Talks and workshops on building with AI.
I speak from the builder's side of the table: what actually happened, what it cost, and what held up once real people used it. At AI Business Breakfast in Columbia, the room brought its worst recurring tasks and we built fixes on the spot.
What do you speak about?
Building with AI from the operator's side: how to build an AI chief of staff, why the process gets fixed before anything is automated, and why software built for one business is suddenly affordable. Every topic comes from work I've done myself.
- I built an AI chief of staff (you can too). What an AI chief of staff actually is, the one rule that makes it safe, and three no-code builds to start this week, with the prompts and a 30-day plan to go with them.
- Bring your worst task. Everyone brings the recurring task they hate most, and we fix it on the spot.
- The end of one-size-fits-all software. Why software built for one business is suddenly affordable, and what companies should do about it.
- Lean before code. Fixing the process before you automate it, because technology applied to a broken process only makes the mess move faster.
- Building a channel from nothing. Taking a relationship-driven business online for the first time, and making the channel stick.
- AI in traditional industries. Image recognition, predicting breakdowns, and the difference between a demo and a system that actually runs the business.
What formats do you offer?
The format I've delivered is one hour: a talk, a live demo and a build clinic. I also take podcast and panel invitations, and the Build Your AI Chief of Staff class runs as a 2-hour live online build.
In the build clinic, we take the recurring tasks people brought and fix them right there in the room. The class goes further, and you leave with your own AI chief of staff. The date isn't set yet, and the waitlist hears first.
Where have you spoken?
At AI Business Breakfast #9 on August 5, 2026, at the REDI Office in Columbia, Missouri, as the guest speaker. The talk was on building an AI chief of staff.
Real questions, practical AI, real results, at 500 E Walnut, Suite 103, in Columbia. Sean Spence, who hosts the series, published a recap of the session. Closer to home, I co-founded Capital AI here in Jefferson City, for people who would like to learn and grow together.
What do attendees leave with?
The 30-Day AI Starter Plan, which was the handout from the talk: four weeks, no code, about twenty minutes to set up.
“Claude has already joined my Chief of Staff! Thanks, Shannon. Seeing you today is life changing.”
“Thanks to you, I have a fully developed and evolving Chief of Staff on Claude. Mary is connected to my calendar, email, and Google Drive. Just two minutes ago, she helped by catching a late notice for my Rotary dues, which I have now paid.”Sean Spence, host of AI Business Breakfast
How do I book you for an event in Missouri?
Send me the event, the audience and the date through the contact form with the topic set to speaking, or write to hello@shannonowens.com. I read every message myself and reply personally.
If you're planning something for business owners, AI for a small business shows the kind of ground a talk can cover. If it's consulting you're after, here's AI consulting in Missouri.
Or read the essays first, to get a sense of how I think.