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Beyond The Prompt - How to use AI in your company

Beyond The Prompt - How to use AI in your company

By: Jeremy Utley & Henrik Werdelin
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Beyond the Prompt dives deep into the world of AI and its expanding impact on business and daily work. Hosted by Jeremy Utley of Stanford's d.school, alongside Henrik Werdelin, an entrepreneur known for starting BarkBox, prehype and other startups, each episode features conversations with innovators and leaders to uncover pragmatic stories of how organizations leverage AI to accelerate success. Learn creative strategies and actionable tactics you can apply right away as AI capabilities advance exponentially.2024 - Jeremy Utley & Henrik Werdelin Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The AI Implementation Audit: What Section’s CEO Learned in 18 Months
    Jun 24 2025

    In this episode, Greg Shove, CEO of Section and founder of Machine and Partners, joins us for a "where are they now" follow-up—and doesn’t hold back. Greg walks through the rise of Pro AI, his new AI-powered coach, and why traditional upskilling is already obsolete.

    We explore the overlooked friction points in AI adoption, from cultural taboos (“it feels like cheating”) to failed enterprise rollouts. Greg challenges the prevailing mental models and warns that the real upheaval is still ahead: business model disruption, not product disruption.

    From royalty-based agents to outcome-based pricing, Greg lays out why service-heavy industries—from law firms to SaaS—are heading for a margin-crushing future. Plus: the moral responsibility of CEOs, the fallacy of lifelong learners, and why working with AI means holding onto your own judgment.

    A sharp, honest look at what it really means to work smarter—not just faster—in the age of AI.

    Key takeaways:

    • AI use is no longer optional—it's the new baseline.
      Proficiency with AI tools isn’t a competitive edge anymore—it’s a basic requirement. Greg argues that “being in the AI class” is now table stakes, and organizations must rapidly close the gap between aspiration and actual adoption.
    • Business model disruption will hit harder than tech disruption.
      Greg makes a compelling case that AI’s biggest impact won’t come from the tools themselves, but from entirely new ways of charging for value—like outcome-based pricing and AI-native service models that undercut human capital costs.
    • Leaders must shift from AI policies to AI manifestos.
      Adoption is stalling because organizations lead with fear. Instead, Greg urges leaders to clearly message that using AI is smart, encouraged, and expected—and to model that behavior themselves.
    • Most people won't be lifelong learners—so give them outputs, not courses.
      With Pro AI, Greg confronts a hard truth: most users don’t want to learn; they want results. AI-powered coaching that delivers outcomes—not just education—is the future of upskilling.

    Linkedin: Greg Shove | LinkedIn
    Website: Greg Shove | AI Strategist & Keynote Speaker for Enterprise Leaders
    Section: Section | AI workforce transformation for real ROI
    Machine & Partners: AI Consulting Services | Machine and Partners

    00:00 Embracing AI: Changing Work Culture
    00:29 Introduction: Meet Greg Shove
    01:10 AI in Daily Work: Tools and Changes
    03:59 Business Model Disruption: The Next Big Shift
    12:45 Training and Adoption Challenges
    19:14 The Future of Work: AI's Impact on Jobs
    32:02 Leadership and AI: Strategies for Success
    35:20 Embracing AI in the Workplace
    36:51 Workflow Redesign with AI
    39:39 The Role of AI Agents
    40:12 Challenges in AI Adoption
    45:14 Pro AI: The AI-Powered Coach
    51:03 Disrupting Business Models with AI
    57:52 Cognitive Offloading and AI
    01:03:02 Final Thoughts and Reflections



    For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

    Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
    Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

    Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.

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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Rebuilding from Inside: How John Waldmann Led an AI Shift Without Breaking His Team
    Jun 10 2025

    In this episode, John Waldmann, CEO of Homebase, shares how the 10-year-old SaaS company blew up its roadmap and rebuilt around AI—from culture to code. He walks us through the shift from 20-page PRDs to lightning-fast demos, reclaiming product leadership, and pushing teams into their “oh shit” moment with AI.

    We explore the leadership reckoning, cultural resistance, and practical playbook behind the transformation—and what it means for the future of SaaS, small businesses, and human-centered AI. If you're leading (or bracing for) an AI shift, this one’s packed with hard-earned lessons and honest insight.

