Getting Started with AI: What to Do First, What to Avoid, and How to Win Quick with Josh Einstein, ConRes

In this episode, Tonya sits down with Josh Einstein, Cloud Architect, Software Developer, and AI Engineer at ConRes IT Solutions. With over two decades of experience spanning the dot-com boom, telecommunications, and now artificial intelligence, Josh has built solutions for emerging technologies long before they hit the mainstream. Today, he helps organizations design and deploy the next generation of AI-powered systems—and he’s here to share how IT leaders can take the first real step toward practical, measurable AI success. Together, Tonya and Josh tackle one of the most urgent questions facing IT leaders today: Where do we even start with AI? Boards are asking for strategies, budgets are tightening, and the pressure to “do AI” is mounting. But without a clear playbook, many pilots stall or fail before ever reaching production. Josh breaks down how to identify the right use case, test it within 90 days, and deliver the kind of results that executives actually care about. Through grounded insights and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to turn AI hype into sustainable business outcomes—without betting the company on your first project. You’ll learn:The key difference between doing AI and solving business problems with AIHow to spot your first high-impact use case (and what to avoid)The 90-day roadmap for testing an AI pilot and proving ROI fastWhy most AI pilots fail—and how to avoid the top traps around data quality, scope, and governanceThe role of security, compliance, and human oversight in responsible AI adoptionHow to measure outcomes that matter to the board—like hours saved, errors reduced, and dollars addedWhy AI should never be treated as just an IT project (and who really needs to be at the table)The myth of “AI replacing programmers” and what jobs will actually look like in the next wave of tech Important Links:https://app.technologymatch.com/solutions/ai-engagements