Erica Ishida believes in the transformative power of human-centered leadership to drive meaningful change and unlock the full potential of organizations. As CEO of Yellow Cedar Group and founder of AI23, she helps leaders align business goals with human values fostering resilient teams and guiding organizations to take clear action through disruption while enhancing the human experience. With over two decades of experience leading large-scale transformations, Erica has been a trusted advisor to CEOs, focusing on creating purpose-driven environments where both people and businesses thrive. Known for her unique ability to balance strategic vision with disciplined execution and deep human connection, she empowers leaders to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and long-term success.
Company: AI23
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Erica Ishida: Thank you for the warm welcome! I’m looking forward to our conversation. I’m Erica Ishida, the founder and CEO of AI23. Over the past two decades, I’ve dedicated my career to organizational transformation, through leading organizations as a CEO or COO and through serving as a trusted advisor to CEOs and leadership teams across various industries. My mission has always been to cultivate purpose-driven environments where both people and businesses thrive, ensuring long-term success and sustainable impact.
With the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, my team and I at AI23 believe we’re witnessing one of the biggest shifts in how we as humans work in decades. That’s why we launched AI23—to help small to mid-sized organizations confidently navigate the changes that generative AI brings to the table. We focus on assessing their cultural and operational readiness and provide practical guidance to ensure they’re not just keeping pace but truly thriving in this evolving landscape. We also provide AI driven solutions to our clients with the unique “human in the loop process” we’ve designed. Our transformative AI solutions partner with human teams to create better human experience and performance, while enhancing the effectiveness of the AI model. Our mission is to empower these organizations to see AI as a valuable partner that enhances their capabilities and drives sustainable growth for the future.
What emerging technology trends do you believe will have the most profound impact in the next 5-10 years?
Erica Ishida: In the next 5-10 years, I believe generative AI will be viewed more as “transformative AI”, as the most profound technological trend shaping how organizations operate and creating the time and space for humans to explore and activate their full potential. Its ability to produce creative content, analyze vast amounts of data, and automate repetitive tasks will fundamentally change the workplace. However, as we embrace this technology, it’s crucial for organizations to navigate its implementation responsibly.
At AI23, we see generative AI as a powerful tool that empowers individuals to work smarter rather than harder. By allowing technology to take over routine tasks, employees can dedicate their time to creativity, problem-solving, and building deeper connections—elements that are essential for innovation and collaboration. The future of work, in our view, is about striking a balance between technological advancements and the human touch.
When used thoughtfully and strategically, AI has the potential to unlock incredible capabilities and drive meaningful change across industries. It’s an exciting time to be at the intersection of technology and humanity, and we are committed to helping organizations leverage this potential while ensuring that ethical considerations remain at the forefront of their strategies.
Can you share a specific technological breakthrough from your company that has the potential to reshape your industry?
Erica Ishida: Rather than a technological breakthrough, we see ourselves breaking through how organizations use technology to effectively navigate change and transform their culture.
Our leadership frameworks help organizations assess their readiness for generative AI by examining not just their technological capabilities but also their cultural and operational dynamics. This holistic approach empowers businesses to embrace technology thoughtfully, ensuring that they go beyond mere implementation and foster an innovative environment where both technology and people thrive.
As organizations face the complexities of integrating AI into their operations, our breakthrough lies in guiding them to balance technological advancements with human insight. This enables them to not only adapt to change but also to cultivate a culture of resilience and creativity, ultimately unlocking their full potential in a rapidly evolving landscape.
How do you approach innovation while balancing the need for practicality and market readiness?
Erica Ishida: At AI23, we like to think of innovation as a balance between big ideas and practical solutions. It’s all about coming up with fresh concepts that actually fit our clients’ needs and what’s happening in the market.
We start by really listening to our clients and understanding their challenges and goals. This way, our innovations are grounded in real-world problems and can lead to meaningful results. We also believe in testing things out. By running pilot programs and getting feedback early, we can tweak our ideas before they go live. This agile approach means we can adjust to market changes while making sure our solutions are effective and ready for the real world.
What challenges do you face in integrating cutting-edge technology into existing business models?
Erica Ishida: The future of work is really about finding the right balance between technology and humanity. With AI and other innovations reshaping the workplace, there are some incredible opportunities to unlock human potential—especially when we integrate these tools thoughtfully.
There is a lot of fear out there about how AI will disrupt business — the businesses that can leverage AI as a tool for growth will be the ones that drive success. When we embrace AI, we’re not just reacting to change; we’re empowering our teams to succeed in this fast-paced environment.
Plus, when organizations welcome technology, they boost both performance and resilience. By fostering innovation, companies can inspire creativity and adaptability, creating a culture where people and tech work together to drive success. It’s all about making sure that as we move forward, we’re building environments where everyone can thrive.
How do you foster a culture of innovation within your organization to stay ahead in the tech race?
Erica Ishida: Our organization is built on the concept of innovation. We embrace evolution through experimentation, learning, and adaptation. True to our mission of unlocking potential, we’re all about continuous growth—not just for ourselves, but also for AI23, our clients, and humanity as a whole. We dive into the unknown, trusting in our ability to learn and adapt as we go. By creating an environment of trust where ideas can flourish and taking calculated risks is encouraged, we’re able to stay ahead in the tech race and make a real impact in our industry.
