AI Training Should Start With the Work: Introducing AI Labs

Real work. Ready-to-use AI

The most valuable AI training doesn’t begin with a slide deck. It begins with listening.

Before people can see how AI might help, someone needs to understand the work they actually do: the files they review, the decisions they support, the meetings they prepare for and the tasks that take more time than they should.

That is the idea behind my AI Labs: hands-on, industry-focused sessions built around real work challenges. Participants don’t just watch demonstrations. They work with AI to create something practical they can put into use.

Start with the work already on your desk

Some of the biggest productivity gains come from using AI to make sense of information and prepare for what comes next. In an AI Lab, participants might learn how to:

• Review and summarize information across different files before a meeting

• Prepare meeting briefs, questions and updates

• Turn project information into status updates, summaries and next steps

• Analyze spreadsheet data, create charts and explore planning scenarios

• Improve client follow-up, marketing or other everyday workflows

The specific activities depend on the people in the room. A contractor, a retailer and a loan officer have different work to do. The Lab is designed around those differences.

A real example of this approach

For Community Futures Western Ontario’s Future Skills Development Series: Role-Specific AI Training and Workshop for Loan Officers, I spent time learning how Loan Officers work before developing the workshop.

I reviewed workflows and documentation, explored the responsibilities and challenges involved in Community Futures lending, and collaborated with Volker Loetfering and the CFWO leadership team, including Todd Copeland and Shari Cole.

Together, we developed case studies and hands-on Microsoft Copilot exercises connected to actual lending activities: business-plan analysis, cash-flow forecasting, loan-application assessment, governance and workflow efficiency.

The workshop reflects the approach behind my AI Labs: learn the work, build relevant examples with the people who know it, and give participants time to practice applying AI to real tasks.

Volker saw that process from the early planning conversations through to participant feedback. I’m grateful he shared this testimonial:

“The collaboration with Sofie Andreou M.Eng on the Future Skills Development Series: Role-Specific AI Training and Workshop for the CFWO Loan Officers was a great experience. The significant time she invested in understanding the day-to-day realities of Community Futures Western Ontario Loan Officers, reviewing the workflows and documentation I provided, applying her expertise in AI applications and business processes, and tailoring the workshop content to address real business challenges, was outstanding.I particularly liked the hands-on approach of Sofie’s in-person workshop, which was highly relevant and practical because it was built around actual lending activities rather than generic AI concepts. Together, we developed case studies and exercises focused on the professional analysis of business plans, cash-flow forecasts, loan-application assessments, governance considerations and workflow efficiencies utilizing Microsoft Copilot. The result was a session that participants could immediately apply to their work, which was confirmed by the extremely positive responses received from them. The workshop successfully moved the conversation from understanding AI to identifying real opportunities for implementation within Community Futures lending operations. Without hesitation, I recommend Sofie Andreou to any organization seeking practical, in-depth and hands-on AI training that is tailored to the realities of their team and industry.”— Volker Loetfering Business Loans Officer / Agent aux prêts commerciaux Venture Niagara CFDC / Entreprise Niagara SADC

Volker, thank you for your trust, your insight into the Loan Officer role and your generous collaboration. You helped make the training relevant to the work participants do every day.

AI Labs for businesses, teams and events

AI Labs can be tailored for trades and field services, personal care businesses, retail, tourism, health, professional services, municipalities and nonprofits. They can be designed for an individual business or team, or adapted for a conference or membership organization.

The goal is simple: understand the audience’s work, choose a meaningful challenge and give people the opportunity to build an AI solution they can use.

Have a task you’d like AI to help with? Let’s design an AI Lab around your work.