In this episode of The Scaling CFO, host Mark Stiles, CPA and founder of MASCPA, sits down with Vivian Chen, founder and CEO of Rise Data Labs. If you've ever wondered how to invest in people while embracing AI without losing the human element, this conversation is essential listening.
Vivian shares her unconventional journey from L'Oréal marketer to self-taught coder to AI founder—a path that mirrors the adaptability required in today's business landscape. She breaks down her B-to-AI-to-B model, revealing how to bridge human judgment with machine scale, and why the highest ROI often lives in human capital, not just technology.
From time audits to 10X goal-setting to knowing when AI helps versus when it hurts, this episode delivers a masterclass in building teams that thrive in transformation.
Topics include:
From marketing to coding to founding an AI company: Vivian's unconventional path
Why the Abacus-to-AI story matters for change management
The B-to-AI-to-B model: bridging human judgment with machine intelligence
How time audits reveal your team's zone of genius
Why unconventional hires often become your strongest performers
The 10X framework: setting stretch goals that motivate without burning out
Where to embrace AI and where to resist automation
Intrinsic motivation vs. external rewards: what really drives performance
Communication as the #1 non-financial skill every leader needs
Why the biggest waste of human capital is people doing work they don't love
If your team feels stuck, your scaling strategy unclear, or your AI adoption uncertain, this conversation brings clarity to all three.
Timestamps:
Follow Mark and Vivian:
Connect with Mark:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stilescpa/
Website: markstilescpa.com
Connect with Vivian:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivianmingweichen/
Website: joinrise.co
