Beauty, Business, and AI: Charleston's Leading Ladies Share Their Stories

How are we doing? Who do you want to learn from next? Text us with notes and ideas.Artificial intelligence isn't just for tech giants anymore. Two Charleston-based entrepreneurs are proving that small businesses and traditional industries can harness AI's power to compete at unprecedented levels.Meet Tanqueray Edwards, owner of TR Edwards Consultancy, who specializes in empowering small to mid-sized businesses with strategic AI solutions. Her mission resonates deeply in South Carolina, where small businesses constitute approximately 94% of the state's economy. Rather than approaching AI as a blanket solution, Edwards works closely with clients to identify specific pain points and develop customized digital roadmaps that align with their business objectives. The results speak volumes – some clients report productivity gains equivalent to adding 2.5 full-time employees through strategic AI implementation.Alongside her sits Susannah Dellinger, CEO and founder of Bright Beauty Collective, who's revolutionizing how beauty brands enter major retailers like Sephora and Ulta across North America. Beyond her agency work, Dellinger demonstrates how business success and social responsibility can intertwine beautifully. Her company partners with One World Health to support healthcare initiatives, including underwriting Uganda's first neonatal center. As if running a successful beauty agency weren't enough, Dellinger also recently launched "fieldly," an innovative app that transforms field marketing management for brands.Both entrepreneurs challenge the common fear that AI will replace human workers. Instead, they view artificial intelligence as a complementary force that unlocks human potential and enables businesses to operate more efficiently. As Edwards succinctly puts it: "The AI train is leaving the station" – and Charleston's business owners would be wise to climb aboard. Whether you're struggling with operational inefficiencies, seeking to scale without massive hiring, or looking to maximize your team's impact, the insights shared in this conversation provide a practical roadmap for leveraging technology to transform your business landscape.South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) is a public, nonprofit organization that fuels South Carolina’s innovation economy by supporting technology-based startups, academic research, and industry partnerships. Through funding, coaching, and its investment arm SC Launch, SCRA helps early-stage companies grow, commercialize ideas, and scale within the state’s key innovation sectors.Support the showTitle Sponsor: Charleston American Marketing AssociationPresenting Sponsor: Charleston Media SolutionsAnnual Sponsor: ‪SCRA; South Carolina Research AuthorityQuarterly Sponsor: King and ColumbusCAMACast Cohosts: Stephanie Barrow, Mike Compton, Rachel Backal, Tom Keppeler, Amanda Bunting Comen, Silicon Harbor Hot Take Host: Stanfield Gray, https://digsouth.comProduced and edited: RMBO AdvertisingPhotographer | Co-host: Kelli MorseScore by:  The Strawberry Entrée; Jerry Feels Good, CURRYSAUCE, DBLCRWN, DJ DollaMenuStudio Engineer: Brian Cleary and Mathew ChaseYouTube...