Heidi Araya
CEO & Chief Consultant at BrightLogic, a people-first AI Agency
Orlando, Florida, United States
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With over 25 years of experience, Heidi Araya has built a remarkable career by seeing opportunities for process improvement where others didn't. Her unique ability to identify and implement innovative solutions has driven multimillion-dollar improvements across various organizations.
Heidi's passion for enhancing work processes led her to become a leading voice for process mapping. Her workshops and coaching sessions have inspired countless professionals to reimagine their approach to work, prompting many to seek her guidance on implementing value streams and conducting mapping in their own organizations.
Heidi recognized the transformative potential of generative AI and AI automation early on. Anticipating the profound impact these technologies would have on business processes, she took decisive action to position herself at the forefront of this revolution. She pivoted in 2023, completing a rigorous data science program at MIT and founding her own AI agency.
Today, Heidi combines her people-first approach to process improvement with cutting-edge AI tools, focusing exclusively on empowering small businesses. Her unique methodology helps these organizations automate key business processes, enabling them to compete more effectively in an increasingly AI-driven marketplace.
Heidi's expertise and forward-thinking approach have earned her a position on the board of directors at the Value Stream Management Consortium and on the Business Advisory Council for Crooms Academy, where she continues to shape the future of process efficiency & effectiveness leveraging AI.
When she's not empowering businesses with AI, Heidi enjoys raising butterflies, tackling home improvement projects, endlessly learning, and staying active.
Connect with Heidi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiaraya/ & https://brightlogicgroup.com/
Area of Expertise
Topics
Evolving with AI: Harnessing Personal Growth for Career Advancement in a Technological Era
In this enlightening talk, Heidi presents an approach to career success and self-fulfillment in an AI-driven era. The session explores how the relentless pace of AI and other technological advancements is not only transforming the job market but also necessitates a continuous journey of personal evolution and self-improvement.
Attendees will learn how to embrace continual personal growth along with the skills and adaptability required in an AI-influenced job landscape. Heidi will share stories, practical strategies, and thought-provoking insights into leveraging the synergy between self-evolution and career advancement in a rapidly changing world. This talk emphasizes the importance of embracing change, developing resilience, and cultivating a mindset geared towards lifelong learning and adaptation.
Drawing from a rich tapestry of experiences and the wisdom of innovators, Heidi will leave you with a toolkit of actionable approaches for navigating both personal growth and the external dynamics of an AI-shaped job market. It's more than a motivational talk; it's a roadmap for thriving in a changing world.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand how personal growth and AI-driven career development are interlinked in the modern world.
- Learn to embrace and navigate the changes brought about by AI in the job market through continual self-improvement.
- Develop strategies for integrating personal evolution with career adaptability in an AI-influenced landscape.
- Acquire practical tools for lifelong learning and adaptability in a changing and tech-driven world.
Pathway to AI Adoption: From Awareness to Action
In an era where AI is reshaping industries, successful integration within organizations is crucial. This session introduces a lightweight change model for AI adoption in businesses. Attendees will learn about the critical phases of AI integration. The talk will provide insights into preparing for AI, implementing pilot projects, evaluating and adapting strategies, scaling solutions, and fostering an AI-ready culture. This session aims to equip leaders with practical strategies for navigating AI adoption, emphasizing ethics and cultural transformation.
learning objectives:
Understand the essential principles for successful AI integration in a business context.
Gain knowledge on initiating AI adoption through organizational preparedness and awareness.
Learn strategies for effective implementation and management of AI projects.
Explore methods for evaluating AI initiatives and adapting to feedback.
Recognize the importance of ethical considerations and fostering a supportive culture for AI adoption.
Build Your Own AI Intern Using Custom GPTs
Unlock the power of AI for your solo business with this hands-on workshop!
In this session, you'll learn how to create your own custom GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) tailored to your specific business needs. From streamlining social media content creation to crafting voice-specific emails, discover how AI can revolutionize your workflow and boost productivity.
