AI: Voice or Victim?

Walk West
  • 5.0 (4)
  • BUSINESS

A podcast that explores how AI is transforming careers, businesses, and industries. Hosts Greg Boone and Erica Rooney deliver real-world use cases and actionable AI strategies to help professionals stay ahead of the curve.

  1. FEB 4

    From Intern to AI Native: Why Generalists Will Win the Future of Work

    What happens when AI turns your entire team into generalists? And what does that mean for how organizations hire, promote, and build teams? In this episode, Greg Boone sits down with Alec Coughlin to unpack how AI is reshaping not just tools, but entire workflows, organizational structures, and what it means to be employable. This is not a conversation about prompt tips or productivity hacks. This is about what happens when the old playbook for career development, specialization, and organizational design stops working. Greg shares how he moved his entire team at Walk West from AI anxious to AI confident by making adoption personal, fun, and psychologically safe. He breaks down why the traditional path of hyper-specialization is breaking, why invisible unemployment is a bigger threat than layoffs, and why the generalist mindset combined with domain expertise is the unlock for the next era of work. If you are a leader trying to integrate AI into your org without burning it down, or an individual contributor wondering how to stay relevant, this conversation will give you both the mindset shift and the tactical clarity to move forward with intention. In this episode, you will learn: Why making AI adoption personal, fun, and safe is the only way to get real organizational buy-inHow psychological safety drives AI adoption more than any tool or training programWhy treating AI like a smart intern boxes you into outdated thinkingThe disconnect between people who say they use AI and people who actually use AIWhy invisible unemployment is a bigger risk than headline layoffsHow Walmart not hiring for three years signals a fundamental shift in workforce strategyWhy the Renaissance age of AI rewards generalists over specialistsHow to use AI to unlock business context and horizontal skill developmentWhy formal AI certifications and building in public matter more than everHow the traditional org chart and siloed functions are breaking under AI transformationIf you are responsible for shaping your team, your career, or your organization in an AI-enabled world, this episode will help you move from reacting to the change to designing for it. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome and Introduction 01:00 - The Future of Work with AI 02:00 - AI in Team Collaboration 03:00 - Cultural Adoption of AI at Walk West 05:00 - Making AI Personal, Fun, and Safe 07:00 - Psychological Safety and Leadership 09:00 - AI in Sales and Marketing 11:00 - SDRs, BDRs, and the Anthropomorphism Problem 15:00 - The Hollowing Out of Entry-Level Roles 17:00 - Mentorship and Learning in the AI Era 19:00 - Stop Calling AI a Smart Intern 22:00 - The Disconnect in AI Understanding 24:00 - Historical Business Models Are Breaking 27:00 - The Problem with Hyper-Specialization 28:00 - The Renaissance Age of Generalists 31:00 - Rethinking Organizational Structures 34:00 - Domain Expertise Meets Horizontal Skills 37:00 - Go Get Certified and Build in Public 40:00 - Invisible Unemployment and the Future of Hiring 43:00 - Final Recommendations 👉 Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating the AI revolution. This episode is a special collaboration with Alec Coughlin, host of AI with Alec. Check out his show for more conversations on AI, business, and the future of work at https://aiwithalec.com/ Subscribe to AI: Voice or Victim for more conversations that move you from AI anxious to AI curious. Hosted by Erica Rooney and Greg Boone aka AISerious™, we're helping people and organizations embrace AI ethically, strategically, and with humanity at the center. Follow us and join the movement to shape the future — before it shapes us. 🔗 Follow us and dive deeper: On the web: https://voiceorvictim.com/ Greg Boone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregboone Erica Rooney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarooney/ 🔗 Check out AI with Alec: https://aiwithalec.com/ © 2025 Walk West Production

    43 min

  2. JAN 21

    The Lead Flow Crisis: Why Traditional Marketing Died in 2025 (And What to Do About It)

