How to Get Your Team to Embrace AI: Leadership, Training & The Why

In this episode of B2B Marketing Excellence & AI, Donna Peterson sits down with Bridgette Lehrer, a Global Audience Engagement Leader for the Berkeley International Study Program (BISP UC Berkeley), to talk about what it really takes to build trust in higher education marketing today.They explore how to stay personal and purposeful as technology continues to evolve — and how a thoughtful balance between traditional and digital marketing can create a stronger sense of authentic community.Bridgette shares practical ways her team nurtures long-term relationships with visiting students, alumni and campus colleagues and partners across the world. From understanding cultural nuances in international outreach to creating personalized content powered by AI, she offers insights that every education marketer can apply right away.One of Donna’s favorite examples is a simple but powerful traditional marketing initiative they use on campus: students take photos, then choose a few favorites to turn into postcards. During special events, everyone is invited to select a postcard and send it home to parents or friends. It’s a small gesture that builds genuine connection — and gets the entire UC Berkeley community involved.Whether you manage executive education programs or global enrollment campaigns, this conversation will give you actionable ideas to:Blend digital tools with human touchpoints to strengthen relationships.Use AI for personalization without losing authenticity.Reimagine traditional tactics to bring people together in meaningful ways.The future of higher education marketing isn’t about more technology — it’s about using it wisely to stay human.Timestamps00:00 — Introduction: Staying Human in the Age of AI00:37 — Meet Bridgette Lehrer, UC Berkeley01:23 — Building Relationships in a Digital World02:58 — The Power of In-Person Connections04:52 — Adapting Marketing for Global Audiences08:40 — Using AI for Personalized Communication20:24 — The Importance of Video Content25:30 — Engaging Students and Alumni on Social Media28:39 — Closing Thoughts: Keeping Engagement AuthenticBridgette Lehrer Bio-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgette-lehrer/Bridgette Lehrer is the Assistant Director for Marketing and Outreach with the Berkeley International Study Program, a study abroad option at the University of California, Berkeley for highly motivated exchange students. Since 2009, she has cultivated expertise in students’ engagement, strategic marketing and outreach management with particular emphasis on international student recruitment and alumni relations. Prior to Berkeley, Bridgette worked in diverse industries including nonprofit fundraising, corporate marketing, and technology customer service. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Art History (Arizona State University), an M.A. in Museum Studies (San Francisco State University) and a Certificate in Digital Marketing (eCornell University).Resources Recommended by Bridgette-Engaging with International Alumni as Strategic Partners - https://www.nafsa.org/bookstore/engaging-international-alumni-strategic-partners - By Sandra Rincón, Msc, and Gretchen Dobson, EdDThe Culture Map: Decoding how People Think, Lead, and Get Things Done Across Cultures- https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/ - By Erin Meyer *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

Episode: How to Get Your Team to Embrace AI: Leadership, Training & The WhyHost: Donna Peterson, World InnovatorsEpisode Summary-Many forward-thinking CEOs and leaders are embracing AI — but struggle with one key challenge: how to get their teams on board. In this episode of the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast, host Donna Peterson shares practical strategies to inspire buy-in, align employees with AI tools, and create a culture of experimentation.Drawing from leadership principles and her own journey with ChatGPT, Donna explains why defining the “why” is critical, how transparency builds trust, and why training and one-on-one conversations are essential to long-term adoption. You’ll also hear examples of how leaders can introduce AI in simple, personal ways that reduce overwhelm and spark curiosity.If you’re a leader trying to integrate AI into your business, this 16-minute episode will help you move beyond resistance and turn your team into active adopters of AI.Key Takeaways You Can Implement Right Away-Start with the why. Explain why AI matters for the company — and help each team member find their personal why.Be transparent. Share your own AI journey, including doubts, failures, and wins.Encourage curiosity. Create space for experimentation; not every AI use case has to stick long-term.Invest in training. Don’t expect employees to learn AI on their own — provide workshops and accountability sessions.One-on-one conversations matter. Personal discussions help employees connect AI with their specific goals and tasks.Start simple and personal. Show fun, everyday uses (recipes, sports training, book summaries) to break down barriers.Make it ongoing. Set up regular check-ins so employees consistently engage with AI and build confidence over time.Episode Chapters (~16 minutes)00:00 Introduction: The challenge of getting teams to embrace AI01:10 Why the “why” is the starting point03:00 Lessons from leadership books on purpose and ownership05:20 Be transparent about your own AI journey07:15 Encourage experimentation and curiosity09:05 Why training and accountability sessions matter11:20 The importance of one-on-one conversations with team members13:40 Start small and personal: simple AI use cases to spark interest15:00 Closing thoughts and call to action: inspire success through AI adoptionResources Mentioned-Simon Sinek – Start With WhyJocko Willink & Leif Babin – Extreme OwnershipAnnie Howell & Ed Frauenheim – The AI-Savvy LeaderCall to Action-Leaders: AI adoption starts with you. Share your journey, invest in training, and connect with your team so they see the value of AI for themselves.📩 Reach out to [email protected] if you’d like help with AI training for individuals or full teams.🎧 Visit www.worldinnovators.com for more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies.🔔 Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

For years, Donna Peterson dreaded public speaking — sweaty palms, shaking knees, and sleepless nights before client presentations. But everything changed when she joined Toastmasters, discovering that public speaking isn’t just about overcoming nerves — it’s also a powerful traditional marketing channel that can accelerate business growth.In this episode of the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast, Donna shares how public speaking helped her build confidence, elevate the World Innovators brand, and establish trust in an AI-driven world. You’ll learn how speaking engagements complement digital marketing, position you as an expert, and generate valuable content you can repurpose across multiple channels.Whether you’re an industrial brand, a B2B marketer, or a business leader, this episode shows you how to start small, use your voice authentically, and turn communication into a growth engine.Key Takeaways You Can Implement Right Away-Start small. Join a local group, speak on a webinar, or volunteer for a panel before tackling big stages.Public speaking builds trust. In-person engagement validates expertise and creates stronger brand connections.Position yourself as a subject matter expert. Repeated exposure on your niche topic reinforces credibility.Repurpose content. Each talk can become blogs, social posts, newsletters, or video clips.Stand out from AI. Speaking live shows authenticity and personality in an era of AI-generated content.Leverage AI smartly. Use ChatGPT for brainstorming or structuring ideas, but keep the message uniquely yours.Episode Chapters-00:00 Introduction: Fear of public speaking and its impact on business01:25 My nerves and struggles before client presentations03:00 Joining Toastmasters — the turning point05:10 Beyond speaking: communication skills for business and networking07:15 Two big business benefits: visibility and sharing your mission09:50 Public speaking as a traditional marketing channel that boosts digital ROI12:20 Three ways speaking accelerates growth: trust, expertise, and content repurposing14:50 Practical tips to start: small steps, niche focus, and using AI as a support tool16:20 Call to action: take one step this week toward improving your communicationCall to Action-Public speaking changed my career — and it can transform your business too. Take one step this week: join a group, volunteer to speak, or repurpose a conversation into a short talk.📩 Reach out to [email protected] if you’d like to talk about Toastmasters, my journey, or how speaking can elevate your marketing.🎧 Visit www.worldinnovators.com to learn more about building trust and relationships through authentic communication.🔔 Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, communication, and leadership in today’s business world. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

