AI is changing the way we work faster than most people are prepared for. But what happens to the people behind the work?

In this episode of Unfinished Business with Eric Mulvin, Eric sits down with Athena Kan, CEO and co-founder of Dreambound, to talk about one of the biggest challenges no one is really solving, how people stay relevant as AI reshapes entire industries.

Athena shares how her team is helping hundreds of thousands of people transition into new careers across healthcare, trades, and AI-enabled roles. From her time working on Uber’s self-driving car team to building Dreambound, her focus has always been the same: not just advancing technology, but making sure people can keep up with it.

This conversation goes beyond AI tools. It’s about the growing gap between adopting technology and actually training people to use it, and what that means for businesses, leaders, and individuals trying to navigate what’s coming next.

And toward the end, Athena shares a story that brings everything into perspective… reminding us that behind every number is a real person trying to change their life.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• Why AI disruption is happening faster than companies can adapt
• What “AI-proof” and AI-enabled careers really look like
• The gap between AI adoption and employee training
• How Dreambound is helping people transition into new careers at scale
• Why focus, not speed alone, is the key to growth in an AI world
• The role of human intelligence alongside AI

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome to Unfinished Business
01:27 – Meet Athena Kan and Dreambound
03:49 – What “AI-proof” careers actually mean
05:39 – Training for the AI era and closing the skills gap
08:40 – Why companies struggle to train employees on AI
12:17 – How Dreambound is modernizing career pathways
15:00 – A powerful story of real-world impact
17:25 – Inspiration for Asian entrepreneurs
18:30 – Athena’s background and immigrant roots
21:06 – The Harvard experience and exposure to startups
23:19 – What it really takes to build a business
26:18 – Lessons from Uber’s self-driving car team
29:07 – Building company culture and moving fast
30:32 – Navigating change in today’s business environment
31:28 – Why focus compounds growth
34:46 – AI + Human Intelligence: working together
35:52 – The future of work in an AI-driven economy
39:17 – Learning from customers on the front lines
41:44 – Athena’s unfinished business

Connect with Athena Kan

🌐 Dreambound: https://dreambound.com
🤖 MadeThat: https://madethat.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/athenakan

Unfinished Business with Eric Mulvin

If you enjoy conversations with leaders who are building businesses, reinventing themselves, and creating impact, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications.

· Instagram: @bizwitheric

· TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bizwitheric

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BizWithEric

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mulvin/

Powered by Pac Biz Outsourcing

Pac Biz helps transportation, SaaS, software, and eCommerce companies scale customer support and back-office operations with dedicated teams in the Philippines.

Learn more: https://pac-biz.com
Email: info@pac-biz.com
Podcast: pac-biz.com/podcasts