AI Foundations, Frameworks, and Finding your Flow
Let’s talk about the beginning. The foundation. The stuff that makes every big AI win possible.
🎙️ Featured Podcast: AI 101 for Founder-Led Teams
In Episode 235 of ‘AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs’, we go back to the building blocks. Whether you’re brand new to AI or dabbling but feeling overwhelmed, this episode breaks it down in a way that founder-led teams can actually use.
✨ We unpack
What terms like machine learning, generative AI, and prompt engineering really mean.
How to think like a leader when applying AI, not just a task manager.
A simple way to start making AI your second brain.
🚀 Real-World AI Wins From my AI Mastermind
The last few weeks have been full of CEO energy inside the Marketing Power Circle, my AI implementation mastermind.
🌟 We’ve been
Building custom GPTs that run behind-the-scenes tasks that used to eat up 10+ hours a week.
Practicing deep research workflows with AI to help uncover audience pain points, fine-tune brand messaging, and shortcut content production.
Delegating to AI like a pros - with a little help (and many use cases) from a council of peers sharing what's working in real-time.
✨ One member said it best: “This feels like having a strategic thought partner on my team 24/7.”
🎤 Speaking Highlights: From Ballroom Stages to Focus Booths
A few weeks ago, I swapped my home office deep silence for a ballroom stage and a headset mic at DigiMarCon Toronto - and what a ride it was.
My talk? Beyond the Prompt: Using AI for Deep Research That Fuels Real-World Marketing Strategy
💥 Three moments that stuck with me:
1️⃣ The audible “aha”
When I flipped a random Reddit thread into a map of buyer journey gaps, half the room physically leaned in. That’s the sound of marketers realizing AI isn’t just faster - it’s deeper.
2️⃣ The QR code scramble
Picture this: a ballroom full of marketers, scanning to grab my 25 AI research prompts. Then realizing they got last year’s file 😅. Tech fails happen. Human follow-up always wins.
3️⃣ Hallway labs
A CMO asked me how to map emotional triggers for a legacy brand. Five minutes later, we’d built a “fear-of-missing-out” prompt. The best part of events? These pop-up think tanks that happen in the margins.
That same day, I jumped into a virtual AI-in-Sales panel, hosted by Talica Davies, from a noisy corner booth; late (with advance notice) and anxious.
Topic? AI in Sales: Hype, Hope, or Headache?
It was spicy, honest, and full of real-world GTM insights.
We dug into:
✨ How AI genuinely helps teams move faster without losing authenticity
✨ Common pitfalls that break trust or confuse your messaging
✨ How to use AI without sacrificing your brand voice, core values, or conversions
✨ Practical, human-centered AI strategies you can confidently implement right now
✨ What’s next on the horizon for AI in sales - and how to stay ahead without burning out
If you’re a founder, sales leader, or part of a GTM team trying to make sense of the AI hype, this conversation is for you.
🤖 If you want me to bring AI insights to your team or event, hit reply.
I’m now booking for summer and fall trainings on AI strategy, custom GPTs, and building marketing workflows that collapse time.
📚 From the Classroom to Real Life
At York University, I have the honour of teaching future marketers how to wield AI with power and precision.
Teaching in the Deep End with Guest Speakers
There’s a special kind of high that comes from teaching in a way that lands instantly. The lightbulb moments. The nods. The frantic note-taking. The bold questions. April brought all of that and more inside my classroom at York University School of Continuing Studies, where I teach Digital Marketing Strategy.
Let me tell you, we didn’t tiptoe into marketing education—we dove in, headfirst.
👩🏽🏫 Real-World Content, Real-Time Application with Suzanne Huber
Earlier this month, we welcomed the incredible Suzanne Huber, who brought 🔥 insights about using content to build relationships, not just visibility. But theory wasn’t the end goal. Practice was.
We dug into a live session.
We worked in real time.
We created while we learned.
Then I tossed my students into the deep end - where real marketing lives. They brainstormed and batch-created content in small groups, recorded with support from @shutterb.co. We role-played strategy meetings and ideated content with the cameras rolling.
The energy in that room?
🔥 Unmatched.
They walked away with with actual footage, real feedback, and the confidence to use it.
🎯 Masterclass: Quizzes for the Middle of Funnel with Maiko Sakai
Also this month was Maiko Sakai, who absolutely delivered a high-octane masterclass on using quizzes to drive middle-of-funnel strategy.
She broke it down with stories, examples, and hands-on practice. Students learned:
How to design a quiz that actually converts.
Why a strategic quiz builds trust and delivers value (before the pitch).
And how to tie it all into an AI-powered workflow.
She showed UP.
Two breakout sessions.
Hands-on ideation.
All gas, no gatekeeping.
Maiko even gave students permission to connect with her directly on LinkedIn (which they did in droves!). The generosity of speakers like her makes marketing education powerful and personal.
🧠 The Future of Upskilling is AI-Infused
The kind of work I try to do at York University goes beyond teaching marketing into preparing the next generation of professionals to lead in the age of AI.
We’re building foundational skills.
We’re integrating real tools.
We’re creating the conditions for deep, applied learning.
Whether you’re in a classroom,
a boardroom,
or part of a founder-led team - AI upskilling can no longer be an afterthought. We need immersive, AI-integrated learning environments that move fast, deliver impact, and build confidence.
📣 If you’re a leader in education, HR, or entrepreneurship looking to future-proof your people, I’d love to help.
I speak, train, and design custom workshops for:
Founder communities
Small business ecosystems
In-house teams learning to integrate AI
🔗 DM me here or reach out via peacefulaimarketing.com to explore a keynote or training session that gets people into action.
