In this episode of The CTO Show, serial entrepreneur and podcast host Anthony Franco joins Mehmet to unpack how AI is fundamentally reshaping how businesses operate—beyond the hype. With six exits under his belt and decades of experience launching and scaling ventures, Anthony shares what it really takes to operationalize AI in today’s organizations and why the real disruption isn’t about job loss—it’s about organizational survival.

💡 What You’ll Learn

• Why most leaders still misunderstand what “AI transformation” really means

• The biggest mistake companies make when automating workflows

• How to rethink outdated systems like Agile and Six Sigma in the AI age

• Why agentic AI is less about replacing roles and more about rebuilding how work is done

• How founders can leverage AI for early-stage growth, product-market fit, and GTM

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🧠 Key Takeaways

• Don’t automate bad processes—simplify first, then apply AI

• Think like a gardener, not a factory manager: AI requires adaptability

• Founders need to master human-to-human connection more than ever

• Smaller teams will win, but collaboration still beats solo work

• The best time to exit is two years before you burn out

👤 About the Guest

Anthony Franco is a serial entrepreneur, founder of six companies, and host of the How to Founder podcast. He’s currently helping companies apply AI-first thinking to real-world operations through his work with OneReach and initiatives like AI First Principles and the WISER Methodology.

http://www.howtofounder.com/

https://linkedin.com/in/anthonyfranco/

⏱️ Episode Highlights

00:02 – Anthony’s journey and current projects

04:00 – What it means to “operationalize” AI

06:30 – AI First Principles and the WISER Methodology

11:00 – Why old frameworks like Agile are becoming obsolete

17:00 – Can this work for large enterprises?

20:00 – Is AI a threat to jobs or to companies?

25:00 – How founders should approach AI-powered ventures

30:00 – Building vs. selling: What founders forget

34:00 – Why a great product isn’t enough without distribution

39:00 – The story behind How to Founder

43:00 – Smaller teams, bigger outcomes

47:00 – Signs it’s time to exit

51:00 – Final thoughts on the startup mindset