The AI Headlines You Should Be Most Suspicious Of

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The Motley Fool

Investing, Business

4.3 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 28 June 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The companies dominating AI headlines right now may not be the ones actually winning. In fact, according to Julie Averill, the loudest signals are often the ones most worth questioning. As former global CIO of Lululemon — where she helped oversee one of retail's most successful tech transformations — Julie has spent decades separating real change from corporate theater. Motley Fool analyst Rachel Warren sits down with Julie, now author of Chief Impact Officer, to unpack what AI washing actually looks like from the inside, why 87% of CEOs say psychological safety matters but only 13% believe their company has it, and what that gap means for the stocks in your portfolio. Host: Rachel Warren Guest: Julie Averill Producers: Bart Shannon, Lauren Budabin Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	There's a lot of change going on and a lot of motion, and I don't think anybody has it figured
0:07.6	out. So any company that looks like they have it all figured out, I'd be suspicious of.
0:17.2	That was Julie Averill, former global CIO of Lulu Lemon, and author of the new book, Chief Impact
0:23.4	Officer. I'm Motley Fool analyst Rachel Warren. Julie joined me to talk about spotting AI
0:28.8	height before it costs you money, why the companies talking loudest about AI may actually
0:33.6	be the ones to avoid, and how to tell whether a transformation is real or just a really
0:38.0	good story. We hope you enjoy. Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Motley Fool Conversations. I'm
0:44.6	Motley Fool analyst Rachel Warren, and today our guest is Julie Averill, a powerhouse technology
0:50.2	executive, author, and board director who has spent nearly three decades leading some of modern retail's biggest digital transformations.
0:57.5	She formerly served as the global CIO and executive vice president at Lou Lemon, where she speared a cultural and technological overhaul that helped scale the company's revenue from $2 billion to over $10 billion.
1:08.7	And before rewriting the playbook at Lou Lemon, Julie pioneered
1:12.0	Neiger Digital and Omnichannel Initiatives as the first ever CIO at REI and in tech leadership
1:17.2	at Mordstrom. Today, she advises boards, CEOs, and founders at the intersection of AI capability
1:23.1	and organizational readiness, the place where most transformations stall.
1:27.8	She speaks globally on leadership in the age of AI and helps organizations build what technology
1:32.9	can't deliver, teams that tell the truth, leaders who can turn pilots into real change,
1:37.8	and cultures that sustain transformation instead of performing it.
1:41.4	Julie has just released her highly anticipated new book, Chief Impact
1:44.8	Officer. Real transformation comes from human, not just artificial intelligence. Julie, welcome to the show.
1:51.6	Thank you so much, Rachel, and thanks for that kind introduction. As noted, you spent years
1:56.8	leading technology transformations at Nordstrom, REI, of course, famously helped scale Lou Lemon's
2:02.6	revenue to over $10 billion.
	...

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