By Erin Hughes
Founder of Here, There, Everywhere., in conversation with Lisa Messenger
Why do you think AI feels so intimidating to so many people right now?
Because it’s moving fast, and speed often triggers insecurity.
For many people, especially founders who have spent decades building their expertise, AI can feel like the rules are being rewritten overnight. When something evolves this quickly, it’s easy to wonder whether all that hard-earned knowledge will still matter.
Add in the headlines about job losses, deepfakes and automation, and the conversation quickly becomes centred around fear rather than possibility.
But if history has taught us anything, it’s that every major shift has felt intimidating at first. The internet did. Social media did. Smartphones did. AI is no different.
It’s not that people can’t learn it. It’s that many people haven’t yet seen where they fit within it.
What’s the biggest misconception holding people back from learning it?
That you need to be technical to use it.
You don’t.
AI isn’t about coding. It’s about thinking clearly and communicating clearly.
The people who thrive in the AI era won’t necessarily be engineers. They’ll be strategic thinkers, storytellers, educators, creatives and founders who know how to ask great questions and apply the answers intelligently.
The biggest misconception is that AI is a tech skill.
In reality, it’s a thinking tool.
Is the fear around AI actually about technology, or something deeper?
It’s much deeper.
For many women, particularly mums who have stepped in and out of the workforce, there can already be an underlying fear of being left behind.
Questions like, Am I behind? Have I missed something? Am I keeping up? are more common than most people realise.
AI often becomes a symbol of those fears.
It challenges identity. It challenges confidence. It challenges our sense of control.
When something feels like it’s moving without you, it can create a fear of becoming irrelevant.
The fear is rarely about the technology itself. It’s usually about value, relevance and confidence.
What happens to businesses or professionals who choose to ignore this shift?
They won’t disappear overnight.
But over time, they may become less efficient, less competitive and less visible.
AI is fundamentally a leverage tool. It can speed up research, content creation, analysis, brainstorming and execution. If your competitor can do in two hours what takes you two days, eventually that gap becomes significant.
The risk isn’t replacement.
The risk is stagnation.
The people who thrive will be those who use AI to amplify their strengths, not those who pretend it doesn’t exist.
What’s the simplest first step someone can take if they feel completely overwhelmed?
Start small.
Don’t focus on “learning AI.”
Instead, use it for one practical task.
Ask it to summarise an article.
Draft an email.
Turn voice notes into organised ideas.
Help brainstorm Instagram content.
Treat it like an assistant, not a revolution.
Five minutes a day will build more confidence than a two-hour panic session once a month.
How do you help people move from fear to curiosity?
By helping them experience quick wins.
The moment someone sees AI save them time, simplify a task or help clarify their thinking, the fear starts to soften.
I also encourage a different question.
Instead of asking, “Will AI replace me?”
Ask, “How can AI help me spend more time doing the parts of my work that I actually enjoy?”
Curiosity grows when people realise they still have agency.
Do you believe AI will replace people, or empower those willing to learn it?
AI won’t replace people.
But people who use AI effectively may replace people who don’t.
The real shift is that AI can handle repetition, data processing, pattern recognition and first drafts at scale.
Humans still bring judgement, emotional intelligence, ethics, creativity, lived experience and trust.
The future belongs to people who know how to work alongside AI, not compete against it.
What mindset shift needs to happen for someone to confidently embrace AI?
Move from “I need to master this” to “I’m willing to experiment with this.”
Perfectionism slows progress.
AI rewards curiosity and iteration.
You don’t need to become an expert overnight. You simply need to be willing to test, tweak and play.
Think of it less like learning a new software platform and more like learning how to collaborate with a very fast, very literal assistant.
What’s one skill everyone should start building now to stay relevant?
Clear thinking.
AI is powerful, but it reflects the quality of the information you give it.
The better your questions, the better your results.
Strategic thinking, structured communication and problem-solving are becoming increasingly valuable skills.
The people who will thrive are those who can define problems clearly, provide context and evaluate outcomes thoughtfully.
In short, learn how to think, not just how to type.
For someone thinking, “I’m already behind,” what would you say to them?
You’re not behind.
You’re early.
We are still at the beginning of a shift that will play out over decades. Most people are still watching from the sidelines. Even many leaders are quietly figuring it out as they go.
Start now.
Start small.
Start consistently.
You don’t need to catch up to everyone else. You only need to be a little further ahead than you were yesterday.
And the beautiful thing is, if you’re a mum, you already know how to adapt, problem-solve and learn on the fly.
You’ve been doing it for years.
AI isn’t bigger than that.
If this conversation sparked something for you, follow along at @collectivehub for practical AI tips, founder-focused tools and some exciting announcements we can’t wait to share.
Or join one of our retreats.
To find out more, email lisam@collectivehub.com.
