From Podcast to Practice: How Storytelling Helps Explain AI to Non-Technical Teams
I recently had the pleasure of joining Sheila Slick on her podcast Milestone Moments in Business and Leadership to talk about AI adoption and digital transformation. The experience was a reminder of how important the way we talk about AI is—especially when working with teams who don’t have a technical background.
One of the most powerful tools I’ve found as a generative AI consultant isn’t a piece of software—it’s storytelling.
Why Storytelling Matters in AI Consulting
When teams first explore AI tools, they often feel overwhelmed by technical jargon and unsure how it applies to their day-to-day work. Storytelling helps bridge that gap. Instead of jumping into feature lists or complex architectures, stories offer a way to ground ideas in something concrete, relatable, and human.
This might mean:
Framing AI solutions around real-world challenges your team is facing.
Sharing case studies in a narrative format (challenge → solution → outcome).
Focusing on impact, rather than implementation, in early conversations.
By turning abstract concepts into stories, we make AI more accessible—and far less intimidating.
Making It Practical
Whether I’m running a workshop, conducting discovery interviews, or preparing client resources, I try to keep this principle in mind: people don’t need to know how everything works. They need to know how it helps.
Storytelling supports that by:
Helping teams envision themselves in the solution.
Building trust by showing a clear path from problem to progress.
Encouraging creative thinking without pressure to become technical experts.
Want to Hear More?
You can catch my recent appearance on Milestone Moments in Business and Leadership wherever you listen to podcasts. We talk about what it takes to adopt AI in a thoughtful, sustainable way—and how good communication can make all the difference.
