Hi! I'm Stephanie! I'm passionate about building impactful partnerships, enabling businesses to grow, and making sure the social impact community thrives. With over a decade of consistently generating seven and eight figure annual revenue for companies, I understand what it takes to drive success.

Over the last 15 years working with non-profit, government and for profit businesses, I've developed a unique process for building community and generating revenue through a partnership growth mindset. I've been fortunate to develop programs and partnerships that have touched lives across the globe, from India to the United States and beyond. I've created thousands of ecosystems and opportunities that unite governments, educators, employers, and donors to make tangible change.

I believe that together we can achieve great things and am committed to paving the way for a more inclusive, impactful future.

Stephanie Wilson

I can coach a multi-million dollar proposal team, but coaching volleyball felt terrifying.

For years, I've lived and breathed volleyball—even having a court right in my front yard! But passion for a sport doesn't automatically translate into coaching skill. This thinking held me back.

Professionally, I'm confident coaching teams through complex proposals, government funding, and partnership strategies. 

But volleyball felt different. It was my pure outlet, my passion - what if I wasn't any good at it?

This year, I decided to challenge that fear. I took the leap and started coaching a regional training team of 15U/16U girls.

The results?

It's better than I ever imagined.

The skills I use in professional settings like mentoring, strategy, driving a team—are incredibly relevant on the court.

And yes, getting a clothespin that says "Fav Coach" at a tournament this weekend absolutely made my year! 🥳

My takeaway? Don't let the fear of the unknown sideline you. 

That simple phrase, "I don't know how to do this yet, but I'm willing to learn," is the easiest first step to unlocking unexpected growth. 

You may just surprise yourself with what you can achieve.

Ready to take the leap? What small risk are you committing to take this week to step outside your comfort zone?

#Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Volleyball #Coaching #ChallengeYourself

Cross-Sector Growth Strategist | $100M+ in Government & Partner Funding Secured | Nonprofit • Tech • Education • SaaS | Founder – The Uplift Collective

In two days, we hit the road for a month-long adventure.

Some vacation time, some work days, and a LOT of hours together - twenty-four a day for thirty days straight to be exact.

We did not take our annual road trip last year for a lot of reasons, so this one feels extra special.

He is my favourite person in the world, and every time we do a trip like this, I fall even more in love with him. 

For the way he sees life. 

For the way he interacts with strangers. 

For the way we show up for each other - him driving, me taking meetings.

I will share pieces of this year’s journey as we go.

Here is to adventure, love, and the balance of work and rest that somehow always feels right when you are on the road.

#JoinMe #Roadtrip

I’m equal parts terrified and thrilled to share this.

Because this one… it means something.

It’s built from every proposal written, every “not this time” email, every partnership formed, and every win celebrated over the last 20 years.

After months of work (and a few too many coffees), Sandra and I are launching something we wish existed when we started out.

Introducing The Funding Compass.

If you’ve ever spent hours searching for grants, rewriting proposals, or wondering how to turn one-time wins into steady, reliable funding — this is for you.

Between Sandra Saric and I, we’ve spent over two decades writing, reviewing, and funding proposals.

We’ve seen how competition has intensified, how partnerships have become harder to build, and how organizations are pushed to maximize their own piece of the pie instead of expanding what’s possible together.

We knew there had to be a better way.

✨ The Funding Compass helps organizations to not just find funding and win it but to turn opportunities into sustainable, predictable revenue streams.

It’s designed to bring clarity to the process, structure to your strategy, and momentum to your mission.

Because funding shouldn’t feel like chaos. It should feel like confidence.

Check it out: www.thefundingcompass.com

This isn’t just a launch — it’s a milestone built on every late night, every lesson, and every “try again.” And we’re just getting started. Join us!

Jedno #Funding #Government #SocialImpact 

Also - feedback is always welcome. We've already made improvements since it was launched to our Insider's Group.

______________
Hi! I'm Stephanie Wilson. Over the last 10 years, I've guided organizations to secure over $100M in revenue through government funding. Hit the bell 🛎️  to get notified of when I post. Join a newsletter to not miss a thing! Join The Funding Compass to get started with us today!

Open article: The Funding Compass - Never Miss a Funding Opportunity Again by thefundingcompass.com

The Funding Compass - Never Miss a Funding Opportunity Again

I woke up sick today.

And for the first time in a long time, it is just a regular cold.

Not the kind that comes from pushing too hard for too long. 

Not the kind where you finally slow down, take a break, and your body crashes the moment you exhale. The vacation cold. The post-deadline flu. The crash that happens right when you finally breathe.

Our bodies remember what we try to ignore. They hold the exhaustion we keep pushing through.

So this time, I am grateful. Grateful that this cold is just a cold. 

Just a normal, human, everyday cold.

It feels almost like a sign of progress. 

That maybe (just maybe) I am finally learning what balance looks like.

Sometimes the smallest things remind you that healing does not always look like rest. 

Sometimes it looks like living at a pace your body can keep up with.

