AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs

You may have heard host Susan Diaz say she "swan dove backwards off the cliff into AI". In this episode, she unpacks what that actually means, how it became the working title of her book, and the concrete frameworks leaders can use to move boldly into AI without being reckless. This is a personal, behind-the-scenes episode. Susan shares how she went from not being in the famous first 6 million users of ChatGPT… to becoming the person who showed up a week later and refused to leave. She explains why generative AI felt different from every underwhelming AI-ish tool she'd used before. Then she introduces two big ideas that will run through the book and the podcast series: The four cliff archetypes of AI in organizations. The five moves of a swan dive that turn bold experimentation into lasting infrastructure. It's part origin story, part field guide, and part invitation to join the Early Divers instead of waiting for the bridge to magically appear. Key takeaways Generative AI was a pattern-breaker. What hooked Susan wasn't hype. It was the combo of: credible output, ability to handle large volumes of messy information, and being free to use. That trifecta changed the game for everyday operators. "Swan dive backwards" is not recklessness. It's a personality pattern. Quick starts jump with a scan for rocks and a plan to tuck their elbows. The instinct is to move, not freeze, when the path ends. Every organization has four cliff archetypes of AI: Divers - the early experimenters pressing all the buttons. Pathfinders - the risk-mappers and governance folks asking "how do we do this safely?" Operators - the people who turn experiments into actual workflows and pilots. Bridge builders - the systems people who turn one-time wins into playbooks, platforms, and training. You are rarely just one archetype. You're more like a sound mix across all four. That mix determines how you respond when AI shows up as a cliff, not a gentle slope. The five moves of a swan dive give you a pattern: Spot the cliff - recognize this is a step-change, not another incremental tool. Check the water - test, set guardrails, understand risks and boundaries. The dive - move out of analysis into real use on real work. Surface with a map - name patterns, document what's working, share stories. Build the bridge - turn what you learned into infrastructure so others don't have to jump cold. AI is too big to leave to one personality type. Divers alone will splatter. Pathfinders alone will stall. Operators without bridge builders will create one-off wins that never stick. You need all four. This book and series are a public swan dive. Backwards! The 30-episode challenge, the naming of Swan Dive Backwards, and the frameworks are all being built where others can see and eventually walk the bridge. Episode highlights [00:00] "I swan dive backwards off the cliff into AI" - why that line sticks and what it actually means. [01:19] Naming the book Swan Dive Backwards and the meta moment for future readers. [01:47] Why Susan was not in the first 6 million ChatGPT users, and why early AI tools had underwhelmed her. [03:03] The three markers that made generative AI different: credible output, large-volume handling, and being free. [05:27] "Late to the party, then refused to leave" – how personality type shaped her AI journey. [06:28] The cliff analogy: divers, plotters, doers, bridge builders. [09:33] Why Susan is a classic "diver" and how that shows up in entrepreneurship. [12:08] The LinkedIn comment from Alison Garwood-Jones that locked in the book title. [14:53] The four cliff archetypes of AI inside companies, in explicit AI terms. [18:38] Move 1: spotting the cliff – realising AI is a calculator/PC-level shift, not a passing tool. [19:44] Move 2: checking the water – personal tests, failures, and organisational governance. [20:45] Move 3: the swan dive – moving from theory to workflow-level experiments. [21:50] Move 4: surfacing with a map – turning experiences into language, frameworks, audits. [23:03] Move 5: building the bridge – connecting experiments into ongoing systems and training. [23:31] Why the real courage is building so others never have to jump cold again. This episode is both an origin story and a mirror. Ask yourself and your team Which cliff archetype do you lead with: Diver, Pathfinder, Operator, or Bridge Builder? Where are you on the five moves of the swan dive: staring at the cliff… or quietly building the bridge? Share this episode with the biggest "diver" you know and the most trusted "pathfinder" in your organization. They're going to need each other. Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn to get a conversation started. Agile teams move fast. Grab our 10 AI Deep Research Prompts to see how proven frameworks can unlock clarity in hours, not months. Find the prompt pack here.

