I believe there are three key character traits every leader needs to following including:

1. Empathy: Growing up in Ghana taught me the value of community and listening deeply before acting. When I started Aurora, I spent months speaking directly with small business owners — not pitching, just listening. That empathy helped us shape our product around their pain points, leading to a solution that felt intuitive and personal.

2. Persistence: Moving to the U.S. with big dreams but limited resources taught me how to keep showing up even when the odds weren’t in my favor. In the early days of Voxify, we went through multiple failed prototypes. But I kept going, and eventually, those lessons helped us build the foundation for what became Aurora.

3. Vision:I’ve always seen technology not just as a tool, but as a bridge — between cultures, people, and ideas. This vision led to our decentralization model at Aurora, which rethinks the way telecom systems serve small businesses, especially those in underserved communities.

Let’s jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a specific example of how you or your organization used AI to solve a major business challenge? What was the problem, and how did AI help address it?

One of the key challenges we saw with small service businesses was the time lost managing customer communication — especially appointment scheduling, follow-ups, and feedback. Using natural language processing (NLP), we built an AI assistant within Aurora that automates routine conversations while keeping the human touch intact. For example, when a client cancels at the last minute, the assistant not only reschedules but suggests an optimal new time based on past availability patterns — freeing up hours for the business owner each week.

What are some of the common misconceptions you’ve encountered about using AI in business? How do you address those misconceptions?

A common one is that AI is too expensive or complex for small businesses. I often tell people that the goal of AI isn’t to replace humans or create flashy tech — it’s to quietly remove friction. At Aurora, we use AI in the background to enhance what business owners already do — like automatically tagging customer sentiment or reminding them of unanswered texts — not to overwhelm them with jargon.

In your opinion, what is the most significant way AI can make a positive impact on businesses today?

AI’s most significant power lies in restoring time and focus to business owners. Especially in the service space, where human connection is everything, AI can handle the repetitive, draining tasks — so owners can spend more time doing what they love: serving people. At Aurora, we’ve seen how even simple automations like smart reminders or predictive text replies can give hours back to a business every week. That time compounds into better customer experiences and stronger businesses.

Ok, let’s dive deeper. Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Ways AI Can Solve Complex Business Problems”? These can be strategies, insights, or tools that companies can use to make the most of AI in addressing their challenges. If possible, please share examples or stories for each.

1. Intelligent Customer Engagement — AI can analyze tone, timing, and behavior to tailor how businesses respond to customers — making every interaction feel personal. For example, the product I created Aurora uses AI to recommend not just what to say, but how to say it based on past conversations.

2. Smart Workflow Automation — AI can connect tools and predict next steps. For example, if a customer misses an appointment, the system can automatically follow up, suggest times, and update the calendar — without human input.

3. Sentiment Analysis for Service Recovery — By detecting negative sentiment in messages early, businesses can respond before a small issue becomes a lost client. One salon using Aurora recovered 30% more unhappy customers simply because our AI flagged frustration in texts they might have missed.

4. Demand Forecasting for Better Staffing — Using historical data and external factors like local events or weather, AI can help businesses know when to expect high traffic. A mobile dog grooming client now uses this insight to staff up on specific weekends, avoiding overload.

5. Build Products that Learn and Evolve — Many owners speak ideas or take notes verbally. Our platform’s AI transforms these voice notes into categorized insights, tasks, or messages. It’s a small shift that reduces friction and brings clarity in moments when typing isn’t practical.

How can smaller businesses or startups, with limited budgets, begin to integrate AI into their operations effectively?

Start small and focus on useful, not flashy. Many AI tools today integrate with existing platforms (like messaging or CRM) and offer free or low-cost tiers. My advice: pick one pain point — maybe missed messages or disorganized scheduling — and explore one tool that can help. At Aurora, we often recommend starting with AI-powered messaging assistants because the ROI in saved time is immediate and measurable.

What advice would you give to business leaders who are hesitant to adopt AI because of fear, misconceptions, or lack of understanding?

Start with curiosity, not commitment. You don’t need to be an AI expert — you just need to understand your own bottlenecks. Ask: “Where am I wasting time? What’s frustrating my customers?” Then explore how AI might ease that burden. When leaders view AI as a partner, not a replacement, they’re more open to testing small changes that yield big results.

In your opinion, how will AI continue to shape the business world over the next 5–10 years? Are there any trends or emerging innovations you’re particularly excited about?

I believe we’re moving toward a world where micro-intelligence — tiny AI models fine-tuned to specific use cases — will become the norm. Instead of massive, general-purpose systems, businesses will run lean, contextual AIs tailored to their voice, values, and workflows. I’m also excited about ethical, decentralized AI — where control lives closer to the user, not centralized platforms. That’s core to our work at Aurora: giving businesses their own private AI stack that reflects them.

How do you think the use of AI to solve business problems influences relationships with customers, employees, and the broader community?

When used right, AI strengthens relationships by creating space for more meaningful interactions. For customers, it means quicker, more responsive service. For employees, it reduces burnout by offloading routine work. And for communities, it levels the playing field — allowing small businesses to compete with larger ones by delivering top-tier service without top-tier budgets. AI can’t replace human warmth, but it can amplify it.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people through AI, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

My movement would be “AI for Local Impact.” It would empower small businesses — especially in emerging markets and underserved areas — to access micro-AI tools built in their own language, cultural context, and business style. We’d pair tech with mentorship, helping owners not just adopt AI, but understand and shape it. The goal wouldn’t be just efficiency — it’d be equity. Because when the smallest players thrive, communities rise.