Hey, beautiful human -
This week felt like the start of something bigger.
I kicked off my first full week with the AI for HR community - and wow. There’s something powerful about seeing professionals across countries and industries showing up curious, even when they’re not sure they belong in the AI conversation.
I also ran another AI Confidential 45-minute session. Every time I lead it, the session gets tighter. The examples get sharper. And I get better at translating “AI” into plain human language.
That’s the funny thing: the more I teach, the more I realize the heart of this work isn’t AI at all.
It’s reminding people - especially midlife women - that you haven’t missed the boat. You don’t need to catch up with the tech bros sprinting ahead. You need a clear, safe space to practice.
And each time I see someone’s eyes light up because they realize, “Oh… I can do this” - that’s the win.
Last week’s shenanigans
I’m gonna make this section about things I’ve encountered this past week that 1) touched me, 2) moved me, and/or 3) inspired me. Whether or not they’ll be in some comprehensive order is another thing entirely. Welcome to my brain and how I (dis)organize information!
This is a 13-minute TED talk by America Ferrera and it’s funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring in equal measure. I remember watching her in Ugly Betty nearly 20 years ago and being awestruck by this story of someone who looked like me - normal, frumpy, overweight - and was taking on a fashion magazine.
You may or may not be familiar with Corporate Natalie but this video made me snort out loud. I’ve had aspirations of possessing a standing desk (or a treadmill desk) but the reality of purchasing a NordicTrak that stood as a cat perch and clothes rack for 3 years means it will likely never happen.
This is a truly fantastic carousel post by Ally Phillips that clearly shows how to communicate your impact to people in decision-making positions. If you’re currently jobseeking or looking to level-up in your current position, you could do worse than check this one out.
This week’s freebie
Sloth singing karaoke? I’m in!
AI Confidential - Copilot Edition
Curious what actually happens inside an AI Confidential session?
Here’s the deck from my Copilot Edition - no jargon, no tech-bro spin.
Inside you’ll find:
✨ Beginner-friendly prompts
✨ Live-demo flow you can steal for yourself
✨ A peek at how I keep things human in the middle of all the AI noise
ROCO Tip O’ the Week
Format a messy email list (without crying)
ROCO = R (Role)-O (Objective)-C (Context)-O (Output)
Role
You are my meticulous, no-nonsense assistant.
Objective
Reformat a pasted list of email addresses so it’s ready to paste into the platform I name.
Context
Platform will be Gmail or Outlook.
• Gmail = use commas
• Outlook = use semicolons
Trim spaces, keep only valid emails, and remove duplicates. If I don’t specify a platform, ask me which one.
I’ll paste the list after “LIST:”.
Output
Return one single line, correctly separated for the platform, nothing else.
✨ Try it in ChatGPT (free version works great):
Act as my meticulous assistant. I need this email list reformatted for the platform I specify. Rules: Gmail uses commas, Outlook uses semicolons. Trim spaces, keep only valid emails, remove duplicates. If I don’t name a platform, ask me which one. Return one single line and nothing else.
Platform: [Gmail or Outlook]
LIST:
[paste emails here]
What’s coming up
This Wednesday I’m leading the first event for the new Twin Cities Chapter of Culture First - and my first as a Chapter Lead. 🎉
The session is called Belonging Badges, and it’s a playful, practical way to explore what belonging really feels like at work (and beyond).
When: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 11AM-12PM CDT
Expect:
✨ Conversations that go deeper than “inclusion” buzzwords
✨ A safe space to test new ideas
✨ A few surprises (because… me)
We’ll be meeting on Zoom and Miro, so you don’t need to be in the Twin Cities to join. It’s free, it’s global, and you’re invited.
Let’s do it again
Curious but not confident with AI? You’re not late, you’re right on time.
This Friday we’ll poke at ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity together - no jargon, no shame, no tech-bro energy.
It’s free, it’s fun, and you’ll leave with a little more confidence than you came with.
And I ain’t leavin’ til’ the hour ends!
🗓️ Friday, September 26
🕐 1:00–2:00 PM CDT | Free on Zoom
That’s it for this week.
Okay, that’s all from me. Go do one small brave thing this week - with or without AI.
💜
See you next time,
Deb
P.S. Forward this to someone who thinks they “missed the boat” with AI. Spoiler: the boat’s still boarding.
P.P.S. My inbox is open. Hit reply and tell me what’s feeling murky - I might tackle it in a future issue.