Many teams have a Notion page full of prompts. Very few have real, repeatable AI workflows. In this episode, host Susan Diaz and product/go-to-market leader Jason Dea dig into how to move from playing with prompts to designing workflows, building tiny specialist agents, and avoiding a new wave of shadow AI inside organizations. Susan is joined by venture studio and SaaS veteran Jason Dea from Coru Ventures in Toronto. They unpack why AI is not a magic wand or a single feature, but an enabling technology that only delivers value when it's wired into actual workflows. Jason shares his "swarm of bumblebees" metaphor for AI, how he builds small specialist agents to clone his own work style, and why enterprises are about to repeat the mistakes of shadow IT if they don't get serious about orchestration and governance. They close by talking about leaders using AI in their own day-to-day work, and Jason's personal experiments with family apps, coding, and even a butterfly-catching game for his daughter. Key takeaways Prompts ≠ workflows. Collecting prompts in a shared doc feels productive. But until you map the 8–10 steps of a job and decide where AI fits, you're just doing experiments, not transformation. AI is not a magic one-shot. It's an enabling technology. The real gains come when you see your work as a chain of small tasks and let AI take over the repetitive, boring, or "toil" links in that chain. Think "swarm of bumblebees." You are the queen bee. AI is a swarm of tiny worker bees, each doing one specific task very well (emails, slides, requirements, research), not one mega-agent doing everything. Documenting workflows doesn't have to be fancy. A workflow is just "tell me the 10 steps." Start with the human sequence. Tools come second. Once it's visible, the friction points where AI can help become obvious. Shadow IT is turning into shadow AI. Cheap, bolt-on AI features and swipe-a-card tools make it easy for every team to spin up their own stack. Without orchestration, you recreate silos, risk, and tool sprawl at AI speed. IT should govern, not own everything. Governance, security, and guardrails matter. But AI also democratises small bits of "coding" and automation, letting non-technical teams build more, faster—if they have guidance. Leaders need hands-on literacy. The fastest way out of the hype is to use AI yourself for your own toil. Drafting emails. Planning. Decomposing big tasks. You get more realistic about what it can and cannot do. AI is an "unstuck" tool in work and life. From relearning to code, to building tiny family apps, to cataloguing knick-knacks and designing games for kids, AI opens up projects that were unrealistic even five years ago. Episode highlights [00:01] Jason's background in startups, SaaS, product, and go-to-market, and his role at Coru Ventures. [02:00] Where we are on the Gartner hype cycle and why the trough of disillusionment is inevitable and useful. [04:40] Why some people can't imagine life before ChatGPT—and why that's not true for everyone inside organisations. [05:50] Mapping work as a sequence of steps instead of hunting for a single "magic" AI prompt. [08:01] The "swarm of bumblebees" metaphor: you as the queen, AI as many small worker-bee agents. [09:59] How to define a workflow in plain language: "tell me the 10 steps," tools aside. [11:00] Paperwork and OCR as a classic example of where generative AI finally unlocks messy, grey-area tasks. [13:50] Using AI first to remove the tasks you hate and identify the links you should outsource to machines. [15:20] Jason's "digital clone" AIs trained on his own content and patterns. [19:00] Building multiple mini-AIs: one for social posts, one for slide decks, one for product requirements. [21:10] Bolt-on AI features everywhere + messy workflows = amplified confusion and risk. [22:10] From shadow IT to shadow AI: why orchestration and shared understanding of workflows is critical. [24:40] Startups' speed vs enterprises' risk aversion, and what each can learn from the other. [27:10] Why IT should set guardrails while letting departments experiment and build more on their own. [30:10] Jason's advice to leaders: use AI yourself to see where it really helps and what it really takes. [36:00] Personal-life AI: relearning to code, family apps, cataloguing home items, and a butterfly game for his daughter. [38:00] Susan's idea: vibe-coding a family recipe app as a way to preserve memories and workflows. If your organization has a folder full of prompts but no clear AI workflows, this episode is your sign to pause and rethink. Share it with: The person who keeps buying new AI tools. The leader who thinks "IT will figure it out". The teammate who's already acting like the queen bee and quietly building their own swarm. Then ask as a team: "Where are our 10-step workflows, and which links should really be done by AI?" Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn to get a conversation started. Agile teams move fast. Grab our 10 AI Deep Research Prompts to see how proven frameworks can unlock clarity in hours, not months. Find the prompt pack here.

Most enterprises don't have an AI problem. They have a literacy problem. In this episode, host Susan Diaz breaks down the "AI literacy divide" inside organizations, why it quietly creates haves and have-nots, and what baseline literacy actually looks like in practice. AI literacy should be treated the same way we treat financial or health literacy - as a non-optional, minimum standard for everyone, not a niche skill for "AI people". Susan maps out the current reality in many companies - a small group of confident experimenters, a vocal group of sceptics, and a silent majority stuck in the middle waiting for direction. Then she paints two futures and shows how intentional, organization-wide AI literacy turns curiosity into real innovation instead of resentment, inequity, and stalled adoption.   Key takeaways You don't have an AI tool problem. You have an AI literacy gap. Most people can "open ChatGPT" but don't understand what LLMs are, what they're good at, and where the risk line is. Think "financial literacy" not "prompt engineering". Just like everyone is expected to understand interest, debt, and prevention in health, everyone should understand the basics of everyday AI, not build custom agents on weekends. AI knowledge inside organizations is wildly uneven. A few people experiment confidently. A few are loudly doomsday. Many say nothing, don't feel safe asking questions, and quietly fall behind. That's the divide. Leadership is often the least literate group. Junior staff may be hands-on with tools, while executives and middle managers are too busy or embarrassed to be beginners again - creating a strange power/knowledge mismatch. Stop hunting for "one magic AI tool". AI in your company will look more like the internet than a single CRM. It will run through everything, not live on one platform. Literacy and workflows beat silver bullets. Two things to stop immediately: Stop treating AI as a binary "for or against" issue. It's already here, like calculators and the internet. The real question is how you'll adopt it. Stop pretending inequity isn't part of AI adoption. If training only reaches leaders, tech folks, or men who speak up first, you're baking old bias into a new system. Episode highlights [00:01] "Most enterprises don't actually have an AI problem. They have a literacy problem." [00:40] Financial and health literacy as models for what AI literacy should look like. [01:39] The current reality: pockets of brilliance, pockets of panic, and a big silent middle. [06:03] The Star Wars council metaphor: the Yoda faction, the doomscrolling faction, and the quiet middle. [10:16] The first big red flag: leadership has never sat down to talk about AI as a cultural, strategic, and operational shift. [12:13] Two employees in the same company: the confident AI experimenter vs the quietly left-behind colleague. [18:21] When formal power and AI experience don't live in the same people. [19:31] Why there will never be "one tool to rule them all" inside organisations. [26:20] Company A vs Company B: what baseline AI literacy actually looks like. [31:16] The skills every employee needs: plain-language understanding of LLMs, basic prompting, simple workflow mapping, and evaluation. [32:13] Two things to stop doing now: binary thinking about AI and ignoring inequity in who gets to learn. If you suspect your organization is quietly suffering scattered pilots, no shared language, lots of vibes but no vision, start here. Ask your leadership team: "What does baseline AI literacy look like for everyone here, and what's our plan to get there?" Then share this episode with one person in your org who's brave enough to start that conversation. Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn to get a conversation started. Agile teams move fast. Grab our 10 AI Deep Research Prompts to see how proven frameworks can unlock clarity in hours, not months. Find the prompt pack here.

