Member since September 2024
AI Adoption & Change Management | Tech + People Skills (No Tech-Bro Language) | Former CIO | Founder & Author
Erin Moran McCormick is founder of TheInspireLab.ai, where she helps leaders turn AI potential into practical results. No jargon. No overwhelm.
Her signature framework is the ABCs of AI:
• Alignment (shared language, mindset, and simple safe-use rules)
• Bottlenecks (start with real pain and remove friction with AI)
• Culture (turn tools into habits with clear ownership and workable workflows)
A former CIO and startup executive who helped scale a company from concept to multimillion-dollar valuation, Erin bridges the gap between “we should use AI” and making it work in day-to-day operations. She has led Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centers at Babson College and UMass Boston, holds certifications from MIT and Stanford, and has keynoted for audiences at Harvard, KPMG, and Comcast.
Erin is the author of Year of Action and host of The Inspire Lounge podcast. Her sessions are practical, energizing, and built for real teams under real deadlines. Fun sessions. Serious results.
I'm passionate about helping people create the best job they've ever had, where they feel effective, empowered, engaged, and actually enjoy what they do. (Yes, that's possible. Even with AI involved.)
My mission is showing organizations that AI adoption isn't just about tools, it's about making work better for the humans doing it. When you start with people (what they need, what's blocking them, what would make their work more fulfilling), the technology part becomes way easier.
I especially love working with leaders who are trying to figure out how to make AI work FOR their teams, not just deploy it AT them. The managers who want their people to thrive, not just be more productive. The leaders who know there's a people side to this transformation but aren't sure how to address it.
That's what the E-Score™ measures: not just AI readiness, but whether people feel effective, empowered, engaged, entrepreneurial, and if they're enjoying their work. Because when those five factors are strong, AI adoption follows naturally. And when they're not? No amount of training on ChatGPT will fix it.
Watching teams go from overwhelmed and resistant to energized and strategic, is what drives me. I believe work should be fulfilling, not just functional. And AI, when implemented right, can help get us there.
A salesman once walked into our conference room, tossed his coat at me, and said, “I take mine with cream and sugar.”
He thought I was the assistant.
I was the CIO, and the decision-maker on his $1M computer sale.
I didn’t react. I simply hung up his coat, got his coffee, and then took my seat…at the head of the table.
The look on his face when he realized? Worth every sip.
He didn’t lose the deal because I was offended. He lost it because he showed me who he was. And I believed him.
That moment taught me something I use every day: Power isn’t about shouting. It’s about staying composed when everyone else loses their cool.
Now, when I help leaders roll out AI, manage resistance, or deal with people who underestimate them, I teach that same lesson:
Real confidence doesn’t need to shout. It just leads.
I was in an executive coaching program when a number of people in my cohort stopped me mid-presentation. "Erin, do you realize what all your testimonials say? People aren't talking about the tech you taught them or the business strategies. They all say the same thing: 'You inspired me to see what was possible. You helped me believe in myself. You gave me permission to take action.'"
That's when it clicked. My Art and Psychology training wasn't a detour on the way to becoming a CIO, it was the foundation of everything I do. I don't just teach skills. I shift mindsets FIRST. Then the skills stick. Then people take action.
I call it the new MBA: Mindset. Boost. Action.
Whether I'm helping a team implement AI or helping a leader step into their potential, the pattern is always the same: people don't need more tools or techniques. They need to believe they CAN. Once that mindset shifts, everything else follows.
That realization led to founding TheInspireLab.ai, because inspiration isn't fluffy. It's the foundation. When people feel inspired, empowered, and fulfilled in their work, they don't just perform better. They transform. And that drives real bottom-line results.
That's my story. And it's the story I help others write for themselves.
Everyone’s talking about AI. But between the hype, the jargon, and the pressure to “just start,” most teams jump straight to tools, and adoption stays uneven.
The issue isn’t the technology. It’s where you start.
In this fast, practical session, Erin Moran McCormick introduces the ABCs of AI : Alignment, Bottlenecks, and Culture, a simple framework that helps teams stop chasing shiny tech and start in the right place. You’ll see a real AI workflow solving a real business problem, learn why human strengths matter more than ever, and walk away with one clear next step you can try this week.