Key topics include:
• Understanding GPTs and their applications
• Exploring custom GPT use cases for solopreneurs
• Hands-on activity: build your own custom GPT
• Share what you learned and/or designed
• Q&A
Whether you're looking to generate daily inspirational content, create marketing materials, or reduce time spent writing proposals, this workshop will equip you with the skills to build your own AI helper.
Note: This workshop requires a paid OpenAI subscription ($20/month) to participate fully in the hands-on activities, but you’re welcome to be an observer also.
*if you need inspiration, Heidi has created custom GPTs for generating daily happy thoughts, for help crafting marketing emails, an herbal medicine assistant, an on-brand image creation assistant, and many more.
Heidi is a coach, consultant, and trainer with over 2 decades of experience driving multimillion dollar improvements inside large enterprises. She specialized in leading transformative change within organizations by identifying and working to improve processes that were causing frustration and inefficiency. Heidi’s passion for a people-first approach to process improvement became the foundation of her career, where she spearheaded large-scale initiatives and agile transformations.
When generative AI came on the scene, she immediately saw an exciting opportunity to pivot into a new space. Little did she know the number of pivots she’d have to make along the way! This technology reignited her enthusiasm and allowed her to upskill and redirect her focus to solopreneurs and small businesses (becoming a solopreneur herself for the first time). Today, she helps solopreneurs and small business owners harness the power of AI to reduce the drudgery and reclaim time to focus on what’s most important to them.
AI in Action
A workshop for beginners to AI; where they will learn about AI and then put it into practice
Thriving in an AI World: 10-minute version
Why & how small businesses and solopreneurs should leverage AI in order to thrive in a rapidly changing world
You and AI: Navigating an Uncertain Job Market
In this talk, Heidi will share into how AI is reshaping both the job search market and current roles -- influencing career choices, and necessitating new skills. Attendees will gain a comprehensive view of the AI and other trends that are shaping the 2024 job market and learn strategies to adapt to these changes. This session aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to not only navigate and thrive in an AI-driven world, but also help you be proactive and prepared for rapid market changes.
Thriving in an AI World: Transforming Careers and Skills
Join Heidi in an insightful exploration of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the job market and transforming career landscapes in 2024 and beyond. In this session, we'll talk about the profound impact of AI on career development, jobs, and essential skill sets. Participants will gain a holistic understanding of the latest AI trends that are reshaping the employment arena. This talk is designed to arm you with effective strategies to adapt to these changes. By the end of this session, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and tools to successfully navigate the job market, anticipate rapid market changes, and prepare for the future of work in a world increasingly influenced by AI.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the evolving role of AI in shaping job markets and influencing career choices.
- Identify key AI trends impacting the 2024 job market and how they may evolve in the future.
- Learn strategies to adapt to an AI-influenced employment landscape, focusing on skill development and market adaptability.
- Gain insights into proactively preparing for rapid technological and market changes.
- Acquire practical tools and knowledge to thrive in an AI-driven professional environment.
Oviedo Winter Springs Business Alliance - Speaking on AI
Life After Tech Podcast
Thriving in an AI World - Private Event (Payments Processor)
Solopreneur Sandbox - Build Your Own AI Intern Using Custom GPTs
Hire your own AI Assistant - Custom GPTs
Panel on AI - Longwood Council Lunch & Learn
The Soloist Life Podcast Interview
Thriving in an AI World - Private Event (Multi-National Bank)
AI Exploration Workshop - private event
Build your own custom GPT Workshop - Growth Habit Crew
Build your own custom GPT Workshop
Soloist Women
MTUG Conference - Keynote
Product Tank: AI & Your Career in Product
Meetups, Buenos Aires
LeSS Meetup - You and AI
Lightweight Value Stream Mapping - Code Camp Orlando 2023
Consulting for Impact
Consulting for Impact: co-founder and co-host
Agile to Agility Value Stream Management Conference
Unlock value with an agile key: Demystifying Value Stream Mapping
Live! 360 Orlando 2023 Sessionize Event
Atlanta Developers' Conference 2023 Sessionize Event
Agile Leadership Network Meetup: Mapping the Path to Value: The missing piece ...
