What happens when the people building AI don’t reflect the people it impacts?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Julia Stamm, sociologist, founder of She Shapes AI, and global thought leader working at the intersection of technology, policy, and society.

We get into the real conversation most people are still avoiding. Who is building AI. Who is being left out. And why that gap is not just a diversity issue, but a systems-level risk.

If you’ve ever felt like the AI conversation wasn’t built for you, this episode will hit home.

[00:01:00]

Dr. Stamm introduces her background as a sociologist working across tech, policy, and innovation.

[00:02:00]

The conversation shifts to women in AI and why representation is not optional.

[00:03:00]

Key stat: women are three times more likely to build impact ventures. This changes how AI should be built.

[00:04:00]

Overview of She Shapes AI and the global awards recognizing women building in AI.

[00:06:00]

The larger mission: using AI to solve real societal problems, not just optimize business outputs.

[00:08:00]

Why a thoughtful approach to AI builds trust. And why that trust matters more than speed.

[00:09:00]

The danger of “rose-colored glasses” in AI. Critical thinking is an asset, not a blocker.

[00:10:00]

Trust gaps between leadership and teams. Also between men and women in AI adoption.

[00:11:00]

How to get involved with She Shapes AI and join the movement.

[00:12:00]

Future vision for the awards and ongoing global initiatives.

[00:13:00]

Closing reflections on leadership, responsibility, and shaping the future of AI.

AI is not neutral. It reflects the people building it.

If women are not in the room, the outcomes will not serve them. And that is not a future any of us should accept.

Dr. Stamm makes it clear. This is not about catching up. It is about stepping in and shaping what comes next.

If you are building something right now, you are already part of that shift.

What happens when education stops being boring and starts being driven by curiosity?

In this episode, Michelle sits down with educator, author, and speaker Olivia Odileke to talk about what’s broken in traditional learning and how AI is creating a real opportunity to rebuild it.

Olivia shares how she pivoted her business from consulting to building AI-powered tools that help educators and leaders bring curiosity back into the room. This is not theory. This is what it looks like to rethink how we learn, teach, and lead in real time.

If you’ve ever felt like the current system isn’t working, you’re not wrong. This conversation shows you what to do about it.

[00:01:00] Meet Olivia Odileke

Olivia shares her background as an educator, consultant, and now builder of AI-driven tools designed to reshape learning.

[00:02:00] Why Education Needs to Change

Olivia explains why traditional learning models are no longer working and how AI is exposing the gaps.

[00:05:00] From Consulting to Building with AI

The decision to stop trading time for services and start creating scalable tools that support educators and leaders.

[00:09:00] Curiosity as the Missing Link

Why curiosity has been stripped out of education and how bringing it back changes everything.

[00:14:00] Using AI to Make Learning Engaging Again

How AI can support personalized, curiosity-driven learning instead of reinforcing outdated systems.

[00:20:00] What Leaders Are Getting Wrong About AI

A direct look at where institutions and organizations are hesitating or misusing AI.

[00:26:00] Practical Ways to Start Using AI in Education

Simple, realistic ways educators and entrepreneurs can begin integrating AI today.

[00:32:00] The Bigger Opportunity

How AI is not just a tool, but a chance to rethink how we learn, work, and build going forward.

This episode is a clear reminder that AI is not the point. What we do with it is.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where you fit in this shift, start here. Curiosity is your entry point. Not expertise. Not perfection.

And if the current system doesn’t work for you, you’re allowed to build a better one.

Subscribe, share this episode with someone rethinking their path, and start experimenting with one small change this week.

What if AI is not the most important shift happening right now? What if the real shift is how you understand yourself?

In this episode, Michelle sits down with Charity Youngblood to explore a deeper layer of entrepreneurship. This is not about tools first. It is about identity, energy, and alignment. Charity brings over 15 years of experience helping women protect their time, energy, and peace, and shows how that work translates into building a business that actually fits your life.

This conversation challenges a common assumption. AI is powerful, but without self-awareness, it amplifies the wrong things. If you are building something new, this episode will help you slow down, think clearly, and move with intention.

00:00 – Welcome to Season 6

Michelle frames the podcast around AI literacy, readiness, and action. This season focuses on people who are using AI with intention, not noise.

01:00 – Meet Charity Youngblood

Charity introduces herself and shares her core identity. She prioritizes who a person is over what they do. That lens shapes everything in her work.

02:00 – The Real Work: Protecting Time, Energy, and Peace

Charity explains her 15-year focus. Most people try to optimize output. She focuses on protecting inputs. That shift changes everything.

03:00 – From One Path to Infinite Paths

Michelle reflects on how previous generations followed a narrow definition of success. Today, there are more options, but also more confusion.

04:00 – Why Traditional Career Paths No Longer Fit

Both discuss the tension between what they were told to do and what actually worked. Corporate paths did not align with who they were.

05:00 – Building a Business from Who You Are

Charity explains how her curiosity about people became her business. She did not plan it. She followed what consistently showed up.

06:00 – The Hidden Advantage of Self-Awareness

Most people chase strategy first. Charity argues that understanding yourself is the real leverage point. Strategy without alignment creates burnout.

07:00 – AI and the Expansion of Possibility

Michelle connects this shift to AI. AI lowers barriers, but it also increases the need for clarity. Without it, you scale confusion faster.

Key Takeaways

1. AI is a multiplier. It will amplify clarity or confusion depending on what you bring into it
2. Most people are trained to focus on output. The real leverage is protecting time, energy, and attention
3. Career paths are no longer fixed. That creates opportunity, but also requires stronger self-direction
4. Building a business from identity leads to sustainability. Building from trends leads to exhaustion

If this conversation made you think differently about how you are building, take that seriously. This is the work that lasts.

And if you want to represent that mindset in a simple, visible way, head over to the shop and grab your Empowered by AI sweatshirt:

https://empowered-by-ai.printify.me/

Wear the reminder. Build with intention.