I'm a startup founder who uses AI as a middle manager. It enables my junior employee to produce senior-level work.

In the evolving landscape of the startup world, Charles Swann, a 44-year-old founder based in Boulder, Colorado, has opened up about his innovative approach to hiring and managing talent within his AI startup, Forage. Launched 18 months ago, Forage operates in the marketing technology sector, where understanding modern culture and social media trends is crucial. Swann hired a 24-year-old growth and brand specialist, recognizing her intuitive grasp of brand dynamics and social media engagement. However, he faced a typical challenge: junior employees often struggle to transform their creative instincts into actionable business strategies. This is where AI has made a significant impact. Since integrating AI tools, particularly the advanced capabilities of Gemini 3, Swann has observed a remarkable enhancement in his employee's output. Initially, she utilized AI to refine her ideas, but as her skillset grew, the AI began to play a more collaborative role in developing product strategies. The transition from AI as a refining tool to a co-creator has dramatically changed their workflow. Previously, drafting a product requirements document—a crucial blueprint for new features—could take an experienced product manager up to ten hours. With the help of Gemini, Swann's junior employee can now accomplish this task in just four to five hours. The sophisticated capabilities of Gemini have shifted the balance of work from 70% human input and 30% AI contribution to an impressive 40% human and 60% AI. Swann emphasizes the importance of nurturing leadership qualities in young professionals, noting that as his employee’s understanding of AI deepens, so does her ability to take ownership of projects. While he acknowledges the risks of relying on AI—such as potential inaccuracies or misunderstandings—he prefers to embrace the learning opportunities that arise from these challenges rather than stifle progress. To mitigate risks, Swann has created a comprehensive collection of starter prompts for AI interactions, ensuring that the AI remains focused and contextually relevant. He believes that as AI continues to reshape the workforce, hiring practices will shift toward valuing innate intelligence and cultural understanding over extensive industry experience. Swann's outlook is optimistic; he asserts that brands will need to authentically connect with cultural narratives in an increasingly AI-driven environment. This perspective informs his hiring philosophy, prioritizing candidates who grasp the core problems the startup aims to solve rather than those with lengthy resumes in marketing. As AI technology advances, Swann is confident that this approach will become even more essential in the years to come.