Mapping the Path to Value: The missing piece of your Agile-DevOps transition
Orlando Code Camp 2023 Sessionize Event
The Future of Agile - (private event) 700 people attended live
LeSS Meetup - NYC - Uncovering the Agile Mindset
Uncovering the Agile Mindset - 80 people watched live; recording here -
https://www.keystepstosuccess.com/2020/11/less-talks-uncovering-the-agile-mindset-with-heidi-araya-and-john-turley/
Give Thanks for Scrum: Hiring for your Scrum Teams
Hiring for your scrum teams (375 people attended the event)
DevOps Days Warsaw
Four Facets of Agility (90 people watched live)
Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqUmYM9R_Pc&list=PLnKL6-WWWE_X5k3GyLSeaqg_HKqg-EF8Q&index=9
Global SAFe Summit: Four Facets of Agility
Four Facets of Agility (262 people logged in to watch)
Business Agility Day: Agile Hiring
Agile Hiring (171 people tuned in live)
Humentum Solution Sessions
Pivoting under pressure (53 people tuned in live for this session)
Best Agile Articles Conference
Agile Hiring
Coaching Agile Journeys : Agile HR in the Remote Age
The Role of Agile HR in the Remote Age
Hacking HR Kyiv - Agile HR
June 22 - Hacking HR Kyiv - Agile HR -
Future of Work: HackerSpace & Toptal
June 17 - Digital Transformation with Distributed Teams -
Bucharest Agile Meetup
Igniting the role of Agile HR in Remote Age
DevOps Days Geneva, Switzerland
Agile Hiring (over 100 people attended my session)
HR Transform
"Where the company of the future begins."
Igniting the Role of HR in the Digital Age
Heidi Araya, Director of Agile Transformation, BrightLogic
Elena Vassilieva, Scrum Alliance Certified Agile Coach, Amaitus VR Production
VSLive 360! Orlando, Florida
Live360 Orlando - VSH13 Closing The Feedback Loop: Unblock Your Agile/DevOps Transformation
Live 360 Orlando - VSH09 Overcoming Virtual Challenges: Strategies to Increase Engagement in Distributed Agile Teams
DevOps Days Stockholm
DevOps Days Stockholm Closing Keynote - Growing Your Agile Team: Hiring & Inspiring the Right Mindset & Skills
Women in Technology International (WITI) Orlando
GAINING A COMPETITIVE EDGE THROUGH EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT
Open Leadership Symposium
Agile Open Practitioner Workshop
Agile Maine Day
Overcoming Challenges in Distributed Teams
Agile Africa
Overcoming Challenges & Increasing Engagement in Distributed Teams
Business Analyst World
The role of Project Management in an Agile Environment
Tampa Bay Agile Meetup
12 Tampa The role of Project Management in an Agile Environment
Remote Leadership Think Tank
Overcoming Virtual Challenges
Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast
Interviewed by Vasco Duarte for his well-known podcast
Code Camp, Orlando, FL
17: Code Camp, Orlando, FL: Scrum, Kanban, or Scrumban? http://www.orlandocodecamp.com/Sessions/Details/33
DojoLIVE
7: Online: DojoLIVE: "Bridging distance: Overcoming Challenges on Distributed Agile teams"
VSLive 360! Orlando, Florida
- Two talks
Scrum, Kanban, or Scrumban?
DevOps: A Catalyst for Enterprise Agility (with Esteban Garcia)
Jim Moran Institute Small Business & Leadership Conference
2-3: Orlando, FL: Jim Moran Institute Small Business & Leadership Conference
Distributed Agile Worlds Conference
January 26: Online: Distributed Agile Worlds Conference: Overcoming Virtual Challenges
Remote forever Summit
Nov 9: Online: https://remoteforeversummit.com/ Overcoming Virtual Challenges
KM World
Nov 8: Washington, DC: KMWorld. Scrum, Kanban, or Scrumban?
Teksystems Meetup
Intro to Agile for Recruiters (TekSystems)
3Pillar Group
week-long training events for 3Pillar Staff
Agile Professionals of Sacramento Meetup
Scrum, Kanban, or Scrumban?
PMI Chapter Dinner
Talk - Scrum, Kanban, or Scrumban?
Techwell East
Scrum, Kanban, or Scrumban?
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