Don't Stop Us Now AI Edition

Recently we spoke with a group of CEOs who said they felt confident leading their organisation's AI investments. Yet when we asked how often they actually used AI, only one third of the group used it daily.This disconnect is everywhere. Around boardroom tables and in senior leadership meetings, executives aren't using AI consistently. The latest data backs this up: most people still aren't using AI daily and that's a problem given how fast AI is changing and improving.If you're not using AI regularly; learning from it and about it as you go; how can you effectively contribute to, or lead, your organisation's AI strategy?So in this episode, we get super practical to help leaders become power users. We share five specific ways we use AI to amplify our own leadership work and impact, including practical tips on how exactly you do this. Our use cases range from handling difficult conversations to tackling the strategic challenges that keep us awake at night.We also reveal which AI model significantly outperformed the others for a particularly valuable leadership task and why one very specific technique of using AI as a thought partner has become indispensable in our own work.Enjoy this super practical episode with ideas we know you’ll want to start using immediately.

Ever wondered if you’re missing out on some easy AI hacks? We were both surprised recently to read the results of some research we'd conducted with senior executives about their AI usage to see that most people are barely scratching the surface of what these tools can do. That’s prompted us to create this episode bringing you a practical guide to the techniques that actually make a big difference.We're sharing the most powerful techniques and hacks we've discovered after constant AI use and refinement. These aren't theoretical concepts or beginner basics, they're the strategies and simple steps that can transform how effectively you work with tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Co Pilot.In this episode, we reveal four separate and easy approaches that will upgrade your AI outputs immediately. Don’t worry, you won’t need to spend hours learning or implementing any of these hacks.  For example, you'll discover how to get AI to do the heavy lifting on prompts themselves (yes, really), and learn a great way to tackle repetitive tasks with ease, avoiding re-inventing the wheel time and time again.Some of the techniques you’ll hear about include:The metaprompting technique that can save hours of prompt refinementHow Projects, Gems, GPTs and Custom Co Pilots may turbo-charge your productivity A step by step explanation of how you can set up these tools, andExactly how AI was used to help generate some of the copy you’re reading now. Whether you're already comfortable with AI or still finding your feet, we’re confident that at least one of these techniques will help you level up your own AI skills and outcomes. Listen now for practical and real examples of how these techniques work in action to help you work smarter with AI. 

What happens when a group of friends gathering at Starbucks on Sundays to experiment with ChatGPT evolves into a global movement spanning more than 40 cities?That's the journey of Build Club, and its founder Annie Liao has some compelling insights about what it takes to actually make AI adoption work—not just in theory, but in practice.Annie, who recently raised over $1.7 million and relocated to San Francisco, has a front-row seat to how AI is reshaping work. From her early days in data science at Westpac to strategy consulting at BCG and venture capital, she's now solving what she calls the "AI adoption problem" that enterprises are struggling with worldwide.In this episode, you'll hear:Why Annie's "AI Champions" approach has been Build Club’s most successful way of helping companies embrace AI How she struck partnership deals with big names like Nvidia and LovableAnnie’s prediction we’re all likely to have agents working overnight on our behalf and what that meansThe AI tools Annie uses in her daily workflow, andWhat makes San Francisco's AI ecosystem fundamentally different from Australia'sFrom her vantage point in the Bay Area, Annie shares what excites her most about seeing people use AI for the first time, why there might be too many no-code tools flooding the market, and the practical steps anyone can take to position themselves for what's coming next.Enjoy this episode with the indomitable Annie Liao. Useful links:Build Club websiteAnnie Liao on LinkedIn

Imagine you're a marketing professor who saw the AI revolution coming years before ChatGPT hit the scene, wrote the definitive book on AI marketing in 2021, and now find yourself at the epicentre of one of the most dramatic transformations in history.This is the very position this week’s guest, Jim Lecinski, finds himself in. Jim is a Clinical Professor of Marketing at Northwestern University's prestigious Kellogg School of Management, where he teaches AI in Marketing and has won Professor of the Year. Adding to Jim's canny foresight is his prior, 13-year career as a VP at Google. As a result, Jim brings both the practitioner's real-world experience and the academic's analytical rigour to one of the most important questions facing leaders and marketers today: how do you harness AI not just for efficiency gains, but for genuine competitive advantage and growth?In our conversation, you'll also hear about:Jim's 2x2 framework for thinking strategically about AI applications in marketing Use-case examples from brands such as Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and IKEA where AI is used to revolutionise everything from creative development to customer serviceWhy businesses need to prepare for the shift from search engine optimisation (SEO) to "generative engine optimisation" (GEO), and what that means practicallyThe emerging world of AI agents and how this will fundamentally change how we all shop, andJim's essential learning resources for those who want to stay ahead of the curve.We loved the way Jim shares his own wisdom and insights as well as sharing many examples of what market leaders are actually doing with AI.We know you’ll enjoy this conversation with the whip-smart professor who saw the AI future ahead of the crowd. Useful LinksJim Lecinski on LinkedInAI Marketing Association Marketing AI Institute Andrew Ng’s AI for Everyone course on Coursera