Episode: Event Organizers Would Never Sell You ThisHost: Donna Peterson, World InnovatorsHave you ever registered for a conference and suddenly been flooded with emails offering to sell you the attendee list? The truth is: those lists are illegal, inaccurate, and dangerous for your brand.In this episode of the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast, host Donna Peterson breaks down why attendee list offers are scams, how shady vendors scrape and fake this data, and the serious risks companies face when using unverified, non-opt-in databases.She also shares three powerful reasons to only use quality, opt-in data — from protecting your reputation to ensuring compliance — and how industry-specific publishers and conference organizers provide safe, vetted, and high-performing lists. In just 11 minutes, you’ll learn how to spot red flags, avoid scams, and build a database that drives results.Key Takeaways You Can Implement Right Away-Never buy attendee lists. They are scams and put your reputation at risk.Protect your brand. Using illegal data can get your domain blacklisted.Engagement over volume. Clean, opt-in lists drive 20–50% open rates vs. ~2% from junk data.Keep data fresh. Update regularly — job changes, title changes, even attrition matter.Trust vetted sources. Industry-specific publishers and events confirm opt-ins and compliance.Red flags to spot scams: offered before the event, vague about opt-ins, multiple domains, or misuse of organizer names.Episode Chapters-00:00 Introduction: Why attendee list scams “boil my blood”01:10 Why event organizers never sell their attendee lists02:30 How fake attendee lists are created (data scraping & guessing emails)04:15 Three reasons to only use quality, opt-in data - Reputation protection - Better ROI & engagement - Compliance & peace of mind07:45 How to spot attendee list scams (red flags to watch for)09:50 Final thoughts: Ethical marketing and building trustDon’t fall for attendee list scams. Build your database the right way with quality, opt-in data that drives results. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

Episode: How Leaders Build Trust Through TransparencyHost: Donna Peterson, World InnovatorsGuest: Alfred Leach, President of Leach AdvisorsEpisode Summary-Today, businesses everywhere are facing disruption — from leadership changes and mergers to geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain pressures, and new technologies like AI. In these moments of transition, trust becomes the most valuable currency a company has.In this episode, host Donna Peterson speaks with Alfred Leach, President of Leach Advisors, about how companies can communicate with transparency, align employees and stakeholders, and protect corporate reputation during times of uncertainty. Drawing on years of guiding organizations through mergers, acquisitions, crises, and cultural shifts, Alfred shares what leaders should prioritize when disruption strikes and how to ensure their company’s “why” stays at the center.Whether you’re leading a global brand or a mid-sized company, this episode is filled with actionable insights on trust, communication, and long-term brand relevance.Key Takeaways You Can Implement Right Away-Put employees first. Communicate internally before external announcements; employees are your strongest brand evangelists.Transparency builds trust. Be open about challenges, own mistakes, and share lessons learned. Silence almost always erodes credibility.Segment your messaging. Tailor communications for employees, customers, investors, and media — each stakeholder group has unique needs.Leverage subject-matter experts. Credibility grows when leaders and SMEs speak directly to key industry issues.Use AI thoughtfully. AI is a powerful tool, but content must align with brand voice and purpose to build trust and stand out.Define and refresh your “why.” A clear sense of purpose anchors organizations through change and inspires employees and customers alike.Consistency matters. Stay visible, authentic, and relevant — don’t disappear during challenging times.Episode Chapters-00:00 Introduction: Why Trust Matters in Times of Change01:15 The Global Reset — Uncertainty in Today’s Business Climate04:05 Communication Priorities During Mergers, Acquisitions & Crises08:12 Transparency vs. Legal & Competitive Realities12:30 Why Employees Must Hear It First16:45 Building Brands People Trust — The Role of Subject-Matter Experts22:10 AI and Brand Voice — Balancing Innovation with Authenticity29:05 Defining the “Why” — How Leaders Stay Grounded in Purpose35:18 Adaptation, Innovation & Long-Term Relevance41:40 Closing Insights: Be Real, Stay Consistent, Build TrustCall to Action-If your company is navigating change, this episode will help you strengthen communication and protect trust. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

