Prior to becoming an educator, Rob Cressy was an entrepreneur. Initially, he ran a sports marketing agency and then became a high-performance coach.
Artificial intelligence changed everything.
Cressy was an early adopter of ChatGPT. In fact, he began to utilize the tool the first week it came out. This experience had a profound impact on him. Cressy realized that AI’s role in the future of business was undeniable. This led him to focus his coaching efforts on AI enablement.
The Cressy Creating organization joined the St. Petersburg-based spARK Labs by ARK Invest incubator over the summer. An announcement was made this month.
“There’s a few different ways, from almost a business ladder perspective, of how someone would work with me,” he explained. “I am someone who comes in as a champion for someone who’s looking to grow their business from a human first perspective.”
Cressy Creating provides workshops, team and group coaching and one-on-one sessions. Additionally, Cressy is a keynote speaker and hosts The Undeniable Leader podcast, which focuses on entrepreneurship, AI and business growth.
“Because I don’t have a tech, coding or AI background, it actually helps me meet people where they are,” he said. “I help them build the systems, processes, mindsets and states of being to leverage AI in what they are doing.”
Cressy believes it is essential to teach people about the technology from a “relatable background.” Rather than focus on the technical specifics of the tool, individuals should learn how to implement AI as an assistant.
“What I say to my clients is talk to ChatGPT like it’s an employee,” he explained. “You wouldn’t say to your employee ‘you tell me everything that we’re going to do.’ No. You’re going to give clear instructions. You’re going to ask them questions if they need more things for clarification. You’re going to set goals and you’re going to do so in a way that has a consistent cadence to it.”
Cressy believes that people should “create their own understanding and frame of AI.” He argued that, from an ethical standpoint, “the big thing that we’re going to see moving forward is going to be around a lack of authenticity and connection.”
However, Cressy said that students should be proactive and learn how to use AI effectively. Many schools are enforcing strict policies and consider the technology a form of cheating.
“The problem is if I were going to hire a just out of college student for my company, with absolute certainty, they need to know how to use AI,” he explained. “The real world, from a business perspective, is saying ‘if you don’t use it, you are behind in a skill you need to acquire to be the best.’”
For Cressy, the decision to become a member at spARK Labs by ARK Invest was an easy one.
“I’ve been a part of tech and innovation in Chicago for more than a decade,” he explained. “So, it was a very natural extension. Probably the biggest thing I missed from Chicago was the community, the people and the pulse.”
Cressy added that spARK Labs by ARK Invest’s focus on AI was particularly attractive. Many of the founders who work at the incubator have a deep knowledge of the technology.
“AI innovation is completely normal and fluid here,” he explained. “In 99% of the rest of the world, it’s stranger danger or ‘I don’t have enough time’ or ‘I don’t know what I’m doing.’”
Cressy Creating/Rob Cressy website