We were lucky to catch up with Michele Davis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Michele , thanks for joining us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Great question — one of the biggest trends reshaping the coaching industry (and business in general) right now is the integration of artificial intelligence, or AI. It’s changing how we market, how we deliver coaching, and how we engage with clients. And it has coaches either panicking… or pivoting.

Let me explain what I mean.

The old coaching model involved offering services that—let’s be honest—can now be done in minutes with tools like ChatGPT. People used to pay thousands of dollars for help with branding, copywriting, or launching a business. Now? They’re solving those same problems themselves in a single afternoon using AI.

I shared a personal story on a recent episode of Da Boss Experience Podcast about a time I paid thousands for a health coaching program. What I got was access to an app and some generic suggestions. I followed the guidance, but there was no transformation. That experience stuck with me — and it reflects what many coaching clients feel today. They’re skeptical, burned out on broken promises, and turning to AI for solutions they used to hire coaches for.

Here’s the game-changer:
AI isn’t replacing great coaches — but it is replacing coaches who offer vague outcomes, slow follow-ups, and outdated strategies.

Historically in my business, I used a lead magnet and email sequence to attract clients. But that relied on someone checking their inbox — if they even saw it at all. Now? My AI-powered system handles everything. If someone finds me on social media at 2 a.m., my chatbot or AI voice receptionist engages with them instantly. That same person could be booked for a Breakthrough Strategy Call before I’ve even had my morning coffee.

The opportunity is huge. AI lets coaches scale without burning out, serve more people, and actually deliver on their promises. But the concern is just as real. If your offer doesn’t create a real transformation, if your client journey isn’t mapped out, and if you’re still doing things the old way — AI will expose that. And your clients will move on.

The bottom line I tell every coach I work with is this:
AI doesn’t replace people — it replaces broken processes. If your offer delivers real results, AI will amplify your impact. If it doesn’t, it’s time to evolve… or risk becoming irrelevant.

Michele , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Michele Davis — business strategist, podcast host, and founder of Gemstone Consulting Services, where we help service-based entrepreneurs and coaches build offers that sell themselves using AI and automation.

Before I stepped into coaching, I ran a successful website and branding agency, helping small businesses show up professionally online. But what I noticed — over and over again — was that having a great brand wasn’t enough if there was no system in place to consistently attract leads, nurture them, and close them. That’s what led me into coaching. I wanted to help people not just look the part but actually grow profitable, sustainable businesses.

I transitioned my business into coaching in 2020, right before the AI boom — back when automations were limited to basic email sequences. Since then, I’ve leaned into the shift and built a coaching and consulting business that teaches entrepreneurs how to turn their knowledge into high-value, results-driven offers and pair those offers with automated client acquisition systems powered by AI. My flagship program — the Profitable Offer Blueprint — walks clients through building a transformational offer and then automates the process of attracting, connecting, qualifying, and converting leads 24/7 using chatbots, text automation, and even AI voice receptionists.

I work with experienced coaches and service providers who already know their craft — but they’re stuck. They’re great at what they do, but they don’t have a real system for getting consistent leads or closing high-ticket clients. They’re either relying on outdated methods, doing everything manually, or overwhelmed by tech they don’t understand. That’s where I come in — to help them simplify, systematize, and scale.

What sets me apart is that I don’t teach fluff. I don’t sell mindset quotes or hustle culture. I teach systems. I show people how to build businesses that run even when they’re offline. My clients walk away with real automations, real systems, and real results. They’re no longer posting and praying or stuck on the content hamster wheel. They’re building ecosystems that work.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve helped dozens of everyday entrepreneurs — especially women and underrepresented founders — get off the struggle bus and into consistent income. Whether they’re a wellness coach, financial strategist, or creative consultant, they finally see their business working for them instead of the other way around.

For anyone reading this, here’s what I want you to know about me and my brand:
-I believe AI isn’t here to replace you — it’s here to empower you.
-You don’t need more content. You need a system.
-And with the right tools, the right strategy, and a signature offer that delivers results — your business can grow while you sleep.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Absolutely. One of the most defining and difficult moments in my life came in 2019 when I lost my son. At the time, I was just hitting my stride in business. I had been running my website and branding company for two years and was finally getting into a rhythm — solid systems, steady clients, clear vision for where I was going, and earning the revenue I had only dreamed about.

My son, in many ways, was my first coaching client — even before I became a coach. I shared everything I was learning about entrepreneurship with him. Our conversations turned into mini masterminds, and while I thought he was just nodding along out of politeness, I later discovered he was taking notes the entire time. He was preparing to open a brick-and-mortar business, and when he passed away, I found a notebook with everything we had discussed. That moment wrecked me… but it also gave me purpose.

He never got the chance to fully step into his entrepreneurial dream. But I did. And I realized I could help others in the way I helped him — by guiding them through business-building with clarity, love, and real systems that work.

That next year, I shifted into coaching. I knew I couldn’t just build websites anymore. I needed to help people build legacies — something my son was on the path to doing. Today, every time I help a client create their signature offer, or automate their business with AI, or launch something that changes lives, I feel like I’m continuing what he started.

Resilience, for me, isn’t just about bouncing back — it’s about moving forward with intention, even when your heart is broken. My son’s life and memory fuel everything I do. And every client I serve is a piece of that legacy.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Prior to starting my business, I worked for 20+ years in the nonprofit field, 16 of those years a manager. Coming from a 9-to-5 background, the biggest lesson I had to unlearn was that my value as an expert and a professional wasn’t tied to my job title. For years, I defined myself by whatever role was on my business card — program manager, coordinator, associate vice president. It was the only way I knew how to describe who I was and what I brought to the table.

So when I first stepped into entrepreneurship, I found myself in an identity crisis. I wasn’t sure how to introduce myself, pitch my services, or even recognize that my expertise had value beyond a traditional 9-to-5. Without a company name or job title behind me, it felt like I’d stepped into a void. I questioned everything: Was I really an expert? Would anyone take me seriously without a formal title to validate me?

But over time, I realized that the skills, ideas, and leadership I had poured into organizations for years were mine — and they had always been mine. I had to reclaim that power. The same strategies I used to grow programs, manage teams, and solve problems for my employers were the same skills that would allow me to grow my own business and serve my clients powerfully.

Unlearning that mindset changed everything. I no longer needed a job title to define me. Once I understood that I had the power to define myself — that’s when my entrepreneurial journey truly began.

I’ve met so many coaches that spent years hopping around from one certification program to another seeking validation that they’re an expert. We have to unlearn the whole concept that “We’re not qualified to do something until someone else says we are”. This way of thinking is sadly why a lot of people get stuck and never take the necessary action to start their business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gemstoneconsultingservices.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micheledavisnyc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/micheledavisnyc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheledavisnyc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@dabossexperiencepodcast
• Other: Da Boss Experience Podcast Available On All Major Podcast Platforms or on Apple Podcasts
  (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/da-boss-experience-podcast/id1592122765) and Spotify
  (https://open.spotify.com/show/39Z58TBN7e5rx5hqUlKXbU?si=73f66a1c74f34e9d)