Direct Mail & AI: Old-School Impact with New-School ToolsDirect mail is making a comeback — and when paired with AI, it becomes an even stronger marketing tool. In a digital-first world, a tangible piece of mail can stand out, build trust, and validate your brand. Add AI into the mix, and you can streamline the process, refine yourmessage, and connect with prospects in smarter, more personal ways. In this episode, Donna Peterson shares how direct mail can deliver old-school impact while leveraging new-school tools like ChatGPT. She walks through her recent Fabtech promotion as a case study, highlighting how validating postal data, segmenting audiences, andintegrating direct mail with digital campaigns creates measurable results. You’ll also discover how AI can support every step of the process — from reviewing lists for accuracy to cultivating messages that resonate with different audiences. The result? Stronger relationships, deeper trust, and marketing that truly cuts through the noise.Key Takeaways You Can Implement Right Away:Validate your list before you send — accurate data builds credibility.Segment your audience so each message speaks directly to their role and challenges.Use AI to refine your copy — test different tones (professional vs. conversational) and let ChatGPT help polish your message.Integrate channels — don’t stop at postal; link your direct mail with email, social, or tradeshow outreach.Start small, then scale — test with 50 targeted pieces, measure responses, and expand from there.Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction: The Power of Direct Mail00:38 Meet Donna Peterson: Your Guide to Direct Mail01:11 The Resurgence of Direct Mail02:18 Building Trust Through Direct Mail04:02 Case Study: Promoting Fabtech with Direct Mail05:58 Steps to a Successful Direct Mail Campaign09:28 Segmenting Your Audience for Maximum Impact10:41 Crafting Personalized Messages with AI14:15 Integrating Direct Mail with Digital Marketing17:40 Conclusion: Old-School Impact with New-School ToolsIf this episode sparks ideas for your business, we’d love to hear from you.Sign up to receive podcast announcements, leave a comment, and rank the show — your feedback helps us continue delivering the conversations and strategies that matter most to you. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

Marketing Capital Equipment: Lessons from Wintersteiger Solutions & Kohler Leveling North AmericaMarketing industrial equipment is complex — long sales cycles, high-stakes investments, and the need for absolute trust.In this episode of B2B Marketing Excellence & AI, Donna Peterson sits down with Brent Fischmann, Managing Director ofWintersteiger Solutions, to explore how companies under the Wintersteiger umbrella — including Kohler Leveling North America —approach these challenges.Brent shares how his team uses trade shows like FABTECH to stand out in crowded halls, engage with decision-makers,and move conversations forward by demonstrating technology live and addressing ROI concerns head-on. The discussion emphasizesthe importance of trust, relationships, and meaningful follow-up — the foundation for shortening long sales cycles in industrial markets.Listeners will also hear how Wintersteiger and its brands balance proven trade show strategies with modern tools like AIto create more targeted content and enhance customer interactions.What you’ll learn in this episode:How industrial brands like Kohler Leveling use trade shows to connect with buyers.Why technical support and live demonstrations build trust faster than brochures.Strategies to create content that addresses customer challenges and ROI directly.The role of relationships and follow-up in converting interest into partnerships.Where AI fits in strengthening — not replacing — human connections in B2B sales.Please comment and rank this episode so we can continue to produce the content that is most helpful for you and the industry. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

How Pennant Moldings Uses AI and Traditional B2B MarketingB2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast with Donna PetersonIndustrial marketing isn’t like selling shoes or software. It takes time, trust, and a strong understanding of how real relationships drive long-term results.In this episode, I sit down with Brian Contini, VP of Sales and Marketing at Pennant Moldings, to hear what’s actually working for their team right now. We talk about how they’re combining traditional methods—like trade shows and in-person visits—with smart use of AI to support research, improve outreach, and build stronger customer connections.Whether you're in metals, plastics, or any industrial space, this episode is full of practical takeaways you can use right away.Top 5 Topics We Cover:Why traditional marketing still works—and when to use itHow Pennant is using AI to streamline sales researchWhat’s working in email marketing todayThe importance of knowing your audience in technical industriesHow to maintain trust while integrating new tools like AIWhat You Can Do Today:Revisit your email outreach—are you focusing on the recipient’s challenge first?Identify one traditional tactic (like trade shows or phone calls) that deserves renewed attention.Choose one AI tool that could save you time with research or outreach—start testing it in a small way.Talk to your sales team: Where do they feel AI supports their efforts—and where does it get in the way?Let’s keep the conversation going:How are you helping your industrial brand stand out and build stronger relationships?Leave a comment, send me a message, or reach out at [email protected]. I’d love to hear what’s working for you.If this episode helped you in any way, consider leaving a quick review. It helps us continue sharing real strategies that support industrial brands doing meaningful work. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

