The Lowest Stress Way to Get Started with AI | Leadership, Culture, and BYO AI

Many business owners feel behind when it comes to AI.

But according to AI strategist Brett Schklar, the lowest-stress way to start isn’t buying new tools or launching a big initiative.

It’s simply starting the conversation inside your company.

In this chapter from THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN, host Rachele Schainker and Brett explore why many CEOs are already using AI in their personal lives—planning workouts, organizing thoughts, writing messages—but aren’t bringing those same tools into their businesses.

That gap creates a strange dynamic: employees often use AI quietly because they’re unsure if leadership approves.

Brett explains why leaders need to set the tone around AI early, normalize open conversations, and create an environment where teams feel comfortable sharing how they’re using AI.

The discussion also introduces the idea of “BYO AI” (Bring Your Own AI)—a growing reality where employees bring their own AI tools into the workplace, similar to the earlier BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) movement.

If you’re a CEO, founder, or business owner trying to introduce AI without overwhelming your team, this chapter offers a practical way to start.

Key Insights From This Chapter

• Why many CEOs use AI personally but not inside their businesses
• How silence around AI creates secrecy and “shadow usage”
• The importance of leaders setting the tone for AI adoption
• Three practical approaches companies can take when introducing AI
• Why open conversations reduce fear and encourage responsible use
• The rise of BYO AI (Bring Your Own AI) in modern workplaces
• Why AI adoption should feel like empowerment—not cheating

About Brett Schklar

Brett Schklar is the founder of AI-First Leadership, a keynote speaker, and an AI adoption coach who helps CEOs cut through the hype and deploy AI in ways that drive productivity, speed, and competitive advantage.

Before focusing on AI strategy, Brett built and successfully exited Market Creation Group, a branding and demand-generation firm that worked with more than 230 companies. Today he leads GROW Powered, the market’s first assembly of AI-First Fractional CMOs, helping companies scale without overhiring or overcomplicating their technology stack.

He is also the author of AI Without the BS: The CEO’s Playbook for Actually Getting AI Right.

Connect with Brett Schklar
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bschklar
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@AIFirstLeadership

About THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN

THE CYBER SAVVY WOMAN helps women business owners navigate cybersecurity, technology, and digital leadership with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Rachele Schainker, a Silicon Valley technologist and owner of the award-winning managed service provider CMIT Solutions of San Mateo, the podcast shares practical strategies for protecting businesses in an increasingly digital world.

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