WSI Names Gerardo Kerik Q3 Top Contributor for Practical AI Leadership
TORONTO, CANADA - January 19, 2026 - WSI, the world's largest AI and digital marketing network, has recognized WSI Consultant Gerardo Kerik with its Q3 Top Contributor Award. The award highlights his leadership, client outcomes, and his role in helping fellow Consultants capture the AI opportunity.
Based in Atlanta, Gerardo joined WSI in 2018 after a successful international run with AT&T. He built a strategy and digital transformation practice, then made a decisive shift over the last 18 months to AI consulting. His approach has been field-tested with real clients and shared across the WSI network.
AI as a Change Management Challenge
Gerardo stands out for reframing AI from a "tools" conversation to an organizational one. He puts governance, training, and operating models ahead of platform decisions - a perspective that earned recognition from Forbes.
"Most people want to talk about platforms and automation. That's step six or seven. We focus on governance, training, and organizational readiness first," he said.
This approach resonates with executive teams across sectors. Gerardo has applied it in complex environments, including cultural institutions like the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and is expanding similar work across the country.
From Client Wins to Network Impact
Inside WSI, he helped field-test training materials and AI consulting frameworks based on real client experience. He also presented practical playbooks at regional meetings in Chicago and Atlanta to help peers build profitable, credible AI consulting practices.
"Gerardo exemplifies the innovative spirit and collaborative leadership that make WSI's network so powerful," said Valerie Brown-Dufour, President of WSI. "He's transforming how his clients approach and leverage AI, and he's generously shared his time and expertise to help equip our network with the confidence to do the same. Congratulations, Gerardo!"
Scaling Capability: AI Training Institute Launching in 2026
To extend impact beyond individual engagements, Gerardo will launch an AI training institute in Atlanta in 2026. The focus: governance, skills, and the change management capabilities organizations need to implement AI responsibly and effectively.
For executives, this means a clear path to build readiness before tools and automation. If your teams need structured upskilling by role, explore curated options here: AI courses by job.
What Executives Should Prioritize Before AI Platforms
- Define governance: policies, risk thresholds, data usage, and approval flows.
- Pick an operating model: centralized AI team, embedded specialists, or a hybrid.
- Build skills: leadership education, practitioner training, and basic AI literacy for all.
- Start with small, high-signal pilots tied to a single KPI and a clear owner.
- Set measurement standards: quality, cost, cycle time, and compliance benchmarks.
- Then select platforms and automation once the above pieces are in place.
If you need a proven change model to structure adoption, the ADKAR framework is a practical starting point: Prosci ADKAR.
About WSI
WSI is a global network of digital marketing and AI experts helping businesses grow. With three decades of experience and a presence worldwide, WSI applies advanced technology and AI-driven strategies to deliver measurable outcomes while keeping people at the center.
Our motto, "Embrace Digital. Stay Human," reflects our mission to open new possibilities for the organizations we serve.
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