The Old Way of Building Companies Is Dying with Kevin Henrikson and Jason Shafton

In this episode, Adam sits down with Kevin Henrikson and Jason Shafton to explore what it really takes to build and stay competitive in a world being reshaped by AI. They break down how AI is changing entrepreneurship, why raising more money isn't always an advantage, and why companies that fail to adapt may find themselves falling behind faster than they expect.

The conversation dives into what it means to build an AI-first team, why simply giving employees access to AI tools isn't enough, and how leaders can rethink hiring, productivity, and even entire roles. Kevin shares how one AI engineer job posting attracted more than 2,000 applicants, while Jason explains why high agency, curiosity, and the ability to adapt may become some of the most valuable traits in the workforce. 

More than a conversation about AI tools, this episode is about how entrepreneurs need to think differently as the rules of business continue to change. From building defensible companies and creating more productive teams to staying relevant without burning out, Kevin and Jason share what founders can do today to prepare for an economy where AI isn't simply an advantage—it is quickly becoming part of the way business gets done.

Key Topics:

-AI is changing what it takes to build a successful company

-Companies that refuse to adapt to AI risk being left behind

-High agency and curiosity are becoming essential skills in the AI economy

-The best teams use AI to automate work and increase their output

-Businesses should rethink the work before automatically hiring more people

-Brand and distribution are becoming powerful moats when products are easier to build

Timestamps:

04:19 Has AI Changed What Business Success Looks Like

06:17 Why Your AI Startup May Have No Real Moat

09:37 Why Services Businesses Could Be the Next Big Opportunity

11:46 How Do You Build an AI First Team

12:59 What Happens to Companies That Refuse to Use AI

14:50 Will People Who Ignore AI Still Be Employable

17:39 How One AI Job Posting Got 2,166 Applications

19:29 Why Young Professionals Are Struggling to Find Meaningful Work

20:33 Why Talented People Still Choose Jobs Over Starting Companies

23:36 The Trait That Will Matter Most in the AI Economy

23:57 Who Will Actually Stay Relevant in the Next Five Years

26:11 How to Get Your Team to Actually Use AI

27:39 If It Takes Time Automate It

28:32 Eliminate Automate Delegate

29:32 When Is It Time to Replace a Role With AI

33:03 What Is Still a Real Business Moat in the AI Era

35:28 Why the Best Products Are Not Always Winning Anymore

35:54 How Do You Keep Up With the Relentless Pace of AI

39:06 Building at the Speed of AI Is Not for Everyone

40:25 Will Businesses That Ignore AI Slowly Die

43:29 What Keeps Successful Entrepreneurs Hungry

48:51 How Should You Prepare for the AI Economy

49:24 Build Something People Actually Want to Buy

52:15 The One Trait Every Entrepreneur Needs

Connect with - Kevin Henrikson:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/kevinhenrikson:

Website: crunchbase.com (Other)

acompli.com (Other)

angel.co (Other)

Connect with - Jason Shafton:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/jasonshafton

Website: winstonfrancois.com

Connect to Entrepreneurial-Excellence Podcast:

LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrepreneurial-excellence-podcast⁠

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialExcellencePod

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Website - https://www.hirechore.com/resources/podcast