The challenge
Nestlé USA’s manufacturing team wasn’t just looking for a workshop to plug into their leadership retreat in Arizona. They were looking to ignite a shift in the mindsets of 80 of their key people with regards to using AI. They wanted their senior factory leaders, engineers, and quality and safety teams to get hands-on with real tools and explore how AI could make everyday operations smarter, safer, and more efficient. The challenge? Make AI practical, accessible, and directly relevant to life on the factory floor, all within just a few hours.
Behind the scenes
We co-designed a high-energy, four-hour AI experience built specifically for Nestlé’s manufacturing context. Preparation included multiple alignment calls and custom data requests to ensure teams were generating output that was grounded in real factory challenges. We designed three challenge tracks, each powered by a different AI tool (NesGPT, Synthesia, and our very own Rapid Visual AI). We developed prompt guides, example datasets, tool walkthroughs, and role-based team assignments.
On the Ground
After delivering a great intro to the mindset of working with AI, we facilitated a hands-on session with the 80 participants split into 15 cross-functional teams. We ran a live demo of each tool, and teams jumped into their assigned track to build tangible outputs using real data or factory-relevant scenarios. Our facilitators supported each track in real-time, guiding teams through prompt crafting, problem framing, and AI tool execution, all within a tight, focused window of 60 minutes. At the end we added a fun trade-show element, where teams could showcase their output to each other.
Impact
The session sparked exactly what Nestlé was aiming for: curiosity, confidence, and immediate interest in applying what they had learned. Participants left energized, having created AI-generated prompts, safety videos, and idea pitches in under 60 minutes! `And the trade-show ending? Electric! To keep the momentum going, we built a post-workshop AI agent. A personalized AI tool where participants could access everything from prompt-writing to custom guides for each tool they explored. Feedback was awesome, with many calling it one of the most practical learning experiences they’ve had in a long time.
Follow-up: AI Danny
To keep the momentum going, we created Danny, a custom AI agent designed to support participants after the workshop. Danny became the digital bridge between the session and real-world application. Participants used it to revisit prompt techniques, get summaries of the three tracks, and clarify how to reuse what they learned back in their workplace. All in all, Danny was a success! Some came back to Danny multiple times. Others tried demoing it to colleagues. One even jokingly dubbed it “Danny the Intern". What started as a post-event support tool turned into a trusted, go-to resource, showing just how ready the team was to get hands on and keep learning.
Want To Empower your teams?
Whether you’re looking to demystify AI, activate your teams on communication, reignite your leaders' energy, and turn learning into a hands-on experience they’ll actually remember, we can help.