Ever wondered what it's really like inside one of the world's fastest-growing AI companies? This week we get unprecedented access to the inner workings of Leonardo AI through their Chief Commercial Officer, Donna Thomas.Leonardo AI is a Gen AI-powered image and video generator and it’s one of Australia's AI success stories. It scaled from zero to 19 million users in just two years before being acquired by Canva last year.At ‘Leo’ as they call it, Donna plays a central role  overseeing customer, marketing, sales and enterprise adoption, as Leo charts its evolution from a fast-growing creative AI platform to an enterprise-scale solution.        Donna takes us behind the scenes and shares what hypergrowth feels like from the inside. She says Leo has redefined her understanding of speed itself.In such a fast moving environment,  the challenges of managing and sustaining teams through constant change become critical and Donna shares the specific structures and rituals Leo uses to maintain team stability while moving faster than she's ever experienced.In this conversation, you'll also discover:The key differences between working at a traditional tech giant versus an AI-native startup and what skills become essentialThe "listening muscle" required to synthesise signals from customers, competitors, and tech developments in real-timePractical strategies for managing and sustaining teams through hypergrowth and hyper-fast work rhythms Why Leonardo embeds AI across everything from customer service to engineering and HR, and how they manage the complexity of using multiple different AI tools internally; and . . .Donna's advice for professionals wanting to become more AI-fluent and free up time for deep work.Whether you're curious about life inside a cutting-edge AI company or looking for practical insights on adapting and leading in our rapidly changing work environment, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into how a world-leading AI-native organisation is managing these challenges and opportunities. Enjoy this episode! Useful LinksLeonardo AI

Our guest this week gets straight to the heart of what actually makes AI work in practice: seamless data integration and moving at what she calls "the speed of trust."Ann Maya is the EMEA Chief Technology Officer at Boomi, a company that connects applications, devices, and systems to help organisations navigate digital transformation. With over 20 years in software—from developer to solution architect to senior leadership—Ann has a rare ability to bridge technical complexity with business reality.In this conversation, we explore why most organisations struggle to scale AI beyond pilots, and why the answer isn't just about the technology itself. Ann shares:How a container ship insurance company transformed their underwriter workflow from three days to 15 minutes—and why their legal team immediately wanted inWhy she believes your company's data is your "competitive secret sauce" and how to protect it while still leveraging AI's powerThe psychology behind why change happens at "the speed of trust" and how smart companies bring their people along on the AI journeyReal examples of what she calls "creative destruction"—and why the next revolution might come from the most unexpected placesAnn also reveals how Boomi has embedded 11 different AI agents into their own platform and shares a fascinating perspective on the current AI race: who's winning, who's getting left behind, and what you can control when everything feels like it's moving at breakneck speed.Whether you're wondering how to turn AI skeptics into advocates or trying to understand why your organisation's data strategy matters more than ever, this conversation offers practical insights from someone who's helping companies navigate this transformation every day.Enjoy this episode with the innovative and customer-focused Ann Maya. Useful Links Ann on LinkedInBoomi home pageBoomi - Discover 

This week we explore how AI is reshaping all things marketing with Emma Wharton Love, co-founder of UK-based Spark AI. Emma helps creative agencies and in-house teams navigate the AI era, and her unique background includes helping the entire UK House of Commons transition to hybrid working during Covid.That experience taught Emma something crucial that we explore in this episode, successful AI deployment isn't really about the technology, it's about people and change management. We also probe one of the most sensitive areas for the marketing services industry, how AI is impacting the creative process itself. We also explore what AI video means for advertising and how it may result in a much bigger pool of advertisers in future.During this great conversation you'll also discover:What to avoid when starting out on the AI pathwayThe value of synthetic market research (and what it is)Where Emma believes the biggest gains for agencies lie How she thinks about AI’s future role in marketing creativity, and The one mindset Emma believes is essential for AI success.Whether you're in marketing or not, Emma's approach to managing AI transformation offers valuable lessons for any professional or business trying to harness this technology thoughtfully.Useful LinksSpark AI websiteEmma Wharton Love on LinkedIn

This week we're sharing an AI conversation many executives are afraid to have. Our guest, Peter Guagenti, CEO of agentic platform and AI agent builder, EverWorker, is one of those rare voices willing to say what others won't: "AI will replace jobs”. Perhaps surprisingly, he goes on to explain why that’s not necessarily a bad thing.While many in the industry underestimate or downplay AI's capabilities, Peter speaks plainly about what he's seeing happen right now in businesses across multiple industries.Peter has been at the forefront of enterprise AI adoption for nearly a decade. Before EverWorker, he was President of TabNine, a pioneering AI code assistant, and he’s held leadership roles at major data infrastructure and dev tools companies including Cockroach Labs.What you'll hear Peter share in this episode:Why job replacement fears are missing the bigger picture Which "boring" businesses are actually leading early AI agent adoptionSkills you need to successfully implement AI for automation in any businessWhy Peter calls AGI talk "nonsense" and what leaders should focus on instead, andThe one thing about AI's future that genuinely worries him most.Peter has a gift for cutting through the hype with plain talking, concrete examples and practical insights in an easy to understand way.This is a refreshing and informative conversation for anyone wanting a glimpse into early adoption of AI agents and much more. Enjoy this conversation with the plain-speaking and savvy Peter Guagenti. Useful LinksEverWorker websiteEverWorker AI Academy - free AI fundamentals course for business leaders