"AI Without the BS" Launches to Help CEOs Close the Growing AI Leadership Gap

New book challenges business leaders to move past fear and hesitation—and start measuring Return on AI (ROAI)

DENVER, July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Brett A. Schklar, AI strategist and founder of AI–First Leadership™, today announced the launch of his groundbreaking new book, AI Without the BS™: The CEO's Playbook for Actually Getting AI Right.*

This candid, no–nonsense guide provides a framework for CEOs and business owners who are feeling left behind as artificial intelligence transforms industries. With companies worldwide moving rapidly to integrate AI into every aspect of operations, Schklar warns that many executives still treat the technology like a "middle school science fair project"—dabbling instead of leading.

"CEOs don't have time for fluff—they need clarity, action, and measurable impact," said Schklar. "This book gives them a roadmap to do just that. It's time for CEOs to stop hesitating and start focusing on what I call Return on AI—ROAI—as their most critical business metric for the next 12 to 18 months."

Why Now: The Leadership Mandate of 2025

Artificial intelligence is no longer experimental—it's operational. Companies that hesitate today risk falling irreversibly behind as competitors deploy AI to scale faster, cut costs, and make smarter decisions. Yet many CEOs remain stuck, paralyzed by fear of complexity or unsure where to begin.

"The gap between what AI can do and what CEOs are doing is growing by the day," Schklar warns. "Over the next 12 to 18 months, Return on AI—ROAI—must become every leader's most important metric. This isn't about playing catch-up; it's about staying relevant."

A CEO's roadmap to AI that delivers strategic insights and practical frameworks, the book guides leaders through:

• Moving beyond pilots to enterprise-wide AI implementation
• Managing risk while driving innovation
• Building an AI–ready team and culture
• Shifting from short–term wins to long–term strategic advantage
• Measuring success with ROAI—Return on AI
• Hiring and retaining AI–capable talent
• Streamlining implementation for faster results

"Every time a CEO uses AI to remove redundancy, automate a task, or accelerate decision–making, they're freeing up their people to do what only humans can: connect, create, and lead," Schklar added. "That's not cheating—that's smart business."

Launch Events and Engagement Opportunities

To celebrate the release, AI–First Leadership™ will host a series of events for business leaders:

• July 29, 2025 (Morning) – Virtual Book Signing & Author Q&A (Linkedin: https://bit.ly/LivestreamBookLaunch / YouTube: https://bit.ly/YTBookParty)
• July 29, 2025 (Evening) – In–Person Book Signing at the University of Colorado, Boulder (Register here: https://bit.ly/july29CUBoulder)
• August 3, 2025 – Private Executive Roundtable with The Highlands (Invite Only)
• August 20, 2025 (Evening) – Public Book Signing & Networking Event, Denver (pre-register at: https://www.aifirstleadership.com/book)

"AI is no longer optional—it's a leadership mandate. This book gives CEOs the lens and the language to make AI their competitive advantage instead of their blind spot," Schklar said.

AI Without the BS is available now for pre-order in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon: https://bit.ly/AIWithoutBS 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brett A. Schklar is a nationally recognized AI strategist and executive advisor with over 20 years of experience helping organizations unlock smarter growth. He has guided startups, Fortune 500 companies, and mid–market leaders through digital transformation and AI adoption. Over the past 18 months, Schklar has spoken with more than 1,000 CEOs and executive teams nationwide, uncovering a consistent theme: while AI capabilities are advancing rapidly, many leaders remain hesitant to engage meaningfully with the technology.

His mission is to close this leadership gap—helping executives move from confusion to confidence, and from AI fear to AI Adoption.

Media Contact:
Brett Schklar
[email protected]
303-883-2449

SOURCE Brett Schklar