Embracing Authenticity in the Age of AI: Meet Vladimer Botsvadze
Release Date: 02/03/2025
Building Emotional Intelligence in an Age of AI
On the Brink with Andi Simon
What Sets Humans Apart? Key lessons from my conversation with Dr. Robin Hills .As artificial intelligence accelerates and reshapes how we work, learn, and communicate, one question keeps resurfacing: What remains uniquely human? That was at the heart of my recent On the Brink conversation with Dr. Robin Hills, a business psychologist and one of the world’s leading voices on emotional intelligence. Our discussion offered both reassurance and challenge—especially for leaders navigating rapid change, generational shifts, and technology-driven uncertainty. Here are the key lessons that stood...
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Todd Nilson: Building Community That Actually Works (Online, Offline, and In Between)
On the Brink with Andi Simon
Humans need connection—not as a luxury, but as a foundation for thriving. Yet, in our hyper-connected world, loneliness persists. On this episode of On the Brink, I sat down with Todd Nilson, a community strategist with 25 years of experience in digital transformation and marketing for brands like Activision, Facebook, and SAP, to unpack what real community means and how to build it with intention. Who is Todd Nilson? Todd’s journey began in journalism, driven by an authentic curiosity about people and their stories. That passion evolved into a commitment to “building a bigger...
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In the Age of AI, Your Name Is Your Most Valuable Asset
On the Brink with Andi Simon
As artificial intelligence accelerates, many leaders, founders, and professionals are quietly asking the same question: Where do I still matter? If machines can write, analyze, summarize, and even “sound” human, what is left that cannot be automated? In this episode of On the Brink, I sat down with branding strategist and neuroscientist-turned-entrepreneur , co-founder of Brand Alchemy, to explore why a personal brand—not technology—is becoming the defining asset of the future. What emerged was a powerful reframing of branding—not as self-promotion, but as survival. Branding Isn’t...
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Oscar Barrera — How Business Anthropology Helped A Sourdough Company Grow
On the Brink with Andi Simon
What if the fastest route to meaningful growth isn’t about launching another ad campaign, hiring more salespeople, or optimizing your funnel? What if the real accelerator is simply listening—really listening—to what’s already happening around you? In this episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I had the pleasure of sitting down with —a brilliant corporate anthropologist and innovation strategist based in Mexico. Oscar and I share a core conviction: anthropology isn’t just something you do; it’s a way of seeing the world. It allows leaders to notice subtle patterns—those...
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Dr. Deborah Clary on Building a Culture of Curiosity at Work
On the Brink with Andi Simon
“Curiosity isn’t a soft skill. It’s a performance capability—and organizations are paying the price for ignoring it.” Summary What if the most powerful leadership capability isn’t having the right answers—but asking better questions? In this On the Brink with Andi Simon episode, Dr. Deborah Clary, author of The Curiosity Curve, explains why curiosity is a measurable driver of performance, engagement, and innovation—and how leaders can deliberately rebuild it to create stronger, more human-centered cultures. Why Curiosity May Be the Missing Link in Leadership and Culture Change...
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Finding Joy, Choice, and Control: A Conversation with Nicki Keohohou
On the Brink with Andi Simon
“People aren’t broken,” she told me. “Our job is not to fix them. It’s to hold them whole and complete.” On this episode of On the Brink, I had the privilege of speaking with a remarkable woman whose life journey embodies resilience, reinvention, and the profound power of choosing joy. Nicki Keohohou—bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, global speaker, and founder of Coach School—joined me from her home in Hawaii to reflect on the experiences that shaped her, the wisdom she teaches, and the mindset shifts we all need in today’s uncertain world. Nicki’s path...
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Rethinking Leadership: How to Pivot, Disrupt, and Transform with Marcia Daszko
On the Brink with Andi Simon
The first step to transformation is to stop doing what no longer works.” – Marcia Daszko On this episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I sat down with Marcia Daszko, a visionary leadership consultant and author of Pivot, Disrupt, Transform: How Leaders Beat the Odds and Survive. Marcia’s journey—from being “excruciatingly shy” to mentoring leaders at Apple, Boeing, and the U.S. Navy—reveals a rare combination of courage, curiosity, and clarity. Her lessons, rooted in the teachings of Dr. W. Edwards Deming, challenge leaders to abandon outdated management...
