AI Experience Is Where AI Meets Real Business

Please share a brief introduction and tell us something about your business, AI Experience.

I’m Crystal Chatam, an award-winning VP of Cybersecurity, Global AI Ambassador, and founder of AI Experience (AIXP)—a live conference and media platform focused on AI in action.

After nearly a decade leading enterprise cybersecurity and AI governance initiatives, I launched AIXP to help founders, operators, creatives, and executives actually use AI to grow businesses, careers, and communities. AIXP bridges the gap between innovation and execution—without gatekeeping.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I’ve always been builder-minded. I enjoy solving problems, designing systems, and scaling ideas. Entrepreneurship became the natural extension of that mindset—not a goal in itself, but the most effective way to execute on a vision without constraints.

Do you have a co-founder?

Yes—my husband is my business partner, and we’ve founded multiple businesses together. Over time, we’ve learned how to leverage each other’s strengths: I’m more focused on technology, strategy, and content, while he brings deep experience in marketing and sales.

Strong partnerships, in my experience, are built on aligned values, complementary skills, and clear communication. Respect and trust matter just as much as talent, and defining roles early has been key—especially in this venture, which is the first one primarily driven by my vision and leadership.

Are you a mamaprenista?

Yes. One of the most important things I’ve learned is to expose your kids to what you’re building. When they can see the work, the effort, and the purpose behind it, they begin to understand—and value—what you’re creating for them.

Involving them in the journey helps them appreciate entrepreneurship, responsibility, and vision, and it turns the business into something shared rather than something that takes you away from them.

Take us back to when you launched AI Experience? What was your marketing strategy?

When I first launched, the strategy was credibility-led and community-driven. I leaned into existing relationships, organic storytelling, and clear positioning around AI in action rather than hype.

The plan was to validate demand before scaling, and that part worked. What didn’t go exactly as planned was the speed. Interest grew faster than expected, which forced an earlier shift from a single-event mindset to building a broader platform and ecosystem.

What accomplishments are you most proud of to date in your business?

I’m most proud of building a platform that people trust for clarity and execution. When attendees leave saying, “I finally understand how to use AI in my role,” that’s impact. That’s value. It means we didn’t just inform—we enabled. And in a space moving as fast as AI, trust is the hardest thing to earn.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

You don’t need to have everything figured out to start—but you do need to be clear on your values. Decisions get easier when you know what you’re willing to protect and what you’re willing to sacrifice.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

I focus less on technical perfection and more on who someone is and how they think. I usually ask open-ended questions about their experiences—what they’re proud of, how they communicate, and how they approach learning something new.

I value culture, connection, curiosity, and drive far more than a perfect résumé. I want to understand how someone shows up, how they learn, and whether they’re genuinely motivated to grow.

What did you do before starting your own business?

Before launching my own ventures, I built and led global cybersecurity and technology programs in highly regulated industries. I’ve overseen incident response, AI governance, compliance, and enterprise risk—often being the only woman in the room.

Alongside my corporate career, I’ve also built and scaled large cultural events, negotiated brand partnerships, and led high-impact community initiatives—skills that later became foundational to my businesses.

What made you take the leap to start AI Experience?

I noticed a consistent pattern: massive interest in AI, but very little clarity on how to apply it in real business environments.

Instead of waiting for existing platforms to evolve, I decided to build what I couldn’t find—a space designed for operators, founders, and leaders who wanted practical adoption, not hype. The leap was driven by demand, not frustration.

Do you have any recent wins?

I’m most proud of building genuine human connections around a complex and fast-moving space. Before the event has even taken place, we’ve built an ecosystem that brings together founders, operators, creatives, and professionals in a way that actually makes sense—grounded in real conversation, shared learning, and mutual value. Creating a space where people feel connected, supported, and excited about what’s possible with AI is the foundation for the impact we’re working toward, and that’s something I’m deeply proud of.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

I'd say my calendar. If it’s not scheduled, it doesn’t exist. Time is the most valuable resource I manage, and visibility keeps me intentional.

Who are your customers?

Our community includes:

Women founders and entrepreneurs

Corporate leaders and operators

Creatives and marketers

Career-switchers and professionals upskilling into AI

Companies and brands looking to adopt AI responsibly and competitively

What they all have in common is this: they don’t want theory—they want results.

What's your top productivity tip?

Design your day around outcomes, not hours. I plan in blocks based on what actually moves the business forward and protect that time aggressively. Tools and AI help—but clarity on priorities is what creates momentum.

What's your favorite business tool?

AI tools—because they allow me to move faster, think more strategically, and stay focused on high-value work. Used well, they don’t replace judgment; they amplify it.

ChatGPT for context, Claude for strategy, Gemini for full ecosystem management of Google Workspace, and many more.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

I think in terms of integration, not balance. There are seasons where the business needs more, and seasons where family does. I try to stay present wherever I am and give myself grace when things aren’t perfectly even.

How do you avoid burnout?

I don’t try to sprint every day. I build in recovery just like I build in execution—mentally and physically. Knowing when to pause, delegate, or say no has been just as important as knowing when to push.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Build something that solves a real problem and stay close to the people you’re building for. Growth comes from listening, learning, and staying consistent—even when the results aren’t immediate.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today

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