320 - How Moxie's COO built an AI strategy for a people business: Kate Connor, COO, Moxie

Kate Connor, Chief Operating Officer at Moxie Communications Group, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about how Moxie is adopting AI safely, why leaders should automate low-judgment work first, and how to embed AI into the culture without replacing human creativity, judgment, and relationships. ----  Sponsor Links:🔗 Learn more about SixFifty🔗 Learn more about Tilt at hellotilt.com/mpl🔗 Learn more about Beqom at beqom.com/mplMPL Links:🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.----  (19:14) Why AI Strategy Is Different in a People-Powered Agency(20:06) Automating Admin and Low-Judgment Work First(20:51) Using AI to Create More Time for Client Relationships and Storytelling(21:24) Bringing the Team Into the AI Roadmap Through Workshops(24:06) Why Moxie’s AI Approach Starts With Safety(24:35) Building an AI Use Policy With Cybersecurity and CTO Advisors(25:41) Why AI Belongs on the Strategic Roadmap(26:08) Being Transparent With the Team About AI Intentions(26:31) Positioning AI as an Extension of the Team(28:00) Running Team Workshops to Identify What Should Be Automated(29:05) Building Proprietary Tools for Problems Off-the-Shelf Platforms Cannot Solve(30:38) Messaging AI as an Expander, Not a Replacement(32:31) GEO Optimization and the Future of PR(34:07) Monthly AI Hackathons and Learning From the Team(34:43) Why AI Cannot Stay With the Leadership Team(35:22) When to Build Custom AI Tools Instead of Buying Off-the-Shelf(39:08) Culture as the Feeling and Energy People Associate With a Company(39:43) Building People Programs Around Real Business Needs(44:19) Why Moxie Has Strong Retention(48:43) Listening to the Team to Build Better Retention Programs(51:03) Career Advice: Understand What AI Means for Your Job---- 📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn---- Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.