By: Gesche Haas, Founder & CEO of Dreamers & Doers
At the end of 2025, a study by McKinsey found that 88% of organizations reported using AI in at least one business function, up from 78% in 2024 and 55% in 2023. Between this rapid growth in usage, new AI tools launching regularly, and existing platforms on a constant mission to expand offerings, it’s clear that entrepreneurs with big goals may need to prepare to adapt.
Successful integration into the age of artificial intelligence will require creative thinking, operational agility, and a careful and informed perspective on what functions will best complement human expertise. Founders and leaders who are already embracing this technology often show a willingness to ask hard questions or to test things out. As AI evolves rapidly, entrepreneurs may benefit from preparing to do the same.
Keep reading to learn more about the approach some trailblazers from the Dreamers & Doers community are taking to building through the uncertainty and potential opportunities posed by AI.
Embrace AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement
Critics of the ever-evolving AI space cite concerns that artificial intelligence tools will make humans redundant in the workplace, eliminating jobs and taking the creativity out of products and services. These fears may not fully account for one of AI’s notable features, its ability to work with human expertise to potentially enhance results.
“AI is a tool, not a replacement for human experience,” says founder and serial entrepreneur Sydney de Arenas. “In response to the rapid growth of AI, we decided to fully integrate it into everything we do while maintaining strong human oversight where needed.”
Founder and CEO of Ninety Five Media, Emma Tessler, takes a similar approach. While Tessler has opted to use AI to stabilize internal systems and quality control, she’s established strong boundaries around where it doesn’t belong.
“Strategy, brand voice, and community engagement remain human-led,” she says. “The impact has been generally associated with more reliable delivery, stronger client trust, and growth that appears more sustainable rather than reactive.”
Leverage AI for Personalization and Differentiation
As more organizations adopt AI tools, leaders are identifying opportunities to further individualize their own offerings. Founder of Minutiae Content Co., Amanda Lien, for example, has worked to make this part of her brand.
“I repositioned my work as the antidote to generic AI content by emphasizing my ability to craft nuanced, strategic narratives that aim to drive conversions without compromising proprietary information or brand voice,” she says.
Lien’s efforts have contributed to engagements with high-caliber, passionate clients that can develop into stable, long-term working relationships.
For some service-based businesses, in particular, artificial intelligence has the potential to support and complement a company’s business model, offering added value for clients in the process.
“I made AI a core part of my coaching toolkit rather than viewing it as competition,” says Liz Morrison, Story Coach and Narrative Navigator of LM Strategic Storytelling. “This has helped support client results, reinforced the value of human coaching, and helped differentiate me from coaches who either ignore AI or fear it.”
Enhance Operational Efficiency and Resilience With AI Tools
Embracing AI has the potential to offer practical benefits as well. Finding ways to do so may free founders up to focus on new projects and opportunities without losing a handle on operations. QINTI helps small and traditional businesses implement practical automation that can strengthen day-to-day functions.
“In volatile economies, the businesses that survive are those that simplify,” says QINTI co-founder and CEO Cynthia Hellen. “Our work sits at the intersection of technology and operational clarity, helping founders make strategic decisions that may help reduce friction, conserve resources, and build greater resilience into their core systems.”
Bright Business Innovation founder Ashley Brodfuehrer has seen positive outcomes as a result of using artificial intelligence to anticipate market shifts, test business strategies, and support resilience efforts. As emerging tools handle this kind of scenario planning, the team can focus on building and evolving, even in the face of shifting consumer expectations.
Adapt Marketing and Communication Strategies
Success in the transition to AI also depends on clear, transparent communication with clients.
“We adjusted our marketing to better communicate our human-first approach, and prospects are beginning to understand that difference,” de Arenas says.
Marketing that clearly communicates a company’s approach to AI, as well as where and how much it continues to rely on human employees, is honest and informative, which may help audiences make more informed decisions as technology continues to rapidly change. It can also contribute to building trust with clients.
The proliferation of AI marks a significant shift for many businesses, but it doesn’t necessarily have to lead to negative outcomes. Many leaders, in fact, are already demonstrating ways to adapt. With the right approach, organizations of all sizes may find opportunities to benefit from these tools.
“I operate from the mindset that these challenges will always exist, so I focus on adapting and moving forward rather than sitting in the problem,” de Arenas says. “As entrepreneurs, that’s important no matter what we’re facing.”
All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a highly curated community and PR Hype Machine™ amplifying extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders through authentic connections, credibility-boosting visibility, and opportunities that accelerate big dreams. Learn more about membership here. (Learn more about membership here.)