    Key Takeaways:

    • You Can’t Wait for Buy-In—Leadership Means Pushing the Shift — John didn’t wait for excitement or alignment—he took back product leadership and forced the move toward AI. It wasn’t about consensus, it was about momentum. If you’re leading a team through this kind of shift, your job isn’t to ask for permission—it’s to create urgency before it's obvious.
    • Speed Over Specs — Prototypes Are the New Strategy — Homebase moved from 20-page PRDs to live demos built in hours. That switch didn’t just make shipping faster—it changed the way teams learn, think, and listen to customers. The takeaway? Stop planning in the abstract. Ship something real, now.
    • Culture Is the Real AI Roadblock — The hardest part of going AI-first isn’t tech—it’s trust, fear, and inertia. From engineers to support teams, John had to help people reach their “oh shit” moment with AI. That’s when change sticks. Until then, it’s just optional homework. Leaders need to make adoption inevitable.
    • AI Should Bring You Closer to Your Customers, Not Farther — This episode isn’t about chasing shiny tools. It’s about using AI to reduce the noise—so your team can focus more on humans, not less. For John, pragmatic AI is about freeing up time, getting closer to customer problems, and making the org feel smaller, not colder.

    LinkedIn: John Waldmann | LinkedIn
    Homebase: All-in-one Employee Scheduling, Time Clocks, Payroll, & More | Homebase

    00:00 Introduction and Initial Reactions to AI
    00:31 Meet John Waldmann and the Story of Homebase
    00:53 Reinventing Homebase as an AI-First Company
    01:46 From PRDs to Prototypes: Building Faster, Learning Smarter
    05:02 How AI Is Reshaping the Customer Experience
    09:19 Culture Shock: Resistance, Skepticism, and AI Adoption
    14:03 The End of SaaS as We Know It?
    19:34 Leading Through Disruption: Ownership, Urgency, and Org Design
    25:12 Forcing the Shift: Getting Teams to Embrace AI
    27:50 Hiring the Unemployed—and Other Nontraditional Talent Bets
    28:56 Curiosity > Credentials: What to Look for in AI-Ready Teams
    31:57 New Expectations, OKRs, and Holding Teams Accountable
    37:10 Serving Small Businesses Better with AI
    44:52 Final Thoughts: Team Dynamics, Founder Risk, and What’s Next

    📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Rebuilding from Inside: How John Waldmann Led an AI Shift Without Breaking His Team |

    For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

    Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
    Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

    Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.

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    52 mins
  • Why HR not CTOs Will Lead AI Augmentation - with Joshua Wöhle
    May 27 2025

    In this episode, Joshua Wöhle, co-founder and CEO of Mindstone, shares how AI can go beyond automation to truly augment thinking, strategy, and workflows. He walks us through the personal rituals and frameworks he uses to spot high-leverage opportunities, and why iteration—not speed—is the real unlock.

    We explore how non-technical teams can build custom tools without code, why HR is the real AI driver in most orgs, and how the shift from SaaS to tailored internal solutions is reshaping the future of work. Packed with practical insights for anyone ready to move beyond the buzzwords and into real AI-powered productivity.

    Key Takeaways:

    • AI’s Real Value: Augmentation Over Automation — Joshua explains why the biggest win with AI isn’t cutting tasks—it's using AI to amplify your thinking. If you’re only automating, you’re missing out on AI as a creative and strategic partner.
    • Crack the Code on the "Utility Threshold" — AI should save you time or improve outcomes. If it doesn’t, you haven’t hit the utility threshold yet. Joshua shares how to spot when AI becomes truly useful—and how small tweaks can unlock massive gains.
    • Why You Should Build, Not Buy (No Coding Needed) — Forget pricey SaaS tools. Joshua reveals how anyone—yes, even non-tech teams—can quickly build custom AI solutions that fit their workflow, saving time, money, and boosting flexibility.
    • HR: The Unexpected Hero of AI Adoption — It’s not your CTO driving AI success—it’s HR. Joshua makes the case for why empowering people, not just deploying tech, is key to creating AI-augmented teams that thrive in the future of work.

    LinkedIn: Joshua Wöhle | LinkedIn
    Mindstone: Mindstone - Empower Your Team with Practical AI Skills

    00:00 Introduction to Joshua Wöhle and Mindstone
    01:10 Personal Practices for Automation
    02:35 Early Wins in AI Automation
    11:23 Levels of AI Proficiency
    14:59 Utility Threshold in AI
    24:51 AI in Organizational Structures
    33:21 Introduction to the Early Space and AI Integration
    33:45 Joshua's Entrepreneurial Journey and AI Augmentation
    34:37 Challenges and Breakthroughs with AI
    35:32 The Evolution of Building with Generative AI
    37:56 The Future of SaaS and Internal Development
    40:34 Practical Examples of AI Implementation
    50:14 The Importance of Iteration and High-Value Tasks
    54:56 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

    📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Why HR not CTOs Will Lead AI Augmentation - with Joshua Wöhle |

    For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

    Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
    Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

    Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
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