Return to Office, Trust & Culture + Governance-First AI at Scale

In this episode of ExecutiveEDGE, we tackle two leadership issues that will shape organizations in 2026: return-to-office decisions and governance-first AI adoption.

First, we examine why return-to-office mandates aren’t really about location—but about trust, transparency, and culture. Then, we revisit a TechEDGE case study featuring Avnet CIO Max Chan, offering a practical blueprint for scaling AI responsibly while keeping people at the center of transformation.

Hybrid, Remote, and Return to Office: Framing the Workplace Debate for 2026
As more organizations reconsider return-to-office mandates, this article reframes the debate around what workplace policies truly signal about leadership and culture.
Drawing on research from Gallup, academic studies, and HR leaders, the article explores why the workforce has largely reached an equilibrium—and why rigid mandates often carry unintended consequences, including higher turnover among top talent.

Key themes include:
- What workforce data actually shows about remote, hybrid, and on-site work
- Why return-to-office mandates often test trust more than productivity
- The hidden costs of mandates, including higher attrition among experienced employees
- Why flexibility and transparency outperform blanket policies
- The role managers play in defining success within hybrid environments
- How workplace decisions reflect broader organizational health and culture
The article argues that hybrid work isn’t a compromise—it’s a leadership capability that requires trust, communication, and shared accountability.

Case Study: Inside Avnet’s AI Playbook—Governance-First Innovation in a Global Supply Chain
In the second half of the episode, we revisit a TechEDGE case study examining how Avnet embedded AI into its global supply chain through a governance-first approach.
Rather than deploying AI as a standalone initiative, Avnet integrated it directly into inventory management, forecasting, inspections, technical support, and engineering workflows—while investing heavily in training and change management.

Key takeaways include:
- Why AI governance must precede large-scale deployment
- How AI improves forecast accuracy, inventory turnover, and risk mitigation
- Using AI for preventative inventory management and faster decision-making
- Embedding AI into existing systems to minimize disruption
- Measuring AI success through operational, efficiency, and risk metrics
- Why culture and employee empowerment are critical to AI ROI
The case study reinforces that AI transformation succeeds when technology, governance, and people move together.

Why It Matters
Together, these articles highlight a shared executive reality: policies and platforms both reveal leadership priorities.
Workplace mandates expose trust and culture. AI governance exposes readiness and discipline. Organizations that approach both with transparency, structure, and empathy will be better positioned to retain talent, scale innovation, and lead with confidence in 2026.