Your competitors aren't just experimenting with AI anymore. They're using it to make faster strategic decisions, enter markets first, and reshape how they compete. So why are most enterprises still stuck chasing efficiency gains? In this episode of In Other Words, host Jason Hemingway talks to Raf Postepski, Senior Director at Alvarez & Marsal, about a leadership gap that's widening fast. Most C-suite teams have declared an AI ambition. Few have translated it into something their organization can actually execute. Raf shares what happens when he walks into workshops and mid-level leaders say, "We know the CEO has a vision. We just have no idea what it means for us."
From there, the conversation moves to where the real value sits. Raf argues the AI model itself is rapidly commoditizing and introduces his "Build for Advantage, Buy for Parity" principle, drawing on a pharmaceutical case study where AI-driven decision intelligence created a first-mover advantage measured in billions. Jason and Raf also tackle the question that should be on every Board agenda. If AI turns your core business systems into interchangeable infrastructure, what's actually left to compete on? The answer has implications for how leaders think about acquisitions, market entry, product strategy, and where they place their next big bet. For organizations competing across languages and markets, where the orchestration layer determines whether AI scales or stalls, the stakes are even higher.
What You’ll Learn:

Raf Postepski is a Senior Director at Alvarez & Marsal, where he leads the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Practice within Data & Intelligence. With more than 20 years of experience advising Fortune 500 organizations, Raf partners with C-Suite leaders to unlock strategic opportunities and drive sustainable competitive advantage through AI-enabled transformation.

His expertise spans enterprise AI strategy, operating model design, governance and risk management, digital business model innovation, and advanced decision science. Raf has led global transformation programs delivering measurable improvements in revenue growth, operational efficiency, and market position. He is known for helping organizations turn AI strategy into operating reality.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Podcasts. Instructions on how to do so are here.