Lots of teams are playing with AI. Few are documenting, sharing, or governing what actually happens. In this episode, Susan unpacks the hidden cost of experiment-only AI literacy inside enterprises, from duplicate spend to shadow AI, and offers a path from Wild West to structured innovation. Episode summary In this solo episode, Susan looks at what really happens when AI experimentation is encouraged, but never captured or guided. She explains why leadership often only sees one of two AI universes running inside the same company. Then she breaks down how to keep curiosity alive and add just enough structure to protect brand, budgets, and people. Key takeaways AI is already in your organisation, whether it's "approved" or not. Even with blanket bans, people de-identify data and reach for personal tools like ChatGPT or Claude on their phones. You're probably running two parallel AI universes. One official, "enterprise safe" tool stack that leadership can see. One unofficial, personal stack that actually solves problems. Experimentation is good culture. "Experiment-only" is expensive. Without reporting, shared learning, or guardrails, you get duplicate tools, compliance risk, brand drift, and fake efficiency. People are treating AI the way they once treated Google. If they can't get answers inside the firewall, they go around it. That behaviour is normal… but now the stakes are much higher. Stop chasing a single super-agent. AI can replace steps, not entire, multi-step, values-based processes that require judgement, politics, and context. The real leverage is in literacy, not licences. Tools without shared language, playbooks, and training will never compound into competitive advantage. Episode highlights [00:02] The conference metaphor: high inspiration, zero notes, nothing sticks. [01:30] The uncomfortable truth: people are using AI, even if policy says they shouldn't. [03:20] Why internal "safe" chatbots often feel generic and miss political and market nuance. [05:22] How smart staff quietly step outside approved tools and into personal LLMs. [10:05] The rise of two AI universes: official vs shadow, and where leadership can actually see. [14:22] Experimentation as a sign of healthy, curious culture. Where it tips into risk. [16:35] Hidden costs: duplicate spend, overlapping capabilities, and tool sprawl. [17:28] Shadow AI, compliance risk, and what happens when sensitive data hits public models. [18:05] Brand voice drift and micro-messaging shifts that compound over time. [20:21] What leaders can do next: audits, simple guardrails, sandboxes, and shared findings. [21:19] What a real AI playbook is (hint: documented workflows, not a buzzword PDF). [22:24] The core question: do you actually know how your people are using AI today? If you suspect there's an invisible AI Wild West running inside your organization, start here. Listen to the full episode and then ask your leadership team one question: "Do we really know how our people are using AI today?" If the honest answer is "not really", that's your starting point for an AI audit and a literacy plan. Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedInfor to get a conversation started. Agile teams move fast. Grab our 10 AI Deep Research Prompts to see how proven frameworks can unlock clarity in hours, not months. Find the prompt pack here.

