t get too excited about tech for tech’s sake,” Rob says.

Every AI initiative should begin with a clear business question: What problem are we solving? Whether it’s improving efficiency, reducing costs, or enhancing customer experience — start there, not with a shiny new tool.

When leaders frame AI as a solution to real pain points, adoption becomes purpose-driven instead of project-driven.

2. Bring your team along the journey

Transparency and collaboration aren’t soft skills — they’re survival skills.

Rob emphasizes that AI adoption fails without trust. The most successful leaders involve their teams early, address fears head-on, and make space for feedback.

When employees understand the “why” behind AI, they stop seeing it as a threat — and start seeing it as a tool that helps them perform better.

3. Be pragmatic, not perfect‍

Every organization wants results, fast. But as Rob points out, real transformation takes iteration.

Leaders should be realistic about timelines, communicate openly about what’s working (and what isn’t), and treat AI as an ongoing process — not a one-off launch.

The goal isn’t to be first — it’s to be sustainable.

4. Stay curious and iterative

“AI isn’t one-size-fits-all,” Rob says. “Treat it like learning a new language — experiment, make mistakes, and keep improving.”

The leaders who succeed are those who stay curious, test ideas quickly, and adjust as they go.

AI isn’t a destination. It’s a muscle that strengthens every time your team uses it.

‍

Chapters

00:00 – The changing expectations around AI in business
06:40 – Why clarity and communication are key to adoption
12:15 – Managing fear and building team buy-in
19:30 – The COO’s role in driving practical AI outcomes26:20 – Leading with curiosity and realism

‍

About the guest

Rob Amor is a seasoned operations leader with over two decades of experience building and scaling high-performing teams across retail and technology. As Chief Operating Officer at The Cambium Group, he leads execution and operations with a focus on innovation, growth, and navigating the evolving retail-technology frontier.

Before joining Cambium, Rob held senior leadership roles at global organizations including Farfetch and Tesco, where he drove large-scale digital transformation and operational excellence. His expertise spans from process design and systems thinking to leading organizational change that connects strategy with measurable results.

About the show

The AI Opportunity is a podcast for business leaders who want to turn AI from noise into real results.

Each episode features someone who’s put AI to work inside real organisations and can show mid-sized companies (50–500 employees) how to start small, move fast, and scale safely.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube