Female Disruptors: Cynthia L Elliott of SoulTech AI Foundation On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
An Interview With Dina Aletras
Create room for failure in your life. We need friction for growth. We need dreams so big and bold that they scare us a little. Our boldest dreams are our higher selves pulling us toward what we are truly capable of. Stop waiting for permission that will never come, and go for it. If you use failure to learn, it is no longer failure but growth.
As a part of our series about women shaking things up in their industry, we had the pleasure of interviewing Cynthia L. Elliott.
Cynthia L. Elliott is a powerhouse inspirational speaker, AI philanthropist, 2 x #1 best-selling conscious living author, and communications pioneer. She established the SoulTech AI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to offer courses in AI literacy and success mindset to underserved communities so they can thrive in the Age of AI. She hosts the popular podcast Citizen Journalist and co-hosts Goodpod’s #1 marketing and business news show, The Billy Dees Show.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I spent 20 years as a marketing agency founder, and while I enjoyed an incredible career, I secretly battled depression and anxiety. In confronting my mental fitness, I realized a method for raising human consciousness that teaches people to step into the driver’s seat of their life experience. That has become the purpose of my speeches, courses, and work as a consciousness teacher and AI philanthropist. That eventually led to the creation of SoultechFoundation.org, which teaches underserved communities AI literacy and a success mindset so they can thrive in the Age of AI.
Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?
With my recent book, A New American Dream, and the work of the SoulTech AI Foundation, we are getting ahead of the fourth industrial revolution to drive vital conversation and create change within the dramatic change a revolution brings. We believe that the Age of AI allows us to use the tech to address our most significant issues, reignite the American dream, and build a more equitable future for humanity. Instead of standing by and watching another tech boom benefit a handful of companies and people, we are getting ahead of the fourth industrial revolution to put it to good use for the majority.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I wrote my first book, I was so dead set on sharing my spiritual practices that I ran roughshod over detours that, in retrospect, were meant to allow time to create the best narrative possible. I look back now and see that we can become so obsessed with the end goal that we do not see the opportunities in between that allow us to do even better work. Interruptions are opportunities, delays are gifts, and more time is a precious breath to revisit. It was an excellent lesson for a first-time author. I took my time writing my next book, Memory Mansion, which hit #1.
We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?
When I moved to New York in the 90s, I had a heavy accent, no degree, and no contacts. During the early years of my first job, I earned the respect of people like NY Fashion Week founder Fern Mallis and NY Times writer Rene Chun. When I finally got my shot at a PR job, they were there to offer references, which supported me in getting into the industry of my dreams. Their kindness was priceless. I have since made it a policy to hire people struggling for a break. I am honored to say that nearly every person who has ever worked for me grew as a talent and went on to level up their life.
In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?
When an industry becomes predictable, it is ripe for disruption. I believe disruption should elevate a business or industry. For example, one client was part of a dying and dated industry. We realigned their entire business strategy, created a powerful new brand look, and built an exciting website and collateral, inspiring top industry players to upgrade their brand and business strategy immediately. It brought pride back to the industry. That is disruption for good.
On the other hand, I pushed my dreams of an industry called influencer marketing because it appealed to my ego to frontier new ways of doing marketing. I spent the next ten years cringing because it ushered in superficiality and took an industry I love from earned to paid. It was a painful lesson in living with the results of unhealthy disruption.
It is a question of whether it will help or is for the right reasons.
Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.
1. My first real boss, a lovely man named Jamie at Robert Marc Opticians, once called me out for personalizing customers’ bad behavior and said that it was getting in the way of my being of service. I was annoyed that he wasn’t leaping to my defense, but I understood he was teaching me to grow my perspective. He added that a customer who thinks they had a bad experience will tell ten, but a person who believes they had a great experience will tell three. I learned a lot from him about not taking client service personally.
