learning Archives - Don't Stop Us Now

Writing Authentically with AI – Anneli Knight

April 9, 2025April 9, 2025
by Claire

Can you imagine spending two decades working in a field you’re totally passionate about and then having an expert friend tell you that within 6 months AI would likely make your career redundant?

Well that’s exactly what happened to our guest this week, Anneli Knight.

Anneli is a strategic writing consultant, author and journalist. She regularly runs workshops helping executives write more effectively with her business, Eloquence Consulting.

Writing isn’t just Anneli’s profession but her passion, so since that conversation with her friend, she’s been on quite the rollercoaster journey coming to terms with the reality of what AI does and what it means, not just for her own business but for all people wanting to write using Gen AI.

Anneli is very candid as she shares with us her journey of confronting a future shaped by AI, as well as the key learnings from her extensive experimentation with AI as a tool.

In this episode we cover:

Anneli’s initial reaction to her friend’s blunt message and what she did next
The “three sets of three sleepless nights” she experienced while wrestling with what AI means for writers
Practical techniques for working effectively with AI for writing without sacrificing your authentic voice
Creative ways to use voice mode in ChatGPT to accelerate the writing you need to do, and . . .
The limitations and ethical questions around the use of AI when it comes to creative writing.

This episode shares invaluable practical tips to improve your AI-supported writing including insightful advice on how to craft effective prompts.

And, needless to say, Anneli has reworked what she teaches business executives!

If you need to write anything in your day job then you’ll love this conversation. So enjoy this episode with the passionate and thoughtful Anneli Knight.

Useful Links

Eloquence Consulting

The book Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick

Subscribe to Don’t Stop Us Now – AI Edition wherever you get your podcasts.

Trailer

We’re Going All In on AI

December 1, 2024December 1, 2024
by Claire

We’re super excited to let you know that we are going ‘all in’ on AI and how it impacts us all.

We’re convinced that the impact and influence of AI in our lives and our workplaces deserves attention, experimentation and our collective imagination.

So today’s mini episode is a sneak preview sharing more about what we’ll be bringing you with our AI Edition episodes in the coming weeks and months.

We’ve been scouting out some phenomenal AI talent from around the world to bring you executives from some of the top AI companies, world leading academics, entrepreneurs and experts.

And don’t worry, we’ll still be featuring what we’re known for: showcasing plenty of amazing pioneering and innovative female leaders. We’ll also include some expert male voices too because we all need to learn from experts whoever they may be.

Plus, we’ll share some illuminating conversations with some digital humans that may just blow your mind!

Whether it’s how your job may change or what future new roles may be created; what skills you need to develop; or practical tips on how to use AI today to make a real difference to your work and life; it will all be on Don’t Stop Us Now AI Edition.

Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Check out our sneak preview now!

Interview

Purpose Powered Pioneer – Annie Crawford

October 10, 2024October 10, 2024
by Claire

Few people can say they’ve founded a non-profit that raises millions while creating a community that helps supporters achieve extraordinary physical challenges. Annie Crawford is one of those rare individuals.

As the founder of CanToo, a high-profile Australian charity running for nearly two decades, Annie has revolutionised fundraising for cancer research. CanToo organises physical challenges like ocean swims and half marathons, where participants receive months of professional coaching in exchange for fundraising commitments.

As a result, more than 20,000 people to date have achieved impressive physical challenges, and more than AUD$33 million has been raised to fund cancer research.

Aside from CanToo, Annie’s had some fascinating career experience including helping to build a very successful Biotech startup in San Francisco.

In this episode you’ll hear how:

How a Kombi van trip around Europe with her parents and 6 siblings impacted Annie’s world view (can you imagine 9 people in a Kombi van?!)
How Annie places values at the heart of what she does and how she built CanToo
Her ingredients for building a sustainable and successful organisation, and
How Annie learnt to overcome an almost paralysing fear of public speaking

Annie is a very down to earth and modest person and you can tell that her life and priorities have been shaped by family tragedy. With CanToo she’s built an incredible and fitting legacy.

Enjoy this episode with the inspiring and values-driven Annie Crawford.

Useful Links

CanToo website – check out their latest physical challenges

Interview

Creative Journeyer – Elizabeth Eastland

May 2, 2024May 2, 2024
by Claire

Our episode this week features a woman who has one of the most unique backgrounds and skill sets we’ve come across. Elizabeth Eastland is a full time artist these days, however her career prior to the last few years centred around leadership roles in global corporates and academia focussed on technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Liz is a Canadian Australian now based in Sydney, however her career has taken her from North America to Australia and Paris and back to Sydney. She’s been a CEO of a telco startup, held a global role at telco giant Alcatel, and she’s headed up innovation and entrepreneurship programs for two universities, the University of Wollongong and the University of NSW.