What if you didn't have to disappear into a cabin for a year to write a meaningful book on AI? In this episode, host Susan Diaz kicks off a 30-day podcast-to-book challenge, sharing why her first book changed everything in her business and how she's now using AI and this podcast as a live "thinking lab" to build her next one. In this solo reflection, Susan: Looks back at how her first book Unboring: Take Your Content Marketing from Blah to Brilliant reshaped her identity, authourity, and client pipeline. Gets honest about why her AI book has been "stuck in a Google Doc" for over a year. Shares how a 30-day podcast challenge (inspired by Dan Sanchez and Ken Friere) will turn daily episodes into the raw material for a new, evergreen book on AI literacy for companies. Key takeaways Books change rooms, not just shelves. Being an author didn't make Susan "book rich" but it did change how decision-makers perceived her, filtered in better-fit clients, and gave her a framework for talks, workshops, and content. A realization that the book doesn't need to chase the news cycle. Instead of writing about tools and updates that age in months, Susan is focusing on evergreen questions: how we think, work, govern, and design AI inside companies. Stuck isn't a lack of ideas. It's a lack of structure and urgency. The AI book already existed as outlines, pillars, and scattered drafts. What was missing was discipline and a public commitment. Podcasting can be a "thinking lab" for your book. Daily episodes will act as live experiments for frameworks, stories, and interviews that can later be shaped into chapters. AI is a collaborator, not a ghostwriter. Susan uses AI to help think, outline, pattern-spot, and structure - while all ideas originate from real conversations, reflections, and lived experience. This is a long game for leaders. AI literacy and adoption inside organizations will take years, just like online banking. Some people will resist to the bitter end, but most will eventually adapt. Episode chapters (timestamps) [00:00] Why writing and storytelling still sit at the centre. [01:00] The identity shift of publishing Unboring and how it changed client perception. [03:45] How the first book became a "north star" for talks, workshops, and marketing content. [07:10] The uncomfortable truth: the AI book has been stuck as outlines, half-finished drafts, and scattered notes. [08:20] The fear that an AI book will be obsolete by the time it's finished - and why that thinking is flawed. [09:56] What this new book will be about: humans, companies, culture, governance, and real workflows. [10:53] Enter the catalyst: Dan Sanchez, Ken Friere, and the idea of building a book in public using AI. [12:50] Deciding to do a 30-day podcast challenge… at the end of November… right into the holidays. [14:18] What a previous 30-day Instagram Live challenge did for speaking opportunities and authourity. [16:03] How this 30-episode sprint will turn the podcast into a thinking lab for the book. [17:40] The mix of episodes to expect: solo reflection, teaching, futurism, and subject-matter-expert interviews. [18:48] Why AI literacy in companies will mirror the long, messy adoption curve of past technologies. [20:29] The types of guests Susan wants to bring on: innovators, practitioners, futurists, ethicists, and policy voices. [21:25] How AI will be used behind the scenes to turn conversations into chapters and frameworks. [22:10] An invitation: come along for 30 episodes of experiments, rough edges, and real-time learning. Links and resources Get Susan's first book - Unboring: Take your Content Marketing from Blah to Brilliant Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedInfor behind-the-scenes updates on the challenge. Agile teams move fast. Grab our 10 AI Deep Research Prompts to see how proven frameworks can unlock clarity in hours, not months. Find the prompt pack here. If this episode sparks something in you, don't just listen - build alongside it. Use these 30 episodes as prompts to ask better questions about AI in your own company. Share this episode with a founder or leader who's "AI-curious" but stuck in planning mode. Hit follow/subscribe so you don't miss the next 29 days of this experiment. If you're leading a team and want help turning your lived experience into AI-powered IP (like a book, frameworks, or talks), send Susan a DM on LinkedIn with the words "podcast to book" and she'll share next steps.

Founder-led teams can use AI to run effective, specific outreach - without sounding robotic. In this episode of 'AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs', I share a five-part "non-cringe" follow-up, a reusable variable-block system, tone/quality checks, a 5-step SOP you can paste into your AI tool, and a 48-hour challenge to make it real. Inside the episode: The 5-line follow-up that doesn't make you cringe (context → value → ask → next step → grace). A variable-block library (Persona, Pain, Proof, Offer, CTA) so AI can personalize at speed. Three 60-second QC checks to keep tone clean and human. A tiny SOP you can paste into your LLM and ship five follow-ups this week. If referrals aren't enough anymore for your business, this is your nudge to build a simple system and hit send. Want more? Agile teams move fast. Grab our 10 AI Deep Research Prompts to see how proven frameworks can unlock clarity in hours, not months. Find the prompt pack here. Join the Marketing Power Circle (MPC) Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn If this helped, a quick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ keeps the show discoverable for other entrepreneurs.

"AI can't use what you haven't organized." In this solo teaching episode, host Susan Diaz lays out a lightweight, repeatable structure for an internal knowledge base that actually powers your AI - so custom GPTs, Gems, or projects stop guessing and start producing on-brand, accurate work.  You'll learn the difference between rules (how your AI behaves) and knowledge (what it must know), how to build a four-folder knowledge base, ways to keep it fresh, what not to include for privacy/safety, and a 48-hour challenge to prove it on a real workflow. What you'll learn Rules vs knowledge: rules = behaviour, steps, tone, guardrails; knowledge = the factual assets (offers, pricing, voice, proof) your AI must reference. Use both, or you'll get either generic tone or rambling, off-base outputs. The 4-folder knowledge base: Brand Voice, Product Facts, Policies & Pricing, and Examples - what goes in each, and why this crushes hallucinations. Freshness rhythm and versioning: set a monthly/bi-monthly review, version by date, and keep a simple changelog so quality doesn't decay. Privacy and safety notes: what to exclude (confidential contracts, unreleased IP), how to anonymize examples, and who should have edit vs view access. Live example: how Susan used this exact setup to draft a Northlight landing page that was ~80% right on first pass. 48-hour challenge: create the four folders and drop 1-2 docs into each; test on one real deliverable (do this now) Create the four folders. Drop 1-2 docs in each (rough is fine). Run one real deliverable through your setup; note time saved + edit depth. Bring your folder map to Susan's MPC open house for live feedback.   Want more? Agile teams move fast. Grab our 10 AI Deep Research Prompts to see how proven frameworks can unlock clarity in hours, not months. Find the prompt pack here. Join the Marketing Power Circle (MPC) Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn Please take a moment to rate and review this podcast: 5⭐ helps more founders find this show  

