How I Use AI

Ever stared at an error message with no clue how to fix it? Me too… In this episode, I talk to finance manager and ACCA accountant Sirajuddin Mohammed about the moment Copilot helped him fix a failed BACS payment and turn panic into pure relief. Siraj shares how he uses Copilot safely at work, from debugging Excel formulas to building PowerPoint skeletons. He also talks about how Copilot has helped him become more confident with his email writing in English, as it is his second language. How amazing is that?! We dig into why those “tiny” 5–10 minute time savers add up to meaningful hours back each week, and why AI is less a robot overlord and more like a friendly teammate sitting beside you. We also talk about the reality of AI adoption in finance teams, why so many accountants are still stuck in manual processes, and how small experiments with tools like Copilot, Power Automate and Power Apps can quietly transform the way finance works. If you’ve ever thought “AI isn’t for me” or “I don’t have time to learn this,” this conversation might just change your mind. If you’re in finance, buried in manual tasks or nervous about trying AI at work, this one’s for you. “Time is money, so use AI to save both.” – Sirajuddin Mohammed You’ll hear about:   Using Copilot for emails • Fixing Excel formula errors • Creating PowerPoint skeletons • The BACS payment file moment • Why finance teams avoid AI • Encouraging small workflow changes • Tools Siraj wants to learn next   Connect With Sirajuddin Mohammed:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirajuddinmohammed/   Connect With Me:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/accessible-ai/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heather_aifnt/?hl=en AI for Non-Techies - https://nontechies.ai/home YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aifornontechies   Join my Academy - https://nontechies.ai/ai-academy

Ever feel like AI sounds great in theory… but hard to actually use day to day?   That’s exactly what my guest, Georgia Palmer, figured out how to do  in two completely different worlds. She’s a medical editor by day and a yoga teacher by night, and she’s found smart, practical ways to make AI save her time in both, without losing her voice or her values.   Georgia shares how she uses tools like ChatGPT and Gemini for writing, research, and creativity,  plus how she built her own custom GPTs “Sally the Substantiator” and “Polly the Prompt Partner” to make her work faster and more accurate.   We talk about the good stuff, the messy bits, and the reality of using AI in industries where accuracy and trust matter.   If you’ve been wondering how to bring AI into your workflow without it taking over, this episode will give you a ton of ideas to start testing right away.   “Good prompts make AI feel genuinely collaborative.” - Georgia   You’ll hear about:   Real-life examples of AI in creative and regulated work Building custom GPTs like Sally and Polly How to write prompts that actually work Using deep research tools safely Avoiding the “AI voice” trap Making AI images that look like what you imagined   Connect With Georgia Palmer:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgia-palmer57/   Connect With Me:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/accessible-ai/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heather_aifnt/?hl=en AI for Non-Techies - https://nontechies.ai/home YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aifornontechies   Join my Academy - https://nontechies.ai/ai-academy

Is this your business life? Mountains of post-it notes are cluttering your desk, flip charts galore, your phone full of notes you’ve jotted down, in short – it’s chaos. For Ingrid Brown, my guest in this episode, this was her daily experience. But it didn’t stay that way… Ingrid is a seasoned brand and culture adviser with experience in B2B consultancy across the UK and Europe. She opens up about the initial fear many she and professionals face when approaching AI, and how gaining just a little knowledge can unlock game-changing results — especially for small businesses. You’ll hear how she uses tools like Otter.ai, Perplexity, and Custom GPTs to turn qualitative research into meaningful brand narratives, freeing her to focus on the strategic work she loves. Whether you're a consultant, strategist, or small business owner, this episode is packed with practical examples of AI supporting growth, improving productivity, and enhancing creativity — without losing the human touch. Ready to go from curious to confident with AI? Hit play and learn how to make these tools work for you.   “I was drowning in insights” - Ingrid   You’ll hear about: How AI can be an enabling tool rather than a fear-inducing technology. The ways AI can help distil large amounts of data, and save time for strategic tasks. The reasons AI should augment human knowledge, not replace it. It being essential to critically analyse AI-generated content and data. AI tool serving as virtual assistants to enhance workflow and efficiency. Authenticity in communication remaining crucial despite AI's capabilities.   Connect With Ingrid:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brown-ingrid/   Bright Space - https://www.brightspacecomms.co.uk/ Bright Space on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brightspacecommsuk/ Bright Space on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/bright-space-communications/   Connect With Me:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/accessible-ai/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heather_aifnt/?hl=en AI for Non-Techies - https://nontechies.ai/home YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aifornontechies   Join my Academy - https://nontechies.ai/ai-academy

