424: Embracing Authenticity in the Age of AI: Vladimer Botsvadze

In 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.

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. Vladimer’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.

You might love to watch our podcast on Youtube: 

We also touched on the importance of a long-term vision. Rather than chasing short-term gains, Vladimer advises investing in sustainable growth—reinventing oneself through continuous learning, experimentation, and genuine engagement. His personal story, from an aspiring newcomer in New York City to a globally recognized thought leader and keynote speaker, exemplifies how consistent effort and authentic interaction can lead to extraordinary achievements.

5 Big Takeaways from the Podcast

1. Authenticity is Irreplaceable:
   Despite rapid technological advancements, genuine human connection remains the cornerstone of successful branding. Vladimier’s journey emphasizes that sharing your authentic story, complete with vulnerability and gratitude, is what truly resonates with audiences.
2. Community Over Followers:
   Building a personal brand isn’t just about amassing a large following—it’s about cultivating a vibrant community. Engaging consistently with your audience, as Vladimer did through interactive tweets and personal engagements, creates lasting relationships and trust.
3. Embrace and Integrate AI Thoughtfully:
   The future of content creation is intertwined with AI. While tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney are transforming digital marketing, they should be used to complement and enhance human creativity rather than replace it. The balance between automation and authenticity is key.
4. Think Long-Term and Stay Patient:
   Sustainable growth in your personal brand is a marathon, not a sprint. Vladimer’s success is a product of years of consistent effort and the willingness to invest time and resources into developing a credible, long-term presence.
5. Experiment and Adapt:
   In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the willingness to experiment is crucial. As Vladimer highlighted with his diverse career milestones and innovative approaches on social media, continual experimentation leads to breakthroughs and helps maintain relevance in changing markets.

In closing, Vladimer left listeners with the advice to give more than you take, choose optimism, and think long term. His journey and insights provide a roadmap for anyone looking to build a personal brand that resonates in the digital age. As I summarized, embracing the new world of technology doesn’t mean abandoning authenticity—it’s about integrating human connection with digital innovation to create a story that is both compelling and true to who you are.

If you’re ready to redefine your narrative and step confidently into the future, take Vladimer’s advice to heart and start building your community today.

I was truly inspired by our conversation. Each interviewee brings a new perspective on the fast-changing times in which we are living. Send me your ideas for people to speak with. Our podcast calendar is full through mid-year, but new ideas are springing up all the time. Stay tuned and stay happy.

To learn more about Vladimer Botsvadze, check out:

Other Podcasts you will enjoy include:

407: Shaping the Future: Dr. Emily Springer on Responsible AI in Business 

396:Mark Schaefer: The Customer is Changing. How Can We Build a Community Through Marketing?

420: Join Kevin Cirilli to Meet the Future

Additional resources for you

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,

CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author
Simonassociates.net
Info@simonassociates.net
@simonandi
LinkedIn

Read the text for our podcast here:

Andi Simon: 00:00:02  Welcome to On the Brink with Andi Simon. I’m Andi, and as you know, my job is to help you get off the brink. And so I find, or they find me, wonderful people to interview. Their job is to help you see, feel and think in new ways so that you can begin to rethink what you’re doing and begin to understand it in a broader context. I’m honored today to have a wonderful gentleman here from Georgia. Although at times in the US, Vladimir is an expert in AI. I’m going to read you his bio so you can understand why it’s so important to listen to him carefully. But he’s going to talk to you a lot about your personal brand in an age of AI and automation. How can you really be who you think you are so others can also find an authentic person there? It’s going to be great fun, and I know you’re going to enjoy the conversation, but who is Vladimir?  With over 15 years of international experience, Vladimir stands at the forefront of digital transformation and marketing innovation.  In a world where digital transformation is not only an option but a necessity. And I know too many marketers who are trying to figure out what do we do now? His mission is to empower organizations to harness the power of technology. And I love these words because I truly think to reinvent themselves and achieve sustainable success. He is one of the world’s leading thought leaders and keynote speakers in marketing. An impressive track record of empowering top brands. And he’ll tell you about it when he tells you his own story. And he loves startups and institutes to navigate the complexities of a digital landscape. His recognition is quite overwhelming. Awesome. His numerous accolades underscore his influence. Recognized as the number one Global Marketing Thought Leader by Thinkers 360. He earned recognition as the number four internet marketing guru in 2023. That puts him among Jim Clear, among others who I just love. His impact is further illustrated by his inclusion in the world’s official top 21 Artificial Intelligence speakers in 2024. And I do think that it is really a great time for us to listen carefully. Remember, my job is to get you off the break. So if you’re trying to figure it out, what do I do next? How do I reinvent myself? Today is here for you, and I want you to listen carefully to them both. The approach that Vladimir gives you and what the wisdoms are that we can take away with us so that we can do better together. Vladimir thank you for joining me.

