Embedding Ethical Purpose in the Age of AI: A Call for Corporate Consciousness
As artificial intelligence continues to redefine industries, the imperative for enterprise evolution is no longer merely technological—it’s existential. The question is no longer if AI will impact your business, but how your leadership will respond. In this rapidly shifting...
From Efficiency to Innovation: Guide AI Beyond the Hype
Generative AI, chatbots, and automation platforms have been democratized, available to every employee with an internet connection and a corporate login, creating opportunity and risk. Without senior leadership stepping in to guide purpose-driven adoption, AI outcomes stagnate, costs rise, and...
Spotlight: The Bonar Institute’s John Barker at the Minneapolis Technology Summit 2025
On July 22, 2025, Minneapolis played host to the ElevateIT-sponsored Technology Summit, bringing together leaders and innovators to discuss the future of enterprise technology. A focal point of the event was the participation of John Barker, SVP AI at The Bonar Institute for Purposeful Leadership,...
Neuroscience of Purposeful Leadership
Our physiology and emotions are intertwined and when we understand how the brain works and influences our feelings and needs, it becomes easier to manage our cognitive (thinking) and affective (emotional) functions - to deal with the opportunities, risks and challenges of leadership. ...
Why Boards Need a Cyber Executive with AI Expertise
In today’s hyper-connected and rapidly evolving digital landscape, boards of directors must contend with a complex array of cyber risks that are no longer confined to the IT department. With the explosion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, these risks have grown exponentially in both...
Leadership Transcends Titles: The Cornerstone of Organizational Excellence
Message from the Founder & CEO In today's volatile and complex landscape—marked by technological disruption, geopolitical shifts, climate challenges, and active stakeholder engagement—the real risk is the absence of bold, ethical leadership. At the Bonar Institute, we help high performing...
Leading in the Age of Intelligent Action: A Board’s Guide to Agentic AI
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the business landscape, and within this transformation, the emergence of agentic AI presents opportunities and challenges. Agentic AI is AI that acts, making decisions and taking actions independently to achieve specific goals. This shift...
Announcing the Bonar Institute’s Modular Digital Program for Responsible AI for Boards and C-Suites
We are excited to introduce the Bonar Institute’s Modular Digital Program for Responsible AI, specifically designed for Boards and C-Suite executives. This comprehensive program is divided into four key modules: Understanding the Fiduciary Duties of Boards and Corporate Officers: This module...
Purposefully Embracing the Future with Responsible, Ethical, and Trustworthy AI
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve and integrate into various facets of our lives, the importance of responsible, ethical, and trustworthy AI cannot be overstated. These guiding principles are not just abstract ideals; they are enforceable through legislation, such as the European...
Shining a Light on Shadow AI: Purposeful Leadership for Responsible AI Adoption
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) enables employees the potential to boost productivity and innovation. However, GenAI also introduces new challenges, one being "Shadow AI." Shadow AI refers to the use of AI tools by employees and members of the supply chain without the knowledge or...
Why Does a Company Exist? Purposeful Leadership & the Principles of ESG
The greatest risk facing companies today is a dearth of purposeful, ethical, and impactful leadership. To thrive in a Volatile, Uncertain, Changing and Ambiguous (VUCA) AI-driven World, corporate boards and the c-suite need to successfully develop and sustain a purposeful, ethical and impactful...
AI & Human Capital Management: What Boards & C-Suites Need to Know
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a strategic imperative driving digital transformation across industries. While the potential for cost savings and efficiency gains excites CFOs, boards and C-suites must grasp the interplay between AI and human capital to ensure successful AI implementation. AI is...
Generative AI Requires More Board & C-Suite Oversight than Traditional AI
ChatGPT has more than 100 million weekly users and approximately 627 million users every month. Everywhere and seemingly all at once, free, and fee-based versions of generative artificial intelligence, including ChatGPTs competitors, are accessible through web browsers and productivity software. Are your Boards and C-suites ready for that fast-paced spread of GenAI?
AI Adoption: Moving from the “wait and see” approach to the power of performing
Using this 70-20-10 model as a framework for AI adoption can help Boards develop leaders toward a comprehensive understanding of AI adoption and transformation. This approach could help them to lead effectively by combining hands-on experience, exposure to diverse perspectives, and continuous learning.
Doing the Right Thing and Doing Things Right: Mindful, Responsible and Purposeful Leadership
ESG and DEI are complex initiatives. But they can be successfully managed with the help of a mindfulness approach. Mindfully aware principled leaders generate solid, sustainable, and profitable revenues because doing the right thing and doing things right is good for business, people, and the planet.
Leading with Influence – A Six-Step Methodology
A client of mine was a very capable executive in a large company. She was well-liked and appeared to have all the necessary requisites for senior management. However, she told me about her frustration with being passed over for a promotion. How did it turn out that way? Why...
The Case for Technical Board Diversity
Corporate boards thrive on diversity. For years, well-governed organizations have known that their strategies are best formed through differences in thought, experience, and opinion. Traditionally, that diversity has been functional. Having members who were strong in different areas of the...
The Tension Between Opportunity and Risk
The Balancing Act of Leveraging AI is a Job for the Insurance Industry The introduction of AI into everyday business operations has triggered the need to balance the anticipated benefits and rewards – which is serving as the catalyst for most – with the risk of moving too quickly, adopting without...
You Have a Job to Do. It Won’t Be Easy in Our AI-Enabled VUCA World.
Balancing the demands of diverse groups of stakeholders is more complex than ever. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is already shifting the workplace landscape because it enables “the simulation or approximation of human intelligence in machines.” AI empowers computers to self-learn,...
Purposefully Leading in AI & Cybersecurity
As AI and Cybersecurity advance, understanding the various contexts of your company is critical even before moving ahead with any plan. Knowing context, with all its subtleties and nuances, will give you the right perspective to help shape your corporate approach to this quickly emerging...