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How Can the Sixth Level Help Women Redefine Leadership?
On the Brink with Andi Simon
What happens when two powerful women—one a psychologist devoted to leadership transformation and the other a CEO who grew up in a family-run business—join forces to rethink what it means to lead? They discover the "Sixth Level" of Leadership! On this episode of On the Brink, Stacy Feiner, PsyD and Rachel Wallis Andreasson, MBA invite us to imagine leadership not as a position of power, but as a practice rooted in purpose, connection and care. The Birth of the Sixth Level Stacy Feiner, a high-performance psychologist and coach, has long focused on helping family and mid-market...
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Future-Proofing Fresh Produce: Max Teplitski's Blue Ocean Strategy® in Action
On the Brink with Andi Simon
On this episode of On the Brink, I sat down with Dr. Max Teplitski—Chief Science Officer at the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)—to explore how a mindset is reshaping food safety, member value, and the future of a global industry. Max has practiced Blue Ocean thinking since his days as a professor, and today he’s applying it at scale across a trade association that represents the entire fresh produce supply chain—from seed and inputs to retailers worldwide. From Competing to Creating: IFPA’s Three Strategic Pillars Rather than fighting for attention in...
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Peace Through Business Webinar with Monica Smiley
On the Brink with Andi Simon
Peace Through Business: Building Peace by Empowering Women Entrepreneurs In a world often torn by conflict, peace through business may sound like a lofty goal. Yet for nearly two decades, that’s exactly what Dr. Terry Neese , Monica Smiley, and the Peace Through Business Program have been accomplishing—helping women in Afghanistan, Rwanda, and now Uganda rise as entrepreneurs, leaders, and community changemakers. In the final episode of my three-part Peace Through Business podcast series, I was joined by Monica Smiley, president and founder of the Enterprising Women...
info_outlineIn the latest episode of On the Brink with Andi Simon, I sat down with Vladiimer Botsvadze—a true pioneer in digital transformation and marketing innovation—to discuss building a personal brand in an era dominated by AI and automation. Our conversation weaved together inspiring personal anecdotes, actionable insights, and a clear message: authenticity and human connection remain the bedrock of success, even as technology reshapes our world.
Vladimer’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. Originally from Georgia, he moved to the United States at the age of 18 and quickly discovered that building a personal brand was essential to thrive in New York City. When traditional social media platforms were in their infancy, Vladimer understood that face-to-face networking and self-education were crucial. He frequented the New York Public Library, attended physical networking events, and embraced the frenetic pace of the city to carve out his unique niche. This early commitment to personal growth paid off—by leveraging platforms like Twitter, he grew his following exponentially, demonstrating that persistence and authenticity can break down even the toughest barriers.
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Throughout the podcast, Vladimer emphasized the shift from traditional marketing to a new paradigm where customer engagement and community-building take center stage. In today’s digital landscape, brands are no longer just logos or products; they are vibrant communities built on trust, interaction, and authentic storytelling. Vladimier’s own experience is a testament to this transformation. By sending over 130,000 tweets and actively engaging with his audience, he not only built a vast following but also fostered genuine relationships. His advice is simple yet profound: “Be interactive, show gratitude, and build community.” This approach, he explained, is crucial because in a world where 90% of internet content is predicted to be generated by AI, the human element becomes a key differentiator.
Another central theme of our conversation was the rapid evolution of technology. Vladimer drew parallels between historical disruptions—such as Blockbuster’s failure to adapt to the digital revolution—and the current transformative power of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and Perplexity. He cautioned that while these tools are reshaping content creation and marketing, it is essential to balance automation with authenticity. For Vladimir, the true power of AI lies in its ability to augment human creativity rather than replace it. His message to marketers and brands is clear: adapt to the digital revolution now or risk being left behind, much like those who once clung to outdated technologies.
Reach out and contact us if you want to see how a little anthropology can help your business grow. Let’s Talk!
From Observation to Innovation,
Andi Simon, PhD
CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author
Simonassociates.net
Info@simonassociates.net
@simonandi
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