Bring On the Misfits: Why Creative Generalists Will Win
In the age of AI, the real advantage won’t come from pure technical skill—it’ll come from the curious, the creative, and the slightly weird.
This talk explores why product thinkers, storytellers, and generalists with soft skills are perfectly positioned to lead the next wave of innovation.
It’s not about writing code—it’s about asking better questions, framing smarter problems, and seeing possibilities others overlook. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider in tech, your time is now.
What You'll Learn:
From Zero to Product in Record Time – Live walkthrough of a real project built using Lovable, ChatGPT, Leonardo, Suno, ElevenLabs, and Canva AI—no coding required.
Practical AI Workflows for Everyday Work – How to have AI review your lease or contracts, turn voice recordings from walks into polished summaries, and more time-saving techniques you can use immediately.
Why Soft Skills Matter More Than Ever – How asking better questions, framing smarter problems, and seeing overlooked possibilities creates competitive advantage. Plus: creative prompting techniques using the Gandalf game to show how lateral thinking unlocks AI's power.
The AI Toolkit for Non-Coders – Which tools to use for what, and how to combine them into powerful workflows.
Why Misfits Win – How your unconventional background, diverse interests, and "outsider" perspective are exactly what makes you dangerous in the AI era.
Why Attend?
Get practical tools and workflows you can implement the next day.
Learn from someone with nearly 30 years in tech who teaches AI fundamentals at North Seattle College.
Connect with fellow product thinkers, designers, marketers, and creative professionals finding their place in the AI era.
Enjoy light snacks and beverages while networking with peers.
Leave with confidence that your perspective—not just technical chops—is exactly what's needed.
Enter our raffle for prizes!
About the Speaker
Derek Pharr is Principal Consultant at Narrow Gauge Consulting with nearly three decades of experience in technology. He teaches AI fundamentals at North Seattle College and specializes in helping generalists harness AI tools to bring their ideas to life. Through Narrow Gauge Consulting, Derek helps people and teams achieve AI readiness and navigate the practical implementation of AI in their work.