Event

Use AI Competitively in 2026 (Working Smart with AI Week 1 of 4)

Jan 7 12:00 pm — 1:00 pm
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Event Details

Week 1 of the 4-week series, meeting live online via Zoom. Sessions are recorded so you can watch or rewatch them when it’s convenient for you.

You’ll learn:

  • How to use AI Competitively in 2026
  • Framing AI as a strategic edge, not just a helper
  • What your competitors are likely doing already
  • Case studies or small biz examples
  • How to test and iterate with AI to move faster

About the Working Smart with AI Series

This four‑week interactive series has been designed for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to move beyond experimentation into actionable, time‑saving workflows — without a tech degree or tons of extra time.

Each 60‑minute Zoom session includes live demos, guided exercises, and real business use cases, so you’re not just learning about AI… you’re using it, applying it, and building systems you can keep using in your business.

What you’ll walk away with:

  • A clear map of high‑impact AI use cases in your business — so you know where to spend your time.
  • Proven prompt templates and formats so you can ask AI the right way and get useful answers fast.
  • Guided setup of your AI workspace with templates, folders and workflows — so you don’t start from scratch.
  • A personalized daily AI assistant routine tailored to your priorities (marketing, scheduling, writing, ideation) — help that works for you.
  • Access to recordings and session guides — so even if you miss a session, you won’t fall behind.

Join us 12-1pm via Zoom for dynamic, hands-on demos followed by Open Office Q&A.

Your Instructor

Cathy Balach is an SBDC Lead Business Advisor and a Google and SBDC-certified AI specialist. A seasoned marketing strategist and founder of three businesses, Cathy helps entrepreneurs harness the power of AI to simplify, scale, and sharpen their marketing.

The information provided in this webinar and any supplementary materials provided to registrants are intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute professional financial or legal advice. No registrant should act or fail to act on the basis of any material contained in this webinar without obtaining proper financial, legal or other professional advice specific to their situation. The Northern CaliforniaSmall Business Development Center, and its host, the HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation, specifically disclaims any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the information presented in this webinar. By registering for this webinar you acknowledge and agree that you have read, understood, accept and agree to the above disclaimer and that under no circumstances shall the Northern California Small Business Development Center or it’s host, the HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation, be held liable for any claims, losses, or damages of any kind or nature arising out of or in any way related to the information provided in this webinar and/or the registrant’s use of or reliance on said information.

Register for Event (Includes Recordings)

4 Weekly Sessions

  • Week 1 (Jan 7): Use AI Competitively — Treat AI as a strategic edge, not just a helper. What your competitors are already doing & how to test and iterate fast.
  • Week 2 (Jan 14): Prompt Like a Pro — Learn to write better prompts without overthinking. Think like a task‑designer. Mini‑demo rewriting prompts.
  • Week 3 (Jan 21): Organize Your AI Workspace — Set up your tools, prompt libraries, templates, shortcuts — integrate AI into your daily routines.
  • Week 4 (Jan 28): Make AI Your Daily Assistant — Move from “experiment” to habit. Build daily checklists and routines using AI. Live demo: daily kickoff prompt for your business.

Cost

$59 or the full 4‑week series – INCLUDES access to all the recordings and a downloadable session guides.

Ready to commit to working smarter? Space is limited to keep things interactive — register today to reserve your seat.