AI Tools That Reduce Burden and Restore Dignity

Hi everyone, This week on Lead The Machine, I spoke with Dakota Koontz, Executive Director at Housing Heroes Hub, about what it takes to lead inside broken systems, and how AI can reduce the load for leaders who carry too much. Now… this may seem counter to my consistent advice to fix broken processes first, rather than slap AI onto inefficient workflows. This is different. Dakota works with housing leaders who face rules layered on rules, outdated technology, and constant pressure to stay compliant while serving vulnerable communities. He also names the part leaders rarely say out loud. The job includes heavy emotional labor. Leaders manage tenants, staff, funding risk, and public scrutiny, often at the same time. These leaders aren’t in a position to fix government systems and regulations. They must adapt, ensure compliance and advocate for their constituents - while being overworked. We focus on that business problem and talk about the technology that can help. Dakota shares concrete ways teams use AI: * Convert long intake packets into digital forms. * Reduce back-and-forth with cleaner inputs. * Prepare for board, funder, and stakeholder conversations with mock dialogues. * Improve prompting with a standard operating procedure (SOP) mindset so output stays consistent. He also makes AI adoption accessible. He does not come from a traditional tech path. He invested the time, built skill through repetition, and taught thousands of people how to do the same. This episode focuses on clarity, dignity, and workload relief. It also shows how leaders can use AI as a tool while keeping the work human. Thanks for listening. Kirstin This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leadthemachine.substack.com