For professionals looking to get the most value from generative AI, it’s easy to assume that stronger technical skills are the key. In practice, however, the advantage may lie elsewhere: in how AI is used and what the individual brings to the interaction – even before the prompt.
It comes down to approaching AI with clear intent, strong context, and thoughtful preparation. In doing so, AI moves beyond productivity to enable sharper thinking, better decisions, and more creative work.
This idea was at the centre of Ivey Business School’s Impact Live webinar, Beyond the prompt: Generative AI at work. Moderated by Ivey Dean Julian Birkinshaw, MBA ’91, PhD ’95, the panel – Fab Dolan, HBA ’08, Founder and CEO of 99 Ravens AI; Alyza Keshavjee, HBA ’06, Head of Consumer Packaged Goods at Google; and Mazi Raz, MBA ’05, PhD ’14, Ivey Assistant Professor of Strategy – challenged audiences to rethink AI’s role in their daily workflows.
Drawing on practical examples and forward-looking insights, the panel explored how to make generative AI more effective, where it can create the most value, and how professionals can evolve alongside it. The discussion also addressed a persistent challenge – how to measure AI’s impact – as well as where and when its use may be limited.