    Search is broken. Email is harder. Paid ads cost more. Lead flow is drying up across the board—and most marketers are still playing by the old rules.In this episode of AI: Voice or Victim, Greg Boone sits down with Marc Sirkin, former CEO of Third Door Media, and Chris Long, co-founder of Nectiv and SEO strategist behind brands like Adobe and Amazon. Together, they dissect the lead flow crisis facing revenue leaders, marketers, and operators in 2025—and why ignoring it could be fatal.This is not another "SEO is dead" debate. This is a hard look at what happens when Google flips the switch to AI Mode, when attribution models collapse under platform incentives, and when product-market fit becomes the only thing that matters. The conversation cuts through the noise with tactical clarity on how AI-powered search, zero-click results, and LLM-driven experiences are reshaping the entire customer journey.If you're responsible for growth, pipeline, or revenue, this episode will challenge how you think about channels, authority, and where your customers actually are.In this episode, you'll learn: What the lead flow crisis actually is and why it's hitting nowHow AI Mode will replace Google's 10 blue links faster than you thinkWhy attribution data is disappearing and what that means for proving ROIThe real difference between product-market fit and marketing tacticsHow Reddit, forums, and human-generated content became irreplaceable to LLMsWhy technical literacy is now a non-negotiable skill for marketersHow to build authority in an AI-first search ecosystemWhere small businesses and mid-market brands can still winWhat happens when platforms like ChatGPT, Google, and Perplexity own the entire customer experience Key moments: Why Google has no choice but to roll out AI Mode (and when it's likely to happen)The stair-step strategy Google is using to train users for full LLM searchHow Reddit became a battleground for brand reputation and LLM training dataThe hidden risks of building your brand on rented platformsWhy marketers need to think like engineers to survive the next 12 months This episode is required listening for CMOs, CROs, founders, and marketing leaders navigating the fastest transformation in digital history. The rules changed. The question is whether you're ready to adapt. 👉 Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating the AI revolution.Subscribe to AI: Voice or Victim for more conversations that move you from AI anxious to AI curious. Hosted by Erica Rooney and Greg Boone aka AISerious™, we're helping people and organizations embrace AI ethically, strategically, and with humanity at the center.Follow us and join the movement to shape the future — before it shapes us.🔗 Follow us and dive deeper:On the web: https://voiceorvictim.com/Greg Boone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbooneErica Rooney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarooney/© 2025 Walk West Production

    50 min

  3. JAN 7

    Why Gen Z Isn't Using AI (And What That Means for Their Future)

    For the first time in history, young people aren't the early adopters. And that's a problem. Recorded live at MIT during the AI Powered Women Conference, this episode features Caren Cioffi, CEO and founder of Agenda Hero, an AI platform that eliminates manual calendar work. But this conversation goes far beyond productivity tools. Caren reveals a troubling trend: Gen Z and Gen Alpha students are being actively blocked from using AI in schools. They're threatened with failing grades, disciplinary action, and even expulsion if caught using these tools. Meanwhile, the rest of the workforce is rapidly adopting AI and building fluency that will define the next decade of work. The stakes are high. These are the students whose jobs will be most impacted by AI, yet they're being systematically prevented from learning how to work alongside it. While professionals are using AI to eliminate tedious work and focus on meaningful human connection, students are being taught to fear it. This episode is for parents, educators, leaders, and anyone who cares about preparing the next generation for a world where AI is infrastructure, not optional. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Gen Z and Gen Alpha are not adopting AI (and why that should worry us)How schools are punishing students for AI use instead of teaching responsible adoptionThe false choice between cheating and learning when it comes to AI toolsHow AI eliminates tedious work across professions (from doctors to lawyers to parents)Why curiosity matters more than skills in the AI eraWhat happens when we free up human capacity for connection instead of paperworkHow one founder built a global company solving a problem AI made newly possibleThe real risk of keeping our most capable generation on the sidelinesErica and Caren discuss the uncomfortable truth that expensive college degrees may be preparing students for jobs that no longer exist, while simultaneously blocking them from the tools that will define their careers. But the conversation is grounded in optimism: when we eliminate the tedious, we create space for what truly matters. If you're a parent wondering whether your kid should still study engineering, an educator trying to navigate AI policies, or a leader thinking about how to prepare the next generation, this episode will give you clarity without the panic. 👉 Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating the AI revolution. Subscribe to AI: Voice or Victim for more conversations that move you from AI anxious to AI curious. Hosted by Erica Rooney and Greg Boone aka AISerious™, we're helping people and organizations embrace AI ethically, strategically, and with humanity at the center. Follow us and join the movement to shape the future before it shapes us. 🔗 Follow us and dive deeper: On the web: https://voiceorvictim.com/ Greg Boone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregboone Erica Rooney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarooney/ © 2026 Walk West Production

