¡AY AY AY, AI!

Weekly newsletter to help you master the new rules for success in the AI age

I used to think being a strong leader meant doing it all myself. Every draft, every detail, every deliverable. If I didn’t, I worried people might question my value. I had internalized this unspoken rule, passed down through years of being the “only one” in the room: keep carrying it all, no matter how heavy.

That belief showed up everywhere — in my perfectionism, my over-prepping, my habit of staying late to polish every slide. One night, I was finalizing a client report that needed to be sharp and strategic. I stared at the same paragraph for the third time, stuck between ideas and tired from trying to make it flawless.

Cargando solo se cae más pronto.
(When you carry it alone, you fall faster.)

That saying echoed in my mind. It was one I’d heard growing up, but hadn’t let sink in until now.

On a whim, I handed the draft to Claude, an AI tool I had been testing. I asked it to restructure the flow, simplify my language, and highlight gaps in logic while preserving my voice. Within minutes, it returned something cleaner and clearer. It didn’t take over. It took me further.

That night, I didn’t just finish a deliverable.

I released a limiting belief.

AI didn’t replace me. It reminded me that I don’t have to carry it all alone.
It felt like a teammate. Reliable. Steady. Always ready.

This Week’s Insights:

AI is no longer just a tool. It can be your most reliable teammate if you're ready to lead differently.

Inside this edition:

The data behind AI’s shift from task assistant to team collaborator
3 limiting beliefs keeping leaders stuck in solo mode
Smart prompts with clear frameworks you can steal
New tools to lighten the lift and expand your leadership

TRENDS

The workplace is changing. The AI co-worker is here. Leaders aren’t just using AI to get ahead, they’re designing smarter teams that include it.

McKinsey reports that up to 30% of current work hours in the US could be automated by 2030 through generative AI. This creates space for strategy, leadership, and innovation.
Read source
Gartner forecasts that by 2026, more than 80% of enterprises will have deployed generative AI apps in production.
Read source
Yet only 1% of companies feel truly “AI mature,” showing a massive opportunity for leaders who act early.
Read source

The shift isn’t just operational. It’s personal. The leaders who thrive will be the ones who know when to let go and build with AI as part of the team.

TIPS:
Limiting Beliefs → Empowering Shifts

Limiting Belief:
“AI can’t do it just like I would.”

Empowering Shift:
AI doesn’t need perfection. It needs to unlock momentum.

How AI Helps: Use it to generate structured first drafts, simplify ideas, and spark clarity. You bring the final layer of tone, insight, and polish.

Limiting Belief:
“If I let go, people will think I’m not capable.”

Empowering Shift:
Delegating is not a weakness. It is strategic clarity.

How AI Helps: Use AI to handle prep work, data summaries, and logistics. Show up ready to lead the conversation, not build the slides.

Limiting Belief:
“Doing everything myself proves my worth.”

Empowering Shift:
Smart delegation magnifies your value.

How AI Helps: Let AI surface insights or trends from messy notes or transcripts. You bring the interpretation and story that matters.

How to Start Shifting:

Begin with safe, low-risk tasks: meeting notes, draft emails, content summaries
Guide the AI with tone, structure, and intent like onboarding a new team member
Use the 80/20 principle: AI drafts, you refine

TOOLS

Smarter Tech for Strategic Leaders

Claude 3 (Anthropic)
A powerful language model ideal for long-form thinking, editing, and summarizing nuanced ideas. Especially great at retaining tone and organizing messy inputs like transcripts or brainstorms.

Krisp AI Assistant
A voice-first tool that listens to your virtual meetings, summarizes discussions in real time, and lets you instantly assign tasks or send follow-ups post-call.

Microsoft 365 Copilot
Built into Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, this tool turns rough ideas into polished documents, drafts emails based on meeting notes, and helps build decks from simple prompts.

Prompts & Frameworks To Try

Client Recap Prompt
Use the Parts → Purpose → Output framework.
Part 1: What was discussed
Part 2: Why it matters
Part 3: What actions are recommended

Prompt Example:
“Create a professional summary of a 30-minute strategy call with a client. Include the main goals of the conversation, the client’s key concerns, what decisions were made, and the recommended next steps. Format it in clear bullet points for a stakeholder update.”

Meeting Summary Prompt
Framework: Who → What → When

Prompt Example:
“Summarize this transcript into a clear bullet-point list with:

Who said what
What was decided
When action items are due and by whom
Keep it under 200 words and use a neutral, professional tone.”

Workflow Automation Prompt
Framework: Trigger → Action → Conditions

Prompt Example:
“Design a workflow that automatically flags emails with ‘urgent’ in the subject, assigns them to the correct project board, and notifies the owner in Slack. Add logic to skip weekends and assign priority based on tags.”

Pro Tip:
Strong prompts don’t come from knowing the tech. They come from knowing what you need. Start with structure, add context, and tell the AI what success looks like.

What belief will you release this week?

CLOSING THOUGHT

We’ve been taught that strong leadership means holding it all.

But the leaders who thrive are the ones who build smarter systems, share the load, and invite collaboration, both human and AI alike.

You don’t have to carry it all alone.

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.

💃🏻 💃🏻 HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS AROUND THE CORNER! REACH OUT SOON, MY CALENDAR IS FILLING UP FAST!💃🏻 💃🏻

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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