“From Strategy to Results: AI That Means Business.“
"Sarah Balmer is an AI strategist who helps business leaders grow faster and work smarter by integrating AI into their operations. She offers free AI strategy calls—just send her a direct message to get started."
Sarah Balmer
Founder - Balmer Agency
The world is buzzing about AI but for me, it’s not just a trend. It’s a real, practical movement that’s reshaping how we live, work, and build businesses. My journey into AI didn’t start with a product idea, it started with curiosity.
Yes, I’m an AI nerd.
That curiosity evolved into two platforms: one to fix broken B2B communication, and another to bring clarity to the chaos of parenthood. Because when you build tools that solve your own pain points, you know you’re onto something others need too.
Watch the full episode here:
What Sparked the Shift Toward Building AI Productivity Tools?
After 25 years in digital marketing, working with brands like American Express and leading global campaigns, I launched my own agency to merge Eastern and Western marketing. But about two years ago, something changed.
I noticed there was a bit of a change happening in the market and really started to focus on AI productivity tools.
What I saw was a way to offer more value to clients, and to walk alongside them as they explored the AI landscape.
How Can We Fix the Way Businesses Communicate?
Attachments. We’re all drowning in them. They clutter inboxes, get lost, and stall action.
That’s why one of the AI platforms I’m building is focused on transforming the way B2B companies communicate, with smart, interactive documents that do more than just sit in a folder.
This is about making business communication less painful, more intuitive, and much more effective.
Can AI Tools Really Help Busy Parents Too?
Absolutely. Life is full, especially if you’re juggling work, home, and kids. That’s why I started building a second AI platform to help parents manage the clutter and actually find time to be present.
AI can be a real enabler to help us not only save time, but also help us be more present and have a bit more of a balance in our life.
It’s not about replacing routines, it’s about giving us room to breathe.
What’s the Biggest Challenge of Building AI Products?
Staying ahead. The tools keep changing, evolving, getting better. What powers your platform today might be outdated tomorrow.
One minute you have a platform powered by one tool and the next minute it changes to something better or different.
That’s the challenge and the opportunity. And to build successfully in this space, you’ve got to be willing to evolve with it.
Are These Tools Replacing People, or Empowering Them?
Neither platform I’m building is about replacing humans. It’s about helping people be more effective with the time they have.
Not necessarily take a human out of the loop, but just go on the journey with the human to ensure that we have more time and things are done more effectively.
It’s about designing tools that empower people to get real results, faster, and with less stress.
Should Entrepreneurs Be Worried About AI Taking Their Jobs?
It depends on your mindset. If you’re ignoring AI, the risk is real.
I am very concerned for people who are very close-minded about AI at the moment.
Start upskilling. Learn how AI fits into your role. Because those who hesitate may be left behind.
What’s the First Step Businesses Should Take?
Don’t chase hype, start with your stack. Look at what you’re using, what talks to each other, and where the gaps are.
Map out your tech stack and map out your processes… look at the state of your data.
If your data’s a mess, your AI outcomes will be too. It’s basic, but it’s where success starts.
Can Small Businesses Afford to Use AI?
Absolutely. Some of the best tools are free or low-cost, and incredibly powerful.
Start with Chat GPT, master it… look at Zapier, have a look at what it can do for you, and then get going.
Even with limited resources, you can automate, optimize, and scale without spending a fortune.
Are Voice Agents the Fastest Route to ROI?
In my experience, yes. They’re often the easiest and fastest win, especially for businesses struggling with customer service load or admin bottlenecks.
Voice agents can tackle very repetitive in a very natural human way, interactions within the business.
For one client, that translated into savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. That’s real impact.
What’s the One Mistake Leaders Keep Making with AI?
Waiting.
Delaying. I think they need to hurry up. I’ve had a sense of urgency for 2 years.
AI isn’t a passing phase. It’s the next internet moment. Leaders who move now will win. Those who wait may not get a second chance.
Is the Fear Around AI Justified?
There’s fear around data security and misuse, but doing nothing is riskier.
If you put the appropriate guardrails in place now, your staff are going to be doing it anyway, so you may as well get ahead of it.
Your team is already experimenting with AI tools. Lead them, don’t let them go rogue.
Where Will AI Have the Biggest Impact in the Next Few Years?
Agents. Voice agents now. AGI later.
AGI will be transformational… I think we’ll have a lot more free time.
We’re moving toward a world where lean, AI-empowered teams will run billion-dollar companies. Effectiveness, not headcount, will define success.
Will Human Strategists Still Matter?
Absolutely. In fact, they’ll matter more.
There will continue to be a role for people, to consult and provide advice on this area.
AI will handle tasks. People will handle vision, creativity, and strategy.
What Resources Do You Recommend for AI-Driven Business Leaders?
There are many great ones, but I recommend:
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NVIDIA Podcast: “Jensen is phenomenal… constantly iterating and creating new things.”
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AI Daily Brief: “A fantastic resource, quite technical, for people who want to stay across what is happening in the sector.”
How Can Businesses Get Started with AI Right Now?
Here’s your simple checklist:
- Map your platforms.
- Map your processes.
- Identify repetitive tasks.
- Clean your data.
- Get a CRM if you don’t already have one.
AI is only as good as what you put into it. The journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming, but it does have to start.
Want to Chat About Your AI Strategy?
I offer free strategy sessions for business leaders who are ready to stop watching and start building.
They can DM me on LinkedIn. I would love to hear from them.
Let’s turn AI into ROI, together.
