How Executives Are Using AI to Lead Smarter: Key Takeaways from the Huszár Consulting Survey
In May and June 2025, Huszár Consulting surveyed 143 senior professionals—mainly C-levels, founders, and team leads—across industries like technology, financial services, and professional services. The aim: to understand how AI is currently used in leadership and what holds back broader adoption. Here’s what the data reveals. In May and June 2025, Huszár Consulting surveyed 143 senior professionals—mainly C-levels, founders, and team leads—across industries like technology, financial services, and professional services. The aim: to understand how AI is currently used in leadership and what holds back broader adoption. Here’s what the data reveals. 1. AI Usage Is Nearly Universal A striking 97.6% of respondents report active use of AI in their work. This is not a hypothetical trend—it’s already happening. Most common use cases include: Less common applications include coding (4.6%), image generation (4%), and video generation (1.5%). This suggests AI is primarily used for cognitive, communication-heavy tasks rather than technical development. 2. AI Is Already Impacting Leadership—But Not for Everyone Over half (51.2%) of respondents say AI has already made them more effective leaders. Meanwhile, 36.6% believe it could help, but they haven’t seen the impact yet. Only 2.4% dismiss its relevance entirely. This points to a key theme: belief in AI’s potential is high, but visible proof of impact varies. The strategic takeaway? The more it’s used in daily decision-making, the more tangible the value becomes. 3. Biggest Barrier? Lack of Time When asked what’s holding them back from using AI more confidently, the top answer wasn’t ethics, trust, or compliance—it was lack of time (30.5%). Other notable barriers include: Interestingly, this marks a shift from earlier AI narratives focused on fear or ethics—today, practical adoption constraints are front and center. 4. Curiosity Runs Deep The survey collected over 100 open responses on AI learning interests. Themes included: Some responses even veered into AI’s societal and geopolitical impact—mentioning military regulation, quantum computing, and emotional development. A sign that leaders are thinking beyond just tools and toward long-term implications. 5. Strategic Insights for AI Adoption The report outlines four practical recommendations for organizations: Final Thought This survey doesn’t aim to represent the entire market—it’s a directional signal from innovation-forward professionals already experimenting with AI. But it’s clear that the wave of adoption is underway, and the focus is shifting from why to how. Board Reflections from Treasury Masterminds We asked a few of our board members to react to the findings. Their comments will be added below. Want to share your own experience with AI in treasury? Join the conversation on Treasury Masterminds or drop your thoughts in the comments. Is this data reflective of your reality? COMMENTS Daniel Huszár, AI Strategist & Educator, comments: The findings reflect something I’ve been seeing in conversations for months. Many people are using large language models daily. They rely on them to write, research, summarize, and think. But more importantly, many are beginning to ask a different kind of question, not just “what can this tool do,” but “how do we structure work around it?” People are now thinking about agents, orchestration, and how to build systems around AI. A lot of these voices are coming from leaders, consultants, and managers. People who may not call themselves “technical” but are actively using AI to help them work. It also means that if you’re waiting to “get more technical” before engaging with AI, you might be waiting too long. If you can write a clear sentence, you can prompt a model. If you understand your team’s needs, you can begin to design AI support. One of the strongest themes I am seeing: those who use AI regularly are more confident in its potential, and more aware of its limitations. That confidence comes from trial and error. So if there’s one thing I’d encourage, it’s this: use the tools. Start today. Build your own understanding by experimenting, especially before thinking about automating everything with AI agents. Bojan Belejkovski, Treasury Masterminds Board Member, comments: Across industries, I’m seeing (a rather slow) AI shift from abstract hype to a practical tool for speeding up decisions, refining communication, and surfacing strategic options faster. I believe the real value isn’t in technical complexity but how AI helps leaders analyze trade-offs, align teams, and drive action with more clarity. That said, one barrier that I keep noticing, and is still holding people back, is fear of being replaced or becoming less relevant. At all levels. However, staying away from AI only delays the learning curve and limits your value. The leaders embracing AI aren’t trying to replace judgment because they’re using it to sharpen thinking and operationalize strategy more effectively. Tanya Kohen, Treasury Masterminds Board Member, comments: This is a great conversation. I’d offer you that one of the most valuable roles AI can play for leaders isn’t necessarily in decision-making itself, but in preparing for it. AI can help reduce bias by utilizing broader information sources, spotting patterns, and distinguishing correlation from causation. These are tasks that often distort judgment simply because leadership doesn’t have the time or access to relevant information. Used thoughtfully, AI can serve as a powerful partner in thinking, helping leaders ask better questions before rushing to answers. The hesitation around AI adoption often gets framed as a time issue, but I think it’s more rooted in unfinished digital transformation. Many organizations are still working through messy data, siloed systems, and unclear process ownership. Without clean inputs and a shared understanding of “what’s true,” even the best AI tools won’t deliver meaningful results. Leaders may want to lean in, but the foundation isn’t quite solid yet. That’s why the biggest opportunity lies in fixing the basics like streamlining access to data, creating clarity on ownership, and making sure teams at every level can trust and act on the same information. Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign…
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Why Modern Cloud Treasury Management Systems Are Better for SMB Debt Portfolio Management?
