How this CEO used AI to save his manufacturing company 🤖

In today's case study, I’ll walk you through how a CEO saved his company from what seemed like certain bankruptcy by reimagining AI's role in company strategy. 

If you're short on time, here's the one-minute summary below 👇

📌 The 20% Executive Summary (1-Minute Read)

A manufacturing CEO faced imminent bankruptcy when his Japanese equipment lessor refused traditional restructuring attempts. 

Rather than using AI as just another problem-solving tool, we positioned it as a strategic thought partner - specifically, as a veteran investment banker with deep expertise in restructuring debt. 

Within ten minutes, this partnership uncovered a novel solution: creating a "Face-Saving Consortium" of respected Japanese executives to acquire and restructure the debt. 

Recently, I sat across from a CEO whose world was collapsing. 

His manufacturing company's equipment leases, held by a Japanese firm, had become unsustainable after market conditions shifted. 

Despite months of negotiations and every traditional restructuring attempt in the book, the Japanese board remained unmoved. 

Their concern wasn't just financial – it was deeply cultural. 

Restructuring would mean losing face in Japanese society, a cost they deemed too high.

The stakes were immense, the CEO felt that he had exhausted every option, and it was clear that the situation was taking an emotional toll.

After gathering all of the context, I recommended we bring another thought partner into the mix: ChatGPT. 

Instead of using AI as a simple problem-solving tool, we deployed it as a strategic Thought Partner. 

We configured it to assume the role of a veteran investment banker with deep expertise in restructuring debt, and we tasked it with interviewing the CEO until we reached a solution.

All it took was one question:

"Do you have relationships with other influential executives in Japan that this board would respect?"

This illuminated a path no one had considered: Creating a "Face-Saving Consortium" of respected Japanese executives to acquire and restructure the debt.

After 90 sleepless nights and the growing acceptance that his business was failing, hope returned. 

A visible weight lifted from his shoulders as, after months, a viable path forward emerged – all within a ten-minute conversation.

You see, even after decades of experience and thousands of books read, we human leaders can only access a fraction of our knowledge in critical moments. 

AI changes that equation entirely, bringing millions of data points and patterns to bear on our toughest challenges.

You remain the Thought Leader. AI is your new Thought Partner.

It can help you see around corners and identify non-obvious solutions to your most complex challenges.

Take Action

What's the problem that's keeping you up at night? Here's how to replicate this breakthrough approach:

First, take a moment to clearly articulate the challenge keeping you up at night. Write it down with all its complexity - the context, constraints, and what success looks like. This clarity is essential for the next step.

Next, access an AI tool. You can use our specialized AI Thought Partner for this. Here's the exact prompt template to use:

I want you to be my thought partner on this challenge: [Describe your situation in vivid detail - include the stakes, constraints, and context] 

Please assume the role of [choose an expert relevant to your challenge - e.g., strategy consultant, industry veteran, cross-cultural negotiator]. 

Interview me by asking one question at a time (up to 3 questions) to gain additional context. 

After our discussion, please generate: 

1. Five non-obvious strategies I could deploy to solve this challenge

2. An analysis of my current approach's strengths and weaknesses and the top three changes that would strengthen my position

The key is allowing the AI to interview you. Just as in our CEO's case, sometimes a single question can illuminate a path you hadn't considered. 

Give yourself permission to explore the conversation fully - breakthroughs often emerge from this dialogue.

How We Can Help

Sometimes it takes seeing someone else break through an "impossible" challenge to realize what's possible in your own business.

This is precisely why we created The AI-Driven Leadership Collective – a vetted network of executives who are championing AI in their company and don’t want to do it alone.

Our members aren't just discussing AI – they're actively building AI-driven competitive advantages and sharing battle-tested strategies that work in the real world.

As AI transforms every aspect of business, the difference between leading your market and playing catch-up often comes down to who's in your corner.

Ready to join a network of leaders who are rewriting the rules of what’s possible?

Apply to join The AI-Driven Leadership Collective today.

Best,

Geoff Woods

Founder, The AI-Driven Leadership Collective™ Author, The AI-Driven Leader

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