Today we’re joined by René Clayton, an AI strategist, PMP, author, & transformation leader with 20+ years in financial services, IT, & emerging tech.
As founder & Chief Strategy Officer of Byte Strategy, René helps small businesses & fintechs bridge the gap between project management and AI. With MIT training and deep experience in automation and AI strategy, she shares how project managers can embrace technology with confidence & lead in an AI-driven world.
In this episode, René takes us from her early career in project management to her current role shaping AI strategy, offering practical advice on how PMs can stay relevant, resilient, & future ready. 🚀
Episode Highlights
1:42 – How René got started in PM
2:40 – Earning her PMP & senior PM role at a credit union
3:20 – Early planner: bridal event coordinator at 18
4:30 – Taking on roles she didn’t yet know: “Commit and figure it out”
5:30 – Why you should glue yourself to subject matter experts
5:50 – Converting 800 credit unions & the camaraderie of success
6:45 – Project health colors: don’t fear “red” projects
8:12 – Ethically bound to tell the truth at all times
10:18 – Leading an online credit card platform change with many stakeholders
11:44 – Awakening to AI a decade ago, calling it “Augmented Intelligence”
13:23 – Diving into RPA, NLP, ML, chatbots, IoT, & AI strategy
16:04 – Generative AI & staying in touch with the niche
17:00 – René’s vision: how AI can assist PMs & why you must get comfortable with tools
18:42 – AI changes daily, so yesterday’s knowledge isn’t enough
22:00 – Talking about HeyGen for Agentic Clones
24:00 – Future-proofing your PM career by playing with AI today
25:00 – René’s favorite AI models & how she uses them
27:00 – Using AI to consolidate artifacts & interact with docs
29:00 – Security around GPTs
32:00 – Hallucinations, GPT drift, & when you might not need AI at all
33:00 – Consulting with Byte Strategy to help companies discern the right path
35:00 – Why EI (emotional intelligence) & AI go hand in hand
36:00 – Relational prompting & strategies to talk with AI
37:00 – Ethics, compliance, & why a PM must stay in the loop
38:00 – Core competency: conversing with AI
39:00 – Be curious, play, have fun, & keep learning
Referenced Book: Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollack
Books by René Clayton
How to Talk to Anyone with Ease: 21 Actionable Skills for Young Adults
Women’s Success in Corporate Leadership
Cómo Hablar Con Cualquier Persona Con Facilidad (Spanish Ed.)
Generative AI: For Women Who Mean Business, A Workbook
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