#ProgressOverPerfection #TakeCareOfYourself #RestAndRelax

There's a light snow falling outside this morning. ☃️
Everything is quiet.
Still.

It's the kind of morning that reminds me how easy it is to overlook the quiet when life moves fast.

Today, I'm choosing to notice it.
To appreciate the space between what was and what is coming.

Because sometimes the most productive thing you can do is slow down enough to hear yourself think. ❄️

#Grateful #SlowDown

This week had wins. It also had moments of doubt, long pauses, and those quiet “am I doing this right” check ins.

That is the part of building something new that most people never see.

The good and the uncertain are always happening at the same time.

We launched things.
People showed up.
Feedback came in.
Progress is real.

And at the same time, I am learning, adjusting, and growing just as fast as the work itself.

It is a reminder that creating something meaningful is rarely smooth.

It stretches you, surprises you, humbles you, and energizes you… sometimes all in the same day.

If you are in a season where the wins and the wobble live side by side, you are not alone.

Both are part of the story. CHEERS TO GROWING AND IMPROVING!

What did this week teach you?

#SeasonofGrowth Jedno #Leadership #Authenticity

I AM A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR.
Wait. What? Really? How did that happen?

I should have posted this yesterday.
You know, ON the ACTUAL National Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.
But for all the reasons I am sure many people face… I didn’t.
So here we are. One day late, still just as proud.

I never pictured myself in this world. I did the work. I led teams. I supported organizations. But entrepreneur felt like a title for other people.

And yet… here I am.

And what is EVEN BETTER than becoming an entrepreneur myself?

Building something with a cofounder who is also a woman.

Someone who brings her own brilliance and strength.
Someone who sees the vision and helps expand it.
Someone who wants to build something that makes a real difference.

There is something powerful about creating something with another woman who leads with integrity, purpose, and an enormous amount of heart. Shout out to you Sandra Saric!!!

So, to every woman who has stepped into something new, surprising, or brave this year… I see you.

#FemaleEntrepreneurship #FromFriendsToFounders Jedno

In the past few weeks, I’ve had conversations with nonprofit leaders and a common thread keeps surfacing.

Everyone’s trying to lead through change while the rules keep shifting.

The opportunities are still there, but they’re smaller, faster, and harder to catch.

A pilot project here. 

A short-term funding window there. 

A new initiative that may not exist by next fiscal year.

What I’m hearing over and over again is that leadership today feels less like strategy and more like triage. 

Leaders are holding their teams together, 
managing funder relationships, 
and trying to stay innovative when the ground won’t stop moving.

The challenge isn’t just finding funding anymore. It’s learning how to diversify it. 

Resilience has always been part of this work. But agility, well that’s becoming the new superpower.

If you are a leader in this space, the best thing you can do right now is stay curious.

Ask what else your organization could offer beyond its current programs.

Reach out to partners in different sectors.

Look at where your mission intersects with economic priorities.

Diversification starts with curiosity, not capacity.

You've got this!!!

#GovernmentFunding #RevenueDiversification #MakingADifference #BusinessDevelopment

Yesterday I had one of those conversations that fills you with pure joy.

The kind where you pause for a second, smile, and think, THIS is why I do this work.

Someone I have had the privilege of working with just had their second proposal approved.

Seeing their excitement, their relief, and their sense of possibility made my whole day.

What makes it even better is remembering the journey, all the learning, the refining, the patience it takes to get to this point. 

Every funded proposal carries a story of persistence and growth.

I am so proud of the work they are doing, and so grateful to play even a small role in helping bring their vision to life.

Here’s to more of these conversations.

The quiet wins that remind us that momentum builds one “yes” at a time.

#CelebratingWins #GovernmentFunding #ProposalDevelopment #BusinessDevelopment

Every now and then someone says something that hits you in a way you did not expect. That happened yesterday.

I was in a conversation that flowed easily. We talked about work and life. We were catching up because it had been a few years since we spoke and a lot had changed in both our lives. 

At one point she said she always remembered and valued that I wasn't an ego driven leader.

It stopped me for a moment because it reminded me why I do this work. 

I care about helping people work together in ways that feel honest, supportive, and real. 

I care about creating connection. 

I care about clearing the noise so teams and partners can do their best work together.

Her comment felt less like praise and more like a small reminder that I am on the right path. 

The work matters because the people matter.

What is something someone said to you recently that stayed with you?

#HonestConversations #Connections #Leadership #Impact

It is raining here today and honestly… it matches my brain.
When it rains it pours and I am all up in my head about balance.

We have our very first Jedno workshop next week and I am so excited about it. 

It is free, it is useful, and it is built to help people avoid the funding mistakes we see all the time. And did I say it's our FIRST!?!?! Eeekk!!

And yet here I am trying to walk that fine line between sharing something exciting for us and not turning my feed into a parade of promotions.

People do not come to LinkedIn to be sold to.

They come for connection and insight and a little bit of humanity.

So here is the balance I am trying to hold today.
I want to share what we are building because I know it will help people.
I also want to respect the space and the people in it.

