By Steve “The Doctor” Meek | Talk To Th3 Doc Podcast | The Fulcrum Group, Inc.
🎙️ Doctor’s Diagnosis: A Podcast Doc-umentary
AI Readiness Before Automation — Episode 127
I sat down with Seeni Kittappa, AI Architect Lead at Ingram Micro, to talk about something I see executives wrestling with every single day: AI pressure without AI clarity. Sometimes the struggle is "should I?" Other times it's "where do I start or "what’s in it for us?"
In my daily email I see 20 email call outs a day related to AI from my partners, new vendors and newsletters. The message has only gotten louder since then. Everyone wants AI or wants to give it. Few people are ready for it and that gap is where good intentions go to die.
It reminded me of my martial arts training. You don’t spar using the toughest kicks. You start with footwork and simplicity. Or like my idol Bruce Lee said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear one who has practiced one kick 10,000 times…”
You don’t need to try all the various AI tools, models and resources, just start with one and develop AI skills. Foundations matter, and we can add or change later, but get started with one. Training helps but you have to start to make sense of the training and apply it, for it to stick.
Why This Matters (The Why)
At Fulcrum, our purpose has never been to sell technology tools. That’s right, technology is just a tool, like a screwdriver forklift or police car. Our purpose is to help leaders think clearly, reduce risk, and move forward with confidence. AI is just the latest chapter in a much older story. Technology does not create outcomes, leadership and vision does.
Executives are the subject matter experts on their organizations, their customers, their partners and their industries. We’re here to guide, challenge, and support, not to drive the bus off a cliff because a vendor said, “Trust me.”
The Problem Executives Are Facing
Here’s the problem Seeni and I kept circling back to:
Market expectations have outrun organizational readiness.
AI is being sold like a microwave dinner. Just press start. But most organizations don’t even know if the kitchen is clean. Executives feel the pressure. Councils ask about AI, employees experiment with it, and vendors promise miracles. Meanwhile, data is messy, permissions are wide open, and nobody can explain how success will be measured. That’s not the desired result, that’s now security and privacy roulette.
The Fulcrum Way (How We Do It Differently)
This is where Fulcrum’s approach lines up almost perfectly with the conversation from Episode 127.
Through SPOT Managed IT Services and our STARPower™ Framework, we start with questions, not products.
- Where are we now?
- Where do you want to be?
- What are your top 4-7 organizational processes?
- What risks matter most?
- Where does your important data reside?
- What would “better” actually look like?
That’s straight out of ITIL v4 continuous improvement thinking, whether the acronym is on the wall or not. No random acts of technology and don’t fall for shiny objects and squirrels. We baseline environments, document, review quarterly and prioritize the top two or three things that matter, not twenty. Without process, we are just problem “fondlers”, we would rarely fix things just touch them over and over, meeting after meeting.
Seeni said it simply on the podcast:
“Get the foundation right.”
That’s not just AI advice. That’s life and leadership advice.
A Real-World Example That Hits Home
One metric Seeni shared stuck with me:
Up to 50% of customer calls go unanswered.
Let that sink in. Half the people reaching out are met with silence. Voice AI can help with that, sure. But only if the organization understands its own workflows, escalation paths, and customer expectations first. We’ve seen clients recover real revenue simply by fixing fundamentals: call routing, documentation, ownership, and accountability. AI then becomes an accelerator, not a bandage.
Of course, when I am overwhelmed, confused, or being dragged through a series of absurd events I like to quote The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and say, “Don’t panic”. Build the system first.
Key Takeaways (Executive FAQ)
Q: Do I need AI right now?
A: You benefit with clarity first in what problem you are trying to solve. It helps to create workflow maps or discuss with partners. AI comes second.
Q: What’s the biggest risk with AI?
A: Automating bad processes faster. It is helpful to consider if the existing process is the best way or just tradition. There could be completely different options that would be replacing the process, instead of just trying to fix (similar to the mentality and the whole line of management books about 10x being easier than 2x).
