Scaling Without Stalling + The Human Side of AI Adoption

Scaling is where startups either grow—or blow up. In this episode of ExecutiveEDGE, LegalZoom co-founder Eddie Hartman shares key lessons leaders need to avoid growth traps and build scalable momentum beyond early traction. We also explore the human side of AI adoption at work—why uncertainty is rising for many employees and how leadership can build trust, communication, and training pathways that drive engagement instead of anxiety.
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Jan. 24, 2026
2 min read
Scaling Without Stalling + The Human Side of AI Adoption

Scaling is where companies either accelerate—or implode. In this episode of ExecutiveEDGE Podcast, we explore two high-stakes leadership challenges shaping early 2026: how to scale without stalling growth, and how to lead people through AI adoption without losing trust or engagement.

First, Andrea Zelinski sits down with LegalZoom co-founder Eddie Hartman to unpack what separates sustainable growth from “one-hit” momentum—and why scaling requires more than just doubling down on what worked at launch.

Then, Geert De Lombaerde analyzes new research that reveals how workers are feeling about AI at work, the leadership opportunity hidden inside that uncertainty, and what organizations must do to turn AI adoption into a trust-building advantage rather than a culture-breaking risk.

Balancing Growth Strategies: How Startups Can Avoid the Single Engine Trap

Scaling often fails when leaders rely too heavily on one growth lever—without realizing it’s limiting long-term viability. This segment explores what the “single engine trap” is, why it happens, and what leaders must do to build real scale.

Survey: AI Has 20% of Workers Feeling Anxious or Disengaged From Their Jobs

As AI becomes embedded in daily workflows, the real challenge isn’t adoption—it’s leadership. This segment explores what the research reveals about employee confidence, engagement, and expectations, and what leadership teams can do to create clarity, safety, and forward momentum.

Why It Matters

This episode isn’t just about growth or technology—it’s about leadership maturity. Scaling requires balance. AI adoption requires trust. Leaders who can master both will build organizations that don’t just grow fast—they grow resilient.

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About the Author

Andrea Zelinski

Andrea Zelinski

Contributor

Andrea Zelinski is an award-winning freelance journalist with a passion for translating complex issues, trends and strategies into clear, engaging content to help people improve their businesses and their lives. 

She spent 15 years as a political reporter covering state governments in Illinois, Tennessee and Texas, reporting from the halls of state capitols for publications including Texas Monthly, the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News. In 2021, she shifted her focus to business journalism, joining Travel Weekly as senior cruise editor, where she covered the travel industry’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When not reporting, Andrea is probably hiking. Known for embracing ambitious challenges, she hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in 2020 and the Pacific Crest Trail in 2025. 

Geert De Lombaerde

Geert De Lombaerde

Contributor

A native of Belgium, Geert De Lombaerde joined EndeavorB2B in September 2021 to cover public companies, markets, and economic trends primarily for IndustryWeek, FleetOwner, Oil & Gas Journal, T&D World, and Healthcare Innovation. His work focuses on strategy, leadership, capital spending, and mergers and acquisitions, and he also works with Endeavor Business Intelligence on surveys and data projects.

Geert has been in business journalism since the mid-1990s. With a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, he began his reporting career at the Business Courier in Cincinnati, initially covering retail and the courts before shifting to banking, insurance, and investing. He later was managing editor and editor of the Nashville Business Journal before being named editor of the Nashville Post in 2008. He led a team that helped grow the Post's online traffic by an average of more than 15% annually before joining Endeavor.

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