This session shares the real-world story of how Bartlett & West built the foundation for AI adoption across the company—from developing an AI policy and securing leadership support to launching an AI Council, shaping an AI strategy, and promoting adoption through training and prioritized use cases. Co-presenters Brian and Amber will reflect on the cross-functional collaboration that has helped move these efforts forward, offering perspectives from both marketing and technology leadership. Attendees will see not only what the firm has accomplished so far, but also what it is still learning as AI continues to evolve.

Using the framework of collecting data, finding insights, and taking action, the session will walk through Bartlett & West’s AI journey in practical terms. Participants will learn how the firm approached governance, education, use case collection, Copilot adoption, data organization, and early testing of AI-enabled tools such as proposal agents. By sharing both progress and open questions, the presenters will give attendees a realistic roadmap for building internal alignment, moving from experimentation to strategy, and supporting long-term AI adoption across multiple stakeholder groups.

Learner outcomes

1. Describe the foundational steps required to launch an internal AI program, including policy development, leadership alignment, and governance structure.
2. Identify methods for gathering and prioritizing AI use cases, training employees, and building organizational support for adoption.
3. Apply a practical framework for moving from AI exploration to action through strategy development, tool testing, and cross-functional collaboration.