What’s so fascinating about Liz is that right from the start she embraced and studied two disciplines: art (initially creative writing) and science, and she’s continued this duality right throughout her executive career. It’s not surprising to learn her father was a rocket scientist and her mother an artist and designer. Plus Liz herself has at least 3 degrees.

In this intriguing conversation you’ll hear:

Liz’s reaction when she was transferred to Australia at age 28
How Liz’s multi disciplinary background has given her unique perspectives on what it takes to be truly innovative
How a planned nine month, mid career break turned into a four year voyage sailing around the Mediterranean
How Liz was effectively responsible for the innovation strategy of a whole nation in one of her roles; and
Liz’s surprising, yet super refreshing, definition of success for herself.

Enjoy this fascinating conversation with the creative and uber-disciplined Elizabeth Eastland.

Useful Links:

Elizabeth Eastland website (including details of her May 2024 art exhibition)

Interview

How to Manage Up

March 28, 2024March 28, 2024
by Claire

Ever had a boss who made life difficult?

We have good news as this week’s show is one of our regular ‘How To’ episodes where we focus on a common career challenge; and our episode this week is all about How to Manage Up.

Many of us have been there, that experience of frustration with a manager who just doesn’t seem to get it for whatever reason. Maybe they’re a little too hands-off and leave you floundering for direction, or maybe they’re the complete opposite, a controlling micromanager who wants to be across every tiny detail.

We certainly know what that feels like, and if you’re in that position right now, we feel for you.

More importantly, this episode is especially for you!

In this episode you’ll hear how to:

Influence your manager: We’ll share strategies on how to effectively communicate your ideas and get buy-in for your projects
Get the credit you deserve: No more feeling like your contributions are going unnoticed! You’ll learn actionable tips to ensure your hard work gets the recognition it deserves; and . . .
What to do when you’re being Micromanaged: and how to manage it in a professional and respectful way

No one sets out to be a bad boss but sadly sometimes it happens, often due to insecurity or a lack of trust.

Knowing what to do when you find yourself in this situation is invaluable, so don’t miss this episode!

Useful Link

Link to Trust Equation

Bonus Episode

Decoding Generative AI and all its Hype

May 24, 2023May 24, 2023
by Claire

(Image created using DALL-E)

If you’re like us and have been playing a lot with Generative AI models such as Chat GPT or Bard lately then you’ll be fascinated by today’s episode on all things Artificial Intelligence and particularly Generative AI.

Today, we’re joined by a world class AI expert in what will be the first of a series of occasional episodes we’re doing on different aspects of AI and machine learning.

In this episode, we explore the hype surrounding Generative AI and explore its positives as well as issues and shortcomings.

Listen in as we speak with AI expert and entrepreneur, Asaf Somekh. Asaf is Co-Founder and CEO of Israeli-based AI company called Iguazio, which management consultancy McKinsey has recently acquired because of its prowess in helping companies successfully adopt and scale AI.

Asaf has been working with Artificial Intelligence since the 1990’s and his take on all the recent hype is fascinating.

In this episode you’ll hear:

How most businesses have struggled to operationalise AI to date
Exactly what Generative AI is and where it falls short§
How Chat GPT compares to the professionals when it comes to humour; and
How important ‘explainability’ is going forward.

Plus, we share some of our favourite resources to help you keep abreast of all that’s happening in this fast-moving world of AI.

Enjoy this episode! And if you do, why not share it with a friend?

Useful Links and Resources

– Neat Prompts – AI newsletter

– Hard Fork Podcast – Tech podcast

– Chat GPT– AI chatbot by OpenAI

– Google Bard – AI chatbot by Google

– Hey Pi – AI chatbot by Reid Hoffman

To receive a list of additional AI resources and links, email hello@dontstopusnow.co.

P.S.

Join us next time for a special fifth birthday episode and an interview with one of this year’s award winners from the global Cartier Women’s Initiative.

Interview

Life Beyond Work – Natalie Yan-Chatonsky

March 23, 2023March 23, 2023
by Claire

Our guest this week is founder and author, Natalie Yan-Chatonsky.

Natalie founded her start up Full Time Lives some years ago and she’s just launched a book, called ‘The Art of Full Time Living’ which is a guide to help turn women’s mid-life transitions into fulfilling and rewarding transformations for their second half of life.

