Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1292: Why Curiosity, Not Coding, is Your Greatest Tech Advantage w/ Chandra Brubaker
In this powerhouse episode, Brian sits down with Chandra Brubaker, the founder and CEO of Brainchild Technologies and a true "Olivia Pope of tech fires." Chandra shares her incredible journey from a curious kid taking apart computers and running an Italian ice business to becoming a fractional CTO for fast-growing companies. This isn't your typical tech-heavy talk; Chandra masterfully breaks down how to combine technology, AI, and strategy with the irreplaceable human element of business. For any entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change, this episode is a masterclass in making advanced tech feel actionable, human, and focused on genuine growth.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- How to leverage AI to free up your team from mundane tasks so they can focus on high-value, human-centric work like building customer relationships.
- The critical importance of integrating technology directly into your strategic plan from day one, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
- Why cultivating curiosity is the single most important skill for you and your team to adapt and thrive in the fast-paced world of AI.
- How to take a "bottoms-up" approach to leadership, listening to the people doing the day-to-day work to uncover the real challenges and opportunities in your business.
- The strategy for managing technological adoption within your team by understanding and serving early adopters and late adopters alike.
- How to reframe layoffs and job changes due to AI as opportunities to upskill your team and move them into new, more impactful roles.
📝 About Chandra Brubaker
Chandra Brubaker is the Founder and CEO of Brainchild Technologies, where she acts as a fractional CTO and AI strategist for small and mid-sized businesses. With over 25 years of leadership experience across diverse sectors like philanthropy, media, and financial services, Chandra has a rare and powerful perspective on digital transformation. She grew up with an innate curiosity for technology and a natural entrepreneurial hustle, which she now uses to translate complex tech chaos into clarity for her clients, proving that technology's greatest power is its ability to enhance human connection and drive strategic growth.
🎯 Chandra’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs Embrace a three-fold approach to your entrepreneurial journey: lean into curiosity, find the balance between risk and fear, and always remember to smile.
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “I was dubbed the Olivia Pope of Tech fires because I was always that person fixing things and translating chaos into clarity.” – Chandra Brubaker
- “It's not if you will use and adapt to AI, it's actually when... If there is no curiosity in this speed and transformation of technology, you will get left behind.” – Chandra Brubaker
- “A lot of organizations do not incorporate technology in their strategic plan, and that number one can set you up for failure.” – Chandra Brubaker
🔗 Links & Resources