By Taylor Colby
The link hosted their last Circle of Creation session for the year on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The turnout was excellent as women from all walks of life with a wide variety of careers met up to network and learn from each other. The topics centered on the importance of learning how to use AI as a tool to advance a business while maintaining emotional intelligence (EI).
Gurpreet Misra, co-founder of the link, introduced the first speaker, Kelleah Speichinger, managing partner of Spice Insurance Services. Speichinger shared how critical it is to know who you are and what your strengths are, especially when it comes to running a business. She touched on the value of running your business your way while acknowledging that running a business doesn’t come without it’s challenges.
“If you don’t take the time to laugh, you’ll cry,” she admitted, laughing.
She shared three tips when using artificial intelligence or emotional intelligence: sign up, show up and spice it up.
“You need to own your own story and put your own flare on it,” she said.
Marithza Ross, executive director of St. Johns County Parks Foundation, shared how ChatGPT can be a very helpful tool. Her mission is to enhance access to St. Johns parks and recreation. Ross is the only person running her business and she explained that ChatGPT can be a great time saver.
She also discussed the equal importance of strengthening and maintaining business relationships — “Let AI be the robot and not you,” she said. AI is a tool, but shouldn’t overtake us.
“AI handles busy work so I can handle the relationship part,” Ross said.
Peachie Thompson, founder and CEO of Peach Insurance Services, shared her incredible story of how she emigrated from the Philippines to the United States with her father when she was a teen.
She worked hard and began underwriting for an insurance company. When her grandma back home fell and broke her hip without insurance, Thompson drained her savings to help. This shaped and fueled her passion for helping others.
She explained that while AI can be a great tool, you are still able to help people with EI.
“Think of AI as an assistant,” she said.
Thompson explained how she is able to ask the right questions and eliminate more money and risks in ways that AI can’t. While helpful, you can’t rely on AI alone.
Before closing, Misra introduced panelists Karen Bowling, CAO of Jacksonville, and Dr. Kaveri Subrahmanyam, Dean of College of Arts and Sciences at UNF. Both Bowling and Subrahmanyam shared about their successful careers and how they have navigated leadership roles in male-dominated fields.
When asked if it is practical to be authentic leaders or polished and perfect, Bowling said that people prefer an authentic leader over a perfect one. It’s important to know your strengths and weaknesses and practice being you.
Subrahmanyam agreed that being authentic and true to yourself is valuable. She said that it’s also good to reflect on mistakes and to not be afraid to change and adapt when needed.
When asked about the pros and cons of AI, Subrahmanyam said that it’s beneficial to be open to technology and learn from it, but that it can’t replace high quality face-to-face interactions that lead to better connection.
Bowling added that she loves using AI, but that there is a lot of fear and misinformation out there regarding it.
Bowling and Subrahmanyam concluded the panel by emphasizing the value of supporting other women in business and reminding the audience that the key to success is in building relationships.
