A few weeks ago, I sat in a room with leaders from some of the world’s most powerful companies. Billions are being poured into AI transformation. But when the conversation turned real, the numbers surprised me. Less than half their workforce was using the new tools.

In those moments, the room went quiet. Because everyone knew it wasn’t just a technology problem.

It was a trust problem.

That’s when one leader said it plainly:
“We’ve trained the tools. But we haven’t trained the trust.”

That landed deeply with me. Because we’re not just talking about a skills gap.

We are talking about a cultural gap.

There’s a dicho I keep coming back to:
“No todo lo que brilla es oro.”
(Not everything that shines is gold.)

AI can feel like a shiny fix. But what is missing is not more technology.

It is the environment where people feel safe, supported, and invited to reinvent how they work.

THIS WEEK'S INSIGHTS:

Why AI investments are stalling, what legacy beliefs are blocking adoption, and how to unlock everyday empowerment.

TRENDS

According to a recent article from The New York Times, companies have already poured billions into AI, yet the return on investment is lagging.

“Executives are confronting a daunting challenge: how to turn these investments into real productivity gains.”

You can read the full article here.

The reality is, most organizations are investing heavily in tools but underinvesting in the trust, safety, and leadership behaviors that drive adoption. The lag in ROI is not just about time. It is about culture.

This reflects what I’ve been hearing in executive conversations. Tools are available, but frontline adoption lags. Not because people aren’t capable, but because:

• They don’t trust the tool

• They don’t feel safe trying it

• They don’t believe their manager actually wants them to work differently

Until we address the human systems behind the tech, we will keep building fast while adopting slow.

TIPS: 
Limiting Beliefs → Empowering Shifts

Limiting Belief:
“If we give them the tool, they’ll use it.”

Empowered Shift:
Adoption is not automatic. Leaders must model, normalize, and reward experimentation.

How AI Helps:
Use tools like Microsoft Copilot or Gemini to draft simple “how I use AI” demos for your team. A short walk-through of your own workflow builds trust and gives permission for others to experiment.

Limiting Belief:
“People just need more training.”

Empowered Shift:
Skills matter, but beliefs matter more. Adoption grows when people feel safe to unlearn and reimagine.

How AI Helps:
Ask ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity to create role-based scenarios that show how AI could make everyday work easier. Use them as conversation starters in team meetings so people imagine new possibilities, not just new skills.

Limiting Belief:
“AI will make us more efficient whether people like it or not.”

Empowered Shift:
Efficiency without empowerment is exploitation. Sustainable transformation comes from co-creating the future of work, not dictating it.

How AI Helps:
Use AI to co-create with your team. Ask your approved AI tool to generate three options for reworking a current workflow. Then review them with the group and decide together which one feels empowering and sustainable.

Limiting Belief:
“Managers just need to stay out of the way.”

Empowered Shift:
Managers are adoption multipliers. When they actively model AI use, celebrate experiments, and ask their teams to share learnings, adoption spreads faster and more sustainably.

How AI Helps:
Use Copilot or Gemini to capture key takeaways from meetings and highlight moments when team members successfully used AI. Share those examples widely. Recognition from a manager makes adoption visible and contagious.

TOOLS

Here are some tools worth exploring that go beyond the typical corporate stack. And if your organization does not allow access to third-party platforms, you can still leverage approved enterprise AI tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Claude, or Perplexity to get similar results. Just copy, paste, and adapt these prompts.

Tools for Teams and Leaders

Gamma
What it does: Instantly turns your notes or outlines into polished, engaging visual presentations. No design experience required.

Pro Tip (Prompt for ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini):
"I have a team update I need to present. Help me turn the following key points into a compelling presentation deck with slide titles, talking points, and visual suggestions. Keep it professional but visually engaging."
(Paste your bullet points or outline here)

MindStudio
What it does: Lets you build simple AI-powered apps or decision trees without writing code.

Pro Tip (Prompt for ChatGPT or Claude):
"Help me create a step-by-step logic flow for a custom chatbot that answers frequently asked questions about our HR policies. I want to automate responses based on user input. Outline the structure, sample questions, and logic behind the answers."

Google Workspace’s Gemini
What it does: Gemini is Google’s AI assistant built into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and Drive. It drafts, summarizes, organizes, and brainstorms directly inside the tools employees already use.

Pro Tip (Prompt for Gemini, ChatGPT, or Perplexity):
"I need to draft a summary email about our AI adoption roll-out for our leadership team. It should include main objectives, early wins, next steps, and a tone that’s collaborative and clear. Then create an outline for a presentation deck with key talking points and suggested visuals."

Microsoft Copilot
What it does: Copilot integrates directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It helps draft documents, generate presentations, analyze spreadsheets, and summarize meetings in real time.

Pro Tip (Prompt for Copilot, ChatGPT, or Gemini):
"Analyze this Excel dataset and create three insights about workforce trends. Then generate two charts that best visualize the data. Finally, draft a short summary in plain business language for executives."
(Insert data or sample table here)

Tools for Individuals and Entrepreneurs

Rewind
What it does: AI-powered memory tool that captures and summarizes everything you’ve seen, said, or heard on your computer.

Pro Tip (Prompt for ChatGPT, Claude, or Perplexity):
"Based on this transcript or meeting notes, summarize the main decisions made, action items by person, and key questions raised. Organize it into a table format for clarity."
(Insert notes or transcript here)

Runway
What it does: Turns text prompts into videos or generates cinematic-quality visuals. Great for entrepreneurs, marketers, and creative leaders.

Pro Tip (Prompt for ChatGPT or an image/video AI):
"Generate a storyboard for a 30-second video that introduces our new team values. Use metaphor, emotion, and visual storytelling. Include suggested visuals and narration for each scene."

👉🏽 What trust gap is holding your AI investments back?

CLOSING THOUGHT

When people don’t adopt new tools, we often ask, “What’s wrong with them?”

But the better question is, “What have we made it safe for them to try?”

Real transformation doesn’t come from pushing harder.

It comes from modeling the change, building trust in small moments, and creating the conditions where experimentation feels like leadership, not risk.

The future of work isn’t just about AI readiness. It is about trust readiness.

Adoption is not compliance. It is culture. And culture is what will make your investment in AI pay off.

Hasta la próxima, Abrazos!

(Until next week, hugs!)

Monica Marquez

When You're Ready...

Here’s how I can help you and your organization take your leadership and professional growth to the next level:

Speaking: I deliver engaging, high-impact keynotes and workshops on AI-driven leadership, personal branding, career advancement, and transformation. Whether it's a corporate event, leadership summit, or industry conference, I bring practical insights and strategies that empower professionals to thrive in today's rapidly evolving world.

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Learning & Development Consulting: I partner with organizations to design and implement learning experiences that drive real impact. From AI-powered career development programs to leadership training tailored to their talent, I help companies advance their workforce and create growth opportunities for high-potential professionals.

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