    22 min

  4. 12/17/2025

    AI Literacy vs. AI Fluency: The Leadership Skill That Will Define the AI Era

    What’s the difference between AI literacy and AI fluency - and why does it matter for leaders right now? Recorded live at MIT during the AI Powered Women Conference, this episode of AI: Voice or Victim breaks down why understanding AI tools is no longer enough. Erica Rooney was joined by Elena Alikhachkina, a global technology and data leader with over 25 years of experience across companies like Dow Jones and Johnson & Johnson. Together, they explore how AI has been influencing decisions in hiring, healthcare, finance, and content personalization for years - long before ChatGPT entered the spotlight. The real risk today isn’t AI itself, but passive leadership that fails to question, guide, or challenge automated systems. This conversation is designed for executives, HR leaders, founders, and non-technical decision-makers who need practical clarity on AI without hype or jargon. In this episode, you’ll learn: The key difference between AI literacy and true AI fluencyWhy AI fluency is a leadership and behavioral skill, not a technical oneHow AI already impacts hiring, recruiting, healthcare, and financial decisionsWhere leaders unknowingly become “victims” of AI systemsWhy curiosity, critical thinking, and asking better questions are future-proof skillsWhat it means to manage both human employees and AI-driven systemsIf you’re responsible for people, strategy, or organizational decisions, this episode will help you move from reacting to AI -  to shaping it with intention. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to AI: Voice or Victim01:05 Live at MIT: AI-Powered Women Conference02:10 Meet Elena Alikhachkina03:40 AI Literacy vs AI Fluency06:15 AI Before ChatGPT08:40 AI in Hiring and Recruiting11:10 When Leaders Become the Victim13:55 The Three AI Opportunity Zones17:45 Why Digital Transformations Fail20:30 Leadership Mindset in the AI Era24:10 Managing Digital Employees27:45 Trust, Bias, and Overconfidence31:10 Curiosity as a Leadership Skill34:20 Teaching Better Questions38:00 Human-to-AI Trust41:15 The Future of AI Leadership44:10 Elena’s AI Fluency Framework47:30 Choose Your Role: Voice or Victim49:00 Closing Thoughts 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating the AI revolution. Subscribe to AI: Voice or Victim for more conversations that move you from AI anxious to AI curious. Hosted by Erica Rooney and Greg Boone aka AISerious™, we help people and organizations embrace AI ethically, strategically, and with humanity at the center. Follow us and join the movement to shape the future — before it shapes us. 🔗 Follow us and dive deeper: On the web: https://voiceorvictim.com/Greg Boone on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregboone Erica Rooney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarooney/© 2025 Walk West Production

    24 min

  5. 12/10/2025

    How AI Changes Cybersecurity Forever with Molly Mae Potter

    Molly Mae Potter has lived more careers than most of us could squeeze into a lifetime: Air Force flight test engineer in the back of an F-16, tech executive fixing organizational chaos, and now a security and compliance leader helping companies survive the wild west of AI. And she’ll be the first to tell you—none of us are fully prepared for what’s coming. Recorded live at the AI Powered Women Conference at MIT, this conversation cuts through the hype and gets real about the new cybersecurity landscape. Molly reveals her own “oh shit” moment when she realized even Fortune 100 leaders aren’t asking the right AI questions, why traditional security frameworks are already outdated, and how attackers are using AI to scale social engineering at levels we’ve never seen before. She also shares practical strategies individuals and families can use today—from AI inventories to household passphrases—to stay ahead of DeepFakes and digital manipulation. And for leaders? Molly lays out the mindset shift required to protect your people, your data, and your business when the rules are being rewritten in real time. If you want a clearer view of the risks, the opportunities, and the future of AI-powered security, this is the episode you need. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating the AI revolution. Subscribe to AI: Voice or Victim for more conversations that move you from AI anxious to AI curious. Hosted by Erica Rooney and Greg Boone aka AISerious™, we're helping people and organizations embrace AI ethically, strategically, and with humanity at the center.Follow us and join the movement to shape the future — before it shapes us. 🔗 Follow us and dive deeper:On the web: https://voiceorvictim.com/Greg Boone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregbooneErica Rooney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarooney/Molly Mae Potter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-mae-potter/© 2025 Walk West Production

