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Meet the Founder

Dr. Leigh Coney, Founder of WorkWise Solutions

Dr. Leigh Coney

Founder & Principal Consultant

Specialist in Human-AI Workflows

"I translate AI capability into tools PE professionals trust. I focus on decision-making in high-stakes environments -- where mistakes cost millions, and people not using the system can kill even the best technology."

For over a decade, I've studied how humans interact with emerging technology -- particularly in high-stakes environments where mistakes cost millions, and people refusing to use the system can kill even the best software.

I founded WorkWise Solutions to solve the problem that keeps me up at night: brilliant AI systems that never get used. My PhD research into how humans interact with emerging technology is most valuable when working with senior partners and investment committees. Understanding why people resist new tools matters as much as the technology itself.

We don't just build AI -- we make it a natural part of how your team already works.

Education & Credentials

PhD
How Humans Interact with Emerging Technology
Research focus: why people adopt or resist new tools in high-stakes environments

Publications

Research on responsible AI adoption, governance, and measuring AI's real value in high-stakes professional environments.

ResearchGate

Measuring AI ROI in Private Equity: A Framework for Decision Velocity vs. Decision Quality

Q1 2026  |  20 pages

A measurement model for evaluating AI's impact in private equity across four dimensions: how fast decisions happen, how deep the analysis goes, which outcomes AI actually caused, and what that means for risk-adjusted returns.

SSRN Working Paper | DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6274559

AI Governance Across the Deal Lifecycle: From Sourcing Through Portfolio Monitoring

Q1 2026  |  20 pages

Maps AI use cases, the errors each one can produce, and what governance you need at every stage -- from sourcing through exit.

ResearchGate | Paper 3 of 3

The Skill Erosion Paradox: Preserving Analytical Capability in AI-Augmented Teams

Q1 2026  |  18 pages

Tackles the quiet risk behind AI adoption: when people stop doing the hard analytical work themselves, the skills that make expert judgment possible slowly decay. Presents a framework for preserving expertise through deliberate practice, workflow design, and talent development designed for teams working with AI.

SSRN Working Paper | Paper 2 of 3

Combating Automation Complacency in Financial Due Diligence: A Deep Dive into Verification Atrophy, Cognitive Interventions, and Interface Design for Epistemic Humility

Q1 2026  |  DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6111107

When teams rely on AI for due diligence, they gradually stop checking its work. This paper presents a framework to prevent that -- through better interface design, organizational protocols, and ways to measure whether people are still thinking critically.

SSRN Working Paper | Paper 1 of 3

Closing the Accountability Gap: A Governance Framework for AI in Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Strategic Consulting

December 2025  |  DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.5991655

A governance framework for deploying AI responsibly in investment and advisory settings. Covers who is accountable for what, how oversight scales with risk, and what audit trails regulators and fiduciaries actually need.

Areas of Expertise

Human-AI workflow design
Organizational change management
Behavioral science applications
Decision-making in high-uncertainty environments
Private equity operations
Investment committee dynamics
AI governance frameworks
Understanding why stakeholders push back

Speaking Engagements

Dr. Coney speaks on AI adoption in financial services, using behavioral science to get teams to actually use new tools, and designing AI systems that keep humans in the loop for high-stakes decisions.

Request Speaking Engagement

Work with Dr. Coney

Let's talk about what AI can do for your firm -- and what it will take to get your team to actually use it.

Schedule Consultation
Schedule Consultation