The Top 8 Lessons from the AI Accelerator (And What They Mean for Your Firm)
What AEC Executives Really Learned About AI — Straight from the Room
On May 15–16, Thrivence hosted the AI Accelerator for AEC Executives, bringing together forward-thinking leaders from across the country to explore how artificial intelligence can drive practical, strategic value. The energy was high, the discussions were candid, and by the end of the workshop, one theme stood out:
“The most important output of this workshop isn’t knowledge, it’s confidence.”
That quote captured the spirit of the two-day experience. Yes, we covered frameworks, tools, and real-world applications. But what truly shifted was mindset. These executives didn’t just leave with notes, they left with clarity, conviction, and the confidence to take action.
We’ve gathered a few of the most powerful insights and direct quotes from the room, not just to summarize what happened, but to share the lessons every AEC firm should be thinking about right now.
On Leadership & Mindset
Quote: “The most important output of this workshop isn’t knowledge — it’s confidence.”
- Why This Is Important: Confidence is what unlocks motion. Without it, even the most informed leaders hesitate to act on AI opportunities.
Quote: “You don’t need to be an AI expert — you just need to know where your time is being wasted.”
- Why This Is Important: Start by identifying friction and inefficiency. That’s your gateway to AI, not a technical certification.
On Practical Application
Quote: “Every firm has repeatable processes. That’s where AI creates value, fast.”
- Why This Is Important: Don’t overthink AI use cases. Start with what you already do repeatedly — proposals, reports, documentation — and automate from there.
Quote: “AI gave us back the one thing we can’t buy more of: time to think.”
- Why This Is Important: The real win isn’t cost savings — it’s freeing up minds for strategy, creativity, and human insight.
On Change & Adoption
Quote: “If you’re waiting for perfect data before starting with AI, you’ll be waiting forever.”
- Why This Is Important: Don’t let data perfectionism delay innovation. Progress comes from pilots and feedback loops.
Quote: “Keep the human in the loop — that’s how you make the output meaningful.”
- Why This Is Important: Adoption accelerates when users shape the output. Collaboration between humans and AI isn’t optional — it’s essential for trust and quality.
On the Future & Innovation
Quote: “Agentic AI lets us build tools that build their own tools — that’s the future of computing.”
- Why This Is Important: Agent-based systems will reshape software as we know it. Understanding this now is a strategic advantage.
Quote: “The competitive edge with AI was closing — now agentic AI has opened it back up.”
- Why This Is Important: This is a second chance for early adopters. The firms that act now won’t just catch up — they’ll lead.
The future isn’t waiting. Neither should you.
The AI Accelerator was just the beginning. The conversations sparked in that room are already evolving into action plans, pilot programs, and strategic shifts — not because the technology suddenly became easier, but because the leaders became more confident.
If your firm is navigating the complexity of AI adoption, data readiness, or digital transformation, Thrivence can help. Our team works side-by-side with executives to cut through the noise, find the right starting point, and move from strategy to implementation.
Whether you’re curious about our AI Advisory Services, need help organizing your data for action, or want to secure your seat at the next AI Accelerator, we’d love to talk.
Where do you go from here?
Connect with our team for a free consultation or join the waitlist for the next workshop.
