Using AI at Work: AI in the Workplace & Generative AI for Business Leaders

• 69: Using AI at Work with Peter Swimm: From SaaS to Conversational Workflows

  Chris Daigle sits down with Peter Swimm, founder of Toilville, to explore how conversational AI and local models are transforming the way we work. With over 25 years in tech, including time at Microsoft designing Copilot products, Peter shares how he built an AI-first workflow that replaced dozens of SaaS tools with personalized, voice-driven automation.He talks about his week-long experiment of running his business entirely through conversational AI, what it taught him about productivity, and why the future of apps may be modular, API-driven, and built on personal ownership of data. From helping small businesses adopt AI responsibly to envisioning a post-SaaS world where you own your own tooling, Peter explains how leaders can think in AI and find competitive advantages without falling into the tech hype.This conversation is packed with insights for founders, executives, and teams curious about what practical, day-to-day AI adoption looks like when built with sustainability, ethics, and real business needs in mind.🔎 Find Out More About Peter Swimm and ToilvillePeter Swimm on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterswimm Toilville - https://www.itstoilville.com/ 🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeClaude by Anthropic - https://claude.ai/ ChatGPT - https://openai.com/chatgpt Notion - https://www.notion.com/ 📌 Chapters00:00 - Introduction to Peter Swimm02:05 - From Microsoft to Building Toilville03:42 - What Conversational AI Really Means09:11 - Why Apps as We Know Them Are Dying12:23 - Running a Business with Voice-Only AI14:45 - Regaining Control of Notifications and Workflow17:13 - Building Custom Tools with Claude23:04 - The Case for Open Sharing and Local Models26:09 - Reimagining Workflows Beyond SaaS34:12 - Running Lean Teams with AI36:21 - Rethinking Work Paradigms and Productivity42:21 - The Future of Apps and Personal Data Control44:27 - How to Connect with Peter SwimmEpisode tags:AI in the workplace, Conversational AI, Voice AI productivity, Small business AI adoption, Local AI models, Replacing SaaS with AI, Real-world AI applications, Building with Claude, Executive AI strategy, Future of apps, AI for small teams, AI workflow automation

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• 68: Using AI at Work Without Being Replaced with Steff Vanhaverbeke

  Chris Daigle sits down with Steff Vanhaverbeke, author of Being Replaced: The Five Human Skills AI Cannot Automate, to explore how professionals and businesses can thrive in an AI-powered world. Steff introduces her Cognitive Agility Framework, highlighting the uniquely human skills, like critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, collaboration, intuition, and innovation, that set us apart from machines.You’ll hear how to avoid the “AI slop” trap by doubling down on authenticity, how to use AI tools without losing human value, and why the businesses that remain most human will stand out in the future. Steff also shares insights from her workshops and training with executives, revealing the levels of AI adoption she sees across organizations today.This episode is a must-listen for business leaders, teams, and professionals who want to use AI at work without losing what makes them irreplaceable.🔎 Find Out More About Steff VanhaverbekeThe House of CoachingBeing Replaced on Amazon🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeChatGPTChiefAIOfficer Resources📌 Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:43 - Meet Steff Vanhaverbeke03:10 - Inside the Book: 'Being Replaced'05:00 - The Five Human Skills AI Can’t Replace08:00 - Emotional Intelligence and the Limits of AI Empathy13:40 - Collaborative Intelligence and the Tomorrowland Example20:22 - Intuition and Human Decision-Making in Business23:00 - Innovation as a Differentiator in an AI World26:00 - Making These Skills Actionable at Work30:00 - How Human-Centric Companies Will Stand Out38:00 - The Super Worker Model44:15 - Misconceptions, Resistance, and What’s Next for AI Adoption Episode tags:AI at work, Human skills vs AI, AI in business, Executive AI adoption, Generative AI in the workplace, Cognitive Agility Framework, Authenticity with AI, Emotional intelligence in AI era, Innovation and intuition with AI, Collaborative intelligence, AI slop problem, Business leadership in AI

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• 67: Using AI and Automation to Scale Lead Generation with Jay Feldman