If you are in the world of government funding or know someone who is, the workshop is there for you next week. Link in first comment (hope to see you there).

If not, I hope you still see me as someone who shows up with intention, not noise.

Maybe that is the real balance.

Leading with value first and letting people decide what they need.

What helps you stay centered when everything starts to pour at once?

#Leadership #FromFriendsToFounders #GovernmentFunding #SocialImpact

If your feed is full of budget reactions and you’re thinking about scrolling past, I get it.

But here’s why it might be worth a closer look (at the document itself, not my post lol).

This year’s federal budget puts most of its weight behind a few big focus areas. 

Nearly 80 percent of the investments are directed toward two priorities: protecting Canada’s long-term economic and national strength, and reducing costs for Canadians.

The biggest areas of investment are housing, infrastructure, artificial intelligence and innovation capacity, national defence and cybersecurity, and support for businesses looking to scale or stay competitive.

There’s also a shift in how the government plans to spend overall: less on day-to-day operations, more on long-term projects it believes will shape Canada’s future economy.

What’s quieter this year are broader investments in education systems, immigration supports, nonprofit capacity, or community development — except for some targeted programs like youth employment and support for personal support workers in health care.

So while you don’t need to read every page of the 300-plus page document, it’s worth spending a few minutes looking up the areas that matter to you. 

Budgets don’t just reflect spending — they reflect priorities. And those priorities affect where opportunities flow next.

#FederalBudget2025 #CanadianEconomy #CanadaStrong

I'm at #SaasNorth today and tomorrow! Say hi if you see me!

#SN2025 Jedno

Launching something new always comes with a mix of excitement and nerves.

And this week has reminded me why I care so deeply about this work.

Over the years I have watched incredible organizations pour their hearts into proposals only to hear no.

Not because their ideas were weak.

Not because their mission lacked value.

But because the application itself got in the way.

So for our very first free workshop at Jedno, we chose to tackle this head on.

Three Proposal Mistakes That Make Funders Say No

This is a live session for leaders who want more clarity, stronger positioning and a better understanding of what funders actually look for.

If you work in a nonprofit or start up organization and you're trying to be more successful with funding, this session will absolutely support you.

It is practical.

It is accessible.

And it comes from years of reviewing, writing and winning proposals across sectors.

You can grab your spot here:
https://lnkd.in/edR_dSG4

I am really looking forward to this one. It is going to be a powerful conversation and I hope to see you there.

#FirstWorkshop #SoExcited #MakingADifference

Open article: Crack the Funding Code: 3 Proposal Mistakes That Keep You From Winning Big by eventbrite.ca

Crack the Funding Code: 3 Proposal Mistakes That Keep You From Winning Big

I love a good audience engagement moment, don't you? 

During a recent presentation, the facilitator asked a simple question:

“When you hear the word performance, what’s the first word that comes to mind?”

The answers filled the screen in a word cloud: results, excellence, consistency, mindset, success, talent, grit.

What struck me most was how few of the responses were about people.

So much of how we measure performance focuses on outcomes and efficiency, not the human side that makes those results possible.

Performance is more than metrics.

It’s Connection. 
Clarity. 
Consistency. 
Care.
(I'll stop here cause I can't think of any more C's 😂 )

It’s how people feel supported enough to keep showing up and growing.

If you asked your team this question, what word would you hope to see appear?

I’d love to hear yours.

#Outcomes #Leadership #SocialImpact
Jedno The Uplift Collective

Yesterday I saw so many posts about gratitude. And I LOVED READING EVERY ONE OF THEM!!!

But It also reminded me that thankfulness does not need a date on the calendar. 

It is a practice. Something we can choose every day.

Today I am thankful for amazing friends who always show up, a business that is finding its rhythm, and a cofounder who is just as inspired to make a difference with the work we do. (And tissues, I'm so thankful to the inventor of tissues)

Gratitude changes everything. 

It turns the everyday into evidence that we are moving in the right direction.

What are you thankful for today?

The Canadian War Museum invites you to learn more about Canada’s military history during Remembrance Week.

The museum will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Admission is free.

On Remembrance Day, visit the museum’s webpage to watch the light shining through Memorial Hall at the Canadian War Museum. At exactly 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, sunlight enters through a single window in Memorial Hall, illuminating the headstone of Canada’s Unknown Soldier.

Link: https://lnkd.in/e3Uh-rXs

Canadian War Museum
#WeRemember #UnknownSoldier #CanadianWarMuseum

Open article: Memorial Hall Visitation and Livestream | Canadian War Museum by warmuseum.ca

Memorial Hall Visitation and Livestream | Canadian War Museum

Choose your favorite ⬇️ and pretend the universe sent it just for you.

1️⃣  Seats are free but your next funding opportunity is priceless.

2️⃣  Your proposal deserves a glow up.

3️⃣  The algorithm brought you here for a reason.

4️⃣ We promise this will be more fun than reformatting a budget spreadsheet.

5️⃣ Your weekend self might scroll. Your weekday self will thank you.

SEE YOU THURSDAY AT NOON EST!!!

