Empower Your Team with Responsible AI

Welcome back to The Power Lounge, a space dedicated to meaningful conversations with industry leaders. In today’s episode, "Empower Your Team with Responsible AI," host Amy Vaughan, Together Digital’s Chief Empowerment Officer, explores a critical challenge for digital teams: adopting AI responsibly without compromising ethical standards. Joining Amy is Nikki Ferrell, Associate Director of Online Enrollment and Marketing Communications at Miami University. Nikki has been instrumental in launching an AI steering committee to manage the swift integration of generative AI in higher education. Together, they examine the potential risks of unmanaged AI use, the importance of establishing clear policies, and how continuous learning and experimentation can cultivate ethical and innovative teams. Whether you’re a team leader, a business owner, or simply interested in the complexities of AI, this episode offers a practical framework for implementing technology that prioritizes people, purpose, and ethics. Gain actionable insights and hear real-world experiences right here on The Power Lounge. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:24 - AI"s Impact: Unprepared Marketing Practices 05:08 - Creating AI Steering Committees 09:32 - Normalize Open AI Use at Work 14:42 - Adopting AI for Organizational Success 16:30 - Take Initiative to Lead 21:00 - Cautious Marketing on Mother"s Day 25:25 - AI in Education: Gen Z & Alpha Hesitations 29:19 - "AI as Amplifying Tool" 30:55 - AI"s Impact on Cognitive Skills 36:31 - AI Augments, Not Replaces, Workforce 38:30 - "Embracing Tech Amidst Red Tape" 41:45 - "Responsible AI Adoption Insights" 44:19 - AI Use Case Library Development 48:03 - Embracing AI for Strategic Future 51:01 - Exploring AI for Everyday Tasks 54:58 - AI-Assisted Strategy Development 58:51 - Subscribe for Updates & Community 59:45 - Outro Quotes: "Empowerment begins when we stop being afraid of new technology and start building community around it."- Amy Vaughan "You don’t need a title to lead the way with AI—start small, learn together, and let your curiosity spark real change."- Nikki Ferrell Key Takeaways Start Small, Stay Grounded in Research Policies Aren’t Optional—They Empower Openness Overgoing Underground You Don’t Need a Title to Lead Align with Mission and Values Build a Culture of Experimentation Transparency Builds Trust (and Avoids Backlash) AI Augments, Not Replaces Meet People Where They Are The Future is Collaborative Connect with Nikki Ferrell: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nferrell/ Website: https://miamioh.edu/ Connect with the host Amy Vaughan: LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/amypvaughan Podcast:Power Lounge Podcast  - Together Digital Learn more about Together Digital and consider joining the movement by visitingHome - Together Digital Support the show