In this episode of Poised for Exit, we are joined by Erik Gabrielson, co-founder of ProjectWe. Erik returns to the show to share how his firm is helping business owners and professional services leaders navigate one of the most disruptive forces of our time: artificial intelligence. The conversation begins with Erik’s own journey of adopting AI in early 2023, when he and his team recognized its potential to transform not only their business, but also the way their clients operate.

Together, Erik and Julie explore the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into exit planning and business strategy. One of the biggest takeaways is that the real risk isn’t choosing the wrong AI tools - it’s avoiding the conversation altogether. Too many companies treat AI like just another software plug-in, and that’s why implementations stall. Erik explains why success starts with people, trust, and careful planning, and how shifting your mindset to see AI as a teammate can unlock far greater potential.

They also talk about how AI can take knowledge that usually lives with one owner and turn it into shared knowledge that strengthens the whole company. Relying too heavily on one person creates risk, but integrating AI can help reduce that dependency, and businesses that resist adoption may find themselves vulnerable when it comes to valuation.

As the conversation unfolds, Julie and Erik share their collaboration on a new AI-powered application for exit planning, designed to help advisors scale their work, support more owners, and drive better outcomes.This episode is a must-listen for advisors and business owners who want to stay ahead of the curve and position themselves for long-term success.

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Connect with Erik here
Find ProjectWe here

Connect with Julie Keyes, Keyestrategies LLC
Founder, Consultant, Author, Pod-caster and Instructor