If you are reading this on a Saturday night, THIS post might be your sign.

You could be anywhere right now, but you are here.

Thinking about work. Thinking about growth. (Ok, that's probably not what you were originally thinking about but now that we said it you are 😂 )

And probably wondering why funding always feels so complicated. (Because aren't we all?)

Good news. We've got you covered.

This Thursday, join our live workshop and learn how to avoid the proposal mistakes that keep great ideas from getting funded.

It is free, fast, and might just make your next proposal a lot stronger.

Link in comments.

Now back to your weekend. 👋

Every conversation about AI sounds exciting -until you try to make it work inside a real business.Most leaders see the potential.What they don’t see is a clear starting point.So they stay stuck - not because they’re doing nothing,but because they’re doing too many things that don’t move the needle.→ Teams wasting hours on repetitive work that should’ve been automated months ago→ Customer support drowning in simple questions while real issues wait in line→ Sales reps managing CRM chaos instead of relationships→ Marketing pushing out content that doesn’t convert→ Projects that “pilot forever” but never scale→ Systems that don’t talk to each other - so people become the integration layer→ Leaders flooded with vendor pitches, buzzwords, and no clear playbookThe result?Rising costs. Missed opportunities.And that quiet, uncomfortable feeling that competitors are moving faster.It doesn’t have to be this way.With the right AI and automation strategy, you can:Pinpoint the highest-impact areas to automateReclaim hundreds of hours across teamsScale without adding headcountThat’s where my work begins - with an AI Automation Audit.A hands-on, practical look at your workflows, tech stack, and decision loops to uncover what’s possible right now.No jargon. No hype. Just a clear starting point and a roadmap that actually works.Because AI only matters if it improves judgment, strengthens teams, and removes friction from work.That’s been my practice for over 25 years - scaling businesses, repairing broken processes, and delivering change that lasts.Here’s what that looks like in real life:👉 Replacing fragile systems that can’t support growth👉 Scaling untapped opportunities hiding in plain sight👉 Applying AI and data to sharpen decisions, not decorate dashboards👉 Leading transformations that make daily work simpler for the people who actually use the systemsI’ve done this across the spectrum - from shoestring budgets to million-dollar programs.What I bring:✅ Calm and clarity when things grow complex✅ A focus on value, not features✅ Data that informs, never dictates✅ Teams that perform - without burning outIf you’re done with the AI noise and ready for results that stick, let’s talk.

Ranjana Sharma

The scariest sound in most offices isn’t conflict.
It’s silence.

The meeting ends.
Someone just got humiliated, dismissed, or sidelined.
And what do we do?
We nod. Take notes. Schedule the next sync.

Later, we whisper,
“Yeah, that was wrong…”
but no one says it when it matters.

Because speaking up risks comfort.
And silence - well, silence is safe.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Most people don’t stay quiet because they’re bad.
They stay quiet because it’s practical.
Because the injustice didn’t happen to them.
Because the paycheck still clears on Friday.

But leadership isn’t about protecting comfort.
It’s about defending what’s right - even when it’s awkward, inconvenient, or career-limiting.

Injustice rarely starts loud.
It starts quietly -
With good people saying nothing.

Silence is easy.
Integrity has terrible timing.

💭 Thought experiment:
What’s one moment you stayed silent -
and still think about?

♻️ Share this if this resonated.
👉 Follow for more professional development, leadership and AI insights.

Turning AI Hype Into Results That Stick | AI Strategy • Automation Audits • Scaling Smarter, Not Louder

You stopped shrinking to fit.
Now the world feels too small.

There’s a moment when something shifts.
Not because the pressure eases.
Not because people suddenly understand you.
Not because the chaos calms down.
Not because the world gets gentler. 
Not because the storm decides to take a day off.

It shifts because you do.

You stop bargaining with chaos. 
You stop waiting for life to hand you permission slips. 
You stop shaping yourself around what keeps other people comfortable.
You stop twisting yourself to match someone else’s expectations.
You stop waiting for a sign, an invite, a green light.
And something ancient in you stirs.
Not louder. Just clearer.
Not bolder. Just truer.

You start to move - not perfectly, not neatly -
but with a certainty that comes from bone-deep memory.

A knowing that remembers:
How it felt to trust yourself.
To take up space.
To belong to yourself first.

A memory of freedom. 
A memory of the person you were before the world taught you to shrink. 

Chaos might rattle you. 
It might shake your plans, your confidence, even your sense of direction.

But it can’t claim your joy. 
It can’t touch the part of you that refuses to go numb. 
It can’t dim the fire that keeps choosing movement over paralysis. 

That part belongs to you. 
It always has. 

The storm still howls.
But it no longer unravels you.
You’ve stopped negotiating with fear.
You’ve remembered your shape.

And when you finally remember that - you don’t just survive the storm. 
You learn to move with it. 
You let it carve you. 
You let it wake you. 

That’s when life stops being something you endure… and starts being something you inhabit.

And now?
The life that once fit like a glove
feels like a cage you’ve outgrown.

