Behind the Scenes With Builders, Investors, and Operators

If you’ve ever wondered how business leaders really talk about artificial intelligence when the cameras aren’t rolling, this is your backstage pass. Ahead of the “AI for Business Transformation” panel at WOW Summit, a diverse group (operator, builder, investor, strategist) sat down (virtually) to swap stories before taking the stage. The conversation quickly morphed into an unfiltered exploration of how AI is reshaping business, sometimes in unpredictable, thoroughly human ways.

The Oddball With a Notepad: Why Not Everyone Needs an AI Co-Pilot

The call kicked off with a laugh. “Guess everyone has an AI,” joked Jackee Wong, Operator and CMO at Leadsourcing. But Augustin Chan bucked the trend, confessing: “I’m like an oddball. I don’t use anything really. I have a notepad.” It’s a moment that captures the spectrum of AI adoption today; even among tech insiders, old-school tools and habits have their place.

Why? Sometimes, simplicity trumps sophistication. Not every problem needs neural networks; sometimes quick notes win out over complex automation. It’s a great reminder that AI is a tool, not a requirement. The best leaders know how to pick the right one for the job.

Operators, Builders, Investors, Strategists: How Our Roles Shape AI

Jackee, moderating the panel, spotted something powerful: “We have a builder, an investor, and I’m an operator. This is very interesting.” Each of the four panelists views AI through a different lens:

Jackee Wong (Operator): CMO of Leadsourcing; Works with 900 tech-focused companies, distilling complex intent signals into real business outcomes for founders, VCs, and agencies.
Augustin Chan (Builder): CTO of Digital Rain; Has seen enterprise software before AI, now builds innovative B2C products using AI-powered stacks and philosophical frameworks like the I Ching.
Chris Chan (Investor): Partner of ZB Capital; Specializes in scaling SMEs, deploying agentic automation for efficiency. Thinks beyond growth, focusing on how AI can cut costs fast and create portfolio synergy.
Hanis Harmiles (Strategist): CEO of Reinvent IP; Banked on digital transformation, now pioneers AI-powered IP risk assessment and agentic automation for creators and businesses.

It’s the classic “Swiss Army knife” analogy: same tool, different use cases.

The Real Bottleneck: Fear and Resistance (Not the Tech)

When the talk turned to roadblocks, Chris and Hanis didn’t mince words: “The biggest hurdle is human. Human beings, to be honest, because they’re afraid of being replaced.” Hanis agreed, pointing out that adoption challenges go far beyond technology. They’re about education, communication, and building trust in emerging tools.

Chris’s approach is pragmatic: “You’ve got 12 months to empower yourself. If you resist driving the EV, then too bad, you’re gone.” AI isn’t a replacement, but those who don’t adapt can be left behind. The car analogy rings true for any company facing disruption.

Lean Teams, Smart Tech: Where Growth Gets Easier

Jackee highlighted how AI has revolutionized manual prospecting and qualification for operators. “It takes far less resource than before to actually start and scale a business,” he noted, turning what used to be brute force work into precision targeting powered by intent signals and automation.

Hanis chimed in with her own experience: “Founders, do you need a large team? Or can you actually work around having just one or two employees, automating the rest with AI agents?” For her, automating operations meant going from a seven-person team to three, unlocking speed and focus that simply wasn’t possible before.

Mindset Over Mechanics: Transformation Is a Journey

Augustin reframed AI transformation as the latest evolution, no different from the move to digital back in the day. His practical advice? “Start small. Pick a domain like website call-to-action. Build a chat bot that’s grounded in references, and expand from there. That way, you cultivate competence and technical fluency at the team level.”

All agreed: transformation isn’t just about cutting costs. It’s about orchestrating collaboration and upskilling, not just deploying new tech.

Humans In The Loop: Why AI Needs Us More Than Ever

One myth surfaced: the notion that AI will eliminate the need for people. Augustin pushed back, emphasizing the continuing need for human oversight. “AI can generate multiple content styles, but you still need orchestration, a human in the loop. The role shifts from ground-level execution to high-level abstraction and management.”

The takeaway? Leaner teams, sure: but with new skill sets rooted in abstraction, critical thinking, and system design.

Collaboration and Natural Synergy

As the call wrapped, Jackee saw clear synergy in how Leadsourcing naturally connects with builders, investors, and strategists. The conversation reinforced that cross-disciplinary thinking drives meaningful AI adoption, from risk mitigation and brand protection to growth hacking and investment.

Hanis announced her company’s rebranding, underscoring just how fast things are moving, even the week of the panel.

What We Learned: Actionable Lessons for the Next AI Wave

AI is a tool, not a mandate. Use it where it fits, but the simplest solution is often best.
Human resistance is real. Overcome it with education, empathy, and clear value.
Lean, competent teams beat big, inefficient ones. Scale with automation, but invest in developing new skillsets.
Transformation is iterative. Start with small, grounded projects before expanding to the big leagues.
Humans are indispensable. Orchestration and oversight create trust and maintain value.

Final Word: AI, Business, and the Value of Conversation

This wasn’t just a pre-panel briefing: it was a model for real, candid collaboration in the age of AI. If your company is navigating digital transformation, take these lessons to heart. Growth hinges on smart technology, empowered teams, and a culture open to learning and change.

Ready to evolve? Start with a conversation. Sometimes the real breakthroughs begin before the panel even starts.