Episode summary Three different leaders told me the same thing last quarter: "We tried AI. It felt cool. It didn't change any results." Northlight exists to fix that gap. In this episode I introduce Northlight - my AI literacy + implementation firm for teams that are done dabbling and ready for workflow wins they can measure. We turn AI from a novelty into a compounding asset using SOPs, custom GPTs/agents, and responsible guardrails. You'll also hear a simple 48-hour challenge to prove the value on one real workflow, plus a founder-friendly launch offer for a rapid diagnostic. What you'll learn Why tools aren't your bottleneck - workflows are. How to move from ad-hoc prompting to repeatable systems. The "calculator → computer → AI" analogy. Each shift frees humans to solve bigger problems (if you redesign the work). Northlight's 5D Flow (our method): Discover → Design → Deploy → Document → Dial-in. What our engagements look like: 2-week diagnostic, 6-week implementation sprint, ongoing enablement/governance. Two mini-case studies: Content ops cut from a day to <2 hours with a voice-matched GPT + SOPs, with a lift in organic impressions. Audience-intelligence briefs saving ~⅓ of strategist time, with citation and QA baked in. Responsible AI in the real world: privacy, citations/fact-checking, inclusion and equitable access to AI literacy. The 48-hour Northlight challenge (do this now) Pick one weekly workflow. Write a 5–8 step SOP for how you actually do it today. Feed that SOP + one gold-standard example into a custom GPT. Run a real task through it. Measure cycle time and quality. If your time doesn't drop, DM me "Northlight" and I'll send templates to fix it. Links  Book a Northlight Diagnostic Discovery Call (5 launch slots, founder-friendly rate): https://wearenorthlightai.com/appointments Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn Join Marketing Power Circle (AI implementation mastermind): https://cpdigitalinc.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1157552

How do diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals evolve in a world being rapidly reshaped by AI? In this episode, I sit down with Gabby Zuniga, founder of InclusiveKind, where she helps organizations across nonprofit and corporate sectors do DEI right through assessments, strategy, training, and policy review. We dig into: The ebb and flow of organizational commitment to DEI since 2020 - and why some companies stick with it while others quietly pull back. Why DEI is not just about race or ethnicity but also about learning styles, generational diversity, and workplace equity at every level. How AI is creating new urgency for DEI conversations - from algorithmic bias to ensuring inclusive adoption of technology. Practical ways founders and leaders can keep DEI at the center, even as priorities shift. Gabby's perspective is both real and hopeful: while some organizations are stepping away, the ones that ground their DEI in values - not headlines - are leading the way. This is an important listen if you're navigating how to keep people and inclusion at the heart of your business while embracing AI as a growth tool. 👉 If you found this episode valuable, please leave a rating and review. It helps more entrepreneurs discover the show. 👉 Ready to move from learning about AI to implementing it with confidence? That's exactly what we do inside the Marketing Power Circle (MPC) - my AI implementation mastermind for founders, consultants, and small business teams. Think hands-on tools, peer accountability, and real results.  Join us here: https://cpdigitalinc.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1157552

AI search is here. People are using ChatGPT and other tools to discover businesses - but my guest today on the podcast, Andrew Jenkins shows why the foundations of SEO still matter. Andrew is CEO of Volterra Digital, a top-ranked social media agency, and a long-time member of my Marketing Power Circle (MPC). We dive into: Why getting found on AI isn't a "flip the switch" formula The role of reviews, backlinks, and industry recognition in AI search rankings How Andrew used Clutch.co to build a discoverability flywheel How custom GPTs and vibe coding are transforming small agency workflows The mindset shift from AI as content spam to AI as your second brain 🔗 Connect with host, Susan Diaz on LinkedIn. ⭐ Enjoying the podcast? If this conversation gave you an aha moment, please take 30 seconds to leave a rating and review. It helps other founders and entrepreneurs discover AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs and join us on this journey. 🚀 Ready to go beyond inspiration into implementation? That's exactly what we do inside Marketing Power Circle (MPC) - my AI implementation mastermind. It's where founders, consultants, and in-house leaders stop doomscrolling and start doing: Building custom GPTs for their workflows Repurposing content at scale Designing intelligent automations that buy back hours every week And most importantly, experimenting with AI in a supportive, peer-driven community ✨ If you've been watching AI from the sidelines, MPC is the room where it happens.  It's the only AI implementation mastermind designed for small business teams.  Learn more here.  

In this episode of AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs, I sit down with Emily Baillie, founder of Compass Content Marketing and longtime digital marketing strategist turned AI literacy expert. Emily has been helping businesses navigate digital change for over 15 years. When ChatGPT first launched, she quickly saw the impact AI would have and started teaching AI and marketing workshops - which are now her most requested service. We dive into: Canva's AI superpowers: from the one-click background remover to magic resize, magic write, and even language translation. Where to start if you're new to AI in Canva (and which tools to skip). How Canva makes it easier to create high-quality content quickly, even if you're not a designer. Why iterating and refining AI outputs is the secret to avoiding "AI slop". Creative use cases, from growing email lists with QR codes to recording presentations and sharing with a single link. Canva's free subscription for nonprofits and why more organizations should take advantage of it. Emily reminds us that AI tools are meant to save time, build confidence, and open doors to creativity - not replace the human touch. 🔗 Connect with Emily Baillie Website: compasscontent.ca LinkedIn: Emily Baillie 🔗 Connect with host, Susan Diaz on LinkedIn. ⭐ Enjoying the podcast? If this conversation gave you an aha moment, please take 30 seconds to leave a rating and review. It helps other founders and entrepreneurs discover AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs and join us on this journey. 🚀 Ready to go beyond inspiration into implementation? That's exactly what we do inside Marketing Power Circle (MPC) - my AI implementation mastermind. It's where founders, consultants, and in-house leaders stop doomscrolling and start doing: Building custom GPTs for their workflows Repurposing content at scale Designing intelligent automations that buy back hours every week And most importantly, experimenting with AI in a supportive, peer-driven community ✨ Think of it as your shortcut from "curious" to "confident". 👉 Learn more and join us here: https://cpdigitalinc.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1157552  