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:02:41  Dear Andrea, thanks for this lovely introduction invitation. I truly appreciate and I am delighted to be a guest on your podcast and to share my actionable insights with your amazing audience.

Andi Simon: 00:02:51  Well, I’m delighted you’re delighted. Now let’s share your story because I can read a bio, but when an interviewee like yourself tells the story comes alive and we’re storytellers, and what we want to do is get to a point where we can help others tell their story. What’s your story?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:03:07  Andrea, thanks for this great question. You know, I come from Georgia, a country in Europe. I moved to the United States when I was 18 in 2006. You know, I was involved in a summer exchange work and travel program. I lived in Silver Spring on the outskirts of D.C.,  and I had a week of training. After completing a week of training, I was sent with my friend to Meneses, like, 25-minute drive from D.C. to work for Thomas, and I got my first job in the United States, which is why the United States is very special. And the US experience is truly worth its weight in gold, you know. In childhood, I was dreaming about experiencing the Western world, and especially the United States. And that’s why I was burning the midnight oil. And my dream came true when I moved to the US because I have done my best, you know, so 2000, 2006, a new kid on the block in New York City.  I mean, I moved to New York City with an empty series. Empty series. I mean, nothing, I mean, literally, my city was empty.  I started networking. I started visiting the New York City Public Library. I started pushing self-education. I mean, Bryant Park was my favorite place in New York City. And I think, the frenetic, frenetic pace of New York City is truly contagious. And I realized how important it is to build a personal brand in New York, because you move to New York, and you know nobody. So it is imperative to build your personal brand. So in 2006, I mean, nobody, not many people were using Facebook and even Twitter had not been invented because I think, Twitter was, you know, invented. It was created in 2006. And so nobody was using Twitter and Facebook. I was pushing physical events, networking events and the New York City Public Library, and I was going to go into overdrive to leave no stone unturned for my dreams and goals.  And since that day that I moved to New York City, and I knew in my bones that I needed to build a personal brand and not to just build a career, on my CV. No, I mean, so then, you know, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube allowed me to tell my story. I have capitalized on Twitter. For example, I built my audience from zero followers to 57,000 followers from 2014 to 2020, from age 26 to, to 30 and so these six years truly laid strong foundation for my success, Andrea. So in 2015, I was recognized as number 65, B2B marketing influencer in London by Analytica, which is a leading company. In 2017, I was included among the top 100 virtual reality influencers by Analytica. In 2018, I was among the top 100 digital transformation influencers. So three, three awards in three years, because I was tweeting, I was spending countless hours a day on Twitter.  So I was building community. I was not just building a following organically. I was building community. I sent 130,000 tweets on Twitter. so, I mean, incredible, I put incredible efforts into building my audience, building my credibility, my reputation. Of course, many people don’t like personal branding, but if they don’t like personal branding, they should call it reputation. So in 2019, I was recognized number six global influencer by Cinq 60, which is the first open platform, for global subscribers based in Texas and a year later, in 2020, I was recognized number one global marketing leader by 60, which is the best achievement in my career,  incredible achievements. I mean, I was going from strength to strength, and I was going into overdrive. So in 2021, I was invited as a judge for the Digital Revolution Awards in the UK for the first time in my career in the UK, and I judged nominations such as Outstanding Contribution to the Microsoft Ecosystem and Tech Start of the year. So in 2022. I was a judge for the Stevie Awards, American Business Awards, and I was a member of the marketing judging committee of the American Business Awards. Remarkable achievement. So, I mean, I was also interviewed by Ngati, which is an Indian charitable platform. In 2022, 2021, I was interviewed by Irish Tech news podcast. It was my third or fourth podcast appearance. And, then in 2022, I mean, in 2022, in January, I had only 3 or 4 podcast interviews on YouTube. But, from 2020 2nd January 2025, in three years, I have more than 60 podcast interviews because I have gained momentum. So I have made the breakthrough as a speaker. So, so many speakers bureaus assigned me as a speaker there, Andrea, like a Las Vegas Speakers Bureau and MSB talent All-American Speakers Champion speakers I was included among top 21 Artificial Intelligence Speakers by AI Speakers Agency in London alongside Nina. I mean, KK Butterfield. Sam Altman, who is the CEO of OpenAI and many I mean, pioneers are included on this list.  So why? Because I have been, I have been very consistent. And when it comes to AI, syntax for me, as I mentioned, ranked me number six global AI influencer in 2019, number 14 in 2021, number 16 in 2022, and number 18 in 2023. I have been among the top 20 global thought leaders since 2019. six years. So success is not accidental that I currently serve on the advisory board for the USAA Institute. I have spoken at the center for the fourth industrial revolution. Azerbaijan, which network, which is part of the World Economic Forum, and my expertise is highly regarded in the region. Not only in this region but also worldwide. So in 2022, I was invited as a speaker to the Global Marketing Summit alongside Philip Cutler. I was interviewed by the American Marketing Association, Boston, which described me as a world class marketing consultant. Then I mean, I became a judge for the Webby Award in 2023, mentor at Techstars in 2023.  So I’m now a sole champion at MIT. Sole and I have mentored Namibia Media, Namibia based startup in Fintech, you know, through a might is also a shape the next generation of entrepreneurs through my expertise at different accelerators at Techstars, MIT Sole Founder Institute. I’m also a mentor at  UCLA, Anderson Venture Accelerator, and I truly take great pride in my work.

