EP 2: Adam Gunnett Dives into Why AI Success is a Habits, Process and Peer Learning Game | What the Tech Podcast

In a Nutshell

EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this episode, Onyeka sits down with Adam Gunnett, Vice President of Business Intelligence and Strategy at Busy Beaver Building Centers, for a masterclass in bringing AI to the frontlines.

Adam shares the surprising truth about who actually adopted AI fastest in his organization, and why the technical implementation was easier than getting people to actually use it. From his memorable insights about "throwing AI at a bad process just gives you an expensive bad process," to the biweekly Q&A sessions that tripled adoption rates, Adam reveals what really works when rolling out AI in retail.

This isn't a story about flashy tech demos. It's about building trust, starting with employee pain points instead of shiny solutions, and creating judgment-free spaces where even asking "basic" questions is encouraged.

If you're a leader trying to figure out how to move AI from pilot program to daily habit, Adam's journey from IT specialist to VP will show you exactly how it's done.

INSIDE THE CONVERSATION

📍 Exploring Adam's unique journey so far

🥇 The surprising group that adopted AI first

⛔ The real challenge isn't tech, its changing habits

💼 How AI quietly reshapes leadership

🤖 Why there will never be one perfect AI tool

⚙️ Fix the process before you automate it

📢 What employees really want from AI

📈 The bi-weekly sessions that tripled AI adoption

🤝 Why every leader needs a peer group

🚦Adam's beaver prompt that always delivers

Adam Gunnett Headshot

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Adam Gunnett

Vice President of Business Intelligence & Strategy, Busy Beaver Building Centers

Adam Gunnett is the Vice President of Business Intelligence & Strategy for Busy Beaver Building Centers, an independent home improvement retailer known for leading the way in retail technology innovation.

Since joining Busy Beaver in 2015, Adam has spearheaded digital transformation initiatives — from autonomous inventory robots and electronic shelf labels to AI-driven pricing and replenishment solutions — helping his company stay competitive in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.

Adam’s leadership philosophy is rooted in empowering teams, breaking down silos, and using technology to enhance the human side of retail. A multiple-time CIO of the Year nominee and the winner of the 2025 Tech Trailblazer Award, he’s passionate about helping organizations of all sizes build strong, connected teams that drive real results.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

Mic Drop Moments

If you throw AI at a bad process, you're going to just have an expensive bad process.

The aha moment was...it was a learning experience for me to not make business decisions off of preconceived notions or gut feelings.

My whole leadership style and mentality is, how can I make our employees more efficient at doing what they do best? It's not how can technology or AI save us money, but how to make people more effective of what they're good at already.

If I follow what some of the tech forward companies are doing, it might not necessarily work out well for us. But if I go at the same rate of my industry, I would still probably be having fax machines at some of my stores.

SEASON 2 | EPISODE 2

Adam Gunnett Dives into Why AI Success is a Habits, Process and Peer Learning Game