This episode dives into the evolving space where entrepreneurship, education, and AI collide. Host Susan Diaz sits down with Deborah Carraro, an educator, AI leader, and founder of ideborah, to unpack how early-stage entrepreneurs can approach AI with creativity, experimentation, and values alignment. Deborah, who also leads AI efforts at Coralus (formerly SheEO), shares her insights from working with founders and students navigating new tech - often for the very first time. 💡 Key Themes Confidence over perfection: The first step to AI literacy is giving yourself permission to try Small experiments > Big overwhelm: Starting with low-stakes tools to build intuition AI as a creativity booster: Using tools to prototype faster, not skip the strategy The Coralus approach: Why community, trust, and collective intelligence matter in this tech shift Values-aligned implementation: Replacing fear narratives with intentional, human-first use 📌 "AI is just a tool - the magic is in how you apply it." — Deborah Carraro "We can't wait until we feel fully ready. We need to start experimenting now." — Susan Diaz 🔗 Guest Links Website - ideborah.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ideborah1/  Loved the episode and want guided implementation?  Marketing Power Circle is where founders and fractional CMOs build the workflows that free 5-10 hours a week.  You'll find more information here: https://cpdigitalinc.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1157552  Rate and review the show so more entrepreneurs can commit to AI literacy.

In this episode, Melissa Lloyd, founder of Aigility Hub, joins host Susan Diaz to explore the mindset-first approach to adopting AI. We unpack why tools and tactics should follow clarity, confidence, and intentional leadership. This conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and leaders feeling overwhelmed by tech shifts and wondering how to bring human-centred strategy to their AI journey. 💡 Key Themes: Mindset before tools: Why jumping into automation without alignment is a fast path to failure From fear to fluency: A leader's journey from AI-skeptic to AI-evangelist Overwhelm is optional: Practical ways to curate your learning and stay grounded AI ≠ a separate strategy: It's your business strategy with AI built in Trust in the age of deepfakes: How emotional intelligence and values build durable credibility Leadership redefined: The new rules of leading with EQ in uncertain times 🔗 Guest Links: Website: agilityhub.aiLinkedIn: Melissa Lloyd 🧠 Snippet to remember: "There's no such thing as getting it wrong - just get going. The only thing in your way is your mindset." – Melissa Lloyd Timestamps to note: 03:15 – Why the mental "lens" you carry drives every AI decision and result 08:45 – The overwhelm loop: news velocity, comparison and "never-enough" skills 15:30 – Coaching leaders one-to-one when the org isn't aligned yet 19:10 – How curiosity neutralizes fear and opens space for experimentation 22:40 – Micro-habits for AI mastery: 20-min sandbox, daily reflection log   Loved the episode and want guided implementation?  Marketing Power Circle is where founders and fractional CMOs build the workflows that free 5-10 hours a week.  You'll find more information here: https://cpdigitalinc.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1157552  Rate and review the show so more entrepreneurs can commit to AI literacy.

Ready to stop cursing at that under-performing GPT (that you lovingly built - only to watch it spit out meh)? In this short episode, host Susan Diaz breaks down five foundations every custom GPT needs before it can truly earn a spot on your team, plus a 48-hour challenge to tune-up (or totally transform) the bot you already have. What's inside 🧑‍💻 The mindset flip: treat your GPT like a junior hire, not a piece of software. ⚙️ SOPs > prompts: why bolting on a clear, bullet-proof workflow instantly levels up output quality. 📚 Rules vs. knowledge base: the single most common structural mistake - and how to fix it in minutes. 🔄 Iterate like a dev: simple edit-test loops that turn "average" into "80% done for me". 🌟 Show, don't tell: how curated examples teach your bot what "good" looks like. 🛠️ Troubleshooting trio: quick fixes for vague answers, hallucinations, or bland, off-brand copy. 🚀 48-Hour Challenge: a step-by-step sprint to debug your weakest GPT and get it producing win-worthy work. Quick-hit timestamps 00:48 – Why custom GPTs are a core skill inside Marketing Power Circle 03:12 – The five foundations - tl;dr 04:35 – Foundation #1: delegate like you're onboarding a human 05:48 – Foundation #2: document every step (your GPT can't read minds) 08:50 – Foundation #3: split rules from reference material 10:37 – Foundation #4: iterate, test, let teammates break it 11:57 – Foundation #5: define "done" with gold-standard examples 12:42 – Common failures 15:04 – The 48-Hour GPT Fix-It Challenge 15:52 – Ready for real momentum? Join Marketing Power Circle Resources and next steps Marketing Power Circle (MPC) – Susan's AI-implementation mastermind for founder-led teams ready to save 5-10 hours a week with battle-tested workflows → Grab your seat here Want Susan to review your tuned-up GPT? DM her "Challenge Complete" on LinkedIn, after you run the 48-hour sprint - one listener will snag a free MPC Open-House pass. Enjoying the show?  Drop a 5-star rating so more founders can build AI literacy (and fewer "meh" GPTs). AI literacy is non-negotiable for the future - thanks for learning alongside us!

