In a surprising turn of events at 55, Kristina Martinelli found herself unexpectedly displaced from her corporate job as a portfolio manager executive at a Midwest bank. With decades of experience in corporate technology, the abrupt termination left her grappling with her future. As she pondered her next steps, the question loomed: Should she return to an industry that seemed reluctant to value her extensive knowledge and experience?
Just 24 hours after losing her job, Martinelli took a bold leap into entrepreneurship by launching her own AI consultancy, coaigence. Drawing on her wealth of experience from Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies, she resolved to embrace artificial intelligence from the outset, despite the initial nerves that accompanied her decision.
The foundation of her business quickly took shape. By the end of the first day, Martinelli had not only named her company but also crafted a strategic framework. However, she acknowledged that launching a business involves intricate details such as establishing an LLC, acquiring tax representation, and setting up operational accounts—tasks that require careful time management. For her, starting coaigence was not a matter of hesitation; it was about turning a dream into action.
Recognizing the demand for AI services among corporate executives, Martinelli leveraged her background in consulting and strategic planning. She had prior experience with AI, but it was only after her job loss that she dove deeper, transitioning into a role as a prompt engineer. This involved learning to interact with AI effectively to yield practical results. She took her ideas and dreams, articulated them in a PDF format, and utilized ChatGPT to create a virtual assistant named Raivyn. The goal was to infuse Raivyn with her persona, ensuring communications remained authentic and relatable.
Martinelli established an 80/20 rule for AI adoption, advocating that 80% of the approach should remain human-driven while utilizing AI for the remaining 20%. She firmly believes that human intellect must remain central to any AI implementation.
As she built her consultancy, various AI tools played pivotal roles in her operations. She relied on ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini, and Grok for a range of tasks—from creating structured documents to drafting imaginative visuals. After developing Raivyn, she began digitizing her handwritten notes, using a color-coding system to help improve organization through AI.
Despite the advantages, Martinelli reflected on an initial misstep regarding AI subscriptions. She cautioned others against committing to year-long subscriptions too early, having faced difficulties with tools that quickly became obsolete or financially burdensome. Monitoring expenses in her early days, she remained vigilant about reinvesting savings back into her AI capabilities.
In this era of rapid technological change, Martinelli emphasizes the importance of adapting to AI’s presence. She champions the mantra, “feel the fear and do it anyway,” urging others to embrace AI as a valuable tool rather than a source of anxiety. Her personal journey underscores the potential to find success and new opportunities, especially for those who remain resilient and willing to persevere through challenges.