In-person meetings will always be the gold standard for building relationships. But in B2B, you can’t always sit across the table right away. That’s why B2B Personalized Video Marketing is such a powerful tool—it lets people see you, hear you, and understand your perspective before the first handshake.At World Innovators, we’ve seen this work firsthand. When I send an email with a short, personal video, people who have never met me before click because they want to see what I have to say. That video starts a conversation—viewers hear my tone, see my face, and begin to understand that I’m here to help them succeed.In this episode, I’ll cover:What makes a B2B video truly personalized.Why videos in email campaigns increase engagement.How to make sure the right people see your video.Simple ways to use AI tools like ChatGPT to plan and repurpose content.If you have a video you’re proud of but aren’t sure how to get it in front of your ideal audience, let’s make sure the right people are clicking, watching, and starting the conversation with you.Thank you for listening, please comment below and let me know what you are doing with your B2B Personalized Video Marketing. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

Ever get lost down a YouTube rabbit hole when you were supposed to be checking your own channel? You click to review your latest video and somehow end up watching celebrities or cat videos instead. You're not alone—and this distraction problem is exactly what's happening to your potential B2B customers too.In this episode, I talk with Nate Woodbury, CEO of Be The Hero Studios and author of "Influence on YouTube." Nate reveals why most YouTube advice actually hurts B2B companies and shares his proven LEAF Strategy that helps businesses generate high-quality leads from YouTube—even with videos that only get 100 views.Together, we discuss how to:Use the LEAF Strategy to find ultra-specific questions your target audience is actually searching forLeverage keyword research tools that work for B2B (and which popular tools to avoid)Create "evergreen" content that continues attracting qualified leads for yearsTurn small view counts into meaningful business relationships and salesPosition yourself as the go-to authority in your industry without going viralIf you're tired of chasing vanity metrics and ready to use YouTube strategically for lead generation, this conversation offers a completely different approach that focuses on quality over quantity.About Nate: Nate Woodbury is the CEO of Be The Hero Studios and author of "Influence on YouTube." He has produced over 60 different YouTube channels, many generating multiple seven figures in business revenue (not ad revenue) through strategic lead generation.Key Quote: "Even a video that gets a hundred views following the right strategy can turn into 10 leads. We're not talking about a video going viral, but getting found by the right people." – Nate WoodburyEpisode Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: The YouTube distraction dilemma00:35 – Meet Nate Woodbury: CEO and YouTube strategist02:06 – Why most YouTube advice hurts B2B companies03:56 – The two opposite paths to YouTube success05:07 – How viral content can actually damage your channel07:41 – The dangers of buying fake views and engagement09:56 – Why AI makes this strategy work even better11:00 – Keyword research tools that actually work for B2B13:00 – The power of super long-tail keywords (8+ words)15:26 – Why 10 monthly searches is better than 30017:19 – How evergreen content builds momentum over time18:39 – Real example: 15K subscribers generating 8-figure revenue19:24 – The LEAF Strategy explained with tree analogy21:38 – Specific examples: dental office vs construction site productivity24:32 – Standing out in the age of AI-generated content26:24 – Building authentic relationships through video28:39 – The relationship-first approach to lead generation31:43 – Why filtering out wrong clients is actually good34:15 – Positioning yourself as the go-to industry authority37:02 – Three steps to get started (hint: use your phone!)39:16 – Why "raw" often beats "polished" contentResources Mentioned:Hero Keyword Tool (SEMrush affiliate): herokeywordtool.comFree weekly webinar on the LEAF Strategy: theleafstrategy.com Book: "Influence on YouTube" by Nate WoodburyIf you found this conversation helpful, subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI podcast, leave a review, and share it with other business leaders who are ready to use YouTube strategically. *** Reach out to [email protected] you’d like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.