In this episode of Empowered by AI, host Michelle Muncy-Silva welcomes business strategist and coach Rachel Zipsie for a powerful conversation about using generative AI, specifically Manus, to spark creativity, streamline business growth, and build authentic strategy. Rachel shares how she transitioned from corporate to entrepreneurship, how AI helped her fast-track product development, land clients jobs, publish her first book (Moments of Grace), and build efficient systems for both her own brands and the businesses she supports. Whether you're new to AI or exploring ways to scale your creativity and impact, this episode is full of actionable insights for women-led businesses.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Welcome + Rachel’s first-ever podcast appearance!
• 01:15 – Rachel’s entrepreneurial journey: From corporate exit to multisector impact
• 03:00 – Integrating AI in consulting, strategy, and client support
• 04:15 – How Manus changed everything for Rachel
• 06:30 – Real-world use cases: From book publishing to software roadmap acceleration
• 09:00 – Creative freedom and letting AI handle the planning
• 10:45 – Writing and launching Moments of Grace with Manus
• 13:30 – Turning personal writing into a published project with AI
• 15:00 – Helping a peer land a job: Resume, LinkedIn, interview prep via AI
• 17:15 – Roleplay simulation and personalized interview strategy
• 18:30 – Avoiding analysis paralysis with strategic AI outputs
• 21:00 – The Manus-powered marketing dashboard and notetaking hack
• 25:00 – Creativity meets accountability with iterative prompts
• 27:30 – Prompting with ease: Rachel’s informal but powerful process
• 29:00 – Her advice to small business owners using AI: Crawl, walk, then run
• 31:00 – When to bring in an AI consultant and how to maximize ROI
• 32:30 – What’s next: Teaching, writing, community learning, and Odin’s Heart
• 34:00 – How to connect with Rachel + Substack link

Rachel Zipsie’s story is a vivid reminder of how AI can become not just a productivity tool, but a true co-creator. From launching books to building software and empowering job seekers, she shows us what’s possible when we pair human experience with AI-enhanced strategy. Dive deeper into this episode and more by subscribing to Empowered by AI and visiting innovativeaistudio.com/podcast for free tools, resources, and insights. Don’t forget to explore Rachel’s writing at her Substack, Pathways and Possibilities: pausecommitrise.substack.com. Until next time—stay empowered and keep innovating