Success Isn’t a Bigger Dream. It's a Wider Lens.

I grew up in a small town in West Texas where success had a very specific look. You became a doctor, a lawyer, or an engineer. Most often, you worked in the oil fields. That was the blueprint. Those were the wealthiest people we knew, so naturally, that became the goal.

When I got to college, I declared biology as my major with a minor in organic chemistry. I was fully committed to becoming a doctor. I stayed involved in student government and leadership roles and was appointed as the "student rep" to university-led committees. However, I kept my eye on the ultimate goal: medical school.

It wasn’t until my senior year that one of my mentors, the Vice President for Student Affairs, asked me a simple but life-altering question: “Why do you want to be a doctor?”

And I didn’t have a good answer. Not because I lacked ambition, but because I had never been asked. I realized then that my entire definition of success was shaped by what I had seen. What my familia and I had seen. College had exposed me to something radically new: other kinds of professionals, other ways of thriving.

“No se puede querer lo que no se conoce.”
(You can’t want what you don’t know exists.)

That exposure changed everything. I pivoted, pursued a completely different path for my master’s degree, and eventually took a leap of faith that landed me in New York City. That move expanded my horizon in ways I couldn’t have imagined back home.

It was exposure that gave me access.
It was access that gave me confidence.
And that confidence helped me create a life beyond the blueprint.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how limited exposure — shaped by our environments, cultural norms, or access — can quietly hold back our growth.

It happens in life. It happens in leadership.

And it is definitely happening with AI.

👉🏽 If you weren’t taught to explore new tools…
👉🏽 If you didn’t grow up seeing people like you in tech or other professional spaces…
👉🏽 If your company still treats AI as a far-off experiment…

You’re not behind. But you may be on the edge of the divide.

The digital divide is no longer just about access to hardware or Wi-Fi.

It is about the invisible gap between those who are building comfort and confidence with AI and those who are waiting for permission.

Let’s stop waiting. Let’s get learning.

THIS WEEK'S INSIGHTS:

AI adoption is exposing a new kind of divide: not just digital but emotional and cultural.

This week, we’re naming the gap between exposure and action and offering practical ways to build your AI confidence, no coding (or perfection) required.

Inside this edition:

• Why the confidence gap around AI isn’t about intelligence. It’s about exposure

• Three limiting beliefs that might be holding you back, and the mindset shifts to move past them

• Beginner-friendly AI tools you can use today to save time and clarify your thinking

• A simple prompt framework to make AI relevant to your actual role and responsibilities

• One insider Pro Tip to help you align AI with your real priorities, not just your to-do list

TRENDS: The AI Shift 

The AI confidence gap is real, and it is reinforcing inequality.

A recent Pew Research Center study found that only 27% of U.S. adults report interacting with AI daily. This suggests that most people do not yet experience AI as a seamless part of life.

Meanwhile, just 16% of American workers say they are currently using AI tools at work, according to another Pew study.

And while only 17% of the general public believes AI will have a positive impact over the next 20 years, 56% of AI experts hold the opposite view, as shown in this comparison of public and expert perspectives.

This gap is not about intelligence. It is about habit, exposure, and cultural confidence.

The World Economic Forum has echoed this concern. Without intentional learning and access strategies, AI will widen existing disparities across race, class, and gender.

What this means: people-first leaders must focus not only on deploying AI but also on demystifying it. Because until your team sees themselves in the future, they will not prepare for it.

TIPS: Limiting Beliefs → Empowered Shifts

To lead in the age of AI, we have to unlearn a few old scripts, especially the ones that make us feel small, stuck, or late to the party.

Let’s rewrite them:

Limiting Belief:
“I’m afraid to experiment and waste time with AI tools because I’ve always had to be twice as good just to be seen. What if I get it wrong?”

Empowered Shift:
You already know how to navigate high standards. Now give yourself permission to explore without perfection. Curiosity is not a liability. It is a leadership edge.

