AI is reshaping work faster than you think—$115 billion of opportunity in Australia alone isn’t just a stat. It’s a signal. In this episode, Georgie Hubbard sits down with Lou Compagnone, Director of Artificial Intelligence at Datacom, to decode how AI’s lightning-speed evolution can turbocharge your career—if you’re ready to adapt. From slashing a 3-year transformation to 3 months to proving you don’t need a tech degree to lead in AI, Lou’s story is a masterclass in rewriting the rules.

Lou’s no typical technologist. With an arts degree in creative writing and cultural studies, she’s journeyed from food and travel writing to editing magazines, then pivoted into tech via user experience and service design. Now, as Datacom’s AI Director across Australia and New Zealand, she’s driving safe, human-centric AI adoption for a leading tech firm—and helping businesses do the same. A futurist with a knack for storytelling, Lou blends empathy, psychology, and a ‘why-first’ mindset to shape AI’s role in our future.

We unpack the stakes: why curiosity trumps credentials, how AI agents are flipping workflows (think 60-cent calls vs. $50K salaries), and what it takes to stay ahead in a world where humans are the new currency. Whether you’re a small business owner, a career switcher, or just want to future-proof your path, this episode is your wake-up call to turn AI into your superpower. 

🟣No Tech Degree? No Problem – Lou’s arts-to-AI rise proves curiosity and human skills can unlock tech leadership.

 🟣 AI’s Game-Changer: 3 Years to 3 Months – How AI agents are slashing transformation timelines—and what it means for your career.

🟣 Humans Are the Edge – Empathy and creativity are your trump cards in an AI world, says Lou. Upskill them now.

🟣 Agency Over Fear – Lou’s co-design approach shows how to embrace AI without losing control. 

00:00 – Welcome & intro to Lou Compagnone, Datacom’s AI Director

01:41 – Lou’s winding road: From creative writing to AI leadership

04:17 – Arts to tech: How a human lens powers Lou’s AI success

06:13 – AI isn’t the answer—unless you ask the right questions

09:02 – How Lou landed the AI Director gig (hint: it wasn’t planned)

11:48 – AI’s wild wins: From complaint triaging to app modernisation

14:42 – AI agents 101: What they are and why they’re here

17:14 – 60-cent AI calls vs. $50K staff: Opportunity or threat?

20:55 – The human Currency: Why empathy still beats tech

24:02 – Leadership in an AI age: Culture over chaos

27:14 – AI as co-pilot: A 4-day workweek dream?

30:02 – Co-designing with AI: Lou’s fear-busting strategy

33:38 – Real estate to accounting: AI’s boring-but-brilliant wins

36:11 – Women in tech: Lou’s take on breaking the diversity gap

40:03 – AI bias alert: Why diverse voices matter now

44:30 – Lou’s advice: Play with AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot)

47:17 – What’s next for Lou: Shaping AI for good

50:18 – Wrap-up: Curiosity is your career superpower 

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🎥 Watch the full episode on Youtube 

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 Thanks to our sponsor - CH Talent Solutions