Show AI--Don't Tell It

The secret to AI adoption? Stop explaining the tech—help your organization visualize business success.

Stakeholders don't invest in AI because they understand the tech—they invest when its business impact is clear and undeniable. In Show AI—Don't Tell It, AI executive and business strategist Dr. Lisa Palmer reveals how to use visual storytelling to make AI's value tangible, turning complex ideas into clear business outcomes that drive buy-in, adoption, and scale. Instead of vague theories and hype, this book provides clear frameworks, practical tools, and proven visualization techniques to help leaders secure funding, accelerate implementation, and maximize AI's impact.

Applying her Bold AI Leadership Model, Dr. Palmer lays out a structured approach to AI success:

• Mindset: The four Applied AI Guiding Principles—Business Value, Speed with Rigor, Simplicity, and Human-Centricity—keep AI initiatives focused, efficient, and impactful.
• Strategic Priorities: The five AI Success Pillars—Value Creation, Customer-Centricity, Collaborative Teams, Cultural Shifts, and Data as a Strategic Asset—ensure AI drives measurable business results.
• Practical Tools: The Visualization Tool Decision Framework, featuring over 20 strategic visualization tools, helps leaders simplify complexity, overcome resistance, and communicate AI's impact with clarity and confidence.

A must-read for executives, business leaders, and AI practitioners, Show AI—Don't Tell It provides the mindset, strategy, and tools needed to translate AI's potential into tangible value. Whether you're seeking stakeholder buy-in, funding approval, or faster adoption, this book shows you exactly how to use visual storytelling to accelerate business success with AI.

Foreword vii

Bold Ai Leadership: Lessons From a Hologram xi

Introduction: Why Leaders Need to Show Not Tell xiii

Part 1 The Bold AI Leadership Mindset (The Four Applied AI Guiding Principles) 1

1 Business Value: Driving Business Success with Pragmatic AI Innovation 3

2 Speed with Rigor: Balancing Agility and Structure for Sustainable Business Success with AI 27

3 Simplicity: Making AI Approachable, Accessible, and Understandable 51

4 Human-Centricity: Unlocking Potential Through Human + AI Partnerships 73

5 The AI Performance Flywheel: Turning AI Potential into Business Results 99

Part 2 Strategic Priorities (The Five AI Success Pillars) 113

6 Business Value Creation: The Bedrock of AI Success 115

7 Customer-Centricity: Prioritizing Customer Needs for Business Impact 123

8 Collaborative Teams: Developing Modern Skills and R&D Mindsets 133

9 Building a Cultural Where AI Can Thrive 147

10 Data as a Strategic Asset: High-Quality Fuel for AI 161

Part 3 Bringing AI to Life (Visualization as a Catalyst for Change) 173

11 From Strategy to Buy-In: Creating Foundation Momentum 177

12 From Resistance to Results: Driving Execution Momentum 203

13 Scale and Innovation Momentum: Turning Wins into a Wave 215

Conclusion: Lead Boldly. Show What’s Possible 247

Part 4 Appendices 249

A Visualization Tool Example for Business Value 251

B Visualization Tool Example for Speed with Rigor 257

C Visualization Tool Example for Simplicity 262

D Visualization Tool Example for Human-Centricity 266

E The AI Performance Flywheel 270

F Selecting the Right Visualization Tool 272

Acknowledgments 277

About the Author 278

Index 279

DR. LISA PALMER is an Applied AI Executive Advisor, global keynote speaker, and the founder of an AI venture blending cutting-edge AI software with human expertise. Her unique value lies in having been a technology buyer, seller, advisor, and researcher—giving her a 360-degree perspective on how to turn AI into practical, profitable, people-friendly results.

Praise for SHOW AI—DON’T TELL IT

“Finally, a playbook that shows how to unlock AI’s power with business leaders, not just engineers, and demystifies the path from vision to real value.”
—MARY SHEA, PHD, Former Principal Analyst at Forrester, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer at Meerkat

“Her step-by-step methodology is the essential AI guide for driving collaborative, secure innovation, fast.”
—ROB BENCE, VP of Technology & Cybersecurity at Tepper Sports and Entertainment, Owners of the Carolina Panthers

“Critical resource for business leaders—this book fills in all the gaps between LLMs and making money!”
—CHRIS GERMANN, Advisor to CMOs, Independent Consultant, Former Gartner VP, CIO Research Program

“If you want to turn skeptics into champions, show them exactly how AI changes the game for your business.”
—GREG NICHOLS, President of Technology Partners, AI Investor

“Dr. Lisa delivers the field guide for leaders ready to secure the future by pairing advanced technology with courageous human leadership.”
—JULIE VIDA, Retired Naval Commander, Cybersecurity Board Director, Former Splunk Chief Strategy Advisor

“Every services partner chasing AI deals needs a blueprint like this for turning strategy into action and pipeline into revenue.”
—JUSTIN SLAGLE, Former Microsoft Director, Global Systems Integrators, Founder & CEO of The Partner Masters