🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Paul Slater, author of "The AI-Ready Human" and AI enablement advisor, for a wide-ranging and refreshingly honest conversation about what it takes to stay human, capable, and grounded as work is transformed by AI.

Paul shares how his career, from delivering early IT training on the first office computers to a decade at Microsoft translating AI research into real world use cases, led him to write "The AI-Ready Human." He now serves as Principal AI Technologist at Adobe, and his work centers on the human capabilities we need to protect as the pace of technological change accelerates.

At its core, this conversation is about reclaiming agency over who we become, recognizing that AI does not just change how we work, it amplifies who we already are, and asking what it takes to consciously build the guardrails that used to exist for us automatically.

We explore:

🧠 How AI amplifies whatever tendencies we already have, for better or worse

🌪️ Navigating a BANI world: brittle, anxious, non-linear, and incomprehensible

🤖 The shift from linear AI conversations toward agentic, parallel workflows

♿ What accessibility and neurodiversity mean for how people interact with AI

🛡️ Why the structural guardrails that used to protect human connection are gone

⚖️ Building the next wave of AI ethics frameworks around human impact, not just capability

Follow and explore more of Paul's work:

📲 LinkedIn: Paul Slater

🌐 Website: paulslater.ai

📝 Substack: Humanity Working

🎙️ Podcast: Humanity Working

If there's one takeaway from this conversation, it's this: the guardrails are gone, so building them back, on purpose, is now our job.

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Enna Jimenez, technology executive, engineering operations strategist, and ecosystem connector, for a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to build community from the inside out.

Enna shares her journey from Puerto Rican and Dominican roots in Boston to leading global engineering teams of 200+ across financial services, banking, and education. From founding a Latino student organization at Simmons University to becoming a VP two steps from the CEO, her story is one of deliberate career-building, servant leadership, and showing up authentically in spaces that weren't always designed with her in mind.

At its core, this conversation is about what happens when you stop waiting for a seat at the table and start building the table yourself.

We explore:

🌎 How growing up in a tight-knit Latinx household in Boston shaped Enna's community-first mindset

💡 Why she chose to build a career in quality assurance when everyone else was just passing through

⚙️ How tech methodology evolved from waterfall to agile to AI, and what that means for the humans doing the work

🌉 What it really means to be a connector and bridge builder in today's workplace

🚀 Why Enna is proud to have worked herself out of a job more than once

Follow and explore more of Enna's work:

📲 LinkedIn: Enna Jimenez

🌐 Website: ennajimenez.com

📚 Book: Extraordinary Latinas

🎤 Sign Up for Enna’s Coaching Experience

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Pixie Cigar, community builder, systems thinker, and ecosystem designer, for a thoughtful conversation about belonging, curiosity, and what it takes to build communities that create meaningful impact.

Pixie shares how growing up across multiple countries as a “third culture kid” shaped her perspective on human connection, adaptability, and community building. From global educator networks to e-commerce ecosystems, her work focuses on designing systems that help people genuinely connect, collaborate, and grow.

At its core, this conversation is about building communities that don’t just generate activity — but create real value for the people inside them.

We explore:

🌍 How navigating different cultures shaped Pixie’s approach to community and belonging🤝 Why authentic human connection starts with curiosity and empathy⚙️ The systems behind successful communities and why community can’t operate in isolation from the business📊 Why engagement metrics alone can be misleading when measuring community health🧠 The misconception that “more content” automatically creates stronger communities🤖 How AI can help scale community operations while making human skills even more important

Follow and explore more of Pixie’s work:

📲 LinkedIn: Pixie Cigar

If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s this: the strongest communities are built through intentional human connection, not just participation.

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning & Development Officer at BDO Canada and author of The Trusted Learning Advisor, for a powerful conversation about learning, resilience, and what it really takes to thrive in a world of constant change.

