Your AI Strategy Isn’t the Problem—Your Readiness Is ft. Elaine Barsoom

September 24, 2026 Adrian Cea

Everyone wants an AI strategy but far fewer companies are ready to actually use one.

In this episode of Between the Briefs, hosts Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome Elaine Barsoom, AI and innovation leader and Venture Partner at Silicon Foundry, for a grounded and practical conversation on what it really takes to turn AI ambition into measurable business outcomes.

What You'll Learn:

Why most AI efforts fail because of readiness, not technology
How to identify where repetitive work, trapped knowledge and overloaded judgment are slowing teams down
Why “go slow to go fast” means doing the work in the right order, not moving timidly
How leadership urgency and employee buy-in have to work together
Why fear often shows up as “we’re too busy” or “the tools aren’t ready”
How legal teams can act as accelerants instead of gatekeepers in AI transformation
Why reskilling is really about rewiring how people work with technology
How proprietary data and tribal knowledge can become a company’s real AI advantage

Tune in to understand what it takes to be truly AI ready.

Want to watch this episode of Between the Briefs instead? Get the full video on YouTube.

About the Contributors

Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

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