There was something really special about ending our year with Jonathan Welzbacher as our final guest speaker.

Jon has been woven into the fabric of our year from the very beginning. Our very first site visit of the year took place at June’s Breakfast + Patio, where he talked with students about the process of building a business from the ground up. Since then, he has continued showing up for our program in quiet but meaningful ways. He mentored our student David Schmitz (DJ) each month as he worked through the launch of his individual business, provided coffee for our Fish Tank event, attended Fish Tank to support student presentations, and showed up again at our Trade Show to encourage the students and celebrate all of their hard work. He has consistently been someone we can count on behind the scenes.

So having him return to our classroom at Wisper last week for our very last guest speaker of the year felt incredibly full circle.

This time, Jon challenged students to think beyond the CEO program and into the future of business through the lens of AI. Our discussion focused on the growing impact AI is having on marketing and business operations, and students walked away with so many valuable insights.

One of the biggest takeaways was how dramatically AI can improve efficiency. Jon explained how projects and marketing materials that once took weeks to create can now be developed in minutes with the right tools. He also emphasized the importance of structured prompts and giving AI rich context in order to create stronger and more meaningful outputs.

The students also learned how businesses are using AI to automate repetitive tasks like responding to inquiries, creating social media content, and streamlining workflows so business owners can spend more time focusing on strategy and growth. Another important discussion centered around personalization and data. AI allows businesses to better understand their audience, create customized messaging, and make smarter, data-driven decisions faster than ever before.

What I appreciated most was how relatable and practical Jon made the conversation. He didn’t present AI as something intimidating or far off in the future. He showed students how it is already changing the way businesses operate right now and how they can learn to use it as a tool to strengthen whatever comes next for them.

Jon, thank you for the countless ways you have poured into this program all year long. Thank you for showing up, encouraging our students, sharing your knowledge so openly, and supporting them not just during the big moments, but in all the moments in between too. Your investment in these students has mattered more than you probably realize, and we are incredibly grateful for you.