Karen Stroup on AI experimentation
From How to get your organisation on board with GenAI - Karen Beck Stroup (Chief Digital Officer, WEX) · · Mind the Product
“In 2023, our goal was really around experimentation; we said we want to test and learn and understand what AI means in the art of the possible, rather than immediately finding business impact.”
On , Karen Stroup, Chief Digital Officer at WEX INC, spoke about AI experimentation during How to get your organisation on board with GenAI - Karen Beck Stroup (Chief Digital Officer, WEX) on Mind the Product.
About Karen Stroup
Karen Stroup, Chief Digital Officer at WEX, has spoken publicly about the company's approach to generative AI, describing it as a "once in a generation shift" comparable to the internet or mobile. She stated that WEX's CEO decided the AI initiative would be "a business and customer-led transformation, not just a technology-led transformation." Stroup noted that in 2023, the company set a goal of 12 AI experiments but completed 60, which she said set the stage for scaling in 2024. She added that WEX formulated an AI governance policy early in 2023 to prioritize "safe, secure, and compliant AI use." Stroup also said the board encouraged the company to "think 10x bigger" with AI goals, emphasizing bold targets over incremental ones. Stroup has discussed employee engagement as a key component of WEX's AI strategy. She stated that in 2024, the company aimed for 100% of employees to be trained in AI and "inspired not scared" by its potential. Stroup reported that three out of four WEX employees use generative AI tools regularlychers. She described the creation of a group of 100 "AI accelerators"—mid-level employees tasked with experimenting with and advocating for AI. Stroup cited an example of a junior designer who used synthetic AI to gather customer feedback, increasing feedback volume tenfold with 70% accuracy. She said WEX set a goal of 10% productivity improvement per function, with monthly progress reports to the CEO to build accountability.