Seven Questions For — Hearst's Alexandria Redmon

We're speaking to colleagues about their businesses, their roles and the best professional advice they've received. Meet Alexandria Redmon, senior director of generative AI initiatives at Hearst. Alexandria's work is so important, we had to ask her more than our usual five questions!

Tell us about your role.

I run a lab that gets early exposure to all the technology that's coming down the pipe with generative AI and seeing both what it can do and how it can apply to our different businesses.

How are you helping colleagues learn about gen AI?

It's mostly looking at what will have the largest impact and what will be digestible by the businesses because we want to make sure that we're giving them things that they can use.

What about gen AI excites you?

There's not a technical barrier to be scared of. You command it through natural language, which is something that as people we are largely used to doing with others. You're able to now do things at a level that you just really couldn't do before.

Any advice for those that have never used gen AI before?

Find something that resonates with you and something you know well because that's how you'll be able to gauge how well it's working and how you'll be able to get the most out of it. The general guidance we'll give is get to know it, don't get too attached to a particular tool. Pop your head up after six to maybe 12 months and see if the landscape has changed substantially.

What is something that people don't know about your job?

Probably the breadth of the businesses we work with. Working at the corporate level of Hearst, we have a very diversified portfolio and I also have the pleasure of working with the HearstLab group. The type of businesses that we touch tends to surprise people.

What is the best career advice you've received?

It's kind of a cliche but do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. I've had the pleasure to work with technology throughout my career and it's really fun getting to build things.

What's your proudest career moment?

HearstLab had their CEO summit and Lisa Burton - HearstLab Vice President - had me help lead one of the breakout sessions. Getting to meet those founders and talk with about what they're doing and applying this technology for in their groups is always really exciting.