Every FPOV ThinkTank is designed to do one thing exceptionally well: help leaders think farther, faster. Our Spring 2025 ThinkTank, held May 12–13 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, delivered on that promise and then some. Hosted on the cutting-edge campus of Oklahoma State University, the event welcomed around 50 executives from diverse industries. For two days, we immersed participants in an ideation experience that pushed the limits of what’s possible at the intersection of innovation, automation, and AI.

What sets FPOV ThinkTanks apart is their intensity and intention. These aren’t conferences. They’re carefully designed environments for collaboration—where smart people converge to future-proof their organizations. And this spring, our format reached new heights, blending AI avatars, immersive digital environments, and bold western aesthetics in a theme we called “Frontier Days to Frontier Models.”

ThinkTank Theme: “Frontier Days to Frontier Models”

The frontier spirit has long been associated with resourcefulness, grit, and bold experimentation. At the 2025 Spring ThinkTank, we reimagined that ethos through a future-focused lens. The theme—“Frontier Days to Frontier Models”—invited leaders to wrestle with the opportunities and challenges of automation by channeling the same mentality that powered the first pioneers westward.

To bring this theme to life, we engineered a setting that fused western charm with technological sophistication. AI was not just a topic of discussion—it was a co-facilitator. Five custom-built FPOV AI avatars delivered trend briefings before each ThinkSprint, provided key questions for exploration, and helped shape the discussions in real time. These digital collaborators were created using a variety of generative AI tools, signaling not just FPOV’s capability with emerging technologies, but our commitment to using them meaningfully.

We even gave automation a face—and a name. “T5,” a robotic bull, became the unofficial mascot of the ThinkTank, symbolizing the raw power and unpredictability of this new technological frontier. As one participant joked, “It’s not every day you brainstorm strategy while eyeing down a mechanical steer.”

But behind the metaphor was a serious message: automation isn’t coming—it’s here. And the organizations that will thrive are those that embrace this future with creativity, clarity, and confidence.

The ThinkTank Experience

To cultivate the right mindset, environment matters. That’s why we chose the ConocoPhillips Alumni Center at Oklahoma State University as our venue. The space was outfitted with 360-degree digital screens that wrapped participants in an immersive, high-tech western world. Think of it as a digitally enhanced corral where leaders could wrangle big ideas against a backdrop of holographic prairie skies and animated data trails.

Participants were encouraged to dress for the theme—boots met bandwidth, and cowboy hats mingled with holograms. But this wasn’t just for fun (though it was fun). It was a subtle cue that we were stepping into a different mental space—one that required both imagination and intentionality.

The venue also served a strategic purpose. OSU is a hub of innovation, home to the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE) and the Endeavor Lab for undergraduate research. The campus pulses with a culture of experimentation and boundary-pushing—a perfect setting for a ThinkTank built around the idea of reinventing business models and workflows.

Participants stayed on-campus at the Atherton Hotel and were afforded the opportunity to explore the world class facilities of OSU. On the first night of the ThinkTank, everyone gathered for a happy hour and steak dinner at the ranch-style steakhouse within the Atherton Hotel. Pistol Pete – the legendary Ok State mascot made a special appearance during the happy hour and snapped pictures with willing attendees.

Over the course of two days, participants explored how automation and AI can reshape everything from team structures to customer experiences. Every session was designed to be immersive, collaborative, and actionable—qualities that came to life most vividly in our four ThinkSprints.

ThinkSprints: From Insight to Action

A hallmark of the FPOV ThinkTank model, ThinkSprints are short, high-intensity brainstorming sessions that guide participants through strategic ideation on future-leaning topics. Each Sprint was introduced by an AI avatar and focused on a different dimension of automation. What made this ThinkTank particularly unique was our use of AI-powered transcription tools that captured every conversation in real time and condensed the key takeaways into a digestible format—distributed to participants minutes after each session ended.

• ThinkSprint 1: “Digital Works”

This session focused on AI’s role in automating internal workflows, customer interactions, and knowledge management. Participants explored how AI can improve process efficiency, reduce operational overhead, and support employee augmentation. A recurring insight was the importance of data governance—without clean, high-quality data, even the most advanced AI tools will falter.

• ThinkSprint 2: “Physical Duties”

Here, the conversation shifted to the physical realm. What does it take to integrate robotics into operations? How do you evaluate the ROI of hardware-based automation? Ethical concerns also surfaced—particularly around job displacement and the social contract between companies and their workforces. The discussion highlighted a growing need for organizations to develop transition strategies and new training pipelines for employees whose roles are affected by automation.

• ThinkSprint 3: “One-Person Unicorn”

This provocative session examined how AI enables the rise of hyper-efficient solo entrepreneurs—“one-person unicorns” who can operate at a scale that used to require entire teams. Topics included the viability of automated businesses, personalized AI education tools, and the psychological challenges of going it alone with digital partners. Participants explored how their own organizations might support or adapt to this new class of competitors and collaborators.

• ThinkSprint 4: “Ergonomics”

The final session zoomed in on micro-efficiencies, focusing on the countless clicks and keystrokes that fill an average employee’s day. Leaders examined how to categorize digital tasks—identifying which were essential, redundant, or ripe for automation. From voice commands to workflow optimization tools, this ThinkSprint offered practical ways to reclaim human energy from digital drudgery.

Each ThinkSprint reinforced a central message: AI and automation aren’t just tools—they’re tectonic shifts. Leaders who learn how to integrate them now will gain a serious edge in the market.

Looking Ahead: The 2025 Fall ThinkTank

If the Spring ThinkTank was about exploration, the Fall ThinkTank is about elevation. On September 29–30, we’ll gather again—this time in Oklahoma City—for an event focused on elite leadership. Scott Klososky, FPOV’s founder and a pioneer in digital transformation strategy, will lead participants through an exploration of what it means to lead boldly in the age of AI.

In a world flooded with tools and technology, leadership remains the X-factor. The Fall ThinkTank will dive deep into how today’s leaders can develop the vision, skills, and digital fluency needed to thrive in uncertainty. We’ll look at how the best leaders make decisions, build culture, and drive transformation—not in spite of technology, but because of it.

If the Spring ThinkTank was a reminder that the future is already here, the Fall ThinkTank will be a call to action for those ready to lead it.

Early registration is now open! Register here.