Michael speaks with John Harrison, co-founder of Luminar Global, an AI firm focused on “enabling trust with AI,” about how AI is shifting transformation from big-company, big-budget initiatives to individual and small-team impact. Harrison shares his background across IBM, telecom, edtech, and communications consulting, and explains why AI can create rapid new wealth but also faster displacement. He describes how he and three recent collaborators formed Luminar through chance networking, and how they help clients avoid “shiny new toy syndrome” by focusing on fundamentals—people, process, and data—while keeping pace with rapid AI change. They discuss faster, higher-value consulting enabled by AI, practical advice for intrapreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, and key takeaways: be curious, start now, and take responsibility.

Timestamps:
00:24 Welcome and Setup
01:35 Meet John Harrison
03:03 AI Wealth and Power
04:41 Individuals Drive Change
07:20 Launching Luminar Global
09:50 Finding Co-Founders
11:38 Avoiding Shiny Objects
13:43 Keeping Up With AI
15:47 Democratized Consulting
19:38 Redefining Value Today
20:34 Career Lessons and Curiosity
23:50 Starting With an Idea
27:08 If You Lost Your Job
29:45 Key Takeaways to Act
31:43 Analogy and Where to Connect
33:37 Closing Thanks and Wrap

Connect with John:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jharris2/