Keith shares his deeply personal journey, from dropping out of high school and struggling to find his place, to discovering the power of learning and ultimately building a career dedicated to helping others unlock their potential.

We unpack what it means to “learn how to learn,” and why that skill is no longer optional, but essential for survival in today’s rapidly evolving world. At its core, this conversation is about redefining the role of learning, not as something we consume, but as something we own, apply, and use to create real impact.

We explore:

🧠 Why learning is no longer a skill - but a survival mechanism in a world of constant change
 📉 How traditional approaches to training fall short, and what it means to move beyond “checking the box”
 🤝 What it takes to build a true learning culture - from psychological safety to individual ownership
 🔄 How organizations can embed learning into the flow of work to drive real performance and collaboration
 🚀 Why the future of L&D isn’t about delivering content, but solving problems and driving business outcomes
 🤖 How AI is transforming the way we learn - and why it’s forcing the industry to evolve faster than ever

Follow and explore more of Keith’s work:

📲 LinkedIn: Keith Keating
🌐 Website: keithkeating.com

If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s this: learning isn’t something that happens to you - it’s something you choose, every single day.

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Ernesto Canales, co-founder of Latinometrics, for a thoughtful conversation about data storytelling, curiosity, and the power of making complex ideas accessible.

Ernesto shares his journey from Torreón, Mexico, to studying in the U.S., discovering economics and analysis, and eventually co-building a publication that helps readers make sense of Latin America through clear, visual, data-driven stories.

We unpack how Latinometrics grew from an idea into a widely trusted platform for founders, operators, investors, and policymakers — and why its success comes from more than just charts. At its core, this conversation is about turning information into insight, and insight into something people can actually use.

We explore:
📊 How Ernesto and his team turn dense data into simple, compelling stories
🧠 Why curiosity, not complexity, is the key to building a better relationship with data
🌎 What Latin America’s growth reveals about technical talent, soft skills, and opportunity
🤝 How Latinometrics is building community by making data more human, interactive, and engaging

Follow and explore more of Ernesto’s work:
🌐 Latinometrics: latinometrics.com
📲 LinkedIn: Latinometrics

If you’ve ever felt intimidated by data, this episode is a reminder: the goal isn’t to know everything — it’s to ask better questions.

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Jace Wallace, founder of Uhsteem and creator of The Daily, for a grounded conversation about self-leadership, community building, and the power of simple, action-based tools.

Jace’s journey spans music, film, entrepreneurship, and community-led experiences - and it all traces back to an early creative spark: making beats as a kid, building with friends, and discovering what it means to create with people, not just for them.

We unpack how a tour that didn’t go as planned became the catalyst for The Daily, including the “champagne moments” practice: celebrating real wins (big or small) as fuel to move forward, especially when life feels overwhelming.

We explore:
 🥂 Why celebrating yesterday’s wins can reset your mindset today
 ✍️ How The Daily turns reflection, goals, and affirmations into one simple system
 🤝 What it really takes to build community - safe spaces, shared ownership, and passing the mic
 🌍 Jace’s North Star, People. Purpose. Paper, and his his vision to take Uhsteem global

Follow and explore more of Jace’s work:
 🌐 Uhsteem: uhsteem.com
 📲 Socials: @uhsteem
👤 Jace: @iamoliverlastname

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or stuck in “survival mode,” this episode is a reminder: progress doesn’t start with perfection -  it starts with intention.

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Adrian Duke — Co-Founder & CEO of iX Labs — to kick off Season 3 of the Commudemy Podcast with a deep dive into immersive, gamified, and experiential learning.

Based in Vancouver, Adrian leads iX Labs at the intersection of storytelling, spatial design, gaming, and emerging technology. His work challenges traditional approaches to learning by designing experiences that are felt, not just delivered.

Adrian shares his unconventional journey - from building extreme amusement rides and escape rooms to architecting XR-powered learning environments for global brands - and explains why interactivity, emotion, and shared experience are the real drivers of engagement and retention.