That’s not failure.
That’s growth with its volume up.


♻️ REPOST To spread the positive message. You never know who needs it.

👉 Follow Ranjana for more insights on professional growth and AI leadership

AI isn’t here to replace your mind.
It’s here to declutter it.

Leadership today isn’t about doing more work.
It’s about doing the right work, with fewer distractions and stronger decisions.

That’s where AI comes in-not as a tool, but as a team.
A team you can “hire” to help with the exact things that crowd your mind and clog your day.

What’s less obvious is how to use it in a structured, repeatable way that improves decision-making, communication, and operational flow.
That’s why thinking of AI as a team not a tool is so effective.

Every leader, regardless of industry, faces the same challenges:

• Prioritizing the right work
• Communicating clearly
• Keeping teams aligned
• Understanding what customers need
• Making decisions with incomplete information
• Managing tasks that repeat every week

AI can support these core responsibilities, but only if you give it defined roles.

This infographic outlines five roles leaders can immediately “hire” AI for:

1. Clarity Coach
Role: Turns messy goals into a plan that doesn’t require caffeine, therapy, or a 3-day offsite.
Prompt:
“Help me break down our priorities into a 30-60-90 plan with clear outcomes, dependencies, and risks. Keep it simple enough that my team will actually follow it.”
Model: ChatGPT
What this unlocks: Better decisions → fewer surprises → you stop firefighting.

2. Creative Director
Role: Gives you scroll-stopping visuals, sharp messaging, and brand consistency without 12 rounds of revision.
Prompt:
“Turn this idea → [topic] into 3 visual concepts with headlines, layouts, and matching captions that feel on-brand.”
Model: Midjourney or Claude Artifacts
What this unlocks: Faster campaigns. On-brand storytelling. No creative bottleneck.

3. Chief of Staff
Role: Handles the repeatable, the routine, and the “why am I still doing this?” tasks.
Prompt:
“When a task is assigned: summarize it, create action steps, set deadlines, send reminders, and prepare a weekly status digest.”
Model: GPT-5 + Zapier + Calendar Actions
What this unlocks: Time back. Headspace restored. Smoother meetings.

4. Market Listener
Role: Tells you what your customers, employees, and competitors are actually thinking.
Prompt:
“Summarize the top trends, questions, frustrations, and emerging opportunities in my industry based on today’s news, Reddit, LinkedIn posts, and forums.”
Model: Perplexity
What this unlocks: Insights before your competitors notice them.

5. Data Analyst
Role: Turns spreadsheets into decisions — not headaches.
Prompt:
“Review this data and give me: top insights, hidden risks, outliers, and 3 experiments we should try this quarter.”
Model: ChatGPT or ExploreAI
What this unlocks: Faster decisions. Better priorities. Fewer “I’ll get back to you.”

AI becomes most valuable when you use it to strengthen the fundamentals: clarity, alignment, judgment, and follow-through.

♻️Repost to share this insight. 

👉 Follow Ranjana for more insights on professional growth and AI leadership

AI’s next evolution isn’t smarter models.
It’s smarter mirrors.

Most people use AI like a search engine.
Ask a question → get an answer → hope it makes sense.

But the real unlock, at least in my view, isn’t a bigger model.
It’s a personal one.

The Me Model.
A private AI trained on your books, your notes, your values, your history and the future version of you you’re working toward.

It doesn’t flatter you.
It doesn’t generalize you.
And it doesn’t try to “learn” who you are through scattered conversations.

It becomes a true mirror -one you simply cannot access unless you feed it your own thinking, patterns, ideas, and contradictions.

Because there are parts of yourself you only notice when they’re reflected back with structure and clarity.

And the more I work with AI, the more convinced I am the next shift is toward:

Me + World - which is exactly what RAG is.

RAG is just a simple idea dressed in a technical acronym:

AI should use two brains at once:
the world brain (what it learned during training)
your brain (the information you give it)

When you combine them, you get:
context from the world
truth from your own sources
answers grounded in what actually matters to you or your business

In a personal LLM setup:
Pure Me = your private corpus only
Me + World = RAG (your data + external intelligence)

RAG isn’t technical.
It’s simply AI saying:
“Let me check your facts first.
Then I’ll think with the broader intelligence I already have.”

That’s it.
Your Me Model + the outside world = RAG done right.

And when those two meet, something new emerges:

A model that can:
• Give advice rooted in your values
• Blend your lived experience with global context
• Reveal contradictions between who you say you are and how you act
• Connect ideas from years of notes, journals, and decisions
• Surface patterns you don’t see in the moment
• Ground choices in both your history and the world’s reality
• Help you grow into who you want to become
• Reflect you back to yourself with honesty, not ego

And I might be dead wrong - but I think the Me Model is just as powerful for businesses as a first step.

Every company has:
• Playbooks
• Policies
• Tribal knowledge
• Customer insights
• Operational history
• Cultural beliefs
• Strategic blind spots

When a business loads its own truth into a private model, it gains the same advantage a person does:
A mirror.
A system that reflects the company back to itself - clearly, consistently, and without ego.