AI is like a bottle of aspirin: start with your headaches.This session shows you exactly how. You’ll leave feeling smarter, lighter, and ready to move forward.
The ABCs Framework
A — Alignment:Get people and language on the same page before introducing tools. Most AI confusion isn’t about technology, it’s mismatched expectations.
B — Bottlenecks:Identify real pain points in day-to-day work where AI can help. Solve headaches first.
C — Culture:Build simple habits and workflows so adoption sticks. No 50-page policy. No one-time training everyone forgets.
Fun session. Serious results.
Perfect For
Chamber luncheons • Association meetings • Corporate leadership sessions • Teams who’ve heard the AI buzz but aren’t sure where to begin
What You’ll Gain
Session Format
Practical insights + a real AI workflow in action + interactive Q&A. No tech-bro language. No jargon. Just clarity. Fun session. Serious results.
Formats
Keynote:Fast, energizing, and immediately useful
Workshop:Hands-on exercises where participants map their own ABCs and leave with a concrete plan
ABOUT ERIN:
As employee #1, Erin helped scale a tech company from idea to a multimillion-dollar valuation. She led Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centers at Babson College and UMass Boston, and has keynoted for audiences at Harvard, KPMG, and Comcast. But here’s the twist: she’s an Art + Psychology major. That mix of human insight and tech know-how is why her approach to AI feels different. Author of Year of Action and founder of The Inspire Lab, Erin helps leaders turn AI potential into practical results using her ABCs of AI framework: Alignment, Bottlenecks, and Culture. Her sessions are practical, engaging, and unexpectedly enjoyable. No jargon. No overwhelm.
Overview
Teams aren’t waiting for permission to use AI. They’re building prompt chains, quick automations, and tool mashups in their daily work. The momentum is real. So is the exposure.
This session introduces a simple, practical operating model to help leaders bring clarity to everyday AI use without slowing teams down. No compliance lecture. No tool overload. Just a clear way to keep innovation moving while reducing unnecessary risk.
Participants learn how to surface informal AI workflows quickly, sort them into three clear lanes (Move Fast / Review / Approval), and implement one simple rule "AI drafts, humans decide" plus a 60-Second AI Habit that keeps visibility current without creating bureaucracy.
Key Takeaways
Who This Is For
Formats
ABOUT ERIN:
As employee #1, Erin helped scaled a tech company from idea to a multimillion-dollar valuation. She led Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centers at Babson College and UMass Boston, and has keynoted for audiences at Harvard, KPMG, and Comcast. But here’s the twist: she’s an Art + Psychology major. That mix of human insight and tech know-how is why her approach to AI feels different. Author of Year of Action and founder of The Inspire Lab, Erin helps leaders turn AI potential into practical results using her ABCs of AI framework: Alignment, Bottlenecks, and Culture. Her sessions are practical, engaging, and unexpectedly enjoyable. No jargon. No overwhelm. Fun session. Serious results.
A salesman once walked into our conference room, tossed his coat at me, and said, “I take mine with cream and sugar.”
He thought I was the assistant.
I was the CIO, and the decision-maker on his $1M computer sale.
I didn’t react. I simply hung up his coat, got his coffee, and then took my seat…at the head of the table.
The look on his face when he realized? Worth every sip.
He didn’t lose the deal because I was offended. He lost it because he showed me who he was. And I believed him.
That moment taught me something I use every day: Power isn’t about shouting. It’s about staying composed when everyone else loses their cool.
Now, when I help leaders roll out AI, manage resistance, or deal with people who underestimate them, I teach that same lesson:
Real confidence doesn’t need to shout. It just leads.
I was in an executive coaching program when a number of people in my cohort stopped me mid-presentation. "Erin, do you realize what all your testimonials say? People aren't talking about the tech you taught them or the business strategies. They all say the same thing: 'You inspired me to see what was possible. You helped me believe in myself. You gave me permission to take action.'"
