Ep 34: Beyond the Hype: How AI is Transforming Business—and Why Human Touch is Key

Timestamps:

01:35 The Journey Begins: Learning from Mistakes

02:30 The Power of Serendipity: When One Door Closes

03:34 Early Lessons: The Importance of Humility and Resilience

05:16 Embracing Change: Moving Beyond Comfort Zones

05:41 The Game Changer: Lessons from AWS

21:56 The Future is AI: Why I’m Betting on the Next Decade

34:13 Adapting to the New Normal: What the Future Holds

About About Peter Sharples:

Peter Sharples, Vice President APAC at Builder.ai, a Series D unicorn backed by Microsoft, was recently named one of Forbes’ Top 3 Most Innovative Companies of 2023. They’re revolutionizing the tech landscape by making app development simple and accessible for everyone through the power of AI. 

Before joining Builder.ai, Peter spent eight years at AWS as the Head of Partnerships across the APAC region, building a remarkable career that spanned Sydney, Singapore, and Seattle. In today’s episode, Peter will share his insights on the transformative shift from cloud computing to AI and what the future holds for the industry.

The Journey Begins: Learning from Mistakes

Looking back at my career, it’s been a series of mistakes—some small, others monumental. But each one has played a pivotal role in shaping where I am today. I started as a civil engineering graduate, building structures that stood tall, but I had no clue I’d end up building something entirely different—code and connections in the tech world.

My first major turning point came from what I still consider the worst interview of my life. I was fresh out of university, and I had no real understanding of the tech industry. I walked into an interview for a pre-sales engineer role at Salesforce, and it was an absolute disaster. In the middle of the interview, I was bluntly told, "You didn’t get the job." Ouch. But sometimes, failure is the best thing that can happen to you.

The Power of Serendipity: When One Door Closes

After that abject failure, I was ready to crawl back to my engineering roots, but then fate—or rather, a man named Richard Ashley—stepped in. Richard was one of the interviewers, and despite my catastrophic performance, he saw something in me. He called me a week later and suggested I try my hand as an account executive. At the time, I had no idea what that even meant. Young, naive, and with nothing to lose, I thought, "Why not?"

Little did I know, this was the beginning of a journey that would change everything. I found that my methodical, process-oriented engineering brain was surprisingly well-suited to sales. The satisfaction of solving real-world problems for people, combined with the thrill of making deals, was intoxicating. I stumbled into this career by accident, and that’s something we don’t talk about enough—how so many of us in tech fall into the industry without a clear plan.

Early Lessons: The Importance of Humility and Resilience

Starting out at Telstra, I got a solid grounding in sales. It’s a place I’d recommend to anyone fresh out of university and looking to learn the ropes. But like many young people, I made some classic rookie mistakes when I moved on to a software company. Doubling my salary overnight felt like hitting the jackpot, so I did what any naive twenty-something might do—I leased expensive cars and splurged on things I didn’t need. It was fun while it lasted, but two years later, reality hit hard.

Despite smashing my targets and qualifying for an exclusive company club trip to the Bahamas, I was made redundant. Just like that. Talk about a shot of humility. One moment you’re flying high, and the next, you’re jobless with a three-month-old baby at home. It was a defining moment because it stripped away my fear of risk. Once you’ve faced that level of uncertainty, you realise that you’re more resilient than you think.

Embracing Change: Moving Beyond Comfort Zones

After picking myself up, I joined CA Technologies—a move every mentor advised against, calling it a "legacy company." But I found success there and eventually made my way to Singapore, another unexpected twist in my journey. Funny story—when I first moved to Singapore, I showed up to work in a full suit and tie. The locals must have had a good laugh at the expat sweating in his overdressed attire. Lesson learned.

Singapore was a new challenge, and it taught me the value of adaptability. I went from a failed attempt to land a job in London to leading a new branch in Singapore. This experience was another reminder that life’s detours can lead to some pretty amazing destinations.

The Game Changer: Lessons from AWS

My next big leap was joining AWS, which was a career-defining move. If there’s one thing that stands out from my time there, it’s the culture—something I didn’t believe could be real until I experienced it myself. The leadership principles at AWS weren’t just posters on a wall; they were ingrained in every aspect of the company, from how we were interviewed to how we were promoted. This was a stark contrast to what I’d seen before, where culture was often just a buzzword.

AWS also instilled in me the importance of habitual learning. Every month, we were required to complete new training. This constant push to learn something new has stuck with me, shaping not just my career but my personal life as well. And then there was the customer obsession—a principle that proved its value time and again. In a recurring revenue model, putting the customer first isn’t just a good idea; it’s critical for long-term success.

The Tough Decisions: Leaving AWS for Builder

Leaving AWS was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I had a fantastic team and mentors who were top-notch leaders. But I had to think about what I wanted for the latter half of my career. Did I want to continue on a predictable path, or did I want to take on a new challenge? Enter Builder.

Builder was at the perfect size where I could have a significant impact. The technology blew me away—especially Natasha, our small language model. The idea that you could build an application just by describing it to Natasha in plain English was mind-blowing. It was clear to me that this was the future, and I wanted to be a part of it.

The Future is AI: Why I’m Betting on the Next Decade

I’m convinced that the next decade belongs to AI, just as the last one belonged to the cloud. The rate of change in AI is staggering, and being part of this movement at Builder is exhilarating. Whether it’s Natasha helping clients build apps in minutes or the broader shift towards generative AI, the potential is limitless.

But with all this excitement comes responsibility. The biggest risk we face with AI is judgment—or rather, the lack of it. Younger generations are growing up with AI tools that provide instant answers, but they haven’t developed the judgment that comes from experience. This is where we, the mid-career professionals, come in. We’ve been wrong enough times to know when we’re right, and it’s our job to guide the next generation.

The Human Element: Balancing AI with Empathy

As we move further into the AI era, it’s crucial to remember that our customers are still human. AI can provide objective answers, but it lacks the empathy and subjectivity that are often needed in customer interactions. This is an area where we need to tread carefully. AI is fantastic at handling tasks that require speed and accuracy, but when it comes to building relationships, nothing beats a human touch.

Adapting to the New Normal: What the Future Holds

So, what does the future hold for us in this AI-driven world? For one, we need to inspire a culture of continuous learning and experimentation within our organisations. The instant gratification of AI might make it tempting to skip the hard work of learning and exploration, but that’s a trap we can’t afford to fall into. We also need to use our judgment to ensure that AI is applied effectively and ethically.

Finally, we must never forget the importance of human connection. No matter how advanced AI becomes, our customers will always value empathy, understanding, and the ability to listen. AI can help us work smarter, but it’s up to us to ensure we use it wisely.

Summary

My journey from engineering to sales leadership has been anything but straightforward. It’s been a series of mistakes, risks, and unexpected opportunities that have taught me invaluable lessons. As we stand on the brink of an AI-driven future, it’s crucial to embrace change, continue learning, and remember the human element in everything we do. With the right balance of technology and empathy, the next decade holds incredible promise. Let’s make sure we’re ready for it.

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