80% Staff Gone: The CEO Who Fired Almost Everyone Who Didn’t Embrace AI
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The Brutal, but Effective Call
In a move that shocked the business world, Eric Vaughan, CEO of software giant IgniteTech, laid off nearly 80% of his workforce after they failed to get on board with AI. Two years later, he says he’d do it again. Why? Because Vaughan saw what many still ignore: AI isn’t optional — it’s survival.
Back in 2023, he made AI the company’s #1 priority. “AI Mondays” replaced client calls and budget meetings. Staff were offered tools, training, and time to upskill. But many resisted. Some even sabotaged. So Vaughan made the hard call: Keep up or clear out. Today, IgniteTech is leaner, faster, and built around AI from the ground up. Vaughan’s message to the rest of us: “Every company is facing an existential threat if they ignore AI — not just tech firms.”
The Lesson We Can Learn
AI isn’t just for Silicon Valley — it’s coming for tax, audit, and payroll too.
Upskilling now protects your practice (and your clients) later.
Resistance won’t save your job. Learning will.
👇 What are you doing to futureproof your practice? Tag someone who needs to read this, and if you’re already using AI in your firm, tell us how!
Source Article: Fortune
