The New Friction
The New Friction
Why AI Adoption Is a Human Problem, Not a Technology Problem
Live Online
With Douglas Ferguson and Erik Skogsberg
AI doesn't fix what's broken in your organization—it runs your broken processes at machine speed. While most leaders focus on tool adoption and training, the real challenge is invisible: AI amplifies every bottleneck, misalignment, and dysfunction in your ways of working. What was manageable last year becomes existential this year.
This webinar reveals why AI transformation is fundamentally a human problem, not a technology problem. You'll discover how leading organizations are shifting from individual AI productivity hacks to collaborative, context-rich systems where teams work alongside AI. We'll map the friction points in your organization, identify where human-in-the-loop zones matter most, and explore the architectural shift required to turn AI adoption into business acceleration.
Join us to move beyond pilot purgatory and tool sprawl, and learn how to build the compounding organizational capability that separates winners from wishful thinkers.
This webinar reveals why AI transformation is fundamentally a human problem, not a technology problem. You'll discover how leading organizations are shifting from individual AI productivity hacks to collaborative, context-rich systems where teams work alongside AI. We'll map the friction points in your organization, identify where human-in-the-loop zones matter most, and explore the architectural shift required to turn AI adoption into business acceleration.
Join us to move beyond pilot purgatory and tool sprawl, and learn how to build the compounding organizational capability that separates winners from wishful thinkers.
Live Online
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Agenda
The Challenge
Why AI amplifies existing organizational dysfunction
Redesigning Work
From individual hacks to collaborative intelligence
Driving Adoption
Building momentum through narrative, not mandates
Scaling Transformation
Progressing from thought partner to system
Who Should Attend
Transformation & Change Leaders
Who want to move beyond pilot purgatory and build team-level fluency that actually scales
Innovation & Strategy Executives
Who recognize that compounding capability, not faster tools, is the only sustainable competitive advantage

Product & Operations Leaders
Who are accountable for AI ROI but struggle with tool sprawl, uneven capability, and disconnected ways of working
Chiefs of Staff
Who need to bridge the strategy-execution gap and translate executive vision into frontline reality across AI initiatives
Key Takeaways
Define why AI amplifies dysfunction rather than fixing it
Map friction points and identify human-in-the-loop leverage zones
Shift from individual productivity to collaborative AI systems
Build narrative-driven adoption that scales beyond mandate traps
Featured Facilitators
Douglas Ferguson
Douglas Ferguson is an entrepreneur, educator, and human-centered technologist. He is the founder and CEO of Voltage Control, a facilitation-led transformation consultancy that helps leaders and organizations elevate their ways of working to unlock their full collaborative potential. He has helped transform leaders, innovators, and creatives from Nike, U.S. SOCOM, Google, the Air Force, Gap, Tesla, MSU, Church & Dwight, Apple, Adobe, Dropbox, Fidelity, Vrbo, Liberty Mutual, Humana, and SAIC. Douglas is a thought leader and author of four books: Magical Meetings, Beyond the Prototype, How to Remix Anything, and Start Within.
Erik Skogsberg
Erik Skogsberg is an educator, designer, researcher, and human-centered change agent. He is VP at Voltage Control, a facilitation-led transformation consultancy that helps leaders and organizations elevate their ways of working to unlock their full collaborative potential. He has worked with leaders, innovators, and creatives at organizations including Google, Microsoft, Nike, NASA, Lockheed Martin, USSOCOM, Atlassian, Stanford, the World Bank, and the Carnegie Foundation.
Prior to Voltage Control, Erik co-founded Michigan State University's Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, an internal design consultancy focused on learning experience design, innovation, and organizational transformation. Drawing on his background as an educator and researcher, he brought human-centered design and systems thinking to some of higher education's most complex organizational challenges.
Erik designs and leads immersive, research-backed programs that help leaders navigate complexity, build alignment, and move from misalignment to momentum — building facilitation as a craft, a calling, and a catalyst for change.
He holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education from Michigan State University, an M.A.T. in Secondary English Education from Brown University, and a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University.
Prior to Voltage Control, Erik co-founded Michigan State University's Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, an internal design consultancy focused on learning experience design, innovation, and organizational transformation. Drawing on his background as an educator and researcher, he brought human-centered design and systems thinking to some of higher education's most complex organizational challenges.
Erik designs and leads immersive, research-backed programs that help leaders navigate complexity, build alignment, and move from misalignment to momentum — building facilitation as a craft, a calling, and a catalyst for change.
He holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education from Michigan State University, an M.A.T. in Secondary English Education from Brown University, and a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University.
What People Are Saying
"The community’s warmth and generosity in tending to me and the issue made me feel cared for and supported. Beyond the suggestions, which were immediately useful, the culture of the community makes leaning into that growth edge easier, and more delightful."
Katrina Mitchell
Senior Technical Advisor, JHPiego
“I just wanted to say thanks for the great session last night. Your feedback and suggestions were fantastic. I left very energized!"
Dan Corbin
Instructor at Pragmatic Institute
Photo Disclaimer
Please note that photographs, video & audio recordings will be taken throughout this event. These will be used by Voltage Control for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and in social media, or in any third party publication. Please contact our events manager if you have any concerns or if you wish to be exempted from this activity.
