Sarah Kinard
Head Bird

Beyond the Search Bar

Speaking

Courtney Kearney, CPSM
Owner, CKearney Consulting

AI Assisted Market Research, Strategy, and Storytelling

Using AI as a strategic partner—not a shortcut.

AI is changing how A/E/C firms search for information—but real value comes from knowing what to look for, how to interpret it, and how to use it well. This session goes beyond the search bar to explore how AI-assisted tools can support market research, strategic thinking, and storytelling without replacing human judgment.

Led by Head Bird, Sarah Kinard and Courtney Kearney, CPSM, owner of CKearney Consulting (CKC), this practical, real-world session shows teams how to move faster from information to insight—and from insight to action—using AI thoughtfully and intentionally.

Attendees will walk away with

    • A more precise understanding of how AI can support market research without replacing human judgment
    • Practical ways to use AI tools to identify trends, competitors, and client insights more efficiently
    • Techniques for synthesizing information into clear, actionable strategy inputs
    • Approaches for turning research into stories that resonate with leadership, clients, and pursuit teams
    • A stronger framework for deciding when AI adds value—and when it doesn’t

Format and duration

This training is flexible and scalable. This virtual, interactive session is designed for active participation and discussion. It works well as a 60-90 minute program.

CPSMs: Applicable SMPS Domains covered are 1, 2, and 6 

Why this session matters

AI isn’t replacing strategy, but it is changing how quickly teams can gather and process information.

This session helps A/E/C professionals cut through noise, avoid overreliance on tools, and use AI as a support system for better thinking, more transparent communication, and more confident decision-making.

“AI doesn’t replace critical thinking—it supports it. The real opportunity is helping teams turn information into understanding.”

Courtney Kearney, CPSM

Ready to bring this to your team?

DESIGNED FOR YOUR TEAM!

Whether you’re supporting marketers, business developers, or senior leaders, this session can be tailored to your audience and goals.

Sarah will collaborate with you to shape the conversation, examples, and takeaways so it’s immediately relevant to your team.

Interested in hosting this session for your team or association?

The session is designed to flex based on your audience and objectives, with content tailored to support real-world decision-making.

Connect with Sarah to discuss how it will benefit your firm or association!

Sarah Kinard presenting on stage at an A/E/C professional event, engaging the audience.

Relevant Blog Posts

AEC Growth Professionals Day: Celebrating the SMPS Community

AEC Growth Professionals Day: Celebrating the SMPS Community

On January 8, the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) celebrates AEC Growth Professionals Day—a moment dedicated to recognizing the marketers, business developers, and strategists who drive growth across the architecture, engineering, and construction...

How to use the growth strategy matrix

How to use the growth strategy matrix

Growth in the A/E/C industry is not for the faint of heart. Markets shift, clients evolve, and even the most seasoned leaders can feel caught between chasing opportunities and sticking to what’s safe. The truth is, growth can feel messy, especially when it’s reactive...

Navigating Market Shifts in the A/E/C Industry

Navigating Market Shifts in the A/E/C Industry

Navigating market shifts in AEC has never been more critical. Some shifts come quietly, others make a lot of noise, but all of them create ripples that affect how firms do business. The key is not to avoid shifts, it’s to understand where they hit your business and...

From plan to practice: Making strategy stick inside your firm

From plan to practice: Making strategy stick inside your firm

Every January, firms roll out fresh strategies with fanfare. The PowerPoint decks are polished, the goals are inspiring, and leadership beams with optimism. By mid-year, reality sets in. Competing priorities creep in, teams lose focus, and the strategy becomes...

Start with vision. Stay with people. Grow with intention.

Start with vision. Stay with people. Grow with intention.

At The Flamingo Project, we’ve seen this moment happen over and over: a firm sets a bold vision, full of clarity and inspiration, and then stalls when it’s time to bring it to life. The culprit? It’s not the market. It’s not your team. It’s usually the missing link...

Financial acumen: Strategic investment and the future of leadership

Financial acumen: Strategic investment and the future of leadership

At The Flamingo Project, we believe strategy isn’t just something executives do behind closed doors—it’s something leaders at every level learn, live, and grow into. That’s the ethos behind our LeadForward program, a monthly mentoring series where emerging and...

Success, simplfied: What it really takes to move forward

Success, simplfied: What it really takes to move forward

If you've been in the AEC industry for more than a minute, you’ve probably felt it—that tension between “Let’s do something big!” and “We have no idea where to start.” Recently, I joined Keelin Cox, CPSM, on the AEC Marketeer podcast to unpack that tension and dig...

Growth Strategy in a Time of “What Now?”

Growth Strategy in a Time of “What Now?”

Let’s face it: growth isn’t a straight line. It’s more like a tangle of spaghetti—especially in the AEC industry right now. Markets are jittery. Federal funding is murky. Your principals are pulling in different directions, and “just go after everything” is starting...