Tony Evans spent over a decade at Meta working across technology, marketing, and leadership. He’s now the author of Generation AI and founder of his own AI company Onv.ai.

He focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, people, and organizational change.

In this conversation, Tony and Margot discuss why AI reveals more about a company’s culture than its tech stack, what’s actually holding back adoption in large organizations, and how leaders can navigate the cultural and generational tensions AI is surfacing. From executive fear to junior overconfidence, this episode dives into the human realities shaping the AI era at work.

You will learn:

• Why AI acts as a mirror, exposing organizational weaknesses in data, culture, and process
• How misalignment on basic definitions—like “customer”—can stall AI adoption
• Why AI is less about tools and more about mindset, learning, and trust
• What leaders need to understand about using AI personally and professionally
• How generational differences in AI use can create tension—and how to turn it into collaboration
• Why investing in team learning and collective intelligence matters more than ever

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:15 Why Tony wrote Generation AI

03:00 How AI mirrors organizational strengths and flaws

06:00 What leaders get wrong about AI adoption

09:00 Should executives be trained in AI?

12:30 Why mindset shifts matter more than technical skills

16:00 Personal use of AI vs. organizational adoption

20:00 The hidden risks of banning AI tools

24:00 Gamification, prompting, and learning at all levels

28:00 The AI generation gap: juniors vs. executives

33:00 How to foster trust and reverse mentorship

38:00 What great leadership looks like in the AI era

44:00 Final takeaway

CONNECT AND SUBSCRIBE:

Learn more about Tony Evans: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetonyevans/

Subscribe to The AI Social Club Podcast for more conversations with AI & data leaders

Website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7d3XmTgIhXqim1r63a1yWH

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-social-club/id1793045703

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-bletterie/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/

If you found this episode valuable, like, share, and comment.

It helps us reach more people and spark thoughtful conversations on AI and society.

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You would like to be a sponsor of the AI Social Club? Contact us on LinkedIn

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• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaisocialclub/

Find out more about The AI Social Club on our website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

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What will marketing teams look like in a world where AI agents handle execution and humans focus only on strategy and creativity?

In this episode, Margot Bletterie speaks with Mohit Lodha, founder of Takumi, an AI consulting company helping brands implement real, ROI-driven AI solutions.

With 20 years of experience in marketing across agencies and global brands, Mohit shares a grounded and practical view of how AI is transforming the industry.

If you’re a marketer, CMO, founder, or creative professional trying to make sense of AI’s impact on your work, this conversation will give you clarity, direction, and concrete next steps.

What you will learn

•Why AI is supercharging marketing instead of replacing marketers, and how it reshapes creativity and strategy

•The future role of the CMO and how marketing teams will evolve into fluid structures blending intuition and machine precision

•Which AI use cases already deliver value today: creative automation, personalization, and AI agents

•Why most companies stay stuck in experimentation and how to move from pilot to scale

•How to protect creativity while embracing AI, and why prompting becomes a key creative skill

•Practical advice for junior and senior marketers to stay relevant in an AI-driven industry

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:12 When AI started changing marketing

02:06 What marketing will look like in 5 to 10 years

03:43 Are CMOs ready for AI?

06:18 Why AI adoption is still slow

08:40 The most valuable AI use cases today

15:13 How AI impacts creatives

22:32 How to scale AI inside organizations

32:24 Trends to watch and Mohit’s advice

Learn more about Mohit Lodha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohitlodha/

Subscribe to The AI Social Club Podcast for more conversations with AI and data leaders:

• Website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7d3XmTgIhXqim1r63a1yWH
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-social-club/id1793045703
• LinkedIn:
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-bletterie/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/

If you found this episode valuable, like, share, and comment - it helps us reach more people and spark honest conversations about AI and society.

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You liked this episode? Share it around you, like it on the podcasting platform, give us feedback !

You would like to be a sponsor of the AI Social Club? Contact us on LinkedIn

We are on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaisocialclub/

Find out more about The AI Social Club on our website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

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Onur Kece, founder and Chief Creative Officer of The Refreshment Club, joins Margot Bletterie to share how AI is radically changing creative work and why it’s time to stop fearing it.

