Five Minutes That Can Redefine Your Company's Future

A clear, structured way for C-suite leaders to take control of AI decisions — and turn minutes of focus into lasting strategic advantage.

G. Nelson Smith and Julian Smith

Artificial intelligence has become the new buzzword across every industry. Companies rush to adopt it, vendors promise breakthroughs, and yet very few leaders stop to ask a more important question — what role should the C-suite actually play in choosing AI?

Handled correctly, just five to ten minutes of a C-suite executive's time can shape the direction of an entire company. In that brief window, leaders can filter out hype, identify truly transformative ideas, and set a path that turns technology into strategy.

When Should the C-Suite Get Involved?

There are two simple questions every leader should ask before looking at any AI proposal:

1. When should this AI proposal be presented to the C-suite?
2. When should the C-suite become involved in AI decisions?

Both questions have the same answer:

When the proposal is significant enough to change how the company operates — or open a major new opportunity for growth.

A Simple Process That Works

1. Delegate the Review
The C-suite designates a delegated official — someone experienced, trusted, and aligned with the company's priorities — to handle the first stage of review.

2. Hold a 15- to 30-Minute Discovery Call
The delegated official should arrange a short call with the AI company. This single conversation often reveals what long presentations cannot.

A capable AI partner will:

• Ask thoughtful questions about your specific challenges
• Avoid giving instant, one-size-fits-all answers
• Admit when they need to learn more before proposing a solution

3. Request a Collaborative Demonstration
Make it clear that this will be a collaborative demonstration, where both sides explore how the AI system could address the company's real issues.

4. Evaluate Two Core Factors

• Is this AI a game changer or just useful?
• What happens when the AI is wrong?

5. Estimate the Return on Investment

6. Report Back Clearly
The delegated official should return with a short, written summary that includes what the AI does, how it aligns with company goals, and a simple recommendation: Proceed, Pilot, or Decline.

The Bigger Picture

C-suite executives don't need to master every technical detail of AI. Their real value lies in directing focus — deciding which opportunities matter and ensuring the right people evaluate them properly.

With a few minutes of structured attention, executives can steer their companies toward technologies that truly fit their vision, while avoiding those that only sound impressive.

When this process is followed, the company moves faster, wastes less, and learns more. And it all begins with a brief, well-timed moment of executive focus — a few minutes that can, indeed, redefine the company's future.

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