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Home>Blog>Podcast>AI as a Culture Shift: Building Smarter Businesses and Communities with Leon Coe | Episode #0022

AI as a Culture Shift: Building Smarter Businesses and Communities with Leon Coe | Episode #0022

  • 2025-08-15
  • Posted by: Brad Groux
  • Category: Podcast
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AI as a Culture Shift: Building Smarter Businesses and Communities

What does it mean to build an AI-first culture, not just in your business, but across an entire community?

In this episode, Brad Groux and Robert Groux sit down with Leon Coe, founder of Houston AI Club and co-founder of AmplifyIntelligence.ai, to explore how artificial intelligence is moving beyond tools and into mindsets, teams, and everyday workflows.

Whether you’re running a small business, launching a startup, or organizing local meetups, Leon brings a rare blend of practical insights and visionary thinking on how AI is reshaping how we collaborate, create, and grow.

From Passive Users to AI-Native Leaders

One of the most important takeaways from the episode is that AI is no longer something you “use,” it’s something you must embed.

“Most people aren’t dealing with a tech gap. They’re dealing with a mindset gap.”

Leon breaks down the importance of experimentation and personalization when onboarding tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or open-source LLMs. He encourages business leaders to treat AI like a team member, not a gimmick, build context, iterate, and keep it close to your strategic goals.

Inside Houston’s AI Movement

Through Houston AI Club, Leon has helped spark a vibrant, rapidly growing AI community, creating events, demos, and educational sessions that bring developers, marketers, entrepreneurs, and educators into the same room.

His goal? Make AI accessible, collaborative, and exciting, especially for those just starting their journey.

“A lot of people think AI is intimidating. But once they see a real-world use case or meet someone just like them who’s already doing it, it clicks.”

We talk about:

  • How Houston AI Club became one of the fastest-growing AI communities in the U.S.
  • What types of events draw the most engagement and why
  • How to replicate this kind of momentum in other cities

Building Amplify Intelligence: A Startup Fueled by AI

Leon also shares the story of co-founding Amplify Intelligence, a company focused on using AI to help businesses solve operational problems, automate processes, and augment human creativity.

We dive into:

  • How AI can help small teams operate like large enterprises
  • Where most companies go wrong with AI implementation
  • Why process documentation is the first domino to fall
  • How AI can help you turn SOPs into actionwith tools like Zapier, n8n, and custom agents

Final Takeaways: Community > Hype

This episode is a reminder that AI isn’t about the next flashy tool, it’s about community, intention, and iteration.

Leon’s advice is simple but powerful:

  • Start smallby automating one task
  • Build communityaround shared learning
  • Use AI to amplify human strengths, not replace them

At Digital Meld, we believe that staying curious and thinking boldly is the best way to lead through change. New SSTB episodes are released every Friday across all major podcast platforms (direct links below), with video available on Spotify and YouTube. Follow and subscribe to empower your AI journey!

Summary

In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, hosts Brad and Robert Groux engage with Leon Coe, founder of Houston AI and Amplify Intelligence. They discuss the rapid growth of the Houston AI community, the importance of AI in small businesses, and the cultural shifts necessary for successful AI adoption. Leon shares his journey in AI, insights on transforming workflows, and practical strategies for leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity. The conversation also touches on the future of AI in education and the need for continuous learning in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Keywords

AI, Houston AI, small business, AI adoption, AI community, AI tools, business transformation, AI education, productivity, technology

Takeaways

  • The Houston AI community has grown significantly in just six months.
  • AI should be viewed as an augmentation technology, not just automation.
  • Small businesses need to focus on their financials to identify AI opportunities.
  • Cultural shifts are essential for successful AI adoption in organizations.
  • Recording meetings can drastically improve communication and efficiency.
  • AI tools can help individuals become more productive and creative.
  • Education systems need to adapt to incorporate AI learning.
  • AI can facilitate better relationship management in businesses.
  • The future of work will require continuous learning and adaptation to new technologies.
  • AI can empower individuals to start their own businesses with fewer resources.

Titles

  • Building AI Communities: The Houston AI Experience
  • Transforming Business with AI: Insights from Leon Coe

Sound Bites

  • “Start small, think big.”
  • “AI can teach you a lot.”
  • “Don’t automate, obliterate.”

Resources

Chapters

00:00 Building AI Communities: The Houston AI Club Journey

02:50 The Evolution of AI: From Voice to Conversational Intelligence

05:18 AI in Sales: Transforming Communication with GPT-3

08:00 Adopting AI in Small Businesses: A Cultural Shift

10:56 Empowering Founders: The Role of Leadership in AI Adoption

13:33 Enhancing Productivity: Speech-to-Text and Meeting Recordings

16:25 Cultural Resistance: Overcoming Fear of AI and Recording Meetings

19:30 The Future of Work: Embracing AI for Creativity and Innovation

29:07 Cultural Shifts in AI Adoption

33:24 Empowering Employees Through AI

38:33 Education and AI for Future Generations

40:52 Identifying Cost-Saving Opportunities with AI

45:35 Rapid Fire Insights on AI Tools and Trends

57:15 The End

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