In this episode of The Unscripted Leader, host Steve Margerin sits down with Dustin Bruzenak, CEO of Modern Logic, to talk about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the business landscape—especially for small and mid-sized companies. Dustin shares how AI is democratizing technology, freeing up teams from repetitive tasks, and empowering leaders to focus on creativity, innovation, and purpose-driven growth. If you’ve been curious (or even skeptical) about how to actually make AI work in your organization, this conversation breaks it down with clarity, humor, and hard-earned experience. Guest Introduction: Dustin Bruzenak is the CEO and co-founder of Modern Logic, a digital innovation firm specializing in helping small and mid-sized businesses leverage AI and automation. With over 15 years of experience leading technology ventures—including five startups he’s founded—Dustin’s passion lies in making emerging technologies accessible, ethical, and actionable for everyday business leaders. Key Takeaways:

• AI is not just for big tech—small businesses can see real ROI within months by automating repetitive work.
• The most effective leaders are those learning how to apply AI strategically, not just tactically.
• “Human-in-the-loop” workflows are essential to keep authenticity and prevent what Dustin calls work slop—AI output without human empathy.
• Use frameworks like ICE (Impact, Confidence, Ease) to prioritize where to apply AI in your business.
• The next revolution is agentic AI—systems that act on tasks autonomously—but we’re not there yet. Start simple, start now.
• AI adoption isn’t about replacement; it’s about reallocation—freeing people to do more meaningful, creative work.

Chapter Markers: 0:00 – Intro 1:00 – Welcome and Guest Introduction 2:20 – Why AI is the “Industrial Revolution” of our time 5:20 – Dustin’s entrepreneurial journey and founding of Modern Logic 8:00 – Making AI accessible for small and mid-sized businesses 10:00 – The real-world impact of AI on jobs and creativity 13:30 – How AI empowers small teams to scale faster 17:00 – Rapid ROI: How businesses are saving hours (and headcount) with automation 20:00 – The ethics of AI and the role of human oversight 23:00 – Preparing the next generation of talent for an AI-driven economy 26:00 – Practical advice for business leaders starting with AI 28:00 – Top 3 AI use cases moving the needle today 31:00 – The future of agentic AI and where it’s headed next 33:00 – Human creativity, authenticity, and “work slop” 36:00 – Closing reflections on leadership in the age of AI

Keywords: Steve Margerin, Dustin Bruzenak, The Unscripted Leader, Modern Logic, AI for business, artificial intelligence, small business automation, AI strategy, human-in-the-loop, digital transformation, leadership podcast, business innovation, agentic AI, AI consulting, AI workflow automation