What does it mean to stay human and relevant as an independent consultant in an AI-powered world?In this episode of The Wize Ones, master storyteller and global consultant Donna Griffit joins Puja Bharwani, co-founder of Wizly to unpack the journey of transforming narrative into capital and wisdom into scalable IP.

From coaching startups to raise over $2B, to creating pitch-perfect stories that resonate with both investors and audiences, Donna shares how she’s embraced AI as a creative partner and not a replacement. The conversation explores the evolution of storytelling, the rise of the “wisdom economy,” and how solo consultants can scale their expertise through tools like AI Twins and her own GPT-powered “Deck Check” system.

For founders and independent consultants and domain leaders learning how to, scale your knowledge business and redefine your value in an AI-first world, this episode is a masterclass in balancing intuition with innovation.

💡 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wize Ones on your favorite podcast platform for more insights from top knowledge professionals. If you would like to continue the conversation with either of our guests, you can chat with their Wizly Knowledge Twins.

Donna’s Twin:https://askwizly.ai/donna-griffit

Puja’s Twin: https://askwizly.ai/puja-bharwani

The Wize Ones podcast features industry pioneers sharing transformative insights on AI-enabled work, future-proof business strategies, and unlocking the full potential of your knowledge. We learn from the best and understand market shifts and trends as they are happening.

Powered by Wizly (⁠askwizly.ai⁠) : Become Limitless

[03:00] From drama therapy to pitch decks
[22:08] Why most startup stories fall flat
[26:15] AI & Expertise
[33:45] The origin of Deck Check
[34:15] Writing with ChatGPT
[37:20] How independent professionals can stay ahead of AI

Gokul Rajaram, a renowned product leader and investor—shares his insights on the evolving AI landscape, startup success strategies, and the future of product management. Hosted by Amit Fulay, VP of Product at Microsoft, this conversation covers how AI is shifting from model training to enterprise adoption, why founders must master hiring and fundraising, and the key ingredients to building a scalable company.

Gokul dives deep into what makes a startup’s AI moat defensible, how to articulate risk to investors, and the importance of product-led growth in today’s market. Whether you're a founder, investor, or product leader, this episode is packed with tactical advice on navigating AI disruption, hiring top talent, and leveraging storytelling for startup success.

What You Will Learn:

✅ The biggest shifts in AI and startup funding

✅ How to build a defensible moat in AI

✅ Why hiring and team credibility matter more than ever

✅ The role of narrative in securing funding

✅ How AI startups should focus on enterprise adoption over model training

✅ The evolving role of product managers in the AI era

Episode Highlights:

[04:12] – Scale vs. efficiency: How DeepSeek reshaped AI

[08:45] – AI startups don’t need massive capital, they need better tools

[12:00] – The real moat in AI: Private data & complex workflows

[19:02] – Why great founders deeply understand customer pain points

[21:53] – If you’re not aiming for 10x growth, you’re already behind

[30:06] – Founders must spend 20-30% of their time hiring

[26:54] – The evolution of product managers: Why prototyping is essential

[35:54] – "Get on the rocket ship—figure out your seat later."

💡 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wize Ones on your favorite podcast platform for more insights from top knowledge professionals. If you would like to continue the conversation with either of our guests, you can chat with their Wizly Knowledge Twins.

Gokul Rajaram- https://askwizly.ai/gokul-rajaram

Amit Fulay-https://askwizly.ai/amit-fulay

The Wize Ones podcast features industry pioneers sharing transformative insights on AI-enabled work, future-proof business strategies, and unlocking the full potential of your knowledge. We learn from the best and understand market shifts and trends as they are happening.

What truly sets us apart? The conversation doesn't end when the episode does. Through Wizly's ecosystem, you can continue engaging with our guests via their AI Knowledge Twins and other knowledge assets—intelligent digital extensions that provide their expertise on-demand. Unlike traditional business podcasts, we don't just discuss ideas—we make expertise accessible.

Imagine having 24/7 access to the minds that are reshaping industries. That's The Wize Ones experience—where knowledge transcends time constraints and becomes truly limitless.

Powered by Wizly (⁠askwizly.ai⁠) : Become Limitless

https://askwizly.ai/

Aki Taha, a former Google, Uber, and Netflix talent expert turned founder of Talent Stories. Aki through his conversations with Samir Khadepaun, Founder of Wizly, shares his insights on how the future of work is evolving, why traditional hiring models are breaking, and how leaders can attract and retain top talent in a decentralized world.

💡 Enjoyed this episode?

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Wize Ones on your favorite podcast platform for more insights from top operators, VCs, and founders. If you found value, leave us a review—it helps us reach more listeners like you!

What You Will Learn:

Why the gap between business needs and employee expectations is growing

How talent practitioners can bridge the gap between leadership and employees

The shift from corporate careers to independent work and portfolio careers

How Silicon Valley's unique culture fosters rapid innovation

Why clarity and flexibility are the future of hiring.

Highlights:

[05:23] The personal story that led Aki into talent strategy

[08:43] The biggest tension between business leaders and employees.

[14:20] Why startups struggle with scaling culture

[19:06] The difference between founders who value talent and those who don’t

[26:31] How companies evolve and what happens when they don’t

[33:46] The biggest shifts in how people are working today

[44:50] How to embrace career uncertainty and take control of your path

The Wize Ones podcast features leading operators, subject matter experts, VCs, and founders interviewing each other to reveal insights into how they built and scaled their products, software, and ideas. We speak to the top 5% of people in the world of GTM to get first-hand insights, case studies, and real-life examples of what worked and what didn't.

This podcast is produced byWizly and powered by its global community of professionals. Wizly is an AI-powered platform that helps experts organize, scale, and monetize their knowledge.