Introducing AI in the Boardroom
Edition #1 - Everything you need to know about this newsletter
Welcome to AI in the Boardroom
Hi, and welcome to AI in the Boardroom, a newsletter for board directors, executives, and senior advisors who need to understand and govern artificial intelligence responsibly, strategically, and with confidence. As AI transforms industries at pace, leadership teams must ensure they are equipped to manage the ethical, legal, and strategic dimensions of this shift. This publication exists to bridge that gap.
This is a new space dedicated to one thing: helping boards and senior leaders make sense of AI. It will deliver clear, board-level insights on strategy, governance, and transformation in the age of AI.
AI is no longer just a technology topic, it’s a boardroom issue. It touches strategy, risk, regulation, culture, and transformation. The stakes are high: get it right, and AI can reshape competitive advantage; get it wrong, and you face reputational, regulatory, and operational risk.
Boards can’t afford to ignore it, nor can it be delegated to IT teams.
That’s where AI in the Boardroom comes in.
Who this newsletter is for
AI in the Boardroom is written for:
👍🏽 Non-Executive Directors or Chairs overseeing risk and strategy
👍🏽 C-suite executives accountable for transformation and compliance
👍🏽 PE-backed leaders navigating disruption and governance expectations
👍🏽 Board committee members (Audit, Risk, Governance etc.) seeking clarity on AI
👍🏽 Consultants advising on AI strategy and transformation
👍🏽 Senior policymakers or regulator shaping corporate oversight
If you sit at the top table, this is for you.
What this newsletter delivers
AI in the Boardroom focuses on what directors need to know - no hype, no jargon, no technical rabbit holes.
Subscribers will receive:
✅ Concise board briefings twice a month on AI governance, strategy, and risk
✅ Exclusive practical tools like frameworks, checklists, and cheatsheets
✅ Regulatory intelligence — what EU and UK policy shifts mean for your board
✅ Case studies and governance lessons from real transformations
✅ Invitations to private director events including briefings, masterclasses, and roundtables
This isn’t about hype or technical deep dives. It’s about giving directors the right lens to ask the right questions and make better decisions in the boardroom.
Who I am
I’m Karim Harbott, a Chartered Director, board advisor, and executive educator.
➡️ I teach strategy for the Institute of Directors.
➡️ I serve on boards, governance committees, and Finance Audit & Risk Committees
➡️ I’ve worked internationally in strategy, digital transformation, and AI governance, across financial services, government, retail, technology, and sport.
➡️ I’m the co-founder of a global strategy, AI, and transformation consultancy.
➡️ I’m the author of The 6 Enablers of Business Agility.
My focus is always at the top table: helping boards and executives oversee AI responsibly, govern effectively, and drive transformation with confidence.
My purpose
In my board and advisory work, I see a growing gap:
❗️Directors know AI is critical, but don’t know what questions to ask.
❗️Executives are under pressure to “do AI,” but boards struggle to oversee it responsibly.
❗️Regulators are moving fast, yet many boards are behind.
It can be overwhelming trying to keep up. My goal is to close that gap, giving leaders the clarity, tools, and frameworks to navigate disruption without the noise without spending hours following every latest development.
This newsletter is my way of sharing those insights more widely.
If you’re still reading — thank you. I want this to be useful, practical, and directly relevant to your role as a leader.
Now, I’d love to hear from you:
👉🏽 What’s the biggest AI-related challenge or question facing your board right now?
👉🏽 What would you like to see more of in this newsletter?
Reply to this email or drop a comment below.
Welcome aboard. I’m glad you’re here.
Karim