With over 20 years in advertising, Onur breaks down how his agency uses generative AI not as a replacement, but as a creative amplifier.

From fast-moving cultural campaigns to ethical dilemmas, this episode is a masterclass in AI-powered marketing for those who care about original, disruptive work.

You’ll learn:

• How The Refreshment Club uses AI across strategy, ideation, and execution

• Why “topical advertising” helped generate a ROI for their in-house brand Heimstone

• How to make generative AI work without losing creative originality

• Why creative teams must shift from content factories to insight-driven storytelling

• What skills marketers need to stay relevant in the AI era

• Why the best ideas still come from humans—and how AI helps bring them to life

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

01:15 Why creatives fear AI—and how to overcome it

06:30 AI-powered 360 marketing

10:40 The real power of AI in insights and ideation

14:10 AI ethics, originality, and consumer perception

19:00 Building reactive, culturally relevant campaigns

24:00 Team structure and evolving creative roles

29:00 Advice for creatives: how to start with GenAI

33:30 Why AI puts creativity back in the spotlight

Learn more about Onur Kece: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onur-kece/

School of Future Fundamentals: https://sff.therefreshment.club/

The Refreshment Club: https://therefreshment.club/

Subscribe to The AI Social Club Podcast for more conversations with AI leaders:

• Website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7d3XmTgIhXqim1r63a1yWH

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-social-club/id1793045703

• LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-bletterie/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/

💡 If you found this episode insightful, please like, share, and comment, it helps spread these conversations further!

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You liked this episode? Share it around you, like it on the podcasting platform, give us feedback !

You would like to be a sponsor of the AI Social Club? Contact us on LinkedIn

We are on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaisocialclub/

Find out more about The AI Social Club on our website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How AI is transforming performance marketing in the Middle East – with Edouard Daou & Timothée Desormeaux (Acquisit)

How is AI revolutionizing performance marketing in one of the fastest-growing digital regions in the world?

In this episode of The AI Social Club, host Margot Bletterie sits down with Edouard Daou and Timothée Desormeaux, co-founders of Acquisit, to explore how brands across the Middle East are integrating AI and data-driven strategies to boost marketing efficiency, overcome data challenges, and reshape the future of creative and analytical teams.

They share the real-world transformations happening in agencies and brands — from automation and smart dashboards to AI-assisted analytics — and what leaders must do today to stay ahead.

⸻

You’ll learn:

🔹 What makes performance marketing in the Middle East unique — and how data and education still limit AI adoption

🔹 How Acquisit uses AI to accelerate insights, automate analysis, and improve ROI for clients

🔹 Real use cases where AI delivers measurable marketing value

🔹 Why trust and change management are key to successful AI integration

🔹 How AI will transform marketing teams, roles, and client relationships

🔹 What “agent-to-agent” marketing means and why CMOs should prepare now

⸻

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:15 What is performance marketing and how AI enhances it

04:00 Data challenges and opportunities in the Middle East

07:30 Education, talent, and skills gaps in AI marketing

10:15 How clients in MENA are adopting AI tools

13:00 Practical AI use cases delivering real value

17:30 Automating analysis and empowering marketing teams

21:00 How AI changes agency-client collaboration

25:00 Beyond marketing: building an AI-ready organization

30:00 The impact of AI on marketing roles and future skills

36:00 Opportunities and challenges in AI adoption

43:00 The future of performance marketing with AI

50:00 Final advice for CMOs and marketing leaders

⸻

CONNECT AND SUBSCRIBE

Learn more about Acquisit:

👉 https://www.acquisit.io/

Connect with the guests on LinkedIn:

🔹 Edouard Daou – https://www.linkedin.com/in/edouard-daou/

🔹 Timothée Desormeaux – https://www.linkedin.com/in/timoth%C3%A9e-desormeaux-4390862/

Subscribe to The AI Social Club for more conversations with AI & data leaders:

🌐 Website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7d3XmTgIhXqim1r63a1yWH

🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-social-club/id1793045703

💼 LinkedIn:

Margot Bletterie – https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-bletterie/

The AI Social Club – https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/

⸻

If you found this episode valuable, like, share, and comment — it helps us reach more people and spark the right conversations about AI, marketing, and innovation in business.

