The AI CEO with Seema Alexander

The AI CEO Podcast is a show for CEOs, founders, and business leaders navigating the biggest technology shift of our lifetime. Each episode explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping leadership, business strategy, marketing, and growth—translating complex AI concepts into practical insights leaders can use to make smarter decisions and stay competitive. AI is no longer optional—it's redefining how companies operate, compete, and lead. In this episode of The AI CEO Podcast, Talisha Padgett breaks down why successful AI adoption starts with people, process, and data, how leaders should view AI as a strategic partner, and what CEOs must do now to build resilient, human-centered organizations in an AI-driven world. In this episode, you'll learn: -Why "people, process, and technology" must evolve together -How CEOs should think about AI strategy—not just tools -Real-world marketing and AI use cases that save time and money -Why data quality is the real competitive moat -How to keep humans in the loop while scaling with AI Timestamps: 00:00 – How CEOs should think about AI and change 01:15 – Podcast and guest introduction (Talisha Padgett, Microsoft) 03:00 – People, process, and technology in AI transformation 06:30 – Human Loop Consulting and change management 09:00 – Fear, jobs, and keeping humans in the loop 12:00 – Learning AI as a non-technical leader 18:00 – Why AI pilots fail and how to succeed 25:00 – Microsoft Copilot and practical AI adoption 33:00 – Personalization at scale and real-world examples 39:00 – AI's impact on marketing roles 46:00 – Privacy, regulation, and responsible AI 57:00 – Deepfakes, security, and data protection 59:00 – Unlocking value from existing business data 01:02:00 – AI strategy for startup CEOs 01:06:00 – Early-stage growth and positioning 01:10:00 – AI maturity, leadership responsibility, optimism 01:15:00 – Final reflections on AI, humans, and the future 01:19:00 – Closing thoughts and wrap-up About Talisha Padgett Talisha Padgett is the General Manager of Marketing Technology & AI at Microsoft and the Founder of Human Loop Consulting, where she operates at the intersection of marketing transformation, artificial intelligence, and human-centered change management. With over two decades of experience leading digital and marketing transformation across global brands—including Microsoft, Under Armour, Marriott International, and Comcast—Talisha brings a rare blend of enterprise-scale execution and strategic clarity. Her work focuses on helping organizations modernize marketing operations by aligning people, process, data, and technology to real business outcomes. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talishapadgett/ ⸻ About Seema Alexander Seema Alexander is the Founder of Disruptive AI, Co-Chair of DC Startup & Tech Week, and host of The AI CEO Podcast. She guides CEOs, founders, and business leaders through AI adoption, organizational transformation, and the future of business. She is also an international keynote speaker on AI and business for global audiences. Her upcoming AI CEO School and AI Business Conference will provide strategic education, tools, and frameworks for non-technical CEOs and founders navigating the AI era. IG: https://www.instagram.com/seemaalexander/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seemaalexander/ Disruptive AI: www.getdisruptive.ai Connect with The AI CEO Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaiceopodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-ceo-podcast/ If This Conversation Shifted Your Thinking… ➡️ LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE to The AI CEO Podcast. Your support helps us reach more leaders ready to navigate AI with clarity, confidence, and responsibility. #AI #Leadership #ResponsibleAI #FutureOfWork #AIinBusiness #DataPrivacy #MarketingAI #SEO #DigitalTransformation #Podcast #Shorts