In this week's 'AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs' I tap three founders who turned very human skill-sets - strategy, street-level video, personal style - into AI-fuelled growth engines. What we cover Quiz funnels that work while you sleep Growth strategist Maiko Sakai dissects why most quizzes flop, then shows how she drafts curiosity-packed titles in ChatGPT and lets Interact's new AI builder spin out all the logic branches in minutes. From one hour of phone clips to 40+ assets Dori Adams, founder of Shutterb, explains how she'd turn everyday "content-paparazzi" into content for days. She walks us through the stack that multiplies content raw material into a month of social posts. Confident personal brands Personal-brand stylist Renee Lindo explains why your outfit is the "packaging" of your expertise and how AI is becoming a low-risk playground for trying colour palettes, outfit pairings and mood-board inspo before you buy. I close with three points: Small teams can now run at enterprise speed. Custom GPTs are documented SOPs on autopilot. Your next job is to decide what still needs your brain - and delegate the rest to the bot. Resources mentioned Interact AI Quiz Builder - Maiko's go-to quiz platform ReelTrends - Dori's "what's-popping" audio and format tracker Want deeper implementation? Founders are building these workflows live inside Marketing Power Circle (MPC), my AI-implementation mastermind for founder-led teams. You'll find information here. Rate + review if today's episode sparked an idea - and see you in the next episode!

'AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs' gets a role-reversal this week: host Susan is in the hot-seat, guesting on Bárbara Daroca's Hello, Success! Podcast and the convo was too good not to syndicate here. If you're building a business on your own terms (and wondering how AI fits into that life-by-design plan), save this one for your next walk. Why listen: Susan's origin story - from lifetime marketer, to chocolate-maker, to AI-agency founder The 4am Report pivot, and why podcasting early (and tiny) massively paid off (even inspiring Barbara to launch her own podcast. How generative AI really changes the writing game (hint: commodity content is toast; strategy wins) Grocery-list automation, Instacart GPTs, and other un-sexy life hacks that buy back brain-space Defining success as 60 % white space - and how to protect it while scaling Timestamps:  03:12 - From newborn + nine-to-five to solopreneur experiments (including artisan chocolate)  09:40 - Launching the 4am Report - catching podcasting's "second wave"  15:30 - ChatGPT's light-bulb moment: "This is the next calculator."  19:50 - Will AI replace writers? Only if you let it.  23:45 - Master-prompts: ask the AI to ask you better questions  27:20 - Success = space: designing work and life with 60 % white space Links and resources: Bárbara Daroca's podcast Hello, Success! - follow here → https://open.spotify.com/show/71SThCwTzHSFC1F9N5jBKZ Susan's AI agency: https://www.peacefulaimarketing.com Marketing Power Circle - the implementation mastermind for founder-led teams → https://cpdigitalinc.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1157552 If this episode helped you rethink what success could look like, share it with a fellow founder. Drop a rating inside your podcast app. Your five-seconds of love keeps these conversations flowing. Stay curious, stay human, and keep 60% of your calendar blissfully blank.

In this episode of 'AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs', Susan Diaz chats with Jesse Clarke - founder of JN Clarke Consulting and a strategic advisor to nonprofits and social impact entrepreneurs. With deep roots in both federal government and charitable sectors, Jesse brings a pragmatic, values-first lens to the role AI is beginning to play in nonprofit strategy. What to expect: How AI is quietly transforming grant writing and government funding workflows The ethical red flags nonprofits must consider as they adopt Gen AI Why 30-35% of orgs are already using AI (and more unofficially) How Jesse uses AI in her work - and her personal life The hidden opportunity for small teams to leap ahead before regulation catches up This conversation is packed with real-world use cases, policy-level insight, and warm, witty reminders that critical thinking and values must still lead the way. 🔗 Links & Mentions Follow Jesse Clarke on LinkedIn for her upcoming "AI for Grant Writing" course and strategic tools for working with government. 👋 Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn or Instagram. Stay connected with Susan and other human-first, AI-smart marketers: Join the Marketing Power Circle for monthly deep dives, custom workflows, and peer-led AI innovation. 📌 Don't forget Podcasts live forever - bookmark this one for your next team strategy day. 💥 If this episode resonated, share it with a friend - and don't forget to leave a 5-star rating. It helps more founders find the support they need in an AI-powered world.

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation, host Susan Diaz sits down with Liat Horovitz - results coach, founder of Revival Retreats, and host of The Results Club Podcast - to explore what it really means to grow a business (and a life) in the age of AI without losing your humanity. With a background in big tech and marketing, Liat walked away from corporate life to pursue a more connected, values-led path. In this episode, she shares what it takes to make a bold leap - and how we can embrace AI without sacrificing the human essence that makes us impactful leaders. 💡 In This Episode, we Cover Why Connection Is the Real Currency: AI can do a lot, but it can't replace human connection. Liat shares how connection remains the heartbeat of business success. Bridging Corporate and Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Liat explains how her background in both worlds helps her coach entrepreneurs through high-stakes decisions. Facing AI Fears with Curiosity: From data privacy to job security, we unpack the real concerns people have with AI - and why asking better questions is the antidote to fear. The Power of Thoughtful Adoption: We talk about how Liat uses ChatGPT, how her team is automating the right things, and why AI can be your secret time-saver when approached with intention. Revival 5.0 and the Future of Human-Centered Business: Liat reflects on what it takes to build sustainable communities and experiences - and why the future of growth is relational, not transactional. Key Quotes "AI will never replace connection. It can support you, enhance your process, but it will never replace the feeling of being seen and heard." "Every bit of success I've had has come from relationships. There's no hack for that." "You don't want to make business decisions from a place of scarcity. That's where so many people get stuck." 🎧 Listen Now and hit that 5-star rating button as you play.   👋 Connect with Liat: Website: liathorovitz.com Podcast: The Results Club Instagram @liathorovitz Liat Horovitz on LinkedIn   👋 Connect with Susan Diaz on LinkedIn or Instagram. 💥 If this episode resonated, share it with a friend - and don't forget to leave a 5-star rating. It helps more founders find the support they need in an AI-powered world. Want to deepen your own strategy and stay ahead in the AI landscape? 👉 Join the Marketing Power Circle for monthly deep dives, custom workflows, and peer-led AI innovation.  

