On this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, host Jordan French interviews Darryl Kelly, CEO of Aspect, about his mission to modernize the 52-year-old company while centering humanity in its workplace solutions. Kelly discusses how Aspect leverages AI and innovative design to empower employees, enhance customer experiences, and address challenges in an increasingly complex customer journey. The conversation highlights Kelly’s unique leadership style, which blends creativity, intentionality, and a commitment to fostering meaningful connections through technology.

On this episode of Grit Daily Startup Show, host Jordan French interviews Darryl Kelly, CEO of Aspect, about his mission to modernize the 52-year-old company while centering humanity in its workplace solutions. Kelly discusses how Aspect leverages AI and innovative design to empower employees, enhance customer experiences, and address challenges in an increasingly complex customer journey. The conversation highlights Kelly&rsquo;s unique leadership style, which blends creativity, intentionality, and a commitment to fostering meaningful connections through technology.

Grit Daily Startup Show podcast explores the world of entrepreneurship, founders, and CEOs to talk scaleups and startups, from conception and funding to exits. Interviews run across all industries, with entrepreneurs sharing their best decisions, mistakes to avoid, and wildest entrepreneurial stories. With single-guest entrepreneur and multi-guest formats.

Grit Daily Startup Show podcast explores the world of entrepreneurship, founders, and CEOs to talk scaleups and startups, from conception and funding to exits. Interviews run across all industries, with entrepreneurs sharing their best decisions, mistakes to avoid, and wildest entrepreneurial stories. With single-guest entrepreneur and multi-guest formats.

Startup Show, brought to you by the premiere startup news hub, Grit Daily

Grit Daily Startup Show

Darryl Kelly of Aspect on Transforming Customer Service with Humanity and Innovation

Phillip Lanos and Sharon Wood explore the intersection of gaming, family connections, and memory enhancement. Sharon shares her journey from marketing in the gaming industry to creating products that foster joy and dignity for individuals with fading memories. They discuss the importance of relationships, the science behind gaming, and the innovative approaches being taken to enhance quality of life through interactive experiences. The conversation emphasizes the need for cross-generational connections and the potential of technology to bring families closer together.

Takeaways
Sharon Wood emphasizes the importance of family connections in gaming.
The gaming industry has evolved to include educational and memory-enhancing elements.
Relationships built over time are crucial for entrepreneurs in the gaming sector.
Science plays a significant role in developing games that stimulate memory.
Creating joy and dignity for individuals with fading memories is a core mission.
The New Forever's aims to foster cross-generational connections through fun.
Interactive gaming can enhance quality of life for older adults.
Memory stimulation through music and images can create new experiences.
Entrepreneurship involves navigating challenges and learning from failures.
The future of gaming may integrate advanced technologies like AI, but caution is necessary.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of Gaming and Family Connections
05:11 Building Relationships in the Gaming Industry
12:45 The Science Behind Gaming and Memory
18:22 Creating Joy and Dignity Through Games
24:48 Innovative Approaches to Memory Stimulation
30:03 The Future of Gaming and Technology Integration

Connect with Sharon Wood: 
https://happypeoplegames.com

Phillip Lanos and Sharon Wood explore the intersection of gaming, family connections, and memory enhancement. Sharon shares her journey from marketing in the gaming industry to creating products that foster joy and dignity for individuals with fading memories. They discuss the importance of relationships, the science behind gaming, and the innovative approaches being taken to enhance quality of life through interactive experiences. The conversation emphasizes the need for cross-generational connections and the potential of technology to bring families closer together.
Takeaways
<ul>
<li>Sharon Wood emphasizes the importance of family connections in gaming.</li>
<li>The gaming industry has evolved to include educational and memory-enhancing elements.</li>
<li>Relationships built over time are crucial for entrepreneurs in the gaming sector.</li>
<li>Science plays a significant role in developing games that stimulate memory.</li>
<li>Creating joy and dignity for individuals with fading memories is a core mission.</li>
<li>The New Forever's aims to foster cross-generational connections through fun.</li>
<li>Interactive gaming can enhance quality of life for older adults.</li>
<li>Memory stimulation through music and images can create new experiences.</li>
<li>Entrepreneurship involves navigating challenges and learning from failures.</li>
<li>The future of gaming may integrate advanced technologies like AI, but caution is necessary.</li>
</ul>
Chapters
00:00 The Journey of Gaming and Family Connections 05:11 Building Relationships in the Gaming Industry 12:45 The Science Behind Gaming and Memory 18:22 Creating Joy and Dignity Through Games 24:48 Innovative Approaches to Memory Stimulation 30:03 The Future of Gaming and Technology Integration
Connect with Sharon Wood:&nbsp; <a href="https://happypeoplegames.com">https://happypeoplegames.com</a>

From Grand Theft Auto to Grandparents: Sharon Wood’s Mission for Joy

Greg Whalen, CTO of Prove AI, explains why many enterprises are stalling with generative AI by treating it like traditional software and postponing the hard parts like observability, debugging, and governance. He breaks down what “observability” actually means in AI systems, why outcome-based metrics matter more than chasing black-box explanations, and how Prove AI helps teams collect the right telemetry to reach production safely. The conversation also explores agentic workflows, human oversight, and why technical leaders need to change how their organizations operate if they want gen AI to deliver real value.

Greg Whalen, CTO of Prove AI, explains why many enterprises are stalling with generative AI by treating it like traditional software and postponing the hard parts like observability, debugging, and governance. He breaks down what &ldquo;observability&rdquo; actually means in AI systems, why outcome-based metrics matter more than chasing black-box explanations, and how Prove AI helps teams collect the right telemetry to reach production safely. The conversation also explores agentic workflows, human oversight, and why technical leaders need to change how their organizations operate if they want gen AI to deliver real value.

Greg Whalen Thinks Enterprises Are Making One Big Mistake With Generative AI

Will Cady, founder of HEAL MVMNT and former Reddit creative strategist, joins the show to explore why technology is advancing faster than the moral frameworks needed to guide it. He explains how his organization helps leaders align community, culture, and purpose so companies can scale without losing their humanity. Cady also shares why keeping a “human in the loop” is essential in the AI era and how defining a clear north star enables businesses to grow with intention rather than drift off course.

Will Cady, founder of HEAL MVMNT and former Reddit creative strategist, joins the show to explore why technology is advancing faster than the moral frameworks needed to guide it. He explains how his organization helps leaders align community, culture, and purpose so companies can scale without losing their humanity. Cady also shares why keeping a &ldquo;human in the loop&rdquo; is essential in the AI era and how defining a clear north star enables businesses to grow with intention rather than drift off course.

Darryl Kelly of Aspect on Transforming Customer Service with Humanity and Innovation

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