Are We Prepared for the Seismic Shift Ahead? Inside the Next 3 Years of AI, Humanity & Work — with Kristina Francis The next three years will redefine more about humanity, work, identity, and opportunity than the last twenty. In this powerful episode of The AI CEO Podcast with Seema Alexander, I sit down with Kristina Francis — CEO of Kin & Commons (formerly Executive Director of JFFLabs, where she launched the Center for AI and the Future of Work) — to unpack how AI, community, education, robotics, and economic mobility are converging all at once. ⸻ What You'll Learn in This Episode This episode is not about fear — it's about clarity. And clarity is the first step to preparing your teams, your business, and your family for what's coming. The Next 3 Years of AI Will Redefine Humanity, Work & Technology | The AI CEO Podcast •⁠ ⁠Why the next 3 years will determine the future of entire communities and industries AI, robotics, blockchain, quantum, and voice tech are converging faster than institutions can keep up. •⁠ ⁠Degrees are collapsing as hiring predictors Skills, curiosity, and real-time learning are becoming the new currency. •⁠ ⁠Why identity is shifting — and why that scares people When people lose or change jobs, they lose a sense of self. AI is accelerating that shift. •⁠ ⁠Why families need to be upskilled together A single person learning AI isn't enough — entire households need literacy to thrive. •⁠ ⁠The rise of AI agents, humanoids & hybrid teams What it will mean to work with AI teammates, workflows, and robotics. •⁠ ⁠Systems that must be rebuilt NOW Education, workforce, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility all require reinvention. ⸻ Episode Timestamps 0:00 — Welcome & How We Met 3:12 — Why "Everything Is at Stake" in the Next 3 Years 6:45 — The Decline of Degrees as Hiring Predictors 10:28 — Workforce Shifts & Disappearing "Safe" Jobs 14:11 — The Rise of Real-Time Learning 18:42 — Why Human Values Must Be Rewritten 22:35 — AI + Quantum + Blockchain + Robotics 27:50 — How Families Should Prepare 31:20 — Identity, Anxiety & Psychological Impact 34:02 — Rebuilding Systems for the Next Gen 38:17 — Why Institutions Can't Move Fast Enough 42:10 — What Leaders Must Do Right Now 45:56 — Rapid-Fire: Truth or Trap 49:09 — Final Thoughts ⸻ About Kristina Francis Kristina Francis is the CEO of Kin & Commons, a strategy and innovation group building multi-generational, future-ready ecosystems across the U.S. She previously served as the Executive Director of JFFLabs, where she oversaw the Center for AI and the Future of Work — shaping national strategy on AI, workforce transformation, and equitable innovation. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinaharrisonfrancis/ ⸻ About Seema Alexander Seema Alexander is the Founder of Disruptive AI, Co-Chair of DC Startup & Tech Week, and host of The AI CEO Podcast. She guides CEOs, founders, and business leaders through AI adoption, organizational transformation, and the future of business. She is also an international keynote speaker on AI and business for global audiences. Her upcoming AI CEO School and AI Business Conference will provide strategic education, tools, and frameworks for non-technical CEOs and founders navigating the AI era. IG: https://www.instagram.com/seemaalexander/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seemaalexander/ Disruptive AI: www.getdisruptive.ai ⸻ Connect with The AI CEO Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaiceopodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-ceo-podcast/ ⸻ If This Conversation Shifted Your Thinking… ➡️ LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE to The AI CEO Podcast. Your support helps us reach more leaders ready to navigate AI with clarity, confidence, and responsibility. #AIFuture #FutureOfWork #AILeadership #AIWorkforceTransformation #ArtificialIntelligence #AIJobs #AIInnovation #AIAndSociety #TechLeadership #AIfuture2025 #AIAndHumanity #AIConvergence #AIRevolution #DigitalTransformation #AIPodcast

In this engaging discussion, Stephanie Shabazz, an AI adoption leader and 2x TEDx speaker, dives into the evolving landscape of workforce planning amidst AI advancements. She highlights the importance of empathetic communication and how leaders can transition from fear to curiosity regarding AI. Stephanie breaks down leadership adoption stages and stresses the need for reskilling to keep pace with AI's impact. She also emphasizes practical approaches for integrating AI with human roles and the significance of transparent dialogues in fostering a thriving workplace.

Sean Makulowich, CEO of IdeaFire and an AI marketing innovator, discusses the current state of AI, likening it to the dial-up internet era. He emphasizes the need for professionals to excel in their roles to avoid being replaced by AI-driven automation. Sean elaborates on building an AI-native marketing function, improving hyperpersonalization, and leveraging Transformer technology for more accurate customer engagement. He also advocates for direct customer feedback systems and cautions about the integration of LLMs with sensitive data.

