🤖 AI, Entrepreneurship & A New Way of Working
Today we had the opportunity to visit Millikin University, where we joined Central Illinois CEO and MDEA for a special breakfast and an incredibly relevant conversation with Angie Carl of Fort Wayne, Indiana, about AI and the future of work.
One of the biggest messages of the morning: AI isn’t just for big cities or big companies. There has never been a better time in history to be an entrepreneur.
Angie challenged us to think about AI in three buckets: FASTER. BETTER. BIGGER.
⚡ FASTER — What work can we accomplish in a fraction of the time? Where are we getting stuck doing repetitive tasks, formatting, shuffling spreadsheets, or staring at a blank page?
💡 BETTER — How can AI be a second set of eyes, help us prepare, make more informed decisions, close knowledge gaps, and free us up to be more present for the work and people that matter?
🚀 BIGGER — What can we do today that would have been impossible just four years ago? What problems can we now solve? What solutions can we build? How ambitious can we be?
AI doesn’t replace critical thinking — it requires it. We are still responsible for the final product. AI can make mistakes, which means we have to proof, question, verify, and ultimately own the output.
We also loved Angie’s advice to stay curious and PLAY. Learn one AI model deeply before jumping from tool to tool. Document your workflows. Look for places where work gets stuck. Experiment with AI in your personal life. Give yourself a little “corporate recess” to see what’s possible.
AI can be a sounding board, creative director, researcher, second set of eyes, and personal assistant — but the technology isn’t the hardest part. The real opportunity is figuring out how we use it to create more value and more time for the things humans do best.
One of the things I love most about CEO is the opportunity it gives students to be in the room with local executives, ask questions, and stay curious. It’s really neat to see our students bring such freshness, energy, and excitement to these conversations. Their perspectives and enthusiasm add something special to the room, and it’s inspiring to watch them engage with leaders and explore what might be possible for their own futures.
Such an inspiring, relevant, and thought-provoking morning for our CEO students. A huge thank you to Angie, Millikin University, and MDEA for giving our students the opportunity to be part of this conversation! 🧡
Be curious. Keep learning. And keep asking: What is possible now that wasn’t possible before?
