We’re living in a world where AI adoption is fast outpacing AI literacy - and the gap is growing.

Global research shows three in four employees are already using AI at work. More than half admit to hiding their AI use on important tasks, and up to 80% are bringing their own AI tools into the workplace.

It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, how senior you are, or what your job title says; being AI literate (understanding AI) is now an essential professional skill. This is especially true for marketing and communications professionals.

AI literacy is the key to understanding how AI works, what it can do, where the risks lie, and how to use it to reinforce human value - not replace it.

This two-hour, in-person workshop is for real people in real organisations who want to use AI to get more done with the resources they already have.

It’s designed for those without a tech or IT background (though you’re welcome if you do). No jargon. No hype. No sales pitch.

Price: $175 + GST per person. We’re committed to keeping prices as low as possible to help remove barriers for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

References available. It’s important to know that you are investing time and money in the right professional development for your team. With well over 150 attendees around the country, we have references from different industries and roles that can share their experience with you.

Funding: This training is registered with the Regional Business Partner Network. To explore if your business is eligible for support, contact your local Regional Business Growth Advisor here.

Who is this workshop for?

Marketing and Communications Professionals
Both AI beginners and curious dabblers
AI skeptics
Business owners and operators
Public sector teams
Leaders
Anyone who’s been avoiding AI or feeling overwhelmed by the hype.

In this workshop, you’ll learn:

Why AI has exploded and why that matters for your organisation and community
How AI actually works so you can apply it to the right tools for your role
How to navigate risks, red flags, and ethical concerns
Ways to use AI without undermining human skill, creativity, and credibility
How to get your team on the same page and use AI safely and effectively
What the future holds in AI for marketing and communications professionals.

You’ll leave with:

A clear, practical understanding of AI and how it works
The ability to lead or contribute meaningfully to conversations about AI in your workplace
A list of recommended AI tools to explore
The confidence to understand where and how to integrate AI into your organisation without risking your brand or ethics
A shared language and understanding your whole team can work from.

Don’t just take our word for it.

Here’s what some of our attendees have said:

“You made a daunting topic so easy and clear to understand and navigate.”

“That workshop was everything. Learning about this was so insightful.”

“The breadth of the information was great, from its background to constant upgrades. The focus on communications, marketing and some alignment to strategy. The most useful was understanding how to ask for information, the amount of detail needed, and the context behind that.”

“Really great workshop! Very engaging and informative!”

“I’ve come away with a whole lot more knowledge and food for thought than I was anticipating and feel empowered to start implementing AI tools from today.”

“There were so many goodies for us to take on board. It’s going to be a longer journey for [getting AI integrated in] our workplace, but individually we are so pumped and ready to go after that.”

About Lizi Guest (your workshop facilitator).

I’m the founder of Little & Loud, an award-winning public relations and communications agency. We've worked with more than a hundred organisations; from local councils and government agencies to fast-growing businesses and national brands. We were also named as the top New Zealand consultancy of our size by PRINZ in 2024.

I believe that clever thinking should be shared. So we facilitate a group of 550+ industry professionals, providing low-cost professional development opportunities, career connections, and advice.

As a digital native, a business owner and experienced marketing and communications professional, I thought I knew enough about AI. But when I looked deeper, I was shocked by the gap between what I thought I knew and the reality. I couldn’t find affordable, relevant training for professionals that would tell me what I needed to know, and how to apply this knowledge, so I created one.

What began as a single workshop for local colleagues has since sold out multiple times and travelled across the country - from Christchurch and Invercargill, to Wairarapa and Waikato - with huge uptake from councils, community organisations, and businesses.

Contact the host of Work Smarter - Hamilton. AI Literacy for Communications, Marketing and Business.