And when you combine (as step two):
The company’s truth
+
The world’s intelligence

…you get a Me + World model for the organization.

Not a generic chatbot.
A private strategic brain that understands how the business actually works - and where it wants to go.

In my opinion, that’s the next evolution of AI.
Not replacing the mind -
but finally giving it a mirror sharp enough to see itself.

Or maybe I’m just hallucinating. Agree?


♻️ REPOST  👉 Follow Ranjana Sharma for insights on AI leadership

Why Your AI Sounds Smart - But Still Misses the Point

Most leaders think all AI answers are created equal.
They’re not.

There’s a quiet divide in how AI works and it changes everything about accuracy, trust, and usefulness.

Here’s the non-technical cheat sheet every business leader should know 👇

Without RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation):
AI answers from its memory - what it learned during training.
So when you ask, “What’s our best-selling product?”
It gives a smart, generic answer… but not your truth.
“Most retail brands see highest sales in seasonal categories.”
Nice. Just not yours.


With RAG:
AI retrieves facts from your data - reports, CRM, inventory, docs - before answering.
Now the same question sounds like this:
“According to your Q3 sales report, SKU S110 (‘Canvas Comfort Sneaker’) drove 34% of revenue and sold out in 12 days. Recommend restock before Black Friday.”
That’s the difference between talking generally and acting intelligently.

RAG is what gives AI context.
It’s how it stops guessing and starts knowing.
Without it, you get clever conversation.
With it, you get confident decisions.

So what does RAG do? In plain English here are some examples.

👉 “RAG turns a smart map into a personalized GPS for your business.”
👉 “RAG lets AI cook with your ingredients instead of guessing the recipe.”
👉 “RAG gives AI a brain and a memory.”
👉 “RAG transforms AI from an outsider with opinions into an insider with context.”
👉 “RAG is how AI stops guessing and starts investigating.”
👉 “RAG powers AI with your organization’s truth.”


When I say “RAG docs,” we don’t mean fancy databases - just the raw truth sitting in your company’s files.

Marketing 
↳ Documents: Campaign reports, brand guidelines, creative briefs
↳ Format: PDF, Google Docs

Sales
↳ Documents: CRM data, proposals, pricing sheets
↳ Format: CSV, Excel, Notion

Operations
↳ Documents: Inventory logs, SOPs, supply chain contracts
↳ Format: Excel, PDF

HR
↳ Documents: Policies, training manuals, job descriptions
↳ Format: PDF, Docs

Finance
↳ Documents: Budgets, forecasts, P&L, investor updates
↳ Format: Excel, PowerPoint

Product
↳ Documents: Specs, feature roadmaps, Jira tickets
↳ Format: Markdown, Confluence

RAG doesn’t need you to “rebuild data.”
It just needs to retrieve the right snippets from what you already know.

The takeaway
Without RAG → You get clever conversation.
With RAG → You get confident decisions.
That’s how AI stops guessing - and starts knowing.

SAVE this for the future.

REPOST this to share the power of AI

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“It’s not your fault.”
There’s a reason that scene hits like a freight train.

Because you carry more wounds than you ever name.
And you’ve learned to do it quietly.

You show up to work looking composed while privately holding:
the stress, the doubt, the impossible expectations, the feeling that you have to be the one who “keeps it together.”

You show up in your personal life doing the same:
managing family needs, emotional labor, unspoken responsibilities, the weight of being “the reliable one.”

And because you’ve done it for so long, you start believing the lie that every burden is yours to solve.
That if something falls apart, it must be because you didn’t do enough.
Didn’t plan enough.
Didn’t stretch yourself far enough.

You forget that systems fail.
People disappoint.
Plans collapse.
Life blindsides you in the middle of a Tuesday.
And none of that means you’re broken.

It’s not trauma in the dramatic sense but the quieter cuts:

The project you held together while everything was falling apart.
The leader who praised your resilience without noticing the cost.
The expectations that kept rising because you “always figure it out.”
The weekends you traded for “just one more sprint.”
The smile you learned to wear even when you were drowning.

Somewhere along the way, you started believing that every missed deadline was your failure…
every unrealistic ask was your responsibility…
every broken system was yours to fix.

Sometimes you’re exhausted because you’ve been doing the emotional equivalent of holding up a collapsing ceiling with both hands - at work and at home - without ever asking:

“Why am I the only one holding this up?”

You don’t fall apart because you’re weak.
You fall apart because you’ve been strong for too long without support.

But here’s the truth that scene whispers - the one you need to hear:

It’s not your fault.
It’s not your fault that the team was understaffed.
It’s not your fault the scope kept expanding.
It’s not your fault leadership changed direction for the fourth time.
It’s not your fault that you were expected to operate like a machine when you’re, inconveniently, human.

And maybe the hardest part isn’t the workload -
it’s the belief that you should’ve handled everything better.

That’s the lie.
You don’t heal by hustling harder.
You heal by finally telling the truth:
You’re allowed to put it down.
You’re allowed to rest.
You’re allowed to be human in both places - the office and your life.