This article is a contribution from our partner, TreasuryView Despite 80% of CFO offices and treasury teams still relying on spreadsheets, this method poses significant risks in today’s volatile market. Errors, losses, and inefficiencies are all too common. Times are changing and SMBs can play in the big league now, too. Shortcoming of Traditional Treasury Systems. Especially for SMBs Implementation time is long, including IT, trainings Traditional systems typically take 4 to 18 months to implement, causing significant delays in operational capabilities. During this time, businesses are often stuck in a holding pattern, unable to address ongoing issues effectively. Lack on innovation on a financial field The financial field is constantly evolving, yet legacy systems use outdated methods that create major operational challenges. Manual reconciliations, for instance, might seem minor with error rates between 0.8% and 1.8%. However, for companies processing 100,000 transactions daily, this results in 800 to 1,800 errors each day, potentially leading to compliance issues and financial inaccuracies. Furthermore, manual processes hinder productivity and heighten operational risks. Treasury teams often find themselves bogged down with email documents, version comparisons, meeting schedules, and data entry. These inefficiencies drain resources and create vulnerabilities in critical financial operations. High Direct and indirect Costs of Traditional TMS The direct and indirect costs of traditional TMS are substantial, encompassing months of sales discussions, implementation expenses, and significant investments in server hardware, IT staff, and software licenses. Most companies underestimate these ongoing costs, which include: Long contracts: risk of getting the Software that does not meet the CFO team members actual need. Traditional, entreprise- level TMS usually comes with binding contracts without the opportunity to test the software in advance to figure out, would it be user friendly but moreover, does it solve as many problems as the users have. Sometimes easier solutions could meet 80% of the needs and have the opportunity to really “try the software out” before you agree the contract for years. How Cloud Debt Management Software Makes a Difference? Especially for SMBs. Cloud-based debt management software enables financial teams to make decisions with unprecedented precision and confidence from day one. Easy to implement and user-friendly, platforms like TreasuryView often offer a free trial, allowing you to test the software risk-free. There are many advantages, especially for SMBs: Immediate Operational Readiness, Easy to Use. No istallations. Just log in and start working! Cloud-based debt management software like TreasuryView is ready to use now and gives financial teams clarity and insights to make informed decisions. With precision and confidence, from day one. Platforms have intuitive UX – designed end user in mind. This immediate readiness minimizes the cost of inactivity, enabling you to start making informed decisions quickly. Accessible and Affordable. Cloud-based software is designed to be straightforward to integrate. For SMBs, this means entry into the “big league” is not only possible but also practical. The ease of use and the option to try the software without any financial commitment reduce the barriers typically associated with advanced financial systems. Intelligent Scenario Testing with integrated market data. Cloud systems excel in flexibility and foresight, offering intelligent scenario testing that traditional systems cannot match. You can simulate thousands of potential outcomes based on historical data and current market conditions. This capability allows for detailed contingency planning, like assessing the impacts of currency devaluations, customer defaults, or supply chain disruptions on cash positions. Unified Data Foundation for Error Reduction – Everyone are Working with the same data. Collaborate easier accross subsidiaries or teams. And shate access with your accountant or CFO. A unified data foundation means that all stakeholders—from finance team members to external partners—work from the same set of accurate, up-to-date information. This centralization significantly reduces human errors and enhances overall data integrity, making it crucial for SMBs that need reliable data for decision-making. Security and Compliance Management, like SSO. Cloud debt management software provides strong frameworks that ensure ongoing compliance with changing regulations. Systems in cloud maintain detailed audit trails and monitor every modification, creating verifiable, compliant financial reports. Such rigorous security management is essential for protecting sensitive financial data and maintaining trust in increasingly regulated environments. For example, TreasuryView is hosting all clients´ data in Germany. See more from TreasuryView security matters. Comparison: Modern Cloud Debt Management vs Traditional System Traditional TMS Modern Cloud System TreasuryView Implementation Usually 4-18 months Immediate, cancel anytime User Professional, requires training Intuitive, suitable for all finance levels Annual Cost High upfront, ongoing time and license costs Subscription-based, affordable pricing Scalability Might requires significant hardware upgrades Highly scalable without significant additional costs Security Dependent on in-house measures; often outdated Advanced security features, regular updates Integration with systemy Often requires custom solutions Easy integration with existing systems User Accessibility Access mainly from on-premises Accessible anywhere via internet Latest Market Data Not available Pre-integrated Automation Entreprise automation Personal and enterprise automation Risk Engine None Built-in More about Spreadsheets vs TreasuryView in Debt management. Modern businesses can’t rely on traditional treasury management systems anymore Cloud-based solutions make debt management better and easier, especially for teams in SMBs and teams who search the alternative for Static Spreadsheets. Cloud solutions are changing how financial decisions are made. AI-powered analytics and integrated market data cut forecast errors in half and let companies test different scenarios easily. They also improve compliance management and build a solid data foundation that all stakeholders can use. Business leaders should take a hard look at their treasury operations. Old systems waste resources with long setups, security risks, and integration problems. Cloud solutions fix these issues. Cloud treasury software has become the new standard for debt management. The revolution that “it needs to take ages and €€€ to work” has begin. You can make better decisions already tomorrow. Also Read Join our Treasury Community Treasury Mastermind is a community of professionals working in treasury management or those interested in learning more about various topics related to treasury management, including cash management, foreign exchange management, and payments. To register and connect with Treasury professionals, click [HERE] or fill…