Q: How should leaders start?
A: Leaders should start by choosing a small, low-risk area where technology can improve visibility, efficiency, or decision-making. Rather than launching a large initiative, test a focused use case, measure what changes, and learn from the results. This approach allows leadership to stay in control of direction and outcomes instead of reacting to tools or trends.
Q: Where does Fulcrum fit?
A: Fulcrum acts as a strategic partner, not just a technology provider. We help leaders think through what actually matters to the business, plan technology initiatives that align with those goals, and execute in a disciplined, responsible way. We can help evaluate your AI readiness, adopt AI tools, provide some point AI solutions, help shape data governance, work with an existing vendors app to discuss their AI integrations or connect to systems with AI.
Q: What’s the win?
A: The win is predictability and confidence. Leaders experience fewer surprises because systems are documented, risks are understood, and decisions are intentional. Outcomes improve because technology investments are tied to business value, not hype. The curse of technology tools depends on usage and lack of a ROI. Being intentional leads to a clear plan, measurable progress, and a trusted partner helping guide the journey forward.
Call to Action (What to Do Next)
If Episode 127 resonated with you, don’t stop there.
👉 Watch or listen to the full episode to hear the full conversation with Seeni
👉 Subscribe to Talk To Th3 Doc on your favorite podcast platform
👉 Or, if you want help building your own AI and technology foundation, start a conversation with Fulcrum
AI is not a magic button. But it can seem like one with disciplined leadership, strong foundations, and continuous improvement. That’s how you win, whether it’s AI, cybersecurity, or just running a better organization.
🎧 Watch & Listen
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s_wob023cXU
🎧 Listen on your favorite platform: https://pod.link/1807560282
🌐 Explore more episodes: https://www.fulcrumgroup.net/talk-to-th3-doc-podcast/
🎧 Check out other AI and related episodes
📺 From Data to Decisions: How AI Empowers Modern Leaders | Tom Delanoy | Talk To Th3 Doc Ep. 125: https://youtu.be/VNG319Khdzs?si=pVGOQ3aEE5TzhqqM
📺 AI, Authenticity & The New Marketing Playbook for SMB Leaders | Borja Cuan Ep. 122
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlXn3-2aCR4
📺 Turning IT Into Business Outcomes | Luis Giraldo | Talk To Th3 Doc Ep. 116: https://youtu.be/GR18f8OyvAs?si=yU6L_MxUA-5H2Wg2
📺 The AI-Cybersecurity Collision: Why Identity Is Now Your Weakest Link | Keith Pasley | Talk To Th3 Doc Ep. 107: https://youtu.be/El95yaGx6Cs?si=PClb3QYGkCg0OKU0
📺 What’s the First Step to Using AI in Your Business Today? | Kellye Kamp | Talk To Th3 Doc Ep. 102: https://youtu.be/u60cZ6y4b2Q?si=wu47yqNsIe6_Vdr0
About the Author — Steve “The Doctor” Meek, CISSP
Steve “The Doctor” Meek is a DFW-based IT strategist, cybersecurity leader, podcast host, and co-founder of a 24-year technology legacy in North Texas. A recipient of the 2024 MSP Titan of Industry Award for Community Impact, Steve brings decades of experience helping CEOs, city managers, and healthcare and manufacturing leaders navigate cybersecurity, AI readiness, and operational resilience. As host of Talk To Th3 Doc, he explores leadership and ownership topics to find practical insights for SMB decision-makers.
Founded in Keller, TX, The Fulcrum Group, Inc. delivers relationship-centered DFW Managed IT Services through its flagship SPOT Managed IT Services and SPOT Managed Security Services platforms. Using its proprietary STARPower™ Framework, Fulcrum helps businesses strengthen security, modernize operations, and plan technology with clarity and confidence. With a 100% Texas-based team and a No IT Jerks philosophy, Fulcrum serves SMBs, local governments, and mission-driven organizations across North Texas.
