Another Day, Another Workshop ! Supercharge your workshops with AI ft. Alexandre Eisenchteter | #ADAW Ep. 02
In this episode, I sit down with Alexandre Eisenchteter, former 3M process engineer turned expert facilitator and founder of Stormz, a collaborative brainstorming platform. We dive into the journey of building Stormz, the art and science of facilitation, and how AI is transforming the way we design and run workshops.
From the principles of diverging and converging to the role of facilitators as creative catalysts, Alexandre shares a wealth of insights drawn from years of hands-on experience. We also explore the evolution of Stormz from software to a full-fledged service, and how COVID-19 pushed innovation in remote collaboration tools.
Plus, we get into the real talkโwhat works in brainstorming, what doesnโt (looking at you, dot voting), and how to balance AI with human connection to keep workshops impactful, not robotic.
๐ Chapters:
00:00 โ Introduction to Alexandre Eisenchteter
01:49 โ The Journey from Process Engineer to Facilitator
05:02 โ Understanding Diverge and Converge in Problem Solving
08:10 โ The Role of the Facilitator in Brainstorming
11:48 โ Techniques for Effective Brainstorming
14:47 โ Adapting Techniques for Different Audiences
17:46 โ The Evolution of Stormz: From Idea to Reality
24:11 โ Challenges and Successes in Launching Stormz
29:49 โ The Future of Facilitation and Collaboration Tools
35:48 โ The Evolution of a Facilitation Agency
39:36 โ Transitioning from Workshops to AI Integration
41:50 โ The Impact of COVID-19 on Remote Collaboration
44:02 โ Redesigning Storms: A New Era for SaaS
47:48 โ Innovative Strategies for Idea Generation
50:13 โ Leveraging AI in Workshops: Best Practices
54:28 โ Balancing Technology and Human Interaction
01:00:24 โ The Future of Facilitation: AI Tinkerers Club
01:05:17 โ Managing Expectations with AI in Workshops
01:09:19 โ The Challenge of Time Constraints in Workshops
01:10:23 โ Understanding Methodology and Its Misapplication
01:11:48 โ The Importance of Time in Workshops
01:13:43 โ Strategies for Effective Workshop Management
01:16:31 โ Managing Client Expectations
01:19:08 โ The Soufflรฉ Effect: Workshop Enthusiasm vs. Reality
01:21:46 โ Rethinking Dot Voting in Workshops
01:30:23 โ Integrating AI into Facilitation
01:39:34 โ AI as a Tool in the Facilitatorโs Toolbox
โจ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐โ๐น๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป:
The facilitatorโs role in creative problem-solving
Why โdiverge and convergeโ matters in group work
How to adapt techniques to your audience
Practical workshop tips, including when not to use dot voting
How to integrate AI thoughtfully in facilitation
The challenge of time constraintsโand how to push back
Why managing expectations is key to workshop success
๐ ๏ธ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐:
๐ Stormz โ Collaborative Workshop Tool : https://about.stormz.me/
๐ AI Tinkerers Club : https://join.ai-tinkerers.club/ ai-tinkerers.cards
๐ AI Tinkerers Cards : https://ai-tinkerers.cards
๐ฃ๏ธ ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐:Iโm a workshop facilitator and designer working with NGOs, startups, and global brands to make collaboration more creative and productive. From strategy sprints to big-team events, I bring energy, clarity, and a touch of unexpected magic to every session.
๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ:Subscribe to my newsletter: https://facilitatorscorner.substack.comFollow Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eisenchteter/Follow me on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/49clGjh