That's when it clicked. My Art and Psychology training wasn't a detour on the way to becoming a CIO, it was the foundation of everything I do. I don't just teach skills. I shift mindsets FIRST. Then the skills stick. Then people take action.
I call it the new MBA: Mindset. Boost. Action.
Whether I'm helping a team implement AI or helping a leader step into their potential, the pattern is always the same: people don't need more tools or techniques. They need to believe they CAN. Once that mindset shifts, everything else follows.
That realization led to founding TheInspireLab.ai, because inspiration isn't fluffy. It's the foundation. When people feel inspired, empowered, and fulfilled in their work, they don't just perform better. They transform. And that drives real bottom-line results.
That's my story. And it's the story I help others write for themselves.
Everyone’s talking about AI. But between the hype, the jargon, and the pressure to “just start,” most teams jump straight to tools, and adoption stays uneven.
The issue isn’t the technology. It’s where you start.
In this fast, practical session, Erin Moran McCormick introduces the ABCs of AI : Alignment, Bottlenecks, and Culture, a simple framework that helps teams stop chasing shiny tech and start in the right place. You’ll see a real AI workflow solving a real business problem, learn why human strengths matter more than ever, and walk away with one clear next step you can try this week.
AI is like a bottle of aspirin: start with your headaches.This session shows you exactly how. You’ll leave feeling smarter, lighter, and ready to move forward.
The ABCs Framework
A — Alignment:Get people and language on the same page before introducing tools. Most AI confusion isn’t about technology, it’s mismatched expectations.
B — Bottlenecks:Identify real pain points in day-to-day work where AI can help. Solve headaches first.
C — Culture:Build simple habits and workflows so adoption sticks. No 50-page policy. No one-time training everyone forgets.
Fun session. Serious results.
Perfect For
Chamber luncheons • Association meetings • Corporate leadership sessions • Teams who’ve heard the AI buzz but aren’t sure where to begin
What You’ll Gain
Session Format
Practical insights + a real AI workflow in action + interactive Q&A. No tech-bro language. No jargon. Just clarity. Fun session. Serious results.
Formats
Keynote:Fast, energizing, and immediately useful
Workshop:Hands-on exercises where participants map their own ABCs and leave with a concrete plan
ABOUT ERIN:
As employee #1, Erin helped scale a tech company from idea to a multimillion-dollar valuation. She led Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centers at Babson College and UMass Boston, and has keynoted for audiences at Harvard, KPMG, and Comcast. But here’s the twist: she’s an Art + Psychology major. That mix of human insight and tech know-how is why her approach to AI feels different. Author of Year of Action and founder of The Inspire Lab, Erin helps leaders turn AI potential into practical results using her ABCs of AI framework: Alignment, Bottlenecks, and Culture. Her sessions are practical, engaging, and unexpectedly enjoyable. No jargon. No overwhelm.
Overview
Teams aren’t waiting for permission to use AI. They’re building prompt chains, quick automations, and tool mashups in their daily work. The momentum is real. So is the exposure.
This session introduces a simple, practical operating model to help leaders bring clarity to everyday AI use without slowing teams down. No compliance lecture. No tool overload. Just a clear way to keep innovation moving while reducing unnecessary risk.
Participants learn how to surface informal AI workflows quickly, sort them into three clear lanes (Move Fast / Review / Approval), and implement one simple rule "AI drafts, humans decide" plus a 60-Second AI Habit that keeps visibility current without creating bureaucracy.
Key Takeaways
Who This Is For
Formats
ABOUT ERIN:
As employee #1, Erin helped scaled a tech company from idea to a multimillion-dollar valuation. She led Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centers at Babson College and UMass Boston, and has keynoted for audiences at Harvard, KPMG, and Comcast. But here’s the twist: she’s an Art + Psychology major. That mix of human insight and tech know-how is why her approach to AI feels different. Author of Year of Action and founder of The Inspire Lab, Erin helps leaders turn AI potential into practical results using her ABCs of AI framework: Alignment, Bottlenecks, and Culture. Her sessions are practical, engaging, and unexpectedly enjoyable. No jargon. No overwhelm. Fun session. Serious results.