Natalie is on a pioneering quest to ensure mid-life women take the time to think proactively about living fulfilled and connected lives in the decades ahead, whether that’s post kids leaving home or stepping back from a full time career.

We know Natalie well and she’s bowled us over in the past few years with her dedication and commitment to making a difference to women’s lives, particularly the second half of their lives.

In this episode you’ll hear how:

Natalie has carefully navigated her various career transitions
She originally started researching big life changes ahead of her father’s potential retirement but it’s ended up being her life that’s changed the most
Why she worked 7 days a week for a year in order to complete her book; and
The magic ingredient and habit that’s made all the difference to her focus and productivity.

Whatever life stage you’re at right now, there are lessons in here for all of us… A life proactively shaped is a life that will make us more fulfilled.

Enjoy this episode with the disciplined and purposeful Natalie Yan-Chatonsky.

Useful Links:

Natalie’s website Full Time Lives

Natalie’s book – ‘The Art of Full Time Living’

Natalie on LinkedIn

Interview

Yes She Can! – Sarah Jenkins

February 14, 2023February 14, 2023
by Claire

Our guest this week is one of the most positive, resilient and talented people we know.

International award winning and globally acclaimed drone photographer, Sarah Jenkins is not your average drone pilot.

Once fit and healthy, Sarah has been confined to a wheelchair for more than 6 years now and, as a result of her muscular dystrophy, she’s unable to hold and use a normal camera or even the camera on an iphone.

During Covid, confined to the house and looking for something to do, Sarah and her daughter Lucy decided to try drone photography as Sarah knew that she could operate the toggles that control a drone and rest the remote control in her lap.

The rest, as they say, is history.

In this episode you’ll learn how:

Sarah stays positive despite having lost so many physical capabilities
Her attitude to learning her craft as she goes
Despite being invited to enter global awards and having other international recognition she still suffers from imposter syndrome; and
Sarah’s advice to others wanting to pursue a new creative endeavour.

Sarah also happens to be one of Greta’s oldest and best friends. Greta has watched Sarah over the years evolve from being a nurse and a mum, to also becoming a positive and inspirational creative, who just happens to be wheelchair bound.

You’ll hear a few different place names mentioned in this episode. Sarah is based in Perth in Western Australia these days, but during Covid she relocated for health reasons to the isolated coastal town of Port Douglas in far north Queensland to escape the city crowds.

Without further ado, get ready to be inspired by the positive and ‘can do ‘ talent that is Sarah Jenkins.

Useful Links

Air Bare website

Air Bare Studio Insta

Minimalism in Photography Book: teNeues Publishing, September 2022

ABC News Online: Interview; Published May 2022

Bonus Episode

What Surfing Taught Us About Learning

August 24, 2022August 31, 2022
by Claire

It all began with a provocative question from Claire and it ended with Greta spending last week learning to surf in Bali!

Now if you know anything about surfing then you’ll be laughing right now because you’ll know there’s only so much you can learn in a week!

Back in podcast HQ, complete with a few bruises and very sore arms (paddling and pop ups are hard people!!), it got us thinking about the lessons and crazy wipeouts that so many new learning experiences can entail.

We also asked ourselves, “what is the best way to learn a new work or hobby-related skill?” Thanks to Greta’s thrills and spills on the water, a very patient instructor, and some research we have some answers.

So in this episode come to Bali with us and hear what surfing taught us about learning, including:
Why knowing how you want to learn something can make all the difference
How homework can be both helpful and sometimes very unhelpful
The genius tactic Greta’s surfing instructor used, and
What she did to transform her experience out on the water from one day to the next.

Grab your swimmers, pull up a sun lounge and enjoy this episode. Who knows what you might learn next!

P.S. Greta is ready for surfing sponsorships and endorsements any time!! 😂

Future Proof Me Mini Episode

Keep Moving – Future Proof Me

March 1, 2022March 8, 2022
by Claire

This week’s mini episode is all about the value of having a mindset of ‘keeping on going’ even when you stumble. Now that isn’t always easy is it?

One woman who’s really mastered the knack of telling herself constructive stories when things don’t go to plan, is US-based international Uber executive, Julia Paige. Julia is Uber’s global head of Social Impact and she also happens to be a mum of triplets.

When Julia was on the show 18 months ago we were really struck by how good she is at constructive self-talk and her ability to dust herself off and keep moving.

At the heart of Julia’s outlook on tackling tough times is the powerful idea that we all control our own stories. We get to write our narrative and we get to say how our stories end – and, for Julia, she makes sure that the story never ends with failure.

Enjoy this mini episode.