-

You liked this episode? Share it around you, like it on the podcasting platform, give us feedback !

You would like to be a sponsor of the AI Social Club? Contact us on LinkedIn

We are on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaisocialclub/

Find out more about The AI Social Club on our website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are AI agents, and why are they reshaping the way businesses think about productivity and the future of work?

In this episode of The AI Social Club, host Margot Bletterie sits down with Jean-Paul Sacy, regional leader at Wand, to demystify AI agents, cut through the buzzwords, and uncover what really matters when adopting AI in the enterprise world.

You will learn:

•What AI agents really are (beyond the hype)

•The 3 key components of any AI agent: cognitive engine, context, and tools

•Common misconceptions about generative AI and realistic productivity gains

•How to identify the right business use cases (and avoid the “shiny AI” trap)

•Why experimentation and failure are critical success factors in AI adoption

•The concept of hybrid workforces and how companies are redefining leadership roles

Whether you are a business leader, innovator, or AI enthusiast, this conversation is packed with insights on moving from experimentation to real enterprise value.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:15 Jean-Paul’s journey into AI and WandAI

03:20 What AI agents really are (explained simply)

06:30 Misconceptions and productivity impact

09:10 How to identify the right business use cases

12:45 Red flags and vendor lock-in risks

18:30 Hybrid workforces: humans + AI agents

23:40 Final advice: experiment, fail, and learn

CONNECT AND SUBSCRIBE:

Learn more about Jean-Paul Sacy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpsacy/

Subscribe to The AI Social Club Podcast for more conversations with AI & data leaders

- Website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7d3XmTgIhXqim1r63a1yWH

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-social-club/id1793045703

- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theAIsocialclub

- LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-bletterie/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/

/ the-ai-social-club

If you found this episode valuable, like, share, and comment!

It helps us reach more people and spark the right conversations on AI and society.

-

You liked this episode? Share it around you, like it on the podcasting platform, give us feedback !

You would like to be a sponsor of the AI Social Club? Contact us on LinkedIn

We are on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaisocialclub/

Find out more about The AI Social Club on our website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we use AI to protect and empower children in a rapidly changing digital world?

In this episode of The AI Social Club, host Margot Bletterie sits down with Maryam Ehsani, CEO and founder of Child Safe ME, ambassador of the AI Universal Council, and board member of ISPCAN (International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect).

With over 15 years of expertise in child protection and safeguarding, Maryam shares her vision on how AI can be both a powerful tool for education and safety, while also posing real risks if left unchecked.

This is a must-listen for parents, educators, policymakers, and tech leaders who want to understand how to balance innovation with responsibility when it comes to children and AI.

You will learn:

• How AI tools are transforming children’s learning experiences

• The role of AI in preventing online abuse and safeguarding children

• The biggest risks for kids growing up with AI, from deepfakes to cyberbullying

• Why parents must rethink digital literacy and “unlearn” old habits

• What schools, governments, and tech companies must do to protect the next generation

• Concrete advice for families on nurturing open conversations around AI

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:15 Why Maryam brought AI into child protection

02:32 Positive opportunities of AI for children’s learning

05:50 AI tools for safeguarding and online safety

07:30 Key risks parents need to know about

12:45 Deepfakes, cyberbullying, and digital footprints

16:30 The role of schools in guiding children with AI

21:45 Governments and AI education from early age

23:58 Tech companies’ responsibility in child protection

26:50 From what age should children be introduced to AI?