And that honesty - the raw, uncomfortable kind - is your “it’s not your fault” moment.

Not absolution.
Just clarity.
The kind that lets you put down what was never yours to carry in the first place.

Because the real work isn’t being stronger.
It’s remembering you were never supposed to do all of this alone.

♻️Repost to share the message. You never know who needs to hear “It’s not your fault”.

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You can’t fake energy.

People feel you before they hear you.

Before they read your title.
Before they know your expertise.
Before they care about your credentials.

Your energy walks into the room five seconds before you do —
and it tells the truth.

That’s why I love the reminder behind this visual:

Your smile is your logo.
Your presence is your business card.
Your impact is your trademark.

In a world where AI is taking over the busywork, the human parts of work suddenly matter more:

How you make people feel.
What it’s like to collaborate with you.
Whether you create calm or chaos.
Whether your presence adds clarity or confusion.
Whether people walk away lighter… or heavier.

The tools matter.
The strategy matters.
But your energy?
That’s the part people remember long after the meeting ends.

Make that your competitive edge.

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Beware of being only data-driven.

It’s like driving while staring exclusively in the rear-view mirror-perfectly informed about where you’ve been, completely blind to what’s ahead.

Why does this happen?

Because data can become a shield.
A comfortable hiding place.
A way to avoid the calls that require actual judgment.
Charts and KPIs feel safe… until they quietly make us blind to what the numbers can’t see.

Here’s a perfect example:

Before the iPod, every data point said people listened to CDs at home or in their cars.
No dashboard predicted a pocket-sized library of thousands of songs.
No historical trend pointed to it.
No customer survey asked for it.

And yet it became one of the fastest-selling consumer products in history.
Not because the data led the way.
But because the judgment behind it saw a future no spreadsheet could map.

So yes, leaders need data.
But we cannot hand it the steering wheel.

Data is the rear-view mirror.
Judgment is the windshield.
A good leader glances at the mirror.
A great leader keeps their eyes on the road ahead.

The shift we need is simple:

Move from data-driven → to data-informed.

Data illuminates the path.
But it’s human judgment, intuition, pattern recognition, courage that decides which path to take.

When leaders fall asleep because “the numbers look good,” that’s when smart companies start failing slowly.

In the age of AI, judgment isn’t outdated.
It’s the differentiator.

And it’s time we treat it like a core leadership skill-not a backup plan when the dashboard runs out of metrics.

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Most people think they need to learn AI.
What they actually need to learn is how to ask better questions.

Because good prompting isn’t technical.
It’s human.
It’s clarity.
It’s context.
It’s courage to say, “Here’s where I’m stuck.”

And here’s the part nobody admits:
In my personal experience, we all suck at asking good questions when our mind isn’t clear.
It’s not a flaw-it's a skill that develops with experience, repetition, and a few painfully honest self-audits.

When it comes to prompting, most people fall into two camps:

Lazy by intention (the “just give me magic” crowd)
Unaware (they simply don’t know what they don’t know)

Thank you Chris Donnelly for well thought out cheat sheet.

It makes a HUGE difference:

1. Clarity > Cleverness
AI rewards the same thing your team does: clarity.
If you can’t say it simply, AI won’t magically decode you.

2. Start With the Friction
“What’s the real problem?”
Start there.
It’s the same place you’d start in a Monday standup when everything is on fire.

3. Prioritize Use Over Theory
AI doesn’t need philosophy.
It needs your calendar, your metrics, your deliverables.
Ask it questions you plan to act on-not admire.

4. Ground It in Reality
Bring your world into the prompt.
Your customer. Your team size. Your SKU load.
The more real it gets, the more useful the output.

5. Declare the Constraints
Say what not to do.
Leaders forget this part (and so does AI).
No fluff. No clichés. No vague motivational posters.

6. Timebox the Lens
“Based on what’s true this quarter…”
A simple time frame turns AI from abstract to practical.
It forces relevance-instantly.

7. Make It Choose
Ask for trade-offs.
“Pick the strongest idea and explain why.”
This turns AI into a strategist, not a vending machine.

8. Ask It to Judge, Then Justify
Don’t just accept outputs-get critique.
You’ll learn how the machine thinks, and more importantly, how you think.

9. Simulate Real Scenarios
“Act like this idea flopped. What would you audit?”
This is where AI becomes your rehearsal room.
Zero-risk learning. High-return clarity.

10. Lock in the Persona
Tell AI how to think, not just what to do.
Cold operator? Gentle advisor? Skeptical CFO?
Tone shapes intelligence.

11. Focus on Leverage
Instead of “give me 10 ideas,” try:
“What is the highest-impact move I’m overlooking?”
AI follows your lead.

12. Make It Build With You
Treat it like a feedback loop:
“Here’s version 1. Sharpen it.”
This is where the compounding value begins.

13. Include What You’ve Tried
It saves you time and saves AI from reinventing the wheel.
Collaborate, don’t start from scratch.