2. Perfectionism stems from unhealthy experiences. I used to be incredibly controlling about everything and thought perfectionism was something to brag about. Being superhuman was exhausting. My anxiety would skyrocket if the most minor imperfection occurred at work. I was being told that that behavior stemmed from trauma that allowed me to take a healthier approach. I had to see that I had convinced myself that I only deserved respect if everything I did was perfect, and I began to understand that it was not a trait to be proud of. It was a trait born in shame and trauma. Being professional and giving it your all in any endeavor is one thing. It is another to allow a small human error to ruin hard work or excellent results.
3. Create room for failure in your life. We need friction for growth. We need dreams so big and bold that they scare us a little. Our boldest dreams are our higher selves pulling us toward what we are truly capable of. Stop waiting for permission that will never come, and go for it. If you use failure to learn, it is no longer failure but growth.
We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?
I am promoting my second #1 best-seller, A New American Dream: Conscious AI for a Future Full of Promise. That book shares my belief that we must use the fourth industrial revolution to bring back jobs, manufacturing, and pride to America. We must make great products and not depend on other countries to survive. I am also launching season two of my popular podcast, Citizen Journalist.
In the coming weeks, the SoulTech AI Foundation is launching its first courses in AI literacy and success mindset to underserved communities. That work aims to get ahead of the 120 million adult transitioing workers that will need to upskill to succeed in the Age of AI.
After that, I am producing and the keynote speaker for Code Queens: Future of AI Summit for women. This is a celebration of women leading the future through the use and application of AI. We need things to look forward to in life.
In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?
Unless you have connections, don’t expect to be celebrated for your accomplishments as a woman. The truth is that talented women’s achievements are taken for granted or treated as an accident unless they are connected to a big brand budget or influential people, usually men, who “inspire” people to celebrate them. That usually involves being in proximity to money or power. Something the patriarchy made sure few women could acquire without the “right” marriage or great sacrifice. That is changing, but not as quickly as it should.
We live in a world that tells you to ask for help, but the help will rarely show up if you have something to trade. That is a harsh reality that few wish to acknowledge. You can get help, but it often comes from the unlikeliest people. The people you think will celebrate your success will sometimes secretly resent it, especially women, as we were raised to see each other as competition. Again, that is all changing, but it is still a part of the culture.
Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?
Funny enough, the book that had the most significant impact on me was His Dark Materials by Sir Philip Pullman, a book for teens. It came to me at a time of extraordinary pain. I was profoundly lost, and the book reminded me that life is magical.
I enjoy podcasts by Lex Fridman, Steven Bartlett, Joe Rogan, and Megyn Kelly.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
The purpose of all of my work is to raise human consciousness. It is the answer to the global mental health crisis. It puts everyone, regardless of where they are from, what language they speak, or religious beliefs, in the driver’s seat of their life experience. It allows them to choose their perception regardless of circumstances. That is a superpower everyone should be gifted with.
On another note, if we do not raise consciousness to higher levels in the next couple of years, humanity will struggle with AI in ways that are hard for most people to understand now. Instead of using it to enhance the human experience, we will become a product of it.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote” and share how it was relevant to your life?
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt.
How can our readers follow you online?
Readers can enjoy my Citizen Journalist podcast on all major podcast platforms. They can also learn more about my books, inspirational speaking events, and courses at ShamanIsis.com. Shaman Isis is my pen name, avatar, and calling as a spiritual teacher. They can also learn more about my work in AI at SoulTechFoundation.org.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
About the Interviewer: Dina Aletras boasts over 20 years of expertise in the corporate media industry. She possesses an in-depth understanding of growth, strategy, and leadership, having held significant roles at some of the UK’s largest media organizations. At Reach PLC, the UK’s largest tabloid publisher, she served in various director capacities. Additionally, she held leadership roles at The Independent Magazine Group and DMGT. Her extensive knowledge spans editorial, digital, revenue, sales, and advertising.
Upon relocating to Switzerland, Dina took on the responsibility of managing and promoting the international section of Corriere del Ticino — CdT.ch pioneering the English page “onthespot.” She also was the Co-Editor of Southern Switzerland’s first official Italian and English bilingual magazine.
