SCORE: #1 AI Foundations for Entrepreneurs: Setting Up Your Business Persona

AI is transforming how entrepreneurs work—but many business owners still aren’t sure what it can realistically do or how to use it effectively. In this foundational session, participants will explore the current AI landscape, learn the terminology and tools that matter most, and begin building a custom AI business persona that reflects their brand voice, audience, and goals. This practical, beginner-friendly workshop will help entrepreneurs save time, improve consistency, and start using AI as a strategic business assistant rather than just a novelty.

What AI can realistically do (and what it can’t) (i.e. using it to create checklists, templates, workflows, content, data analysis, report generation, etc.) to help you save time

High-level overview of tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, SCORE tools, etc.)

Terminology you should know (markdown, etc.)

When to use AI vs NOT use it

Define your business's persona in your AI program, so that it will respond in your "voice/tone":

– Who you are

– Who your target audience is

– What business problem you solve

Understand what a prompt is and the key elements needed to get started with them

What the traps are

What cheat sheets/prompts to share?

The facilitators for the Workshop are SCORE Members Marie Herman and Doug Safford

Doug Safford has spent 40 years in enterprise technology, most of it teaching large, slow organizations to build software fast. He co-founded CompoZed Labs at Allstate and founded XP Labs at CVS Health, where he grew the practice from a one-person idea to 400+ people shipping cloud products — with zero production defects across a four-year stretch. His work has been profiled in The New York Times and Fortune, he holds a U.S. patent, and he began his career as a nuclear engineer in the Navy submarine force.

Today he advises companies and clients on adopting AI — how to put it to work rather than just talk about it — spanning strategy, application development, and hands-on tooling. He has built and published an app in the ChatGPT marketplace, and through SCORE he mentors small business owners on using these tools practically.

Marie Herman, CAP, OM, ACS, MOS-Expert founded MRH Enterprises LLC in 2014 with the goal of helping individuals advance their careers through certification and ongoing education. Marie is a speaker and trainer who has worked with corporations and associations throughout the world. She is a SCORE Master Mentor regularly called upon to speak at conferences and seminars to share her unique knowledge of technology and professional development. In addition to being a Certified Administrative Professional and holding the Organizational Management specialty, she is also a Microsoft Office Specialist certified at the Master level of Microsoft Office in multiple versions. She can teach you as much as you would like to learn and in the process improve your office relationships, help you become more effective and efficient everyday, and keep you on the cutting edge of technology.