People Before Technology
We care deeply about AI because it reveals how we care for one another. It is already impacting how we make choices and how we design systems that can center on people or quietly erase them. Like our work on mattering, AI is ultimately about what kind of cultures and spaces we want to work and live in.
We do not believe AI is going to take your job. But we know it will change it. Which means we need to change, too. The real question we need to ask is not “How do I keep up with AI?” It is “Who am I becoming with it?”
Our Four Mattering Commitments for AI
If mattering is the foundation of our Four Simple Words work, then AI is not a disruption. It is an invitation to reflect, reimagine, and design systems that reflect human values. These four commitments guide all our AI work, thinking and teaching:
- People matter. AI must amplify dignity, not replace it.
- Questions matter. AI mirrors what we ask, and reveals what we forget to ask.
- Culture matters. AI will inherit the culture it lands in.
- Leadership matters. We need cultures where people and AI can thrive.
The Humans Behind Our Work
Curt Hammond
Founder of Four Simple Words. Curt brings 20+ years of experience in cultural transformation, leadership coaching and building cultures of service in organizations of all sizes and in public and private sectors.
Lakhdeep Dhaliwal
A gifted facilitator and strategist, Lakhdeep has spent his career helping organizations confront complexity, deconstruct power, and build cultures of belonging. He brings sharp questions, deep listening, and radical empathy to every room he enters.
Sean Yo
Sean is a technologist, systems designer, and relentless thinker. With decades of experience in software and ed-tech, he works at the intersection of technology, accessibility, and equity, building tools and teams that are useful, values-based, and deeply human.
Sky Hammond
Sky is a creative strategist, researcher, and early adopter of emerging tech. As the youngest member of our team, he brings fresh perspective and a strong practical eye to our course design and delivery. His thinking about AI has appeared in Municipal World.
AI Courses & Leadership Training
Four Simple Words offers a wide range of practical, plain-language AI programs. Our course content is constantly updated and modified to reflect the evolution of each of the platforms we are using. Join a scheduled session or book a customized session for your team.
A virtual 3 hour session
Ideal for groups of up to 15 people.
Participant requirements:
A free or paid ChatGPT account set up before the session starts (account creation is not covered during the course)
ChatGPT 101: Building Your AI Foundations
A foundational workshop for professionals that demystifies and empowers teams to think about AI in their unique context. Learn essential prompting techniques through real-world examples and engage in conversations about data security, regulatory compliance, and output accuracy. Discover which tasks can be effectively supported by AI while maintaining the standards utilities require.
What we cover:
- Intro to ChatGPT | Understand clearly what ChatGPT can do (and what it can’t!), and how it fits into your daily workflow.
- Effective Prompts | Learn simple techniques for writing prompts that deliver practical, immediately usable results.
- Hands-on Practice | Try it yourself in a supportive environment, guided by expert facilitators who’ve successfully trained hundreds of participants across diverse sectors.
A virtual 3 hour session
Ideal for groups of up to 15 people.
Participant requirements:
A paid ChatGPT account set up before the session starts (account creation is not covered during the course) and the ChatGPT app ready to use on participants’ phones.
ChatGPT 201: Smarter Prompts, Better Results
An advanced workshop for professionals ready to move beyond basics. Master sophisticated techniques for technical content creation, report visualization, and implementing quality control protocols specific to utility workflows. Learn practical applications for document analysis, recurring task automation, and more complex problem-solving.
What we cover:
- Advanced Prompt Techniques | Move beyond the basics to craft prompts that yield more nuanced, reliable, and creative responses.
- Quality & Accuracy | Strategies to critically assess, refine, and ensure the quality of ChatGPT outputs to confidently use them in professional settings.
- Integrating ChatGPT into Your Workflow | Practical examples and guidance on embedding ChatGPT into everyday processes, including email, reporting, creative projects, and team collaboration.
- Hands-on Advanced Practice | Interactive exercises guided by expert facilitators with extensive experience helping teams across various sectors move beyond foundational skills.
