AI is everywhere—it’s in our phones, it’s driving the stock market, it’s shaping how we work, live, and play. But for many companies, particularly those in the small to mid-sized space, understanding how to truly leverage AI for strategic growth can feel overwhelming. Recently, our CEO, Drew Fernholz, joined Scott Sustacek on the CEO 2 CEO podcast to unpack what AI means for businesses today and how organizations can start integrating AI into their strategy.
Don’t just read about it—hear it firsthand. Listen to the entire conversation to dive deeper into these insights and more.
Did you know AI, in theory, has been around since as early as the 1960s? While the concept of AI is far from new, Drew explained how democratization—making AI accessible to everyone—has changed the game. Tools like ChatGPT put AI in everyone’s hands, but even large enterprises are still figuring out how to make it work for them.
Instead of jumping straight to tech solutions, Drew suggested focusing on the people first. “The simple question we ask some companies is, what does your team like the least about their job?”
For Ambient, a great early use case was transforming how CRM documentation was handled—automating a tedious process to make it simpler and more effective. By focusing on what really matters to our sales team, AI takes the frustration out of mundane, yet essential, tasks and lets them focus on the parts of their work that excite them—like cashing checks and closing deals.
The conversation around AI often starts with the fear of it taking over our jobs, but Drew reframed the narrative: AI isn’t about replacing jobs—it’s about amplifying human capabilities. Highlighting that only 17% of college graduates are fully prepared for the workforce, he challenged the status quo, asking, “Can I find a way to do this, get people more competent without spending a quarter of a million dollars on an undergraduate?”
AI offers a smarter path forward. With tools like adaptive learning, businesses can upskill employees quickly and effectively, preparing them to meet the demands of an ever-changing world without the need for costly, traditional education.
Sales success depends on understanding customer needs, and AI revolutionizes how businesses equip their sales teams with actionable insights. Drew explained, “[AI can] take massive data sets and analyze it, and then pull out that information and give that back to you and say, okay, we know that these 50 companies are going through an AI transformation, and they need help."
It takes a lot of the legwork off the sales team's plate so they can show up better prepared, have more meaningful conversations, and ultimately close deals faster.
This only scratches the surface of what Drew shared on the CEO 2 CEO podcast. Whether you’re just starting to explore AI or looking to refine your strategy, there’s plenty more insight waiting for you.
From real-world examples to actionable advice, Drew breaks down how companies can harness AI—not as a buzzword but as a game-changing tool for growth.