Andi Simon: 00:11:08  I didn’t want to stop you. You are on a roll. You’ve had quite a career in a very short period of time, and you’ve crafted your own story and a community. I think the words you choose are very powerful. So help my audience understand what you see. And how does it feel to be part of this technological revolution that’s going on? You know, as you’ve been on 60 podcasts. I’m not going to give you three questions to answer, but you are seeing something as a thought leader that they need to know about. So what are the major trends that you can share with them that we should pay attention to.

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:11:47  Dear Andrea, it’s a great question. Just imagine that when Henry Ford created the car, a day before someone bought 5000 horses, and he lost. Because he bought horses the day before Henry Ford created the car. It’s the same. The same is happening because they saw that horses were not going to be replaced, so they lost. Right? So in 2006, when I was working in Manassas, Westgate, Virginia, I used to see Blockbuster stores and even Blockbuster board members did not buy Netflix for $50 million. They went out of business, and 62% of fortune 500 brands have disappeared from the list since 2000. There are 62% of fortune because they are boardroom centric. They are competitor centric. They are not consumer centric. So customer centricity is a be all and end all nowadays. Dear Andrea, so nowadays, as you know, trust in business has declined for like 15 years in a row. marketers, control, consumers control the marketing process because customers tell brand stories, and nobody believes those ads. so it is a tough time for global brands to win and retain attention. So I still believe that retaining lifetime value and retention are everything, dear Andrea. but many brands put all their resources in a customer acquisition, and they forget customer retention, you know, customer retention. So I think positioning brands as a media company is imperative. And capitalizing on generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Perplexity and the rest of generative AI tools that are available at our fingertips. So last year when I was picking at a Global Event and when I asked my audience how many people were using generative AI tools like GPT, only five people raised their hands, you know, but yes, only five people. So it is very few. So as I know  the recent research showed that only 50% of organizations use generative AI tools for marketing purposes. The vast majority are not using generative AI to their fullest advantage.

