Guest: Glenn Russell (LinkedIn)
Company: Egen
Show Name: An Eye on AI
Topic: Agentic AI

Many enterprises today are eager to adopt AI, but most get stuck in experimentation. They start with small pilot projects to “test the waters,” only to find that progress stalls before real business value is achieved. In this clip from An Eye on AI, Glenn Russell, Global AI Practice Lead at Egen, explains why that happens — and how to break through it.

Russell says the key to turning AI experiments into production success lies in one principle: understanding the business before applying the technology. “It starts with understanding the workflows, the people, the crown jewels of the organization,” he tells TFiR host Swapnil Bhartiya. Before recommending any model or tool, Egen’s team spends time mapping what actually drives the client’s value. That might mean examining complex processes like credit approvals, flight rebooking, or customer operations.

According to Russell, too many AI initiatives fail because companies start with the tool, not the problem. “When you have a big enough hammer, everything looks like a nail,” he says. “We’ve even told some clients that AI wasn’t the right solution — good heuristic systems already did the job.” This honesty, he adds, builds long-term trust and helps organizations avoid the common pitfall of solving cheap problems with expensive technology.

Once the right use case is identified, Egen’s process is deliberately incremental. They take a single step within a larger workflow and focus on improving just that. The goal is to prove value quickly and measurably before scaling further. “Start small, know when it’s failing and when it’s passing, and build from there,” Russell advises.

That mindset contrasts sharply with the hype-driven view that AI can deliver instant transformation. Russell warns that AI, like any other technology, requires patience. “Sprinkling some AI on top doesn’t yield instant returns,” he says. “It’s about understanding the problem, defining success, and moving step by step.”

Egen’s pragmatic approach resonates with business leaders looking to mature their AI strategies. Instead of chasing trends, Russell advocates for discipline: measure outcomes, verify what works, and scale what’s proven. In many cases, Egen helps clients integrate generative AI with existing deterministic or rules-based systems, creating hybrid models that are both effective and cost-efficient.

Ultimately, Russell’s message is that AI success is less about adopting the latest model and more about aligning technology with business reality. True transformation happens when organizations treat AI as a tool to enhance existing strengths, not replace them. For enterprises struggling to move beyond proof-of-concept, that shift in perspective can make the difference between pilot and production.