Brad Carson, a former U.S. Congressman and tech policy expert, shares his insights on AI's transformative impact on business and society. He discusses the pivotal moment when ChatGPT-3 shifted public perception of AI. Carson emphasizes America's precarious lead in AI and outlines a crucial action plan for CEOs, focusing on innovation, education, and risk management. He warns against merely tacking AI onto existing systems and promotes a proactive, strategic approach for companies to thrive in an AI-driven future.

Noelle Russell, Founder and CEO of the AI Leadership Institute and an early builder on Alexa, shares her remarkable journey from a dismissed GenAI idea to generating $300M in just 8 months. She discusses why successful AI adoption requires treating it as a power shift rather than a tool problem. Noelle reveals how automating contact centers can transform them into profit centers and stresses the importance of designing AI solutions around human workflows. Plus, she explores the future of AI in healthcare and retail, highlighting the need for responsible AI governance.

Yuvika Sharma, a seasoned AI consultant with 23 years of experience, and Padmini Soni, head of Responsible AI growth at the AI Leadership Institute, discuss the crucial integration of cultural context in AI to foster trust. They explore barriers to AI adoption, such as data silos and the importance of early cross-functional teamwork. Highlighting innovative applications, they mention AI's role in mental health, language preservation, and more. Both emphasize upskilling the workforce and promoting responsible, inclusive AI development for a better future.

What does Gen Z really think about AI in school, cheating with ChatGPT, and the future of jobs? Their answers will shock you. 😳 In this special MINI edition of The AI CEO Podcast, host Seema Alexander sits down with Aria Ponda (11th grader, Winston Churchill HS) and Sareena Alexander (11th grader, Whitman HS) for an unfiltered, family edition conversation on how teens view AI. This episode gauged their candid insights on AI in education and dives into how students view AI tools—as both a potential form of cheating and a helpful research aid—along with the challenges teachers face in adapting to AI's presence in the classroom. Aria shares insights from her own experience with AI in school projects and highlights the need for integrating AI responsibly and thoughtfully into education, including the concept of custom AI tools with safeguards. This episode offers a valuable glimpse into the evolving relationship between youth and AI technology, aiming to inform educators, business leaders, and anyone curious about the future of learning. 👉Key takeaways Why Gen Z is skeptical of AI beyond ChatGPT The debate: Is using AI in homework cheating or efficiency? What schools and teachers must do to guide safe AI use Could AI tutors replace human ones? Fears about AI taking jobs vs. hopes for AI in medicine & social good High school teachers are generally resistant to or not yet embracing AI integration in classrooms. Custom AI tools with guardrails can help students use AI responsibly without cheating. There is a knowledge gap among students about how to effectively and ethically use AI technology. 👉 In this episode (01:08) High School Students' Perspective on AI (01:59) AI and Cheating in Education (02:23) Teachers' Attitudes Towards AI (03:43) Using AI as a Learning Tool (07:28) Concerns About AI in the Future (15:02) The Role of AI in Future Jobs (16:15) Excitement and Skepticism About AI (17:35) Conclusion and Final Thoughts 🌎Reach out to Seema Ponda Alexander Disruptive AI https://www.disruptive.ceo/ Follow Seema on LinkedIn for daily insights: linkedin.com/in/seemaalexander IG: @seemaalexander @theaiceopodcast 👉 If you're a parent, educator, startup founder, edtech innovator, or business leader, this is a must-watch to understand how the next generation is really thinking about AI. 📌 Subscribe for more real conversations on AI, leadership, and the future of business: @AICEOPodcast 🎧 Loved this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more leaders discover conversations like this. Production Studio: Legacy Sessions #GenZ #AICEOPodcast #AIinEducation #ChatGPT #FutureOfWork #EdTech #AIForBusiness #edtech #aiandteens #teenagers