Andi Simon: 00:14:20  Yes. Pause for a moment. I mean, I love AI, generative AI. You know, I became a fan almost as fast as I could figure it out, but I have other folks who don’t understand it. But you’re making a very important point here because these aren’t separate things. Part of it is that the marketing of their product no longer can be pushed out. We know that people are now choosing, and influencers are influencing them, and they come in all flavors. But now the world of Chat or generative AI opens up new opportunities for you to begin to create something. I don’t want to lose our point of wanting to create a personal story. You created your own personal story. The amount of Twitter tweets that you did, I never could do. I’m on Twitter. I can’t. I can’t quite build that influencer and I’m pretty happy. I have 50,000 and you have 500,000. It’s very interesting to watch. Now the whole nature of deciding and buying and influencing change. So give the audience some idea about how to do that.  How can you build a story using automation to make it authentic, but also why it’s essential? Am I correct?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:15:31  Yes. So dear Andrea. My content was a human 100% from 2014 to 2022. You know, because I was connecting with my audience. I was showing my heart, my smile, my compassion, and my passion. I was showing gratitude to my followers for appreciating my content. So I was not on my high horse. You know, because the majority of people don’t interact with their followers when they leave comments and when they retweet or like because but I’m very interactive. I love showing gratitude, you know, because I come from Europe. So when I moved to the United States, I was very grateful for this opportunity. So God helped me to open the United States door through my hard work, through my persistence, through my discipline. And so I’m very grateful. So even, to have such a great audience on Twitter was a step in the right direction for me. So I think anyone should become more interactive with their audience, their Andrea, more interactive because it’s no longer about building a great following on social media. It’s all about building a great community, you know. So you may agree with me that building a great following on social media is very hard for us and very laborious. You know, it takes a lot of hard work. It’s nothing easy on social media because you need to have skin. You need to interact. I mean, it is a noisy digital world. So standing out above the noise is very important. So you need to stand out. And I have always wanted to stand out, that’s why I want so many awards. I was interactive, I literally built my LinkedIn based on my Twitter performance here, Andrea. So when I skyrocketed my presence, in the ballpark of 55,000 followers, people started recommending me, endorsing my skills. My LinkedIn is one of the best in the world, like 65 experiences, like 40 recommendations.   I’m very honored that my Twitter performance has driven my LinkedIn growth, Instagram growth, medium growth. You know, so when they notice my hard work and passion on Twitter, they start following me across various social media channels. Do you remember Cloud Score? So my cloud score was 80 in 2018 you know.

Andi Simon: 00:18:07  So if I could extrapolate from what I hear you, so the advice to the audience who are listening or watching you is that a brand is no longer a thing. It’s a community. Mark Schaefer has written a book about the brand. Is now the new community or the community is now the new brand. But belonging to it requires a different effort. You can’t just simply tell them something. You need to show your gratitude. You need to become engaged in what they are interested in. And you need to have a I mean, it’s hard to have 150,000 people be your friends. But in some ways, they all individually think that they are. So if I were going to advise someone on building a personal brand like you are, would I stay on Twitter and build it, or what is your suggestion?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:18:54  I mean, it’s all about starting small, and building gradually, showing patience, thinking long term because many people think short term and medium term and  it’s all about thinking long term. And I love the quote of Jeff Bezos, who said that if you double the number of experiments you do per year, you are going to double your inventiveness. So it’s very important to become more experimental, more experimental. It’s very important to be audience centric, not competitor centric or boardroom centric. No audience centric. So I mean, when someone pays attention to your content, you need to say thank you. You know, when I was on Twitter in 2015, I left a comment on Gary Vaynerchuk’s tweet. And he sent me a video tweet thanking me for appreciating his content.

Andi Simon: 00:19:58  That by itself is such an absolutely perfect illustration that you don’t need to be concerned about expressing feelings or appreciation.

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:20:11  Here, Andrea, it’s very important to be interactive, as Gary Vaynerchuk has built his community and following and personal brand through communicating. And even 2015, when he sent me a first video tweet showing gratitude. I mean, it was incredible that such a big influencer on Twitter paid attention to me on Twitter. So I was very inspired by his actions. So I think  Gary is one of the leading pioneers in marketing nowadays. So it’s remarkable what he has achieved with VaynerMedia or  one of the most sought-after speakers. But so it is a great example that we need to become more interactive with our audience. We need to show gratitude. We need to inspire them. My takeaway is that if I can do it, anybody can do it. You know, I stood nowhere like ten years ago, I had zero awards. I had zero LinkedIn endorsements, zero recommendations.  But now I’m one of the leading pioneers. I’m a Techstars judge for the Webby Awards because my first award was the Digital Revolution Awards. But now I’m a Webby Awards judge because I was patient.