How AI Helps:
You can experiment privately with tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, or Gemini using your own real-life tasks. Begin with low-stakes activities, such as rewording an email, summarizing a meeting, or creating a draft outline. These tools allow you to practice safely and build confidence over time.

Limiting Belief:
“If my organization hasn’t rolled out an AI policy, I shouldn’t mess with it.”

Empowered Shift:
You can explore safely within the tools and boundaries your company allows. Being proactive builds readiness. Don’t wait for a roadmap. Start paving your lane.

How AI Helps:
Use approved tools within your organization to support tasks you already do, like writing, organizing, researching, and planning. Even without a formal policy, many platforms are already available in your existing tech stack. Ask IT what’s allowed, and start there.

Limiting Belief:
“What’s the point? If I start now, I’ll still be behind.”

Empowered Shift:
Starting now puts you ahead of everyone still hesitating. It is not about being first. It is about becoming fluent when it matters.

How AI Helps:
AI rewards consistency, not speed. Even five minutes a day using AI to support your work builds fluency over time. Try asking, “How can I use you today to save 10 minutes on something I already have to do?” Progress comes from small, steady steps.

TOOLS: Try These Platforms + Prompts to Build Your AI Muscle

These tools do not require any coding or advanced tech skills. They help you think better, write faster, and communicate more clearly.

Tool: Perplexity
What it is: A research assistant powered by AI that provides sourced, contextual answers instead of generic search results.
Tip: Use it to prepare for presentations, analyze trends, or summarize long articles into bullet points. Ask, “What are three emerging AI trends in [industry] that I should know?”

Tool: AudioPen
What it is: A voice-to-text app that organizes your spoken thoughts into structured writing.
Tip: Try it while commuting or walking. Dictate meeting notes, draft talking points, or outline your next email without a keyboard.

Tool: Tango
What it is: A tool that automatically creates visual step-by-step guides as you complete digital tasks.
Tip: Use it to document internal workflows or train others on repeatable processes. Great for delegating or onboarding.

Pro Tip:
The real competitive edge is not just saving time. It is learning how to think through problems more clearly with the support of AI. When you use these tools to clarify your thinking, you amplify your leadership.

New Prompt Framework: Build Better Prompts with R.I.D.E.
Use this method to get more accurate and helpful results from any AI platform your company allows.

R — Role: Tell the AI who to act as (“You are a communications coach”)
I — Intent: Share the goal of the task (“Help me prep a talking point for my town hall”)
D — Details: Give key info, tone, length, or structure preferences
E — Example: Show a sample or reference point if you have one

Example Prompt:
You are an executive communications coach. Help me write a 3-minute opening story for my leadership team all-hands. The story should highlight the importance of experimentation and be written in a warm, authentic voice. Make it culturally aware and keep it under 300 words.

Bonus Prompts for Getting Started with AI at Work

Prompt 1: Workflow Discovery
You are a productivity coach. Help me identify one or two specific tasks I currently do in my role as a [job title] that could be improved with AI. I work in [department] and spend most of my time on [task description]. Recommend practical starting points using common AI tools, even if I’m new to them.

Prompt 2: Daily AI Starter Plan
You are a digital transformation advisor. I want to start using AI tools once a day to build confidence without feeling overwhelmed. Create a 5-day starter plan with one task per day that I can test using basic AI tools. Focus on simple, low-risk ways I can save time, improve output, or gain clarity in my current workflow.

Reminder:
You can use all of these prompts in any AI tool your organization approves, such as Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, or internal chatbots.

Before You Go…
👉🏽 What’s one task you do regularly that drains your time or energy? How can AI help?

Closing Thought

AI will not replace you. But someone who is more confident using it might outpace you.

In this next era of work, strategy matters more than struggle.

You do not have to hustle harder to stay relevant.

You just have to start using the tools that help you think, lead, and learn more clearly.

The time to learn is before the moment demands it.

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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