95. Curiosity, AI, and the Future of the Boardroom with Rod Adkins

In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh speak with Rod Adkins, board chairman, former IBM executive, and author of Curiosity Redefines the Limits. Rod shares insights from nearly 25 years of board experience, focusing on how directors can effectively oversee risk in an era of rapid technological disruption.

The conversation explores how boards are evolving their governance structures to address increasingly complex risks tied to technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. 

Rod explains why traditional audit committees are often no longer sufficient on their own and, as a result, many organizations are forming dedicated risk and technology committees to better manage forward-looking challenges.

A major focus of the discussion is AI as a transformative opportunity and a significant threat. Rod frames the present day as a new innovation cycle, emphasizing that boards must strike a careful balance between leveraging AI for competitive advantage and defending against AI-enabled risks. 

Key Takeaways

• Governance must always adapt to technology and rises

  • Boards are moving beyond audit committees toward dedicated risk oversight teams to better address cybersecurity, infrastructure and innovation.

  • Effective governance requires a forward mindset and close alignment with management on navigating change
• AI requires a balance of opportunity and protection
  • AI can drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage, but also introduces risks like cyber threats and trust challenges
  • Boards must ensure organizations are both leveraging AI and protecting against its misuse
• “AI vs. AI”
  • As threats become more sophisticated, companies must use AI-powered defenses to protect systems and data

  • Maintaining trust and security will be a core board-level responsibility

• Curiosity drives better leadership 
  • The best directors ask thoughtful, strategic questions, curiosity helps leaders anticipate change, challenge assumptions, and improve decision-making

Quotes

•  ”We're just at the beginning, and we're almost out of breath already in terms of how fast [AI] is moving and how much we see in terms of capabilities and disruption.”

•  ”People that adapt to unknown situations and who productively challenge the status quo, have a curiosity or a competitive advantage for them in life and in their careers”

• “You don’t always have to have the answer, but you need to figure out how to ask the right set of questions.”

Links

https://rodneyadkins.com/book/

Curiosity Redefines the Limits: Advantages Gained from Life, the Workplace, and the Boardroom

Forbes articles

Guest Bio

Rodney Adkins (Rod) has been Chairman of Avnet, Inc., one of the world’s largest distributors of electronic components and technology solutions, since 2018. He is also the author of Curiosity Redefines the Limits, a leadership book that explores how curiosity can serve as a powerful competitive advantage in driving innovation, leadership effectiveness, and career growth. 

In addition, he is a Partner at 3RAM Group LLC, a privately held company specializing in capital investments, business consulting, and property management. Previously, Mr. Adkins was Senior Vice President of IBM, serving in that position from 2007 until 2014. Over his 33-year career with IBM, Mr. Adkins has held several operational and executive management roles spanning strategy, technology, systems, and supply chain.

Mr. Adkins’ work has spanned the world of technology and computing. He has been a leading innovator in solutions ranging from mobile devices to the world’s largest supercomputers. His significant contributions include helping to advance the Personal Computer industry, leading IBM’s POWER business to become the market leader in the UNIX market, and pioneering what became IBM’s portfolio of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.

Mr. Adkins was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in 2005, one of the highest honors in the engineering profession. His life story is archived in Wikipedia and The History Makers. He was inducted into the Miami Jackson High School Hall of Fame in 2018, the Miami Dade County Public Schools Alumni Hall of Fame in 2022, and the Georgia Tech Engineering Hall of Fame in 2024. The Wall Street Journal named Mr. Adkins among the top 100 most influential and effective corporate directors in 2025. He has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Georgia Tech and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).

Mr. Adkins serves on the board of directors for United Parcel Service (UPS), WW Grainger, and Avnet. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and a trustee of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and Rollins College. Mr. Adkins also serves on the Adrienne Arsht Center Trust Board, the Overtown Youth Center (OYC) Board, and the Community-Police Relations Foundation Board.