How do you continually embed AI to create a high-performing business?

Fergus Dyer-Smith is founder and CEO of Wooshi, an AI-enabled content business. He got early access to the original GPT from OpenAI back in late-2020.

In this episode, Fergus shares how he:

• Realised the potential of AI early on and created automated solutions for most business processes
• Built an AI-powered creative ideation product that ended up replacing their Creative Director
• Developed an AI tool that enables their sales team to generate client proposals without input from the creative team
• Advocates for widespread AI adoption to save time, encouraging people to reinvest that time to find new ways to add value
• Expects us to deliver up to 100 times the output compared to a pre-AI world
• Proactively prepares for AI to potentially replace him, ensuring he's ready for whatever’s next

Fergus firmly believes that AI will lead to opportunity and abundance for all of us. While its adoption can feel scary, he feels great excitement about the possibilities.

How do you create a performance culture whilst maintaining warmth and affection?

Ian Finch is founder and CEO of Mando Group, a digital consultancy that makes technology work for everyone. He’s been running the business for 27 years.

In this episode, Ian shares how he:

• Moved away from decision-making led by informal watercooler moments to being highly metric-driven
• Uses the VMOST framework to cascade business goals into team, department and individual goals
• Profiled his superheroes internally and built out values and core competencies from their behaviour
• Realised that his workaholic tendencies and high expectations meant that his team couldn’t thrive
• Uses NLP coaching with his team so they come up with the answers themselves and get into a performance state
• Moved away from having a ‘duty obligation’ by realising that just because he can do something, it doesn't mean he should do it

Ian candidly shares the story of his major burnout and having to step away from running the business for 3 months. He gradually reintegrated and transformed his leadership style to become an enabler to his team.

How do you become truly self-aware as a business leader?

Nikki Gatenby is a Non-Exec Director, Cognitive Behavioural Coach and bestselling author of 2 books. She has 25 years of agency experience including 10 years running the agency, Propellernet.

In this episode, Nikki shares how she:

• Articulates business visions in a novel way so they’re memorable and easy to understand
• Pushes for a culture where everyone can say when things aren’t working so they all develop and grow
• Looks after people's wellbeing and avoids them burning out by regularly asking 4 simple questions
• Brings in backward reflection and retrospectives so teams always learn from their experiences
• Enables personal growth by getting everyone to be learn-it-alls (and not know-it-alls)
• Uses working style analysis so teams understand how best to work with each other

Nikki talks openly about her 25-year career - including how she self-manages to prevent her two previous burnout events from ever happening again.