In this episode, I sit down with Simon Fawkes, an expert in AI transformation, education, and strategy, to explore how businesses can harness the power of AI to stay competitive and innovative.

Simon has over 20 years of business coaching experience, specialising in strategy and marketing for high-tech exporters. He is a fractional executive with the Simple Academy, delivering AI black belt training globally, and has been instrumental in helping organisations identify the opportunities and risks of AI implementation.

In this episode, we explore:

✅ How AI is reshaping industries and eliminating outdated processes

✅ The biggest misconceptions about AI and why it’s more than just automation

✅ Practical AI tools that businesses can adopt today to save time and increase efficiency

✅ How AI can amplify productivity by reducing mundane tasks and refocusing employees on high-value work

✅ Why AI adoption isn’t optional and how businesses that resist will struggle to compete

Simon also demonstrates live AI workflows, showcasing how businesses can use custom GPTs, AI-powered planning tools, and workflow automation to drive efficiency.

This episode is packed with actionable insights for business owners, leaders, and professionals who want to leverage AI to streamline operations and scale smarter.

About Our Guest

Simon Fawkes- AI Transformation at The Explosive Growth Academy

Simon helps organisations unlock AI’s potential to enhance innovation, productivity, and strategy. With a background in engineering, linguistics, and business coaching, he brings a structured yet creative approach to AI adoption.

How to Connect with Simon

🔗LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonfawkes/

🔗 Instagram:https://instagram.com/b2mglobal

📞Phone: 021 329537 (021 FAWKES)

About Your Host

Jacques van Heerden -Financial Adviser and Host ofBuilding Cents for Life

As a financial adviser, I specialize in simplifying complex financial topics like KiwiSaver, insurance, and investments for New Zealanders. Through this podcast, I aim to empower listeners with practical advice and insights from industry experts.

🔗Website: www.newma.co.nz

🔗LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/jacquesvanheerden

📧Email: [email protected]

Links and Resources Mentioned

📌 AI tools discussed:Notebook LM, ChatGPT, Napkin AI, Custom GPTs

📌 Simon’s article onDeepSeek and AI privacy concerns

📌 More onAI black belt training and business transformation

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🎵Music by Oshan Jayakody from Pixabay

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI Transformation and Its Importance

02:45 The Impact of AI on Jobs and Work Efficiency

04:53 AI as a Tool for Enhanced Productivity

07:13 The Evolution of AI Interaction and User Experience

09:21 The Journey into AI Transformation11:44The Current State of AI Adoption in Business

14:03 Comparing AI Adoption to Historical Technology Trends

16:31 The Necessity of an AI Policy in Organizations

18:38 Demonstrating AI Capabilities and Applications

21:04 Creating Custom AI Solutions for Business Needs

32:53 Introduction to Insurance and AI Integration

33:36 Creating an 8×8 Matrix for Insurance Deliverables

34:48 Utilizing AI for Customer Testimonial Collection

35:51 Developing a Customer Testimonial Collection Plan

36:12 Time Savings and AI Efficiency

36:55 Strategic Optimization with AI

38:39 Demonstrating AI Tools for Financial Advisors

40:52 Exploring Notebook LM for Data Analysis

42:17 Deep Dive into DeepSeek and Security Concerns

52:06 Learning and Knowledge Acquisition through AI

54:09 Practical Steps for Business Owners to Embrace AI

57:05 Future of AI in Business and Closing Thoughts