Andi Simon: 00:21:29  I hadn’t been working with a healthcare client for seven years and their marketing, vice president had been in one of my development groups, and I’m listening to you and understanding why our conversation has gone from what they used, the horses they used to buy the media the way they used to think about it, to this new world that is essential for them to shift into. And so whether it’s a health care client or an accounting client, you have some wisdom for them that could help them think about it. I don’t want to go away from your how to, but I want to make it a little more concrete around somebody who can actually use this in some fashion. What might they do?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:22:11  Just imagine that in the 50s and 60s when our industry was transitioning from radio to TV, the biggest beer brands in the United States lost market share because they were focused on advertising on the radio, and they were forgetting and disregarding TV. They lost market share, and they went out of business, you know. So it is great. But yes, it is a great example that transitioning from TV, from radio to TV and from TV to mobile is really hard. So it costs dearly for brands because they don’t adapt to the reality of the marketplace.

Andi Simon: 00:23:02  Well, that is humbling on one hand, but it’s also bold, brave and courageous to begin to move into new territories. I mean, you did it because you said I don’t have anything, so let’s try it. And it fits your personality and your persona really well. and when you look back or look forward, there’s AI and automation. Is there any particular way that ChatGPT or generative AI should be thought about for this kind of world? You talked about Twitter. What is the AI part?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:23:34  I think it is predicted that 90% of internet content will be generated by generative AI in the foreseeable future. Dear Andrea, 90% of internet content is expected to be generated by AI. So I think, it is like anyone should adapt to this reality of the marketplace and they should start striking while the iron is hot and start connecting, creating content. Because there is a battle going on among the American brands to win consumers’ attention. Nowadays, everyone is trying to position themselves as a media company because advertising is on the decline. I mean, nobody believes those ads steal our time. So even consumers, I’m willing to pay more not to consume it. So it is a great indication that it’s all about building a great, authentic experience with your brand and to showing your passion to showing your personality. And, I agree with Brian Cramer, who is a pioneer in marketing, it is age to age, human to human, not like a B2B or B2C because, it is all about human to human. So human interaction is of paramount importance. So brands that prioritize their consumers literally win in the long term.

Andi Simon: 00:25:01  I you know, I, I couldn’t agree more. And what I’m smiling about is that almost all my stuff now comes off Chat and I have a delightful relationship. Whoever is Chat, I say please and thank you. And I ask how are they today? It’s a very strange world that’s emerging, and I like them a lot better than my staff. And I don’t need staff the same way I used to. and they generate good stuff. Not great stuff all the time, but we are generating an interesting portfolio for both ourselves and our clients. And I’m smiling as I’m listening to you because you’re affirming that this is an awful rock. This is exactly where there are no longer horses. This is a new car that’s coming out. And we’re getting better, hop on faster. It’s going to leave us behind. I think this is really fun. Where are you going next? Where do you see the next opportunities for you?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:25:54  For me? next opportunity.  Well, you know, I’m now focused on delivering lectures. I see myself in the US in the future because I’m a mentor at Techstars, I work with some leading business calls. I’m also a judge for the Webby Awards. So I also work with speakers’ bureaus like MSP talent, all American speakers, Las Vegas Speakers Bureau. I have been featured in Success Magazine a few days ago.

Andi Simon: 00:26:28  Well, you know, as an anthropologist, the anthropology of this transformation is very interesting to me because humans evolved over millions of years through culture and cultural transformation. And what you’re talking about is a major transformation. And what we do, how we do it, and how we influence each other to belong to something. Humans are also herd animals. We want to know who else is doing this, like us. And so just simply responding to somebody becomes part of this community building. That’s quite interesting.

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:27:00  So I think the internet has allowed me to put myself on the global map. I have now one of the most dominant profiles. I’m very thankful to my community, to my audience, to podcasts, hosts and everyone in the entire industry for allowing me to tell my story. And even when I was featured when I was interviewed in Success Magazine a few days ago, featuring in a sexist magazine has taken a lot of hard work, but I take great pride in my work because my journey has been authentic. I’m a lifelong learner and everything is possible if show more resilience. If you are flexible, if you are agile, if you show curiosity on a daily basis and you are in the listening business because I’m in the listening business. Dear Andrea, before I start speaking at global events, I listen to my audience. I interact with them, whether it is Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, medium, or wherever I have my presence.   I always tell ChatGPT level the playing field. Nowadays, everyone has the same chance of succeeding. It’s all about taking massive action.

