I'm Alastair McDermott, founder of HumanSpark. After two decades in the technology sector, I've witnessed firsthand how AI is transforming our world - sometimes in ways that lift us up, and sometimes in ways that challenge us. My path from software development to strategic AI consulting has been driven by a simple question: how can we work with this extraordinary technology while keeping humans at the centre of the equation?
My BHAG
What's a BHAG? It stands for Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal!
My BHAG is to help 1 million experts and 1,000 expert-led businesses work well with AI - ethically, strategically, and in a way that makes their expertise more valuable rather than less. Less time on tedious tasks. More time on the work that actually matters. And AI as a force that raises human judgement instead of replacing it.
(Audacious, right?)
Mission
My mission is to help business leaders put AI to work in ways that raise team effectiveness without cutting the people who make the team worth having. I build systems where AI takes on the repetitive work so expert teams can focus on higher-value, more fulfilling tasks - with real efficiency gains like the 92% processing time reduction and 12X capacity increase from recent client work, and without eliminating valuable roles.
I prepare leaders and their teams to use AI confidently, strategically, and responsibly. And I try to contribute to a wider conversation about what ethical, useful AI looks like in practice - so the technology ends up serving people well, in businesses and beyond.
Vision
I want to see expert-led organisations thrive alongside AI - more productive, more innovative, and with better career paths for the people inside them. Not a future where AI replaces expertise to save costs, but one where AI handles the tedious work and leaves the interesting work to humans.
That means organisations adopting AI with both strategy and ethical responsibility - using it to solve real problems, create new opportunities, and protect meaningful work rather than erase it. It also means AI contributing to bigger societal challenges without widening inequalities or taking away human agency.
Ultimately, the vision is a society where technology brings out what's best about people - their creativity, their judgement, and their ability to work together. That's the world worth building.
Values
Our Values: Led by Empathy
Our core values flow from a central commitment to empathy. It is the lens through which we see our clients, their teams, and our work.
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Empathy-Driven Strategy (Our Primary Value)
This is our starting point for everything. We strive to understand the human experience before we even discuss technology. This means listening to the concerns of you and your team, respecting your expertise, and designing AI solutions that solve real-world frustrations and create genuine opportunities. It is about putting people first, not as a slogan, but as a core operating principle.
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Human-First Approach
Because we lead with empathy, a human-first approach is the only possible outcome. We prioritise human well-being, dignity, and career development in all strategies. We are dedicated to creating AI systems that promote equality and augment human capabilities, rather than reinforcing bias or focusing solely on workforce replacement.
Note: I am not for you if you want to use AI to fire 90% of your staff just to save costs. An empathetic approach understands this is not only wrong, but a short-sighted strategy that destroys value as you watch institutional knowledge walk out the door.
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Integrity
Empathy demands integrity. It requires us to balance operational goals with ethical responsibility and to put our clients' long-term interests - and the interests of their people - first. This means providing honest assessments of AI's capabilities and limitations, ensuring you understand both the potential benefits and the risks.
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Transparent Excellence
Empathy for teams undergoing change requires radical transparency. We measure success through concrete outcomes that include staff satisfaction and well-being alongside efficiency metrics. We communicate openly about how AI systems work and their impact on roles, building the trust needed to reduce anxiety and build collaboration.
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Approachable Professionalism
Empathy in action is about connection. We bring warmth, humanity, and kindness to the complex world of AI. Our "no dickheads" rule is a direct reflection of this - it's a commitment to ensuring every interaction is grounded in respect and compassion, making complex concepts accessible to everyone.
A Personal Note
My work with AI isn't just professional, it's personal.
I've seen too many conversations about artificial intelligence focus exclusively on either utopian promises or dystopian warnings, with little practical guidance for those caught in between.
The "no dickheads" rule mentioned above isn't just colourful language - it's fundamental to how I operate. Whether in business or technology implementation, I believe that kindness and ethical consideration aren't optional extras but essential foundations for meaningful progress.
I'm certainly not claiming to be perfect in living these values - ask anyone who's met me before my morning coffee, but I'm committed to the work.
My hope is that by working together, we can build AI systems that genuinely enhance what makes us human rather than diminishing it.
If you're facing the challenge of implementing AI in your organisation and want to do it in a way that strengthens rather than weakens your team, I'd welcome a conversation.
And thanks for reading a page that starts with "Mission" and "Vision" 🙂