09.22.25 AI Evening: From Starbucks to AI First - How a Digital Pioneer Learned What It Takes to Lead in the AI Era
Event
AI Evening: Monday, September 22, 2025
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM at LODO Studios, Santa Barbara, CA
Reserve Your Spot →
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM at LODO Studios, Santa Barbara, CA
Reserve Your Spot →
What It Is
Adam Brotman thought he understood digital transformation—until a conversation with Sam Altman changed everything. What began as a book project became a crash course in how fast and far AI will reshape business. In this fireside chat, Brotman shares the mindset shifts, strategic takeaways, and hard truths that even tech insiders are still catching up to.
Two Tentpole Topics:
• Why even seasoned digital leaders underestimated the AI timeline
• How companies must rethink culture, creativity, and competition to stay relevant
Two Tentpole Topics:
• Why even seasoned digital leaders underestimated the AI timeline
• How companies must rethink culture, creativity, and competition to stay relevant
Why It Matters
AI is accelerating faster than most leaders realize. Brotman's interviews with Sam Altman, Bill Gates, and Reid Hoffman reveal a future where experimentation beats planning, speed trumps scale, and success belongs to the AI-first thinkers. This is a rare look behind the scenes with someone who’s been on both sides of the tech curve.
Chef-Crafted Experience
• Enjoy high-quality food and drink crafted to excite the senses and spark conversation.
• Chef-curated appetizers – bold, coastal flavors crafted to impress
• Local wine & craft beer – selections from top Santa Barbara artisans
• Fully included – no bar tab, no extras, just good vibes
• Chef-curated appetizers – bold, coastal flavors crafted to impress
• Local wine & craft beer – selections from top Santa Barbara artisans
• Fully included – no bar tab, no extras, just good vibes
Featured Guests
Adam Brotman has helped shape the digital future at Starbucks, J. Crew, and beyond. Now he’s unpacking what it really takes to lead in the AI era.
This isn’t a keynote. It’s a raw, live fireside chat and open Q&A—straight talk, real lessons, no filters.
This isn’t a keynote. It’s a raw, live fireside chat and open Q&A—straight talk, real lessons, no filters.
What You'll Get
• Access to exclusive event recordings, resources and tools
• Unfiltered lessons on leading when intelligence is human, shared, and machine-made
• Direct perspectives from the builders steering AI’s future, not chasing it
• A clear view of what matters, what doesn’t, and what will truly drive impact
• Unfiltered lessons on leading when intelligence is human, shared, and machine-made
• Direct perspectives from the builders steering AI’s future, not chasing it
• A clear view of what matters, what doesn’t, and what will truly drive impact
The Flow
5:00 PM – Curated Networking and Coastal Bites
6:00 PM – Fireside Chat Kickoff
7:30 PM – Event Wrap
6:00 PM – Fireside Chat Kickoff
7:30 PM – Event Wrap
Who This Is For
Founders, executives, investors, operators—and anyone ready to get real about AI, leadership, and the future of business.
Pricing
• Regular Price: $129
• Today Only: $99
• Today Only: $99
Seats Are Limited
This Is Just One Event. Membership Gets You Everything.
Want more than one-off events? Coastal Intelligence Membership gives you:
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Connect with people building real-world AI
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Get early access to events and workshops
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Know where AI is headed and how to use it
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Access recordings, tools, and playbooks