Working With AI, Not Just On It: Lessons From Month Two at Improzo
From cultural icebreakers to podcast prep, here’s how AI is becoming a true personalized co-pilot—not just in pharma strategy, but in daily work and real connection.
I used to think of AI as a tool. Now I think of it as a teammate.
That shift has shaped nearly every part of my work since joining Improzo. From client communication to internal collaboration, from presentation prep to personal follow-ups—AI isn’t just accelerating the work, it’s reshaping how we think about doing it.
Here are three reflections from month two of startup speed (and because I’m an overachiever, I added a bonus insight too)!
1. AI for Connection, Not Just Content
When I had my first kickoff meeting with our Pune-based team, I wanted more than a generic icebreaker. I asked GPT for cultural context and ideas, and ended up with a conversation starter that resonated deeply. It helped me show up more thoughtfully across time zones and built instant rapport. I asked the team to come up with their best Puneri “personal dashboard” of metrics. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the team and if they would engage with this premise, but I trusted my GPT co-pilot. And then the magic of common ground happened. When we talked about the best breakfast foods and where to find them (and whether there should be fresh sprouts in Misal Pav), the challenging commute timing, and the number of amazing places to visit, Pune didn’t seem so different from Boston.
This wasn’t about automation. It was about empathy—powered by AI.
2. Personalized at Scale (Yes, Really)
After announcing my new role, I wanted to thank every person who reached out. Likes, comments, DMs—I appreciated them all. But I also knew a mass “thank you” post wouldn’t cut it for the level of gratitude I wanted to send out to everyone who gave me such support.
So, I stitched together a system: an AI-driven scrape of my LinkedIn engagement, some prompt-powered message drafting, and a healthy dose of manual personalization. The result? Dozens of messages that felt real, not robotic. AI handled the grunt work. I handled the gratitude. And AI freed me up to really spend my energy where it makes the most impact—engaging with my friends and colleagues in a meaningful way.
3. Building (and Branding) With AI
Improzo is so new, and we want to think about where we can share our amazing story and impact, but on a pretty modest budget. No Super Bowl ads are in our future (but if you wanted to gift me one, I’m on it!) Part of my role, given the centrality of data and analytics with our brand, is to develop our external marketing voice. So, I am so excited to announce that we have a new podcast almost here—name pending, intro in progress, guests being lined up. Behind the scenes? It’s been part GPT, part Google, part generous friends (looking at you, Malcolm Hawker and Val Kroll). From scripting the teaser to choosing the right mic setup, AI’s been a co-pilot at every turn.
4. Bonus project—my very own “Jane Data Urban” GPT
I couldn’t keep talking about agentic AI without going on the journey to make my own! (I’m a huge fan of walking the talk!) I’ve been building my first custom GPT to help me write and think in my own voice and accelerate my ability to communicate. The more I write, the more I can refine the value the GPT provides for me. It’s early days, but this GPT co-pilot is already changing how I approach content creation and has given me the boost to start this whole Substack journey. Oh, how did I get started building? Well, I just asked GPT, “How do I build my own GPT?” Meta, I know.
Takeaway
AI isn’t just speeding up our work. It’s expanding what’s possible—with more nuance, more humanity, and maybe even more joy.
Question for You: What’s one part of your workflow that could be more human if AI helped you do it better?
Thanks for reading. If this sparked a thought, hit reply or leave a comment. And follow along for more monthly dispatches from the data front lines.