Approach
Services
Solutions
Tools
Case Studies
Resources
About
Contact
Leadership

Meet the Founder

Dr. Leigh Coney, Founder of WorkWise Solutions

Dr. Leigh Coney

Founder & Principal Consultant

Specialist in Human-AI Workflows

"I bridge the gap between Silicon Valley capability and Wall Street rigor. I focus on decision-making frameworks in high-stakes environments - where the cost of error is measured in millions, and adoption resistance can kill even the most sophisticated technology."

For over a decade, I've studied how humans interact with emerging technology - particularly in high-stakes environments where the cost of error is measured in millions, and adoption resistance can kill even the most sophisticated systems. My research focuses on decision-making frameworks that bridge the gap between AI capability and real-world usage.

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 proves invaluable when handling senior partners and investment committees - understanding the human dynamics of adoption is as critical as the technical architecture.

We don't just build AI - we ensure it becomes an invisible, indispensable part of how your team works.

Education & Credentials

PhD
How Humans Interact with Emerging Technology
Research Focus: Decision-making in high-stakes AI environments

Publications

Research on responsible AI adoption, governance frameworks, and value measurement in high-stakes professional environments.

ResearchGate

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

Q1 2026  |  20 pages

Introduces the Decision Velocity–Quality Framework (DVQF), a measurement model for evaluating AI’s impact across four dimensions: throughput efficiency, analytical depth, outcome attribution, and risk-adjusted return contribution in private equity.

SSRN Working Paper — DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6274559

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

Q1 2026  |  20 pages

Extends the WorkWise Verification Framework across the complete deal lifecycle, mapping AI use cases, error types, and governance requirements for five stages from sourcing through exit preparation.

ResearchGate — Paper 3 of 3

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

Q1 2026  |  18 pages

Addresses the deeper, slower-moving threat beneath AI adoption: the gradual decay of the analytical skills that make expert judgment possible. Presents a framework for preserving expertise through deliberate practice structures, workflow design, and organisational talent development strategies calibrated for AI-augmented environments.

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

A comprehensive framework for combating automation complacency through cognitive interventions, interface design principles, organisational protocols, and measurement frameworks — ensuring AI-augmented due diligence remains sustainable and resistant to verification atrophy.

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 comprehensive governance framework for responsible AI deployment in high-stakes investment and advisory contexts, addressing accountability chains, tiered oversight mechanisms, and audit trails that satisfy regulatory and fiduciary obligations.

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
Stakeholder resistance analysis

Speaking Engagements

Dr. Coney is available for speaking engagements on topics including AI adoption in financial services, behavioral science in technology implementation, and human-in-the-loop AI systems for high-stakes decision-making.

Request Speaking Engagement

Work with Dr. Coney

Schedule a consultation to discuss how WorkWise Solutions can help your firm achieve successful AI adoption.

Schedule Consultation
Schedule Consultation