We explore:

•  🎮 How gamification and interaction design transform how teams learn and collaborate
•  🧠 Why technology should support learning, not distract from it
•  🌍 The difference between AR, VR, and XR — and how blending physical and digital worlds unlocks deeper engagement
•  🤝 How experiential learning reveals leadership styles, communication gaps, and team dynamics in real time
•  📊 What engagement really means — and how data, metrics, and self-reflection shape better learning outcomes
•  ✨ Why storytelling and emotional connection matter as much as content

Follow and explore more of Adrian’s work:
 🔗 LinkedIn: Adrian Duke
🌐 iX Labs: ixlabs.ca
📸Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ix_labs_studio/
 

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Filman – founder of Playful Perspectives and co-founder of The Improv Mindset – to explore how play and improv reshape the way we lead, connect, and build culture.

Once a product manager navigating traditional leadership frameworks, Sarah shares how discovering improv transformed her approach to communication, risk, and authenticity - both personally and professionally.

We dive into:
 🎭 How improv builds trust, courage, and creative confidence
 🧠 Why play is a mindset, not just a team-building exercise
 🤝 What it means to co-create community and shift from solo to shared leadership

Sarah also introduces her latest project: a hands-on activity deck designed to bring moments of play into everyday work - no facilitation experience required.

✨ Want to try it out? Sarah and her co-founder Jordan host a monthly Playful Mindset session—open to all professionals who are play-curious.

Follow and explore more of Sarah’s work:

 🔗 LinkedIn: Sarah Filman
🌐 Playful Perspectives: https://www.playfulperspectives.com
🧠 The Improv Mindset: https://improvmindset.fun
🃏 Playful Activity Deck: https://www.playfulperspectives.com/cards
🎟️ Join a session: improvmindset.fun/play

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I have a wide-ranging conversation with Will Fan – CEO and Head of School at NewCampus, a modern business school based in Singapore that's reshaping how companies build learning cultures across Southeast Asia. 🇸🇬✨

Will shares his 10+ year journey as an entrepreneur, investor, and education innovator, from launching a scrappy startup called QLC to growing NewCampus into a regional powerhouse that has served over 130,000 learners and 500+ tech companies. We dive deep into:

🌏 Why Southeast Asia is the ideal testbed for reinventing education
 📚 Building learning in the flow of work—not outside of it
🤝 Community as the cornerstone of business (not just a feature)
⚙️ Leveraging AI to reduce operational drag and increase human connection
🧠 Creating people-first companies and why Will’s team moved to a 4-day workweek
📈 Measuring impact in L&D—why ROI conversations must start with revenue

His philosophy? Build skinny, think long-term, and center relationships—in your team, in your product, and in your ecosystem.

Be sure to follow Will and his work here:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hellowillfan/
🌐 NewCampus: https://www.newcampus.com

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Chipres — founder of MyOasis, an AI-powered mental health platform rooted in compassion, cultural fluency, and intentional healing.

From a childhood marked by instability to a transformative chapter in the military, Daniel’s journey is a raw, moving story of growth, faith, and purpose. We explore how his lived experiences informed the creation of MyOasis — a tool that reimagines mental health care for communities often left out of traditional systems.

We dive deep into:
 🧠 Why mental health solutions must be culturally fluent, spiritually inclusive, and personalized.
 🛠️ How AI can support, not replace, human connection in therapeutic settings.
 📿 The role of spiritual awakening in Daniel’s healing and entrepreneurial journey.
 💡 Building tech for good — designing an ecosystem that supports both therapists and clients.

Daniel’s approach is deeply human:

Design tools with empathy. Build systems that serve. And never lose sight of why we heal — to give back, to grow, and to uplift others.

🔗 Be sure to follow Daniel and MyOasis:

Instagram: @elprofesor.ai
LinkedIn: Daniel Chipres
Website: MyOasis

🎧 Podcast produced by Riti Suresh.