32:00 What makes Maryam optimistic about the future

33:50 Final takeaways for parents, educators, and policymakers

-

CONNECT AND SUBSCRIBE:

Learn more about Maryam Ehsani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryam-ehsani-0a149a6/

Subscribe to The AI Social Club Podcast for more conversations with AI & data leaders

Website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7d3XmTgIhXqim1r63a1yWH

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ai-social-club/id1793045703

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margot-bletterie/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/

If you found this episode valuable, like, share, and comment!

It helps us reach more people and spark the right conversations on AI and society.

-

You liked this episode? Share it around you, like it on the podcasting platform, give us feedback !

You would like to be a sponsor of the AI Social Club? Contact us on LinkedIn

We are on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaisocialclub/

Find out more about The AI Social Club on our website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is your AI strategy at risk because of outdated data governance? In this bonus episode of The AI Social Club, Joe Aoun breaks down why governance isn’t just a compliance checkbox—but the backbone of trustworthy, scalable AI.

Joe Aoun, data strategy leader and governance advocate, joins Margot to explore the often misunderstood but mission-critical role of data governance in the era of generative AI. Why do so many companies still get it wrong? And how can you move from rigid control to agile enablement—without losing trust, quality, or speed?

If you’re building AI responsibly, this is a must-listen.

🔹 You will learn:

• The real difference between data governance and data enablement—and why both matter
• Why traditional governance models fail in AI-driven environments
• How to create governance that’s usable, flexible, and doesn’t kill innovation
• What “AI governance” really means (hint: it’s not just a rebrand)
• The biggest operational mistakes companies make with data governance
• How to gamify governance and drive adoption through literacy and transparency

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:15 What is data governance vs data enablement?

03:04 Governance as creating safe spaces for innovation

05:30 Why overregulation kills productivity

07:20 AI governance: evolution or distraction?

09:45 Why most governance policies fail

11:36 Operationalizing governance: roles, KPIs & tools

13:22 Three scenarios of GenAI adoption in companies

16:07 Agile, iterative governance in action

17:45 How to get employees to follow the rules

18:50 Closing thoughts: why governance is leadership

🎧 Subscribe to The AI Social Club Podcast for more conversations with AI & data leaders

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/

-

You liked this episode? Share it around you, like it on the podcasting platform, give us feedback !

You would like to be a sponsor of the AI Social Club? Contact us on LinkedIn

We are on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaisocialclub/

Find out more about The AI Social Club on our website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is your company truly ready for AI? In this bonus episode of The AI Social Club, Margot Bletterie sits down with Joe Aout to explore what “AI readiness” really means and why so many businesses are jumping on the AI bandwagon without a strategy.

They break down a practical framework to assess if your company is genuinely prepared to integrate artificial intelligence, not just technologically, but culturally and operationally.

If you’re considering launching AI initiatives or scaling existing ones, this episode is packed with clarity and great advice.

We discuss:

🔹 How to assess AI readiness across 4 pillars: strategy, data, technology, and governance

🔹 Why “AI for the sake of AI” fails and how to avoid it

🔹 Common pitfalls when moving from AI pilots to scalable solutions

🔹 Real examples of bad vs. effective AI implementation

🔹 Why strong use cases and executive alignment matter more than flashy tools

🔹 The right sequence from proof of concept to proof of value to scale

Whether you’re an AI lead, data strategist, or business decision-maker, this is your playbook to make AI actually work in your company.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction

01:15 What does it mean to be "ready" for AI?

03:00 The 4 pillar framework for AI readiness

07:45 When AI is the wrong tool for the job

10:51 Starting small with POC, POV and scale strategy

13:37 Should you rush into AI or slow down

15:41 How to sequence use cases for compounding value

18:12 From pilot phase to real AI impact

🎧 Subscribe to The AI Social Club Podcast for more conversations with AI & data leaders

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club

🔗 Podcast: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

-

You liked this episode? Share it around you, like it on the podcasting platform, give us feedback !

You would like to be a sponsor of the AI Social Club? Contact us on LinkedIn

We are on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-ai-social-club/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaisocialclub/

Find out more about The AI Social Club on our website: https://www.thesocialclub.ai/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.