  Chris Daigle sits down with Jay Feldman, known as LeadGenJay, to explore how AI and automation are reshaping lead generation, sales, and marketing. From his journey from medicine to running multi-million-dollar agencies, Jay reveals how AI-powered cold email, omnichannel outreach, and automated personalization can create scalable client-getting systems that outperform traditional sales teams.You’ll learn how AI-driven outreach tools work behind the scenes, why omnipresent marketing is critical in today’s environment, and how to balance human skills with automation. Jay also shares how companies can build an “AI Sales Director” to supercharge sales team performance, plus strategies for staying ahead in a rapidly changing landscape.Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or marketing leader, this episode shows you how to practically apply AI at work to win more clients and future-proof your business.🔎 Guest & ResourcesAbout Jay Feldman (LeadGenJay):Website: https://leadgenjay.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadgenjayInstagram: https://instagram.com/leadgenAI Tools & Platforms Mentioned:N8nMake.comZapierClayHandwryttenGPT, Claude, and other LLMs🎁 Special Offer from Jay Feldman (LeadGenJay)Jay has created a custom resource page for Chief AI Officer listeners that includes exclusive tools, templates, and strategies for implementing AI-powered lead generation. You can access this at:👉 https://www.leadgenjay.com/caio This page gives listeners a head start on:Proven cold email scripts and templates optimized with AIOmnichannel automation frameworks for scaling outreachAccess to Jay’s favorite AI tool stack (Clay, N8n, Zapier, Handwrytten, GPT/Claude, and more)Step-by-step implementation guides designed to help teams set up an “AI Sales Director” inside their companyJay frames this as a way to shortcut months of trial and error and move directly into measurable results with AI in sales and marketing.📌 Chapters 00:00 - Show Intro and AI Executive Roadshow 01:43 - Meet Jay Feldman aka Lead Gen Jay 03:09 - From Medical School to Marketing Mastery 05:06 - What Makes Cold Email Effective (Not Spam) 07:25 - Automating Omnichannel Lead Generation 10:15 - Personalization with AI at Scale 13:58 - Cold Email vs Traditional Sales Teams 18:11 - Must-Have Tools for AI-Powered Marketing 21:45 - Building an AI Sales Director Agent 28:03 - Managing Team Reactions to AI Adoption 31:45 - Why Businesses Must Act Now on AI 37:00 - How to Stay Updated in a Fast-Moving AI World 44:08 - Getting Started with Lead Gen Jay’s Framework Episode tags:AI lead generation, AI cold email, Omnichannel AI marketing, AI personalization tools, Automating sales outreach, AI sales director, Business automation with AI, LeadGenJay interview, Scaling client acquisition with AI, AI in marketing strategies, AI communities for entrepreneurs, AI tools for B2B growth

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• 66: Using AI Agents at Work: Governance, Security, and Real-World Wins with Oren Michaels

  Chris Daigle sits down with Oren Michaels, founder of Barndoor.ai, to explore the rise of AI agents in the workplace and why governance and security matter just as much as innovation. From defining what makes an AI agent different from ChatGPT, to tackling the risks of the new Model Context Protocol (MCP), Oren explains how executives can unlock real productivity gains while avoiding costly mistakes.You will hear how to treat agents like eager interns with guardrails, where companies are already seeing ROI in finance, marketing, and contracts, and why shadow AI and unsanctioned MCP use could be your biggest risks. Packed with real-world AI applications and executive-level strategy, this episode is a playbook for business leaders ready to adopt agents responsibly.🔎 ResourcesLearn more about Oren Michaels: Barndoor.aiContact Oren directly: [email protected]🛠️ Tools & Frameworks MentionedChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt Model Context Protocol (MCP) for agent-to-system integration📌 Chapters00:00 – Intro to Oren Michaels and Barn Door AI02:20 – From APIs to AI agents: lessons from enterprise adoption06:46 – Defining an AI agent vs. ChatGPT and automation13:25 – Why agents lack conscience and what that means for business18:10 – Governance frameworks for AI agents22:58 – Risks and opportunities of the Model Context Protocol (MCP)27:19 – Who inside companies is owning AI governance33:25 – Enterprise scale vs. mid-market AI adoption38:36 – Real-world wins in finance, marketing, and contracts42:53 – The difference between automation, RPA, and agents46:28 – Shadow AI, unsanctioned MCP, and risk management50:56 – Where to learn more about Barn Door AIEpisode tags:AI in the workplace, AI for business leaders, Generative AI at work, Non-technical AI leadership, Real-world AI applications, Workplace AI adoption, Executive AI training, AI productivity tools, AI transformation stories, Ethical AI business, AI implementation guide, AI strategy for executives

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• 65: Using AI at Work to Transform Learning and Leadership with David Martelli

  Chris Daigle sits down with David Martelli, founder of Guildhall Studios, to reveal how executives, business leaders, and educators can harness AI in the workplace and generative AI at work. From non-technical AI leadership to real-world AI applications, David shares strategies for creating AI-powered learning environments that prepare both students and executives for the future of work.You’ll hear how to use AI productivity tools without falling into the shiny-object trap, how to balance automation with human-to-human skills, and why frameworks like the MAP Cycle are key to moving from pilots to measurable AI adoption. This episode is a practical guide for leaders ready to turn AI transformation stories into real competitive advantage.🔎 Find Out More About David Martelli and Guild Hall Learninghttps://www.linkedin.com/in/david-martelli-236971ahttps://www.guildhalllearning.com/🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode: ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt ChiefAIOfficer Resources ➡ https://chiefaiofficer.com📌 Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to David Martelli  02:00 - From Learning Design to AI Leadership  04:37 - Building Personalized AI Tools for Students and Workplaces  12:59 - Non-Technical Leadership in AI Adoption  19:34 - Avoiding AI Hype and the Shiny Object Syndrome  24:53 - Using the MAP Framework for 90-Day AI Wins  30:59 - Balancing AI Productivity Tools with Human Skills  38:46 - Real-World AI Applications Across Industries  49:56 - Preparing for AI’s Impact on Education and Work  54:12 - How to Connect with David Martelli  Episode tags:AI in the workplace, AI for business leaders, Generative AI at work, Non-technical AI leadership, Real-world AI applications, Workplace AI adoption, Executive AI training, AI productivity tools, AI transformation stories, Ethical AI business, AI implementation guide, AI strategy for executives

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