#leaderspotlight

Host Annette Klososky and co-host Annie Brown introduce Leader Spotlight’s practical AI series and interview Liz Coón, Senior Director of Implementations at FranConnect. Colón shares how, after attending AI sessions at the International Franchise Association in February, she helped operationalize AI at scale within four months by launching an “organizational mind” layer that listens across channels (CRM, calls, emails, chats) to surface full customer journeys, support risk mitigation, and speed project handoffs. She also built an AI “escalation board” in Claude by modeling leaders’ voices from chat history to deliver manager-plus-two stakeholder guidance and tasks, reporting about 95% accuracy. FranConnect is pairing these tools with team training (Anthropic Claude Cowork, master classes) and AI-first automation to replace manual documentation, improve customer outcomes, and drive workforce upskilling. Show Notes / Timestamps 00:00 AI Now Teaser 00:34 Show Intro And Hosts 01:39 Why This Episode Matters 05:39 Meet Liz Colón 07:00 Liz Career Journey 08:50 From ChatGPT To Org Mind 11:23 AI Board Escalation Agent 14:12 Upskilling The Workforce 18:17 Voice Beats Role 23:26 Automating Handoffs And Docs 25:27 AI Impact On Jobs 31:07 Adoption In Franchising 33:15 Four Month Results 34:48 Connect With Liz 36:10 Closing And Resources

Leadership isn’t about doing more, it’s about knowing what to let go of. Ginny Priem joins Annette Klososky to discuss her Unsubscribe framework, overcoming over-functioning and decision fatigue, building stronger teams, and using AI to eliminate busywork so leaders can focus on what matters most: strategic thinking and human connection.

Chloe Duckworth, co-founder and CEO of Valence AI, shares her journey from neuroscience student to AI founder and explains how her company is bringing emotional intelligence to voice AI. She explores why understanding tone, emotion, and context is critical to creating more human-centered AI and the opportunities this creates for businesses and customer experiences.

Annick took an unexpected turn in her career, following her true passion for fashion, design, and trends, leading her to found her own clothing and accessory company, OHSHO.

"Episode 38: Human Side of the Grind with Kristy Boone" explores the transformative journeys of leaders and their impact on their organizations. Host Anette Klososky and her guest Kristy Boone delve into the art of leading with empathy and authenticity, particularly in our digital age.