Future-Proof Your Career | AI Upskilling Guide | Justin Trombold | 388

Episode notes

Most companies aren't failing at AI because of bad tools — they're failing because they skip the fundamentals. In this episode, host Jeff Mains sits down with Justin Trombold, President of Antison Advisors and former consultant at Deloitte and Grant Thornton, to unpack why so many AI initiatives stall in the experimentation phase and never create real business value. Justin brings a rare perspective — rooted in academic research and first principles thinking — to one of the most pressing challenges in business today: turning AI curiosity into measurable results. From diagnosing organizational readiness to rethinking how SaaS providers serve customers, Justin delivers a clear, grounded framework for leaders who want to move from pilots to scaled impact. Key Takeaways [0:00] — Intro: Why AI initiatives look impressive but fail to move the business forward [3:27] — Justin's journey from academia to consulting and how first principles thinking shaped his AI advisory approach [8:14] — First principles vs.