In this foundational solo episode, host Susan Diaz breaks down the three core concepts every founder-led team needs to understand to build a meaningful relationship with AI. Whether you're just dipping your toes into AI or looking to sharpen your implementation strategy, this is your no-fluff starting point. What you'll Learn 📌 Why founder-led teams are uniquely positioned to thrive with AI - if they embrace literacy and implementation now. 📌 Why mindset is just as important as toolset. 📌 How to avoid the trap of chasing shiny new tools and instead build a strategy that aligns with your business. Core Concepts Covered 🧩 Machine Learning – How AI spots patterns and evolves (and how you're already using it without realizing). 🧩 Generative AI – The game-changer: from content to music, what it means to generate vs. predict. 🧩 Prompt Engineering – The real skill for entrepreneurs: how to speak to AI in a way that makes it useful and strategic. 🛠 Plus → How to stop thinking of AI as just a tech tool and start treating it like a strategic team member. → A reminder that AI is non-optional - it's your job as a founder to set the tone for how your team uses it. 🎯 Top Quote: "Think less tools and more strategy. Name and solve your fears. Your mindset is the single biggest unlock to using AI as your growth engine." – Susan Diaz 🎧 Listen to the episode now and start building your own AI literacy foundation. 👉 Subscribe and leave a 5⭐️ review  🔗 Resources and Freebies 📘 Download the free guide: Reclaim 3 Hours a Day – The Busy Founder's AI Toolkit 11 practical AI tools to streamline marketing, sales & operations. No tech background required. ➡️ Get it here  peacefulaimarketing.com/busy-founders-ai-toolkit   🎓 Join MPC Susan Diaz's AI Mastermind Want to go from AI curious to AI confident? Join our Marketing Power Circle mastermind. Learn alongside a council of peers, build custom workflows, and unlock compound time savings. Learn More About Marketing Power Circle  🔔 Stay Connected Follow Susan on LinkedIn and Instagram for more behind-the-scenes breakdowns, real-time AI experiments, and resources built for founder-led brands.  

In this insightful episode of 'AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs', host Susan Diaz sits down with Steph Sedgwick, founder of Clarity Web Design, to explore how good web design is evolving in the age of AI, accessibility, and changing SEO dynamics. About Steph Sedgwick: Steph specializes in creating websites that genuinely perform - going far beyond aesthetic appeal to ensure they're accessible, user-friendly, and strategically optimized. She highlights how designing for accessibility is not just inclusive but also excellent business strategy, significantly boosting organic traffic. Key Discussion Points: Good Web Design in 2025: Why visual aesthetics alone won't cut it. Good design means functionality, accessibility, and essentialism - focusing intentionally on content that delivers clear, measurable value. Accessibility as a Business Advantage: Steph shares startling statistics - 97% of websites aren't accessibility-friendly. She details how making your website accessible leads to dramatically improved user experience and organic search results (average 450% increase!) Why Pretty Paperweights Don't Work: Websites need to serve practical purposes, not just look appealing. Learn why functionality and accessibility should be your priority. AI and Web Design: Steph demystifies the hype around AI-generated websites. AI can enhance your workflow but can't replace human strategic insights or understanding of customer needs - yet. SEO and AI: Practical advice on using AI to evaluate your web copy for readability and skimmability, ensuring your content appeals to both humans and search engines. Steph's Pro Tips for Entrepreneurs: Avoid "ego-driven" website designs. Your website should appeal to your target audience, not just reflect your personal preferences. Conduct regular checks on basic website functionality (responsive design, working links). Use AI wisely - especially for tasks like editing and improving clarity, rather than expecting fully autonomous website creation. Time Stamps for Key Highlights in this Episode: 01:27 - The importance of moving from "pretty paperweights" to functional web design 02:32 - How accessibility boosts organic traffic by 450% 06:29 - Defining "good design" in 2025 11:21 - Why responsive design remains critical 27:10 - AI-generated websites: myth vs. reality 35:26 - Practical SEO tips using AI 39:14 - How Steph personally leverages AI for productivity Connect with Steph Sedgwick on LinkedIn. Website: claritywebdesign.ca  Instagram: @claritywebdesign Upcoming Roundtable Event: Steph host regular insightful roundtables. Her next one is "From Invisible to Unmissable: SEO and Accessibility Intersection", diving deeper into how to effectively blend SEO and accessibility for maximum business impact. 🎧 Listen now to elevate your website's functionality and accessibility in an AI-driven world! Subscribe and Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the podcast - it helps us continue to bring AI literacy your way! Follow Susan Diaz on LinkedIn: Susan Diaz Free Resource for Busy Founders: Reclaim 3 Hours a Day with The Busy Founder's AI Toolkit 11 Practical AI Tools to Streamline your Marketing, Sales, and day-to-day Operations - No Tech Background Required. 👉 Grab your free toolkit now