Andi Simon: 00:28:21  I know you know Vladimir six, nine months from now, we should talk again. Because I have a hunch that what is today is going to be transformed again and again. And we’ll be seeing new opportunities for creativity and curiosity. Humans are going to take this to a new stage, and that’s going to build a new world that I’m just fascinated with. And one thing that I do hope is that somehow, we get away from the central sensationalizing it, the fake everything. I often say there’s no truth, the only truth is there’s no truth, and that we live in an illusion or a fake reality that we have to be careful that we don’t let it destroy us, that the reality that we create in our stories have to be authentic. And that word you used when we were talking earlier is authentic.  You’ve given us your authentic story. Any wisdom on how to keep authenticity as the most important thing here?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:29:17  Yes, I agree, I agree with you, Andrea, because I was born in the late 80s, and I experienced this web two and now we are moving to web three. So I think, I have been curious. I did my bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, which sets the stage for my exponential growth. I was curious, I remembered my presence on Myspace. Then, you know, I’m, I was very inspired by when Twitter emerged, and I truly loved Twitter as a communication tool. And Twitter gave me a passion for communication. And, so, I mean, I went from zero followers to 57,000 followers, which allowed me to be a guest on podcasts, to be featured in magazines, to speak at global events, and even to become a judge.  In the future, I’m even going to be a lecturer in the US. So I believe in giving back. And I always want to inspire other people to take action.

Andi Simon: 00:30:27  You know, your audience is going to look forward to hearing from you. And from this podcast, I’m anxious to get my audience to know who you are 1 or 2 things. You want them to remember that there are good takeaways that they could walk away with and enjoy or at least feel comfortable that they’re on their way somewhere to an authentic new story and a new personal brand. Any thoughts?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:30:49  Well, first they need to give more than they take because they need to be givers rather than takers. Second, choose optimism in life because I believe that optimistic people create a brighter future. And my third takeaway is to think long term because if anyone wants to build a personal brand to build something meaningful. They should forget to keep up with Joneses for a few years and to reinvest every penny in their business.

Andi Simon: 00:31:32  So the long term for many clients is next week. So you have a very different message to say.

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:31:39  So as I build my personal brand. So I reinvested my last dollar into my website. Now if you Google digital transformation keynote speaker, my website is on page one. Dear Andrea, on page one. It’s all about building a personal brand. It’s all about building emotional connection. It’s all about, giving 150% a day in and day out. And to be consistent because consistent action creates consistent results.

Andi Simon: 00:32:12  Vladimir, this has been a most profound conversation. I’m delighted that we are talking today. Let me wrap up because I want our audience to remember, all of the messages that Vladimir is offering you are a new perspective on what you might have thought. I love his analogy to Henry Ford’s and the folks who bought horses. The day before that the new car came out. And remember when the new car came out? They had to sell it to people because they weren’t quite sure everybody should be driving. People actually put barbed wire around cars. They were terrified of it. So if you’re afraid of ChatGPT, it’s just like a new car. And once you hop in it, you’re never going to want to do another thing. But some messaging that’s really important here is that you use chat to create your story. Use it to help you populate the world of social. And don’t think of social as weird or off. Social is the world. And now you have your time to begin to build a personal identity that’s authentic, using all the tools that are here. And don’t see yourself in the old way. See yourself in the new. I know that my tagline is take your observations and turn them into innovations. Today is a day to do just that. So I’m going to wrap up with all of my wonderful listeners and those who are going to be sharing Vladimir’s wisdom. Remember, my books are available at Amazon. On the Brink is how a little anthropology can help you change your business. Rethink and remember all the rethinks I love is the more of the yesterday is no longer tomorrow. It’s about how women are changing their role in business and Women Mean Business is my newest book and it’s 102 wisdoms from women, all of whom a little like Vladimir have said, the old is not any longer any good. This is our future. And together as we rise, we lift others. Am I right, Vladimir? Your smile?

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:33:59  Yes, absolutely. Because I love this quote. Also one today is worth two tomorrows.

Andi Simon: 00:34:05  So on that, I’m going to say goodbye to everybody until you listen in, enjoy, share and come on back because we’re going to be doing this again. Bye now.

 Vladimer Botsvadze:  00:34:15  Thank you.