1. Understand AI basics and applications for business.

2. Customize an AI assistant to reflect your brand’s tone and strategy.

3. Build effective AI workflows to integrate into daily operations.

4. Master prompt creation for better outputs.

5. Iterate and refine with peer collaboration.

 

This session introduces the foundational concepts of artificial intelligence and its real-world uses in small business and entrepreneurship. Participants will explore how AI works, its core components (like language models and machine learning), and examine specific case studies on how AI can transform branding, marketing, and strategic operations. The week ends with defining the participant's own use case for an AI assistant based on their business needs.

 

Participants will begin designing a custom AI assistant that reflects their brand’s voice, tone, and values. Through guided exercises, they will craft their assistant’s personality, style, and area of expertise. They'll also learn how to "train" their assistant by inputting brand insights, sample content, and strategic intent. Hands-on practice and feedback from peers help refine tone and purpose alignment.

 

This session dives into creating everyday systems with AI. Participants will learn how to embed AI into operations like content planning, email generation, social media response, and document drafting. Prompt writing is explored in-depth, including how to format, test, and refine prompts that produce consistent, useful results. The peer feedback loop allows real-time iteration and improvement.

 

The final week focuses on how to scale and apply the AI assistant in strategic areas such as client work, marketing campaigns, customer support, or internal operations. Participants test their assistant in simulated scenarios, refine based on feedback, and learn how to keep evolving its capabilities. The program concludes with a showcase session where each participant presents their assistant’s outputs and discusses future application plans.

 

 

*This session is now full.  Please email information@communityfutures.ca to be added to the waitlist.*

Bio: Serena Smith is the Owner and Principal Consultant of SEA45 Compliance, Consult & Creative, a Canadian Digital Marketing & Management Firm that supports small businesses, not-for-profits, government projects, and educational institutions in developing and expanding resilient, future-ready businesses. Her work goes beyond traditional consulting by integrating Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) to help clients navigate, optimize, and streamline their operations in the digital economy.

In addition to private consulting, Serena delivers specialized workshops and advisory services through national programs with Community Futures BC and the Chamber of Commerce Canada. Her facilitation includes work in Accessible Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, PRIDE/LGBTQ2S+ programming, rural and remote business development, and disaster recovery relief initiatives. She is known for her ability to translate complex digital strategies into practical, inclusive tools for diverse communities across Canada.

With a deep love of design and mentorship, Serena holds a degree in Fashion, Design and Technology from The Wilson School of Design, writing and teaching design and technology programs at The Wilson School of Design, LaSalle College Vancouver, Okanagan College, and North Island College. Serena is also the Co-Founder and Founding President of North Island Cannabis, Vancouver Island’s first licensed cannabis retailer.

Before devoting herself to education and entrepreneurship full time, Serena spent a decade in the apparel industry working with brands such as MEC, Cannondale, Sugoi, Sport Chek, Atmosphere, Canadian Tire, Mark’s, Diadora, McKinley, Firefly, Huntshield, Woods, Outbound, Bootlegger, David Suzuki, and the Vancouver Canucks.