I know AI can help but where do I start?! The conundrum of many a small business owner. With so many tools, it can be hard to know where to begin, but good old experimentation is still the best way to find the right ones for you. In this episode I am joined by Alasdair Walker, Chartered Financial Planner and Managing Director of Optimum Path Financial Planning. Alasdair shares the surprising tool that has been a life saver for him in creating cash flow reports: Copilot! He also shares the problems he has faced using AI and how note takers like Fireflies make his meetings more efficient and enhance the time he spends with clients. There is a lot to learn here from Alasdair for any small business owner looking to find the right tools to start on your AI journey!   "Copilot made life so much easier!”- Alasdair   You’ll hear about:   How AI significantly enhanced Alasdair’s business efficiency. Transcription tools like Fireflies save time in client meetings. Experimentation is key to finding the right AI tools. AI can assess client vulnerabilities through data analysis. Why automation allows for more focus on client interactions. A Copilot success story in automating data management tasks effectively. AI is not about replacing humans but enhancing their work.   Connect With Alasdair:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialwalker/ Optimum Path Financial Planning - https://optimumpath.co.uk/   Alasdair’s Linktree - https://linktr.ee/financialwalker   Connect With Me:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/accessible-ai/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heather_aifnt/?hl=en AI for Non-Techies - https://nontechies.ai/home YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aifornontechies   Join my Academy - https://nontechies.ai/ai-academy   Produced by Between Tracks Media Productions - https://www.betweentracks.com/ 

AI is like having a super smart intern, working for you 24/7 This is how my guest in this episode, Neha Kirpalani, describes the impact AI has had on her brand consultancy business. Chat GPT and Claude are Neha’s go to AI tools that helped her productivity skyrocket. From creating pitch decks in 2 days, to supporting her with everyday life decisions, Neha couldn’t run her business without it now. Neha also shares the big lessons she has learned from using AI, such as start small and always check the results you get. Whether you're overwhelmed by AI hype or just starting to explore the tools, Neha offers a grounded, expert take on how to get value without getting lost.   Tune in to hear how Neha uses AI as her behind-the-scenes business partner — and how you can too.   "AI is like a secret co-founder”- Neha   You’ll hear about:   The essential tools in Neha’s AI stack (and why ChatGPT and Claude top her list) How she used AI to turn around a pitch deck in two days Why you should never copy-paste blindly What business owners get wrong about replacing marketers with machines Why AI is best seen as a collaborator — not a crutch   Connect With Neha:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nehakirpalani/ Neha’s newsletter - https://nehakirpalani.kit.com/marketing-macarons-2 Neha’s Linktree - https://linktr.ee/nehakirpalani Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nehakirpalani YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@NehaKirpalani   Find out more about Neha’s resources on timeboxing and time management: Neha’s Harvard Business Review piece: https://hbr.org/2021/09/whats-the-1-productivity-tool-for-me-its-timeboxing Neha’s New York Times feature: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-ai-scheduling-apps/   Connect With Me:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/accessible-ai/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heather_aifnt/?hl=en AI for Non-Techies - https://nontechies.ai/home YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aifornontechies   Join my Academy - https://nontechies.ai/ai-academy   Produced by Between Tracks Media Productions - https://www.betweentracks.com/