Most business leaders don't need more AI tools. They need to know where to start. Host Swati talks with Shanzila Ahmed, co-founder of ReachLLM, about separating real value from AI hype and what generative engine optimization actually means for how brands get found.
Shanzila shares why so many teams resist change, how AI can quietly trick you into trusting it more than it deserves, and how to build AI into your workflow without losing your footing along the way.
About the Guest:
Shanzila Ahmed is co-founder of ReachLLM, an AI visibility company helping brands get recommended inside tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Originally from Pakistan, she started her first venture as a teenager and later ran a flight catering startup before pivoting fully into AI and generative engine optimization (GEO).
Key Takeaways:
- AI isn't as smart as it feels. Set clear guardrails and feed it your own workflow data before expecting good results.
- Most resistance to AI adoption is emotional, not technical. Build trust with small, visible wins before asking for a bigger leap.
- Judge a new AI tool by one question: does this solve a task you already do, or is it just noise?
- When a tool underperforms, get specific about what actually failed (data, accuracy, safety) instead of writing off AI as a whole.
Connect With the Guest:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanzilaahmed/
Website (ReachLLM): https://www.reachllm.com/
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] Cold Open: Why "figuring out AI" feels harder than it should (approx.)
[02:30] Meet Shanzila Ahmed: from family hustle to founding ReachLLM (approx.)
[06:00] The Biggest AI Misconception: treating it as smarter than it is (approx.)
[11:00] Why Teams Resist Change: it's rarely about the technology (approx.)
[16:30] What Good AI Use Actually Looks Like Day to Day (approx.)
[21:30] Cutting Through the Noise: deciding what's worth your time (approx.)
[26:00] When a Tool Doesn't Work: turning setbacks into direction (approx.)
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