Show Notes
I know AI can help but where do I start?! The conundrum of many a small business owner. With so many tools, it can be hard to know where to begin, but good old experimentation is still the best way to find the right ones for you. In this episode I am joined by Alasdair Walker, Chartered Financial Planner and Managing Director of Optimum Path Financial Planning. Alasdair shares the surprising tool that has been a life saver for him in creating cash flow reports: Copilot! He also shares the problems he has faced using AI and how note takers like Fireflies make his meetings more efficient and enhance the time he spends with clients. There is a lot to learn here from Alasdair for any small business owner looking to find the right tools to start on your AI journey!
"Copilot made life so much easier!”- Alasdair
You’ll hear about:
How AI significantly enhanced Alasdair’s business efficiency. Transcription tools like Fireflies save time in client meetings. Experimentation is key to finding the right AI tools. AI can assess client vulnerabilities through data analysis. Why automation allows for more focus on client interactions. A Copilot success story in automating data management tasks effectively. AI is not about replacing humans but enhancing their work.
Connect With Alasdair:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialwalker/ Optimum Path Financial Planning - https://optimumpath.co.uk/
Alasdair’s Linktree - https://linktr.ee/financialwalker
Connect With Me:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/accessible-ai/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heather_aifnt/?hl=en AI for Non-Techies - https://nontechies.ai/home YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@aifornontechies
Join my Academy - https://nontechies.ai/ai-academy
Produced by Between Tracks Media Productions - https://www.betweentracks.com/
More from How I Use AI
Have you ever thought AI just wasn't for you? Vaida Stone said the same thing. A solo entrepreneur who turned 40 and decided to lean into change rather than away from it, she went from fearing a wrong button click to building her own suite of custom ChatGPT assistants. In this episode, she shares how she automated her entire lead magnet system, got a personalised makeup lesson from a photo upload, and even used AI to spot a heart condition her doctors had missed. Vaida is a financial clarity coach, holistic coach, and AI trainer who works with women navigating midlife, burnout, and big life changes. Her mantra is simple: curiosity defeats fear. If you're dabbling with AI but not sure where to go next, this conversation will give you the nudge you need.
Could AI actually transform an ancient art form? That's exactly what this episode explores. Neha Roygupta is a Bharatanatyam dancer with 23 years of training and a HR technologist on a mission to bring AI into the world of Indian classical dance. She shares how she's using tools like Google MixBoard, Suno, NotebookLM and Perplexity to reimagine everything from costume design and lighting to music creation and movement analysis. What I love about Neha's approach is how grounded it is. She's not replacing the art, she's expanding it. And she's actively bringing her entire dance community along for the journey. You'll leave this one seeing AI creativity through a completely fresh lens. "AI is your co-creator, not your replacement."- Neha Roygupta You’ll hear about:
Have you ever started something just for fun and ended up completely changing the direction of your life? That is exactly what happened to my guest Erika Gianni. What began as a creative branding workshop to build an Instagram page for her cat led to building a Notion life management dashboard with Claude, studying AI at executive level through MIT, and becoming an AI trainer herself through our AI for Non-Techies programme. In this episode, we talk about how she got started, how she uses AI tools day to day, and what she has learnt about operations, visibility, and human-centred AI adoption along the way. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by templates, unsure where to start, or wondered how to use AI in a way that fits your life, this one is for you. Erika is warm, practical, and brilliantly honest about what works and what does not. "Creation is so important in somebody's AI journey” — Erika Gianni You’ll hear about:
Ever send dozens of job applications and hear nothing back? AI is screening your application before any human sees it. But you can use AI to get past those filters. I'm chatting with Dr. Kara Elam, a health policy expert who's been using ChatGPT to navigate a tough job market. She shares how she trains AI to sound like her, writes cold emails that get executive responses, and tackles the blank page of death problem we all face. This is honest, practical advice for job hunting, which can be so useful when you're juggling applications, family, and save time wherever you can. "The blank page is scary. AI gives you a starting place." — Dr. Kara Elam You’ll hear about:
My guest today made me stop and think about AI in a completely different way. We talk about what it really means to live in an intergenerational world, why people over 50 are so often underestimated with technology, and how AI can act as a powerful leveller rather than another barrier. Simon Long describes himself as an “age astronaut” and once you hear him explain why, it makes perfect sense. We explore deeply human topics, from dementia and Alzheimer’s to loneliness, social isolation and mental health. We look at how voice-based AI, natural language tools and simple interfaces could help people stay connected to family, memories, music and community, without pretending that AI should ever replace real human connection. Simon also shares the AI tools he uses day to day, how he thinks about boundaries with AI, and why curiosity matters more than age. This is a hopeful, thoughtful conversation about where AI fits into real lives, not just work. Could AI help us feel more connected, rather than less? “AI should help people feel connected, not replaced.” – Simon Long You’ll hear about: