Tech CEO Shares Her Framework for Implementing AI Across an Organization While Protecting Culture at All Costs

I launched EyeMail to reimagine how we advance and connect video email, combining technology, emotion, and inspiring a call to action in every message. Today, I lead our global strategy, product innovation, and inclusive culture, while championing and mentoring the next generation of women in tech.

How AI Bridges Vision and Execution for Faster Strategy and Innovation

AI bridges the distance between vision and execution.

What once required weeks of research, consultant input, and cross-functional alignment can now begin with a well-crafted prompt. I’ve seen AI-generate strategic roadmaps, messaging frameworks, and even visual storytelling concepts in minutes, giving me and my team the freedom to move faster and think bigger.

But beyond the speed, what truly surprised me was the depth. AI doesn’t just surface information; it can synthesize context, anticipate needs, and offer emotionally intelligent suggestions that align with our brand voice and values. It’s like having a thought partner who’s always ready, always listening, and always learning.

This shift has changed how I lead. I now approach challenges with more curiosity and less hesitation, knowing that the first draft of a solution is just a prompt away.

Why AI Leadership Is About Designing Systems That Empower Teams

My role as a leader is evolving in real time, shaped by the pace, promise, and disruption of AI.

In an AI-first world, leadership is no longer just about guiding people; it’s about designing systems that empower them. I’ve had to shift from being the sole strategist to becoming a curator of intelligence—both human and artificial—where collaboration happens across time zones, platforms, and algorithms.

A pivotal moment for me happened during a strategic sprint to refine EyeMail’s go-to-market approach across pharma, tech, automotive, and entertainment. I turned to AI and, within minutes, I had a detailed breakdown of industry trends, competitive positioning, and tailored messaging frameworks that would’ve taken my team weeks to build.

That was the moment I knew AI was changing the way I lead. I shifted from directing strategy to orchestrating dynamic exchange, where human creativity and machine insight harmonize. In fact, we then redefined many roles, moving from execution-heavy roles to orchestration-focused ones — where team members guide strategy, storytelling, and relationship-building while AI handles the heavy lifting

As a leader, I'm listening differently, experimenting boldly, listening to data-informed intuition, and creating space for both machine learning and human meaning. And I’ve had to let go of the assumption that innovation must be linear or centralized.

It’s not just about what we build; it’s about how we build it together.

How to Embed AI Into Workflows and Company Culture

We’ve embedded AI into our workflows, from content creation and customer journey mapping to strategic planning and risk evaluation, so our team learns by doing. This wasn’t a top-down mandate; it was a collaborative evolution. We treat AI not as a tool to be imposed, but as a partner to be explored. The goal was never just adoption; it was empowerment.

Here's how we did it.

Step 1: Leadership Set the Vision, the Team Shaped the Execution

As CEO, I initiated the shift by framing AI as a strategic enabler, not a replacement. I shared the vision: AI would help us move faster, think deeper, and communicate with greater emotional resonance. But I didn’t prescribe every workflow. Instead, I invited the team to co-create.

We asked each department:

• Where do you feel friction or repetition?
• Where could AI help you elevate creativity or clarity?
• What would you love to spend more time doing if AI handled the rest?

This sparked a wave of ideas from marketing to operations and gave each team ownership over how AI showed up in their daily work.

Step 2: Pilot, Reflect, Refine

We launched micro-pilots across departments:

• Marketing used AI to test messaging tone, generate visual assets, and optimize send times
• Customer Experience mapped journeys using Miro AI, identifying emotional touchpoints and friction zones
• Operations used Notion AI to streamline planning, track milestones, and surface insights
• Leadership used Copilot to synthesize trends, refine positioning, and build strategic frameworks

Each pilot included a reflection cycle: What worked? What felt off? Did the output reflect our values of joy, gratitude, and connection?

This iterative approach helped us embed AI not just functionally, but intentionally.

Lead Smarter in the Age of AI

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Step 3: Build a Culture of Learning by Doing

We didn’t roll out formal training manuals. Instead, we created AI Curiosity Circles, weekly sessions where team members shared discoveries, tested prompts, and explored emotional impact. These weren’t just technical tutorials—they were storytelling labs.

We also encouraged cross-functional collaboration. A designer might join a marketing sprint to test visual AI tools. A strategist might shadow customer support to explore empathy-driven automation. This built shared fluency and broke down silos.

The Impact

• Faster time-to-market: We moved from concept to execution in weeks, not months, especially with the EyeMail SaaS launch.
• Greater ownership, clarity, and confidence: AI helped us validate decisions with data and emotional nuance, reducing guesswork.
• Empowered team creativity: With AI handling repetitive tasks, our team leaned deeper into storytelling, innovation, and customer empathy.
• Elevated internal morale: Curiosity became a core value. Team members felt more engaged, more valued, and more inspired to experiment.
• Deepened culture: We didn’t just adopt AI; we aligned it with our mission to make every message matter.

A Step-By-Step Framework for Deciding When and How to Use AI

“AI-ready” means more than technical fluency. We believe that true AI fluency goes beyond technical skill; it’s about discernment. Knowing how to use AI is foundational. But knowing when, why, and with what intention — that’s leadership. That’s impact.

“AI-ready” means more than technical fluency. We believe that true AI fluency goes beyond technical skill; it’s about discernment. Knowing how to use AI is foundational. But knowing when, why, and with what intention — that’s leadership. That’s impact.

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Lisa JonesOpens new window Founder and CEO of EyeMailOpens new window

To teach this mindset, we’ve built a framework rooted in curiosity, context, and emotional intelligence:

Step 1: Start With Purpose, Not Just Possibility

We encourage our team to ask three guiding questions before using AI:

• What is the purpose of this task?
• Will AI enhance clarity, creativity, or connection?
• Is the output aligned with our brand values, joy, gratitude, and inclusion?

This helps shift the focus from “Can I use AI?” to “Should I use AI and how can I do so with intention?”

Step 2: Learn by Doing, Reflect by Design

We embed AI into real workflows from campaign planning to customer journey mapping but we pair every use case with reflection moments:

• What did AI accelerate?
• What did it miss?
• How did it affect tone, accessibility, or emotional resonance?

These reflections are shared in team huddles, creating a feedback loop that builds discernment over time.

Step 3: Host “AI Ethics & Empathy” Labs

We’ve created internal labs focused on ethical use, representation, and emotional impact. In these sessions, we explore:

• How AI-generated content can unintentionally exclude or misrepresent
• When human storytelling is essential, even if AI can replicate tone
• Why intention matters, especially in inclusive communication

These labs help our team see AI not just as a tool, but as a mirror—reflecting our values, biases, and aspirations.

Step 4: Build a Culture of Strategic Curiosity

We’ve restructured our org to reward strategic experimentation. Team members are encouraged to:

• Pilot new AI tools
• Share discoveries and dilemmas
• Ask “what if” questions that challenge assumptions

This creates a safe space where curiosity is celebrated, and intention becomes second nature.

The impact:

Our team doesn’t just use AI, we lead with it. They know when to lean in, when to pause, and how to ensure every output reflects our mission: making every message matter. Because for us here at EyeMail, AI isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about empathy and when intention guides innovation, brilliance follows.

The AI Tools Powering Strategy, Design, and Operations at Eyemail

We use a curated suite of AI tools across strategy, storytelling, design, and operations — each selected to empower my team’s creativity and accelerate our execution. Here are a few that have become essential:

 Strategic intelligence and messaging

• Copilot (Microsoft) – My go-to for synthesizing trends, drafting messaging frameworks, and refining positioning with emotional nuance
• Crayon & SimilarWeb – For competitive intelligence and market movement analysis
• ChatGPT (OpenAI) – For rapid ideation, tone testing, and creative writing prompts

Visual storytelling and design

• Canva with AI Magic Studio – For generating visual assets, layouts, and branded quote cards
• Runway ML – For experimenting with motion graphics and video enhancements
• Descript – For editing video content and voiceovers with precision and ease

Campaign optimization and analytics

• HubSpot AI – For email sequencing, lead scoring, and performance forecasting
• Seventh Sense – For optimizing send times based on recipient behavior
• Grammarly AI – For refining tone, clarity, and accessibility in written communication

 Collaboration and workflow

• Notion AI – For organizing strategic sprints, capturing insights, and aligning cross-functional teams
• Miro AI – For visual collaboration and mapping out customer journeys
• Otter.ai – For transcribing meetings and surfacing key themes

Each tool plays a role in amplifying brilliance. Again, we are not replacing human creativity, but removing friction, enhancing clarity, and unlocking new possibilities.

How Microsoft Copilot Is Transforming Communication and Storytelling

One tool I’m especially impressed by is Copilot. And specifically, its ability to generate visual assets, charts, workflows, and branded cards with remarkable speed and precision. What used to take hours of design and iteration now happens in minutes, allowing the EyeMail team to create concise, compelling materials that resonate with both customers and internal stakeholders.

And again, it’s more than just speed. It’s the clarity and confidence it brings. Whether we’re preparing for a Fortune 500 pitch or refining our SaaS onboarding visuals, Copilot helps us translate complex ideas into emotionally engaging formats that drive action. It’s become a creative partner in our storytelling process, helping us move from concept to impact faster than ever.

For a brand like EyeMail, where every message matters, having a tool that amplifies both strategy and emotion is a game-changer for us.

Building Agentic Workflows to Accelerate Strategy, Design, and Customer Journeys

We’ve also leaned into the rise of agentic workflows by launching our EyeMail SaaS platform, which empowers brands to deliver visually dynamic, brand-aligned, and regulatory-conscious video email experiences at scale.

And agentic workflows have helped us move faster internally. Here are some workflows we've built, along with tools, and impact:

1. Strategic Planning Sprint → Powered by Copilot + Notion AI

Workflow: We replaced static annual planning with dynamic, AI-assisted sprints. Using Copilot, we generate competitive landscapes, messaging frameworks, and growth scenarios in minutes. Notion AI helps us organize insights, track decisions, and surface emotional tone across strategy docs.

Impact:

• Reduced planning cycles from 6 weeks to 10 days
• Enabled cross-functional alignment with emotionally resonant messaging
• Sparked new strategic pathways (Options C, D, E) that wouldn’t have surfaced otherwise

2. Visual Storytelling Development → Powered by Canva Magic Studio + Runway ML

Workflow: Instead of waiting on external design cycles, our team uses Canva’s AI tools to prototype onboarding visuals, branded quote cards, and campaign assets. Runway ML helps us experiment with motion graphics that reflect EyeMail’s signature style.

Impact:

• Cut asset creation time by 70%
• Enabled faster client onboarding with tailored visuals
• Reinforced EyeMail’s brand of joy, gratitude, and emotional storytelling

3. Customer Journey Mapping → Powered by Miro AI + Hubspot AI

Workflow: We use Miro AI to visualize customer journeys, identifying emotional touchpoints and friction zones. HubSpot AI provides behavioral insights and segmentation, helping us personalize onboarding flows and nurture sequences.

Impact:

• Improved onboarding completion rates by 40%
• Enabled flexible, modular journey designs for pharma, tech, and automotive clients
• Delivered storytelling frameworks that meet clients where they are—emotionally and operationally

4. Data Security Messaging → Powered by ChatGPT + Grammarly AI

Workflow: We use ChatGPT to translate technical compliance language into clear, emotionally intelligent messaging. Grammarly AI ensures tone, accessibility, and consistency across all customer-facing content.

Impact:

• Accelerated policy development and approvals
• Increased customer trust and transparency
• Reinforced EyeMail’s commitment to inclusive, compliance-ready communication

5. Internal Collaboration and Culture Building → Powered by otter.ai + Notion AI

Workflow: We transcribe team meetings with Otter.ai, then use Notion AI to extract key themes, action items, and emotional insights. This helps us iterate faster and celebrate wins with intention.

The impact:

• Boosted team morale and clarity
• Enabled faster decision-making with shared context
• Embedded joy and gratitude into our daily rhythms

These agentic workflows are about alignment. They help us move with purpose, adapt with agility, and deliver with heart. Internally, they empower our team to lead with strategy and empathy. Externally, they allow us to meet clients with flexibility, tailored storytelling, and faster onboarding—without compromising quality or emotional impact.

Why the Best Leaders Won’t Automate Everything

In the next five years, we will, of course, see leaders making decisions powered by real-time data, predictive modeling, and AI-generated foresight. Leaders will no longer rely solely on experience; they’ll co-lead with intelligent systems that surface blind spots, simulate outcomes, and offer context-aware recommendations.

But here's the twist: The most successful leaders won’t be the ones who automate everything.

They’ll be the ones who know when to pause, reflect, and lead with empathy. In the next five years, leadership will be defined by the ability to balance machine intelligence with human wisdom to make decisions that are not only smart, but meaningful.

We’ll see more agile teams and a rise in leaders who guide ecosystems of talent, tools, and technology toward shared purpose. AI will be the engine, but humanity will remain the compass.

Leaders Should Embrace AI as a Doorway to Intentional Innovation

Here's my advice: Think of AI not as a disruption, but as a doorway. Stay curious, stay human, and stay intentional. Let go of the need to have all the answers. Instead, build cultures where experimentation is celebrated, emotional intelligence is valued, and technology serves purpose, not ego.

At EyeMail, we lead with empathy and agility. We ask not just, “What can we automate?”, but “What should we amplify?” — whether it’s a story, a voice, or a moment of connection. That’s the kind of leadership the future needs.

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You can follow Lisa's work on LinkedIn. And check out her startup, EyeMail.

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