AI Strategy Expert Ashley Gross on Humanizing Automation, Building Effective Agents, and Transforming Marketing Workflows

GTM AI Podcast with Coach K and Jonathan Moss

https://www.gtmaiacademy.com/. https://www.aipoweredgtm.com/

https://www.aiworkforcealliance.com/

Summary
I sat down with Ashley Gross, an AI strategist who transformed her marketing career by leveraging AI tools to compress a 40-hour workweek into 15 hours. Her journey began with a personal challenge - adapting to motherhood without maternity leave - and evolved into implementing AI solutions across multiple enterprise organizations. What struck me most was her emphasis on using AI to enhance human work rather than replace it. She shared invaluable insights about creating AI-powered content that doesn't feel robotic, building effective automation workflows, and preparing organizations for AI adoption. The conversation revealed practical approaches to AI implementation that focus on solving real business problems rather than just implementing technology for its own sake.

Key Highlights
- Ashley compressed a 40-hour marketing workweek into 15 hours using AI tools like Jasper
- Implemented AI solutions across 11 enterprise contracts after success with initial deployment
- Emphasizes using AI to enhance transcripts and human content rather than generating content from scratch
- Advocates for thorough vetting of AI tools, requiring API capabilities for true automation
- Founded AI Workforce Alliance, offering tiered learning paths from free community access to premium consulting
- Stresses the importance of aligning AI implementation with clear business problems and executive buy-in
- Discusses the evolution of AI agents and their role in workflow optimization
- Highlights the need for proper foundational knowledge before implementing advanced AI solutions

Key Quotes from Ashley
On AI Content Creation:
> "If you are using AI to create content, you are missing the point of generative AI... I take the transcript, and I feed it into Jasper... These are their experiences from their mouths. I'm just rewording it in a way."

On Technology Integration:
> "I'm really loyal to my tech stack... I have a really thorough vetting process and super high expectations because if I'm going to play around or experiment with any type of tool, it needs to be taking at least two of my tools in my tech stack away or solving a problem that hasn't been solved yet."

On Change Management:
> "90 percent of AI implementation is communication... These are things that need to be discussed. So it makes me really nervous that there's no slowing, there's no pumping the brakes. We're in this thing."

On Value-Based Work:
> "When I work with my clients, I'm getting paid on the outcome that I provide because why would you pay me hourly if I can achieve that outcome in less time? And it's more accurate, right?"

On Learning AI:
> "Nobody is an expert in this space and you not asking questions is only hurting you. And I guarantee you when you ask the question, 10 other people had that same question, they just didn't want to ask."