14. Push It Into Action
“Now write the email/script/debrief.”
Action is clarity’s finish line.

15. Give It Tone
Confident but not cocky.
Smart but not smug.
The vibe you choose becomes the work you get back.

You don’t need new intelligence.
You just need to use the intelligence you already have-more deliberately.

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AI’s biggest problem right now? It’s not bias. It’s not job loss. 
It’s bad math.


Most companies are realizing the same painful truth - their AI isn’t accurate enough to trust.
Based on latest McKinsey report “State of AI in 2025”
30% have already felt it.
54% are scrambling to fix it.
And it’s not just “oops, wrong number” - it’s wrong decisions, wrong reports, wrong assumptions… at scale.

Here’s what’s really going on:
We got so excited about what AI could do
…that we forgot to check what it was doing.
Now we’re in clean-up mode -patching cybersecurity leaks, tightening compliance, and trying to explain results no one can fully explain.
Sound familiar?

It’s not an AI problem.
It’s a leadership problem.
Because AI reflects how we run things.
If we reward speed over scrutiny, it’ll do the same - just faster.

So what do we do?

✅ Track inaccuracy like a KPI.
Don’t hide errors in postmortems. Surface them. Review patterns monthly.

✅ Add checkpoints.
Require AI to show its reasoning before you act on its results. “Show your work” isn’t just for students.

✅ Design for failure.
Build fallbacks - what happens when the model misfires? Who checks it? How do you roll back?

✅ Keep context alive.
AI remembers data, not purpose. Feed it the “why” behind the “what.”

✅ Create an AI Risk Register.
Just like finance tracks credit or market risk - track model, data, and decision risk. Own it.

✅ Make explainability part of your culture.
Every AI result should pass a simple test: “Could a smart non-technical person understand how we got here?”

✅ Cross-train humans and machines.
Teach your people how to question outputs - not just how to prompt them.

✅ Audit outcomes, not just code.
Measure business results, customer trust, and ethical impact - not just precision scores.

The real risk isn’t AI being wrong - it’s us not noticing when it is.
Leaders who fix that will win the next wave.

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AI performance is only as strong as the plumbing underneath.

If you’ve ever wondered why your AI vision isn’t scaling-it’s not the model.
It’s the mess underneath.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth most leaders avoid:
Your AI roadmap will always collapse at the weakest layer of your operations.
Not the vision.
Not the strategy.
The foundations.

Until you fix the architecture, the processes, the governance, the workflow sludge…
AI just becomes a very expensive spotlight exposing what’s already broken.

AI doesn’t save you from operational chaos.
It accelerates it.

So before you invest in the shiny top floor- 
go down to the basement.
Clean up the pipes.
Align the priorities.
Remove the friction.
Upgrade the way people actually work.

It helps to get the basics right:
→ map how work actually gets done
→ strengthen data foundations
→ put clear governance in place
→ modernize integrations so information flows seamlessly

Then, start small.
Pick one domain, deliver a measurable win, and build from there.

In parallel, reduce technical debt and tighten security because they influence AI outcomes more than people realize.
The goal isn’t to chase hype.
It’s to build the conditions where AI can deliver real, repeatable value.

Because the companies winning with AI aren’t the ones dreaming the biggest.

They’re the ones brave enough to start where it’s messy.

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Image credit Clare Kitching

If life were all green lights, we’d never learn how to drive.

We glorify momentum - progress, speed, constant forward motion.
But if everything was a yes… if everything worked… if every door opened the moment we knocked -
we’d lose the very muscles that make us who we are.

The yellows and reds are the real teachers.

The pause that forces you to confront yourself.
The setback that exposes what you’ve been avoiding.
The crisis that strips you down to what actually matters.
The failure that rearranges your priorities with ruthless honesty.

Without those moments, we don’t grow.
We coast.

And the truth no one wants to say out loud?
Ease doesn’t build character. Tension does.

If anything, You should’ve failed more.
Failed faster.
Failed louder.
Failed publicly.
Failed spectacularly enough that the lesson actually stuck.

Because every time I’ve grown, it wasn’t because life rolled out a green carpet.

It was because something broke.
Something hurt.
Something forced me to evolve.

And to you the person holding back because of the critics, the trolls, the sideline commentators:
Here’s the hard truth wrapped in kindness:

They’re on the sideline for a reason.

People who are in the arena don’t have time to boo.
People who are building don’t sneer.
People who are evolving don’t ridicule other people’s attempts.

So let them talk.
Let them point.
Let them misunderstand you.

Meanwhile, you keep stacking your reps.
You keep collecting yellow lights and red lights like badges of honor.
You keep failing forward-because that’s how you become someone you’re actually proud of.

The goal isn’t to avoid failure.
The goal is to become someone who can withstand it…
learn from it…
and use it as fuel.
Green lights feel good.
Yellow and red lights make you unstoppable.


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The Battle

Stephanie Wilson

Ranjana Sharma

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The Battle

Stephanie Wilson

Ranjana Sharma

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Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Stephanie Wilson's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreStephanie Wilson's LinkedIn Performance