Why Helping Others Is Slowly Breaking You (And What To Do About It)

In 18 Months Your Customers Won't Be Talking to You. They'll Be Talking to Your Agent. | Ep. 52 - Masha Sharma

"In eighteen months, most small-business owners won't be talking to their customers. They'll be talking to their agents." Masha Sharma leads merchant experience at Groupon — over a million small businesses, many of them immigrant-owned. In this conversation, we get into what changes when 60% of work is built by AI, why every campaign is starting to sound the same, and what Masha calls becoming the "conductor of your own AI orchestra." Plus her answer to the question we ask every guest — what conversation she wishes more people were having. Hosted by Elena Petrova. Produced by Ad Astra, Inc.

The Digital Divide Is Becoming a Language Divide. The Educator Trying to Stop It.

AI, Inclusion, Digital Learning, and Why Human Connection Still Matters with Bryan Chicas In this episode of Connected Conversations, Elena Petrova sits down with Bryan Chicas, Program Engagement Specialist at ISTE+ASCD, where he works with educators and leaders to design professional learning in technology, digital citizenship, and instructional innovation. Bryan’s argument is simple and uncomfortable: access to technology does not automatically create meaningful learning. And as AI reshapes the classroom, a new fault line is opening — one Bryan is especially focused on. The digital divide is becoming a language divide. The students who learn to use these tools intentionally, in their own language, will pull further ahead. The ones who don’t will fall further behind. The question is no longer whether students will use these tools. The question is whether we will teach them how to use them well. About Bryan Chicas: Bryan Chicas is a Program Engagement Specialist at ISTE+ASCD, where he works with educators and leaders to design professional learning in technology, digital citizenship, and instructional innovation. He is especially passionate about ensuring the digital divide does not become a language divide as AI and technology continue to reshape education. In this episode: • Why technology should support, not replace, human connection in the classroom • The difference between access and inclusion — and why one without the other fails students • How online learning communities are quietly reducing isolation among educators • How educators can meet students where they are, instead of where the curriculum assumes they are At Connected Conversations, we believe communication is the foundation of every strong community and education is where that starts. #ConnectedConversations #AIinEducation #DigitalDivide

Why Your Content Isn’t Converting (And What To Do Instead)

Most people think visibility builds a business. It doesn’t. Connection does.   In this episode of Connected Conversations, Naowshaba Ferdous breaks down what it really takes to build a brand that people trust, remember, and buy from in today’s crowded digital world. Because the truth is: You can have the best aesthetics, the best strategy, and still not convert. Why? Because your content isn’t about you. 🔍 In this episode: • Why authentic voice matters more than polished content • The biggest mistake people make in messaging • Why being polarizing actually helps your growth • How to build trust before you sell anything • Why confidence comes after action, not before • The mindset shift behind every successful entrepreneur • How to build a community people actually want to be part ofIf you’re building a brand, a business, or a personal presence online, this episode will change how you think about content and connection. About Naowshaba Ferdous: Naowshaba Ferdous is a business strategist who helps entrepreneurs get seen, remembered, and paid through psychology-driven messaging, marketing, and sales strategy. She has helped clients generate over $10M in revenue and works with founders from early-stage startups to established 8-figure brands, translating complex challenges into clear, actionable growth strategies.

Feeling Uncertain About the Future? Watch This

Jordana Cole explains how to navigate uncertainty, AI anxiety, and change—by focusing on what you can actually control.

You’re Not as Logical as You Think (And It’s Costing You as a Leader) | Jordana Cole

You’re not as logical as you think. And that might be your biggest advantage as a leader. In this episode of Connected Conversations, hosted by Elena Petrova (Founder & CEO of Ad Astra, Inc. and AdAstraConnect), we sit down with Jordana Cole, President of Ignited LLC and leadership coach, to explore what truly drives communication, decision-making, and leadership in today’s fast-changing world. From improv to emotional intelligence, Jordana breaks down why leaders who connect—not just inform—are the ones who create real impact. 🔍 Inside this episode: • What improv teaches leaders about communication • Why we listen to reply—not to understand • How to lead through uncertainty without overpromising • Why emotion drives every decision we make • How storytelling beats data in influencing others • Why authenticity cannot be copied • How to use AI as a partner—not a replacement At Ad Astra, we believe communication is the foundation of leadership, and this conversation shows why. 🎧 Watch the full episode and rethink how you lead.   About Jordana Cole: Jordana Cole is an igniter of leadership and team potential and the President of Ignited LLC. Combining her master's degree in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania with more than a decade of enterprise leadership development, her 2025 TEDx talk "What to Do When You Don't Know What's Next" ranks in the top 10% of views for all TEDx talks globally.