    25 min

  6. 12/03/2025

    The Lead Flow Crisis with Marc Sirkin

    Marketing is in freefall. Search traffic is tanking. Cold email is useless. Paid media costs keep climbing. The playbook everyone relied on no longer works. Today’s guest, Marc Sirkin, Founder and Principal of Marc Sirkin Consulting and former CEO of Third Door Media (Semrush), breaks down what’s really happening. Marc joins Greg Boone for a straight talk conversation about how AI has already reshaped marketing, sales, and go-to-market strategy. They dig into why 2022 was the real turning point, why leaders are still clinging to outdated metrics, and how activity is being confused for actual progress. They get into: Why organic search has fallen off a cliffHow AI-driven personalization rewrites SEOWhy performance marketing math no longer holds upThe return of brand and personality-led growthWhy “just add GEO” is not a strategyHow mid-market companies can win when big brands dominate every modelIf you want a clear, unfiltered breakdown of what is changing and what leaders should actually focus on, this episode is it. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating the AI revolution. Subscribe to AI: Voice or Victim for more conversations that move you from AI anxious to AI curious. Hosted by Erica Rooney and Greg Boone aka AISerious™, we help people and organizations embrace AI ethically, strategically, and with humanity at the center. Follow us and join the movement to shape the future before it shapes us. 🔗 Follow us and dive deeper: On the web: https://voiceorvictim.com/ Greg Boone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregboone Erica Rooney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarooney/© 2025 Walk West Production

    35 min

  7. 11/26/2025

    Bias in, Bias Out: What AI Gets Wrong with Women with Siri Swahari (CGI)

    When a group of powerhouse women at the MIT AI-Powered Women Conference asked ChatGPT one simple question, “What do you think I look like?”  the results were… revealing. And not in a good way. In this live episode from Boston, we sit down with Siri Swahari, Vice President & Partner at CGI, to unpack what happened that night, why AI keeps defaulting to the same stale stereotypes, and how leaders can push for systems that are actually fair, representative, and useful. Siri breaks down: The viral moment when AI generated bald white dudes for women of color Why the problem isn’t “men vs women”… it’s the data What organizations must fix before unleashing AI tools on their teams How bias sneaks into models — even when intentions are good Why representation, guardrails, and real stress-testing matter What leaders should ask before adopting any AI solution Why she’s cautious about AI’s pace — but still optimistic And her work building The Women Executive Circle, a growing cross-state community supporting senior women leaders If you work in HR, ops, tech, policy, or anywhere AI touches people — this episode will hit home. CTA 👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4D78uhi-rw0

    35 min

  8. 11/19/2025

    What Most Companies Get Wrong About AI: Angela Liu & Tom Simon Break It Down

    AI is reshaping every job, every industry, and every leadership team — but most organizations still don’t know how to adopt it without causing chaos. In this episode, we sit down with Angela Liu (Founder & CEO, Ikaru Consulting) and Tom Simon (Growth Architect, Walk West) to cut through the noise and get real about what AI adoption looks like inside actual companies. We get into the hard parts — the human resistance, the fear, the bad messaging from leadership, and the pressure to “just be curious” without any real training. Angela breaks down why protecting human dignity matters more than ever, and Tom calls out the ethical landmines leaders keep stepping on when they blame layoffs on AI. If you're leading teams, navigating digital transformation, or trying to get your workforce future-ready, this conversation gives you a clearer path: what to prioritize, what to avoid, and how to build a culture that actually learns together instead of bracing for impact. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Why human dignity still matters in the AI era03:12 — What Angela learned at the AI Forward Conference07:20 — Diversity, representation, and who’s missing from the room10:05 — The environmental cost of AI no one talks about14:30 — Small models, energy limits & the future of training17:03 — Why leaders keep getting AI adoption wrong20:12 — How culture shapes success (or failure)25:45 — The messy reality of layoffs, scapegoating & ethics28:50 — What an “AI-ready” workforce really looks like31:22 — How Walk West built massive AI adoption internally35:40 — Angela’s personal workflow with Claude42:55 — The part nobody wants to admit: technology vs. humans47:00 — Last Chat: what they’re actually using AI for48:50 — Closing thoughts: What leaders must do now 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone navigating the AI revolution. Subscribe to AI: Voice or Victim for more conversations that move you from AI anxious to AI curious. Hosted by Erica Rooney and Greg Boone aka AISerious™, we're helping people and organizations embrace AI ethically, strategically, and with humanity at the center.Follow us and join the movement to shape the future — before it shapes us. 🔗 Follow us and dive deeper:On the web: https://voiceorvictim.com/

    49 min
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About

A podcast that explores how AI is transforming careers, businesses, and industries. Hosts Greg Boone and Erica Rooney deliver real-world use cases and actionable AI strategies to help professionals stay ahead of the curve.

Information

  • Creator
    Walk West
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Walk West