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Process DesignApril 14, 2026 · 7 min
The quiet org chart: who really runs your workflows
Every workflow has an official owner and a real owner. AI engagements that don't find the real one tend to die in the third quarter.
Find the real owner
The real owner is usually two layers below the official one, has been in role for at least four years, and is the person everyone DMs when the system breaks. Find them in week one.
EM
Elena Marchetti
Partner, Strategy