Intro to AI

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If you're anything like us, the amount of information and news about AI recently has been nothing short of overwhelming and scary. You would be hard pressed to scroll, read, or look at anything these days without the mention of AI!

Where do you start if you don't know much about AI? Is there anyway to not participate? What are safe and useful ways to engage with AI? Should we be worried about the trajectory of AI? Why is it important that women and POC specifically participate in AI? What other tools exist besides ChatGPT and how can you use them? If you've pondered any of these questions, you're not alone! In true Bad Academy fashion, we are admitting out loud that we know nothing about AI and asking for help from a qualified Baddie ;)

This beginner-friendly AI workshop is specifically designed for Bad Academy, focusing on non-technical and practical AI applications. This workshop demystifies AI, introduces a framework for maximizing AI for everyday and professional tasks, and addresses critical concerns around bias, ethics, and security that particularly impact women entrepreneurs and professionals.

Curious about AI or just want to better understand it? Join us for a very special online workshop with our pal El Wong who's going to share her passion for AI and answer all your burning questions!

*Originally recored on September 17, 2025

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El is a seasoned AI educator, trainer and business growth coach who brings over 25 years of experience from financial services to help leaders and organizations confidently navigate AI adoption. She has a mission of making AI literacy accessible to everyone, regardless of technical background, especially women and people from underrepresented communities. El is also a Regional Lead for Canada and Advisory Council member with SHE IS AI Omnimedia.

Drawing from her extensive background in financial services and training as a PROSCI-certified change management practitioner, El understands the human side of technology transformation. She focuses on three key areas: AI literacy education, leadership development, and inclusive learning environments where people feel safe to explore, make mistakes, and grow.

What sets El apart is her commitment to creating psychologically safe learning spaces where participants show up authentically and learn at their best. Her hands-on, beginner-friendly methodology removes intimidation from AI learning, making complex concepts accessible through practical application. She believes in democratizing AI education and ensuring marginalized communities have equal access to these transformative tools.

El regularly delivers workshops and corporate training to audiences of 20-100 participants, helping small businesses and organizations leverage AI to increase effectiveness while developing stronger leadership capabilities. Her work bridges the gap between AI's technical possibilities and real-world business applications, always through an inclusive lens that honours diverse perspectives and experiences.

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- newsletter recommendations: The Rundown AI, Superhuman,

- El's newsletter here

- El's prompt library here

Below is the prompt for the Barbie/Action Hero image and the Blindbox/Labubu-inspired image created on ChatGPT (don't forget to click on Tools for the Image Generation option and upload a photo of yourself). Homework #1 was to try one out.

Create a hyper-realistic boxed action figure styled like a luxury Barbie doll made for sale in a toy store. A female action figure modelled exactly after the photo I upload. Her face and hair must match perfectly. Pose & Look: She should be standing confidently with a powerful, sleek posture, exuding confidence and glamour. Tattoos as in the attached photo. Outfit: A stylish a black Tee that says “BAD Academy”, jeans and white tennis shoes. Accessories in the box (must be visible and part of the display): An open silver laptop with a black cover A reusable black coffee cup A pack of mints A glass water bottle A white book titled “How to Be BAD” Theme & Style: Bright turquoise and sparkly, Barbie-style box with plastic window. The word "Amanda Kao” is displayed in big bold letters like the Barbie logo. Under it, it says: “Learn To Be Bad” Box Style: Toy-style packaging. Feminine, edgy, and upscale. Glossy. Green background. Sparkles. Playful yet professional. Has that "collectible doll" vibe while still being ultra-realistic. Lighting & Feel: Studio lighting. Everything should pop. Make her look iconic, bold, and powerful. Think luxury + toy aisle + fashion runway all mixed together.

Create a realistic 3D blind box collectible figure designed in the hidden edition style of Pop Mart. The figure should feature a cute, chibi-like proportion, with a large head and small body. Base the figure’s appearance directly of a punk rock styled woman, preserving their essential style and signature features such as the attached photo. Place the figure inside a premium transparent blind box featuring a pink and rose gold color scheme. Include inside the box additional fashion or lifestyle accessories such as a laptop, cellphone, tire pump, knife, climbing gear and a necklace. On the side of the box, add a stylized illustrated portrait of the Amanda Kao –inspired figure, and place the name "Amanda Kao, The Bad Academy" in stylish gold script at both the top right and bottom front of the box. Display the boxed figure on a clean white tabletop, with a softly blurred modern boutique shelf environment in the background. Use soft, polished, and realistic lighting, mimicking a professional commercial product photoshoot to highlight the figure and its packaging elegantly.

Homework #2, LinkedIn optimization:

Act as a top-level LinkedIn branding strategist and expert copy writer. Audit my LinkedIn profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elewong/] for tone, clarity, keywords, structure and visual impression. Highlight what is working and what's missing. Ask me the following attached 10 strategic questions to tailor my profile.

What is your priority goal for LinkedIn?

Which area of expertise or theme do you want to lead with?

What do you want to be known for in the next 12 months?

Describe your brand or personal mission in a sentence.

What specific audiences do you want to attract?

What content topics or themes do you want your LinkedIn to reflect?

What tone or vibe best fits your personal brand? (e.g., bold, warm, authoritative)

What accomplishments or credentials should be emphasized?

Which outdated roles or projects should be removed or reframed?

Are there competitors or profiles you admire for inspiration?

Youtube resources:

https://www.youtube.com/@sabrina_ramonov

https://www.youtube.com/@askcatgpt/shorts

https://www.youtube.com/@iamkylebalmer

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Check out SHE IS AI - an ecosystem led by women to support women and people from underrepresented communities.