How do you get bold ideas approved as budgets get smaller and plans face higher levels of scrutiny? In this episode of Pure Signal, the team unpacks what it really takes to earn leadership buy-in for AI and innovation initiatives.

As enterprises race to release their great next product, Kevin Erickson, Jake Carter, and Ryan Medellin unpack how leadership teams are balancing bold ideas with operational reality. From shifting economic headwinds to change fatigue, the episode explores why some projects stall and others gain traction, and what that reveals about timing, trust, and executive attention.

This episode offers a playbook for getting approval, even when you’re not in the room where decisions are made. Topics include translating technical ideas into business outcomes, using design sprints to create executive momentum, understanding the timing of bold vs. incremental bets, and the surprising influence of behavioral economics on buy-in. If you're navigating enterprise dynamics from either the top down or the bottom up, this conversation is packed with tactics to help your next idea land.

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Quotes

"There’s the innovation, and then there’s how you get your organization to go along with it. And those are very different things. One is the big idea. The other is everything from psychology to timing to power dynamics. Honestly, getting buy-in is often harder than the idea itself." – Jake Carter

"What’s interesting right now is how much companies are trying to grow through incremental maturity steps. Not because they’re afraid of bold moves, but because in this kind of environment, boldness without readiness can backfire. The change is nonstop, and people are fatigued. That shifts how you lead and what kind of bets you place." – Kevin Erickson

"From my perspective, the younger generation doesn’t want predictability, they want to be part of change. It’s not about resisting transformation, it’s about being brought along and having a voice in where things are going. That mindset shift is something organizations have to factor into how they lead. Continual evolution isn’t a burden, it’s the expectation." – Ryan Medellin

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Time Stamps

00:00 Intro

01:35 Who's responsible for innovation

04:50 Change is inevitable

09:55 Building excitement for these innovations

13:50 Evaluating if your enterprise is ready

17:30 Maintaining energy & momentum

26:30 Confidence is a needed attribute in today's leaders

29:05 Finding the balance between the future and present

35:10 Tangible advice for earning leadership buy-in

45:10 Final thoughts

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Links 

Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn!

• Kevin Erickson

• Jake Carter

• Ryan Medellin

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