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,...

For decades, hedge funds and elite private investments have been reserved for the wealthy few. Everyday investors are left out—limited by regulations, high fees, and lack of access to opportunities that could truly grow their wealth.

While millions chase average returns through ETFs and index funds, the world’s top funds continue to multiply fortunes for a select circle of insiders. Most people never get the chance to play the same game—until now.

In this episode, Jeff Kikel sits down with Justin Kuyper, founder of OpenVest, a revolutionary investment platform that brings hedge fund-level performance to everyday investors. Justin shares how his Wall Street background led him to create a low-cost, subscription-based investment model that uses advanced analytics, regulatory partnerships, and proprietary data to make high-performing strategies accessible to all.

Key Takeaways:

• How Justin’s Wall Street and Columbia MBA experience inspired OpenVest.

• Why traditional hedge funds exclude 99% of investors—and how OpenVest changes that.

• The power of data-driven investing and proprietary analytics.

• How OpenVest integrates with Interactive Brokers for secure, regulated trading.

• The role of liquidity and transparency in modern portfolio management.

• Why low-cost subscription models could redefine the investment industry.

• How OpenVest provides hedge fund-style returns with simple access through iOS and Google Play.

• Why real innovation in finance means breaking down barriers, not building them.

About the Guest:

Justin Kuyper, the Co-Founder & CEO of Openvest — a fintech platform that gives everyday investors access to the kinds of high-performing, alternative investment portfolios once reserved for the ultra-wealthy. A former hedge fund manager and Columbia MBA, Justin has managed to build Openvest from scratch into a disruptive force in the investment space — offering elite-style portfolios with no AUM fees and just a $300 minimum. Get ready to rethink what smart investing looks like

Links:

https://openvest.co/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-kuyper-a862b0103/

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’d do the same thing I did to start this business—it took less than $500 to begin. I’d run the same playbook again, from day one.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “Errors of omission—missing opportunities because I didn’t act fast enough. Palantir would be an example I overlooked that’s since skyrocketed.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “The Everything Store by Brad Stone. It’s an incredible look into the building of Amazon that you won’t find in any article or interview.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “Adobe InDesign. We use it daily for design and marketing—it’s powerful once you get past the learning curve.”

5. What is your definition of freedom? “Having more money coming in than going out so you can pursue your passions freely. It’s about having enough cash flow to live on your own terms.”

About Jeff:

Jeff spent the early part of his career working for others. Jeff had started 5 businesses that failed before he had his first success. Since that time he has learned the principles of a successful business and has been able to build and grow multiple seven-figure businesses. Jeff lives in the Austin area and is actively working in his community...

Most entrepreneurs start with big dreams but get trapped doing everything themselves—burning out on admin work, marketing tasks, and endless to-dos that steal the joy of running their business.

They want to scale but can’t afford full-time help. Hiring VAs feels risky and time-consuming. And trying to “do it all” often leads to exhaustion, poor results, and stalled growth.

In this empowering episode, Jeff Kikel talks with Joanna Zhang, founder of Operations Genie, about how she escaped the corporate grind as a financial planner to create a globally recognized, award-winning fractional VA model. Joanna reveals how her plug-and-play team system helps business owners grow faster, stay in their genius zone, and find freedom—without breaking the bank.

Key Takeaways:

• How Joanna went from corporate financial planner to entrepreneur and founder of Operations Genius.

• Why burnout and frustration pushed her to create a new model for business support.

• How her “fractional VA” system won global recognition for innovation

• Why energy management is more important than time management.

• The spiritual awakening that helped her align leadership, business, and purpose.

• How AI can empower—not replace—creative collaboration in business.

• Why building systems that support both growth and soul alignment is the future.

• The three layers of freedom: physical, emotional, and spiritual—and how to achieve them.

About the Guest:

Joanna Zhang is the award-winning founder of The Operations Genius and creator of the world’s first Fractional VA Service, a revolutionary approach to operational support that gives entrepreneurs the flexibility, accountability, and expertise they nee, without the overhead of a full-time or part-time team. Recently honoured with the 2024 Stevie International Business Award for innovation, Joanna has transformed the way small business owners and thought leaders scale sustainably.

She began her entrepreneurial journey not as a consultant, but by building a support team for her own ventures. Seeing how her systems, structure, and human-centred leadership could help others, she opened these resources to fellow entrepreneurs, creating a business model that marries operational precision with empathy and conscious leadership.

Links:

https://operationsgenius.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhang-joanna/

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 would first reflect on why my business was gone. Everything happens for a reason. If I can learn from it, I can grow. Then I’d ask, what value can I bring to others? I’d start again creatively and gratefully, because just being alive is already enough to begin.”

2. What is the biggest mistake that you have made in business? “I would first reflect on why my business was gone. Everything happens for a reason. If I can learn from it, I can grow. Then I’d ask, what value can I bring to others? I’d start again creatively and gratefully, because just being alive is already enough to begin.”

3. What is a book that you would recommend? “If you’re spiritual—Conversations with God. If you’re logical—The Power of Now. Both help you connect your mind, heart, and energy to reach your genius zone.”

4. What is a tool that you use every day that you would recommend? “My phone notepad. Simplicity is key. I capture ideas, images, and plans instantly—everything’s synced in the cloud so I can work...