A virtual 3 hour session
Ideal for groups of up to 15 people.
Participant requirements:
Paid ChatGPT account set up before the session starts (account creation is not covered during the course) and the ChatGPT app ready to use on participants’ phones.
AI + Regulatory: Reduce Burden. Strengthen Your Compliance.
Designed specifically for the Ontario utility industry in partnership with MEARIE. Developed in partnership with Ian Innis from Enelchus, this specialized workshop helps regulatory professionals streamline OEB submissions while maintaining compliance standards. Transform technical content into clear narratives, enhance interrogatory responses, and verify filing requirement compliance with confidence. Gain immediate, applicable skills for your next Cost of Service filing.
What we cover:
- AI for Regulatory Applications | Learn how generative AI can support key tasks in the Cost of Service process, from drafting evidence to responding to interrogatories.
- Model & Platform Comparisons | Understand the strengths and trade-offs between GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and CoPilot so you can choose the right tool for the task.
- Structuring with AI | Use role prompts and formatting cues to guide ChatGPT in creating submissions that are clear, confident and aligned with OEB expectations.
- Real-World Use Cases | Explore practical, regulatory-specific examples where AI accelerates work, clarifies language, and helps teams focus on strategic thinking.
Delivered via your existing Microsoft Teams environment for seamless integration.
Designed specifically for intact senior leadership teams.
Flexible scheduling aligned to your team’s strategic calendar.
Leading Strategic AI Transformation
Our premier executive program helps senior teams lead AI transformation with clarity, integrity, and care. This 6-month engagement builds your C-suite’s shared vision and governance framework for AI adoption through in-person sessions, virtual training, and executive coaching — all delivered within your existing Teams environment.
Immediate Leadership Impact
- Establish a unified executive vision for AI adoption across your utility
- Accelerate strategic decision-making through practical AI governance frameworks
- Cultural Alignment: Align your AI ambitions with your leadership values, not just your IT roadmap
Sustained Organizational Value
- Risk Management: Prevent unmanaged AI adoption (shadow IT) within your organization by establishing clear governance and acceptable use policies
- Regulatory Readiness: Develop proactive AI governance before regulatory bodies mandate specific approaches
- Talent Retention: Leadership teams with clear AI vision are better positioned to attract and retain top technical talent
Shitty Boss Moments cost your organization time, money and trust.
Leadership is hard. AskLucky makes it easier.
AskLucky is a conversational AI that delivers practical, real-time coaching to managers when needed: in the messy, human moments where leadership can either build trust or lose people
AskLucky creates a judgment-free space where managers receive contextual coaching precisely when they need it most. Whether preparing for difficult conversations, navigating complex HR situations, or developing leadership skills, AskLucky provides specific guidance tailored to your utility’s unique environment.
By democratizing access to organizational wisdom while maintaining individual privacy, this innovative coaching platform reduces the cost of employee turnover while freeing HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives. AskLucky turns management challenges into growth opportunities by offering just-in-time learning, practical conversation frameworks and reflection prompts that deepen learning and improve team culture.
Client Feedback
Karla Bailey
VP System Planning, Asset Management & Engineering
SYNERGY NORTH
Curt, I wanted to take a moment to thank you and Skyler for delivering such a high-quality training session. I’ve received fantastic feedback from my team. They found the training to be insightful, well-structured, and highly relevant to their work.
Many of them have mentioned that they now feel more confident in using the tool, and it has sparked great discussions on how we can incorporate it more effectively into our daily tasks. Your support and expertise truly went above and beyond, and we appreciate the effort you put into making the training so valuable.
Thank you again—we look forward to working with you in the future!
Let’s Learn Together
We appreciate the opportunity to share these ideas with MEARIE customers as a starting point for your organization’s AI journey. Please connect with David Ainslie or me with any questions or to schedule your first session.
Curt Hammond
President, Service Champion
[email protected]
519.580.9725