It’s ok to fear the unknown. That’s why we’re here.
At AI23, we understand that adopting AI isn’t just a technical shift — it’s a human one.
Balancing innovation with ethics, and progress with trust, can feel uncertain. That’s why we exist: to help organizations navigate this new frontier with clarity, confidence, and culture at the center — turning fear of the unknown into fuel for transformation.
Our mission
Unlock human potential in the era of Adaptive Intelligence.
LEARN HOW
At AI23, we collaborate with organizations — primarily small to mid-size — to assess their cultural and operational readiness for GenAI or whatever the latest technology brings.
We create a blueprint of your organization, then coach leaders and teams to get “AI ready” through leadership development, organizational design, and practices that build high-performing, adaptive teams.
We identify the highest and best uses of Adaptive Intelligence to increase efficiency, spark innovation, and unlock human potential at every level — individual, team, and organizational.
Our AI technologists train technology using both business intelligence and human insight — blending cultural and emotional intelligence with data to create Adaptive Intelligence systems that perform like trusted, culturally aligned team members.
Our Team
At AI23, we’re a multidisciplinary team united by a shared purpose: to unlock human potential through Adaptive Intelligence. Our expertise spans technology, strategy, and transformation — from AI architecture and software engineering to leadership development, organizational design, and cultural change.
Together, we bridge human insight with technical innovation to help organizations evolve and thrive in The Potential Era.
Erica Ishida is the Chief Transformation Architect of AI23, where she helps organizations evolve by integrating technology, leadership, and human potential. With more than two decades of experience leading large-scale change, she designs transformation across every level of the system—organizational, team, and individual—aligning people, processes, and purpose to drive sustainable growth.
Known for her ability to balance strategic vision with human insight, Erica transforms complexity into clarity, helping leaders build resilience, readiness, and adaptