January Insights – AI Scams on the Rise, Learning Smarter at Work, and Intentional Leadership Habits
Happy January, friends.
I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful holiday season surrounded by family and friends!
As we settle back into work mode, I find January is less about big resolutions and more about recalibration. This month’s articles reflect that. We’re exploring how AI is showing up in everyday work: from more sophisticated scams, to new learning tools, to why some emerging tech may be worth approaching with caution. I’ve also included a piece on leadership routines, because even with all the innovation around us, the habits that help us stay focused and effective still matter.
Michael
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Cybersecurity / Technology Articles
AI-powered scams are ramping up fast, and this article does a great job explaining why they’re harder to spot than ever. What jumped out to me is how accessible these tools have become. You don’t need to be a skilled cybercriminal to run a convincing scam anymore. For businesses, this helps to reinforce something we talk about a lot: that security can’t just be technical control, it has to include awareness and training. If your team doesn’t know what these new scams can look and sound like, the technology alone won’t save you.
AI scams surge: how consumers and businesses can stay safe
While AI-powered browsers sound like an exciting new innovation, this article goes over the security,, privacy and data governance risks that aren’t yet fully understood, especially for businesses. My key takeaway on this one is that it’s better to let these tools mature, understand how data is handled, and adopt them intentionally rather than rushing headfirst into something that could create more risk than reward. We as businesses owners (and in your personal lives as well) need to fully understand how new tools like this will work, and what safeguards are in place to keep you protected.
Gartner Recommends Avoiding AI Browsers — for Now
Leadership & Personal Growth
This article resonated with me because it reframes AI as a learning accelerator and not just a productivity tool. AI is shifting workplace learning from formal training sessions to continuous and in-the-moment support… learning while actually doing the work. For business, that’s a huge opportunity, but only if it’s implemented with intention. AI can’t replace good leadership or clear processes, but when it’s used properly, it can help people ramp up faster, make better decisions and feel more confident in their roles.
AI Is Changing How We Learn at Work
I’m someone that’s always had a solid morning routine and I’m a big believer that how you start your day has a direct impact on how effective you are as a leader. This article shows how many highly successful people protect focused “power hours” in their daily routines, rather than letting their calendars run them. The common thread is being intentional with time, energy and priorities. In a world full of constant notifications and distractions, discipline around your schedule might just be one of the most underrated leadership skills there is. As someone who lives by their calendar, for me, it would be about finding a balance, and utilizing most, if not all of these habits.
Partner Spotlight – Waterford Global
This month, we’d like to spotlight Waterford Global: a firm that does executive search differently, and does it well. They specialize in recruiting senior leaders and critical roles where fit, discretion and long-term impact matter. They’re not in the business of filling seats quickly; they focus on building leadership teams that move organizations forward. We’re proud to work with them and support the work they do behind the scenes for growing and evolving organizations.
Waterford Global Inc.
Events
January 21 – Beyond the Buzzwords: The Future of DEIA in Canadian Governance
On the Blog This Month:
