For more on building AI products and careers, along with early course announcement and special pricing, subscribe to the AI Career Boost mailing list at https://aicareerboost.com/interested

THE GUEST

Anne Cantera is the founder of Elementyl Intelligence, where she helps organizations turn AI from a buzzword into practical, production-ready products and systems. With expertise spanning conversational AI, voice AI, enterprise AI agents, conversation design, and AI product strategy, she has led large-scale AI initiatives across industries including legal technology, telecommunications, and healthcare. She is also the creator of Voice of AI, a free learning platform that helps designers, product managers, developers, and other professionals build practical AI skills for today's rapidly changing job market; and an active member of the Agentics Foundation community. Drawing on both technical and business experience, Anne brings a pragmatic perspective on what it really takes to build AI products that people trust and use.

THE SUMMARY

In this episode of AI Product Leader, Anne and Polly explore what separates successful AI initiatives from the many projects that struggle to deliver value. They discuss why simply adding generative AI to an existing product isn't a strategy, how user experience and conversation design play a critical role in AI adoption, and why organizations need to think beyond technology to build systems that work across voice, chat, human support, and other customer touchpoints. Anne also explains why enterprise AI projects often fail before they begin and how the right planning and expertise can save both time and money.

The conversation also looks at the future of AI careers and product development. Anne shares why she launched Voice of AI to make AI education accessible, the practical skills she believes professionals should be learning today, and how AI is reshaping opportunities for designers, product managers, and developers alike. Finally, she offers her perspective on where AI is heading next. From adaptive user interfaces and personal AI assistants to the growing importance of trust, security, and building products that people genuinely want to use. Whether you're leading AI initiatives, building AI products, or preparing for the next stage of your career, this episode offers practical insights grounded in real-world experience.

THE SHOW

Weekly conversations with the AI’s top product leaders. Join Polly Allen as she discovers the paths to success in the world of AI.

THE LINKS

Have a question you want us to answer? Send it through to support@aicareerboost.com

Anne Cantera
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-cantera/

My links
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pollymallen/⁠
AI Career Boost: ⁠https://www.aicareerboost.com/⁠

For more on building AI products and careers, along with early course announcement and special pricing, subscribe to the AI Career Boost mailing list at https://aicareerboost.com/interested

THE GUEST

Kirstin Maurer is a healthcare and AI product leader with more than 18 years of experience building enterprise software, digital health platforms, and AI-powered products. During her time at Truepill, she helped scale a $20M telehealth platform and introduced generative AI capabilities that reduced post-call documentation time by 75%. Today, she is the founder of ALS Care Companion, an AI platform designed to provide people living with ALS and their caregivers with trusted, accessible support 24/7. Drawing on both professional expertise and personal experience with ALS in her own family, Kirstin is building technology that addresses real-world healthcare challenges.

THE SUMMARY

In this episode of AI Product Leader, Kirstin shares how her family's experience with ALS inspired her to create ALS Care Companion, an AI-powered care navigation platform built from more than 67 trusted medical and advocacy sources. She explains why generative AI makes it possible for individuals to tackle meaningful problems that may not have been commercially viable just a few years ago, and why healthcare remains full of opportunities for AI to improve patient and caregiver experiences.

Kirstin also reflects on her own transition into AI, from casually using tools for research and brainstorming to diving deep into hands-on experimentation, taking courses, and launching a production system used by dozens of families. She discusses how building something tangible transformed her confidence, helped her secure her first director-level role, and gave her a compelling story to share in interviews.

Throughout the conversation, Kirstin offers practical advice for product leaders looking to grow their AI skills: choose a problem you genuinely care about, start building before you feel ready, and learn through experimentation. Whether you're trying to break into AI, advance your career, or create products with meaningful impact, this episode provides a candid look at what it takes to turn curiosity into real-world experience.

THE SHOW

Weekly conversations with the AI’s top product leaders. Join Polly Allen as she discovers the paths to success in the world of AI.

THE LINKS

Have a question you want us to answer? Send it through to support@aicareerboost.com

Kirstin Maurer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstin-hartos-maurer/
ALS Care Companion: https://www.linkedin.com/company/als-care-companion/
Empower Your Digital Journey: Cybersecurity Basics & AI Tools for the ALS Community: https://www.als.org/webinars/empower-your-digital-journey-cybersecurity-basics-ai-tools-als-community

My links
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/pollymallen/⁠
AI Career Boost: ⁠https://www.aicareerboost.com/⁠