Why It's Time to Get Your Hands Dirty

I started out in systems and infrastructure engineering. Back then, there was a pretty clear split—those who managed the systems, and the software teams (usually sitting closer to the business) who built the applications that actually solved problems. Fast-forward twenty years, and in many places, those divides are non-existent.

Today, product, tech, design, and business teams are practically one and the same. The mission has shifted too. Technology isn’t just about running servers or cutting code anymore—it’s about building real solutions. Ones that make a genuine difference to customers and to the business.

And right now, AI is already playing a big role. It’s not just a technologist’s tool—it’s an everything tool. Whether you’re a junior dev, a GM, or a CEO, the best way to truly understand what’s going on with AI is to get hands-on. Watch fewer hype videos, and try some things out for yourself. Build a first-hand perspective of where things are at. It doesn’t take a lot of effort or money—start with something like Lovable.dev , a prompt-driven AI dev platform. It’s all about clearly expressing what you want and letting the system build it for you. If Lovable feels too basic, try something like Cursor or Windsurf. There’s so much out there for wherever you are on the technical spectrum.

The thing is, leaders didn’t get to where they are by accident. They’re decision-making experts. They’ve built up years of experience. That’s why it’s such a missed opportunity when those same people leave AI experimentation to others. If you’ve got a good head for strategy and product, AI can be a massive unlock. But you’ve got to get in there and poke it, break it, and see where it fits—and where it doesn’t.

Sure, we’ll still need infrastructure and code to support SaaS at scale, but the exciting stuff? That’s in the experimentation. The innovation. The “what if we could...” moments.

So here’s the rub: if you're in a senior tech, product, design, or business leadership role and you're still on the sidelines with AI, now’s the time to jump in and try it for yourself. Because the people who are experimenting today are going to be the ones leading tomorrow.