From "Black Box" to Business Breakthroughs: Sid Banerjee on AI, Customer Experience & The Future of Agency DESCRIPTION: What happens when a billion-dollar founder who was building "AI" before it was even a buzzword sits down to talk about where it's all headed? In this episode of The AI CEO Podcast, host Seema Alexander welcomes Sid Banerjee—founder of Clarabridge (acquired for $1B), former Chief Strategy Officer at Medallia, and Board Chair of Prolific—to unpack the future of customer experience, the rise of agentic AI, and the leadership mindset shifts every CEO will need to make. Sid reveals why AI today still operates like a "black box" and why transparency, data stitching, and multi-tech collaboration will define the next era. He shares the aha moment that changed how he saw AgTech, and why giving AI "true agency" could fundamentally reshape entire industries. But this isn't just about technology—it's about responsibility. Sid warns of AI's dual-edged nature: its ability to increase profitability and efficiency, but also its potential to erode human connection or enable addictive, harmful experiences. From real-world Clarabridge case studies to the coming bot-to-bot economy, and from personalized hospitality experiences to why governance can't wait 10 years, this conversation is a masterclass in building with foresight, precision, and impact. You'll learn: Why AI customer experiences still "suck" and how to fix them The difference between tasks, to-dos, and true agentic action How to move from lagging metrics to leading indicators in CX The 4-part ROI framework for AI adoption When AI adoption will actually cross the chasm—and where first TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:47 Meet Sid Banerjee 04:39 Why customer experience is still broken 10:45 The role of agentic AI 13:44 Clarabridge: Building before the AI hype 23:26 AI's evolution in business 35:08 Precision + personalization in decision-making 38:25 The future of hospitality and personalization 41:23 Mattel, OpenAI & the ethics of AI in toys 45:14 Why AI governance can't wait 50:39 Data privacy & security 55:03 The ROI framework for AI projects 58:44 Future predictions & rapid fire Connect with Sid: LinkedIn: Sid Banerjee Medallia: Sid's Author Page Connect with Seema: Virgent AI: virgent.ai Disruptive CEO Advisory: disruptive.ceo LinkedIn: Seema Alexander Instagram: @seemaalexander 🎧 Loved this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more leaders discover conversations like this. Production Studio: Legacy Sessions

Is this the end of work as we know it? Or the beginning of a new kind of freedom? In this provocative episode of The AI CEO Podcast, host Seema Alexander sits down with Catherine McMillan, founding director of the AI Collective — a global grassroots movement redefining the role of humans in the age of AI. What started in a living room is now a 70,000+ member movement across 25 cities and 7 countries, united by one mission: to center humanity in the AI revolution. Together, Seema and Catherine unpack: The moment Catherine knew ChatGPT was the "end of work as we know it" Why today's students feel betrayed by traditional career paths How AI is erasing critical thinking — and what we must protect Why "taste, agency, and relationships" will define the next generation of leaders The real reason we need a new education system NOW This episode will challenge how you think about the future of work, technology, and your own role in shaping it. 👇 Whether you're a founder, policymaker, or just AI-curious — don't miss this one. 🧠 What You'll Learn: How AI is quietly collapsing traditional white-collar paths Why "digital natives" see this as the next civil rights movement The 3 human traits that AI can't replace — and how to sharpen them How grassroots AI communities like AI Collective are shaping global policy and innovation ⏱️ Episode Timestamps: (00:00) Intro & setup (01:54) Who is Catherine McMillan? (04:30) Origin of the AI Collective (70K members globally) (10:55) The moment ChatGPT changed everything (21:56) Why taste, agency, and human connection matter more than ever (28:00) Education, creativity, and what we're doing wrong (43:15) Why this isn't just tech — it's a humanity mission 📌 LINKS & RESOURCES: Catherine McMillan 🌐 AI Collective 🔗 LinkedIn Seema AlexanderAI is Rewriting Business. I Work with CEOs Who Refuse to Be Disrupted—Ready to Lead in the AI Era. I speak, educate and build AI solutions to accelerate AI Adoption in businesses and industry safely and responsibily. 🌐 Host, The AI CEO Podcast 📈 Disruptive CEO Advisory 📲 LinkedIn 📸 Instagram 🎧 Like what you hear? 📩 Subscribe for future episodes 🌟 Leave a rating + review on Apple Podcasts 📢 Share this with a founder or business leader who needs to hear it