AI Agents, Automation & the Future of Work | Joy Rowland on Building Smart Businesses with Virtual Employees

Business owners and professionals are overwhelmed—emails, calls, and endless repetitive tasks leave no time for innovation. Meanwhile, AI is advancing at lightning speed, threatening to replace entire job sectors. How can you stay relevant and use technology to your advantage instead of being replaced by it?

IBM just saved over $3.5 billion using AI agents. Amazon has replaced over 14,000 decision-making roles with AI. It’s not science fiction—it’s happening now. Those who resist risk being left behind. But for those who embrace it, AI isn’t a threat—it’s the ultimate competitive edge.

In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Joy Rowland, founder of Clairecroft and AI strategist, to talk about how she helps companies and entrepreneurs deploy intelligent AI voice and task agents that save time, boost profits, and work 24/7. Joy shares her inspiring journey from Nigeria to the UK to Canada—and how she turned her tech background into a mission to help others “AI-proof” their careers and automate success.

Key Takeaways:

• How Joy went from immigrant to IT consultant to AI founder.

• Why IBM and Amazon’s AI investments are transforming business efficiency.

• The difference between simple automation and true AI intelligence.

• Why every business—from medspas to corporations—can benefit from AI agents.

• How AI can book appointments, close sales, and send personalized invoices automatically.

• The risks and opportunities of the 2026 AI adoption boom.

• How to identify the 80% of your business that can be automated today.

• The importance of “AI-proofing” your career with new, in-demand skills.

• Why burnout disappears when tech handles what you don’t love doing.

• How Joy’s company, Clairecroft, is helping businesses adopt WatsonX and IBM’s AI systems.

About the Guest:

Joy Rowland — a mentor, speaker, and top-ranked podcast host who went from surviving childhood abuse and poverty to creating the life she once only dreamed of.

Through her journey of rebuilding confidence, overcoming imposter syndrome, and learning to grow through community, Joy now helps women 40+ reinvent themselves emotionally, socially, and financially.

She brings warm, insightful, and action-oriented conversations that help women stop waiting — and start becoming.

Links:

https://www.joyrowland.com/

https://www.facebook.com/joyrowlandx

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyrowland/

https://www.youtube.com/@JoyRowlandx

https://www.instagram.com/joy.rowland_

Fast Five Questions:

1. If you woke up and your business was gone, you have $500, a laptop, a place to live, and food, what would you do first? “I’m going to go find a business and build an AI voice agent for them. I know if I can do that, I’ll make all my money back and more.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Thinking there was a secret to success. There isn’t. Successful people just fail faster, keep adapting, and never stop moving.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “The Science of Getting Rich. It changed how I see wealth creation. Manifestation means nothing without action.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “ChatGPT. I’ve trained it to know my voice, my goals,...