Those conversations often bring out things that a well-structured answer alone won’t surface. They add depth. They help you see more clearly. Moving forward with confidence If you’re just starting to use AI, there’s a simple way to approach it. Start with what’s useful. Use AI to save time and make your day easier. Let your team get familiar with it and build confidence. At the same time, leave a little room to think. If something feels complete, take another pass. Ask another question. Check an assumption. Add your own perspective to what comes back. You benefit from the tools’ efficiency while protecting your business from misplaced confidence. You keep the clarity that comes from your own judgment. Final thought AI is becoming part of how work gets done, how ideas take shape, and how decisions move forward. That brings opportunity. It also invites more attention. The goal is to stay connected to how and why things are being created inside your business. Because your perspective, your experience, and your judgment are what give your work meaning. And what people will remember. KATHY DURFEE is CEO & Founder of TechHouse. Connect and learn more at www.techhouse.com. She is a member of the Enterprising Women Advisory Board and a past recipient of the Enterprising Women of the Year Award. UNDERSTANDING AI 10x your business What AI can actually do for women-owned small businesses right now By Rashmi Chaturvedi You’ve asked ChatGPT to draft an email or write a caption. That’s useful, but it’s 10% of what AI can do for your business. Women business owners who are scaling fast aren’t just asking AI questions, they’re giving AI jobs. The 10x growth opportunity There are 14.5 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. as of 2024, making up 39.2% of all firms (Wells Fargo 2025 Impact Report). The owners who scale in the next three years will deploy AI to multiply the team they already have. For small businesses, eliminating even 10 hours of manual work per week creates meaningful competitive leverage. HR: Hiring and compliance at speed If you’re the founder, you’re probably also the HR director. AI can run the full hiring pipeline, job post to offer letter and flag year-end compliance gaps automatically. Success Story: Boutique Staffing Agency Owner inputs a job brief. AI generates the job description, screens resumes, drafts interview questions, and produces an offer letter. BEFORE AI 6 hours per hire, job post, resume review, scheduling, and offer drafting all done manually by the owner. AFTER AI Under 45 minutes. Owner reviews and approves. AI handles every draft, screen, and compliance flag. Finance: The numbers running themselves Most owners check their bank balance but not their 60-day cash position or invoice accuracy. AI monitors all of this automatically. Success Story: Event Planning Firm AI connects to QuickBooks and flags invoice discrepancies. Every Monday it delivers a 60-day cash flow forecast with named risk flags. Overdue invoices get tailored reminder emails firm for repeat late payers, gentle for longtime clients. BEFORE AI Cash flow surprises. Late-pay emails drafted from scratch. Mismatched invoices caught only at month-end, sometimes never. AFTER AI Weekly cash forecast delivered automatically. Invoice variances flagged same day. Payment reminders sent without owner involvement. Operations: Running the business while you’re in it Service businesses live and die on responsiveness. AI can handle scheduling gaps, client re-engagement, and complaint drafting in the background every day. Success Story: Spa & Wellness Group, three locations Every Monday the owner receives an AI-generated business pulse: revenue vs. prior week, scheduling gaps, and one watch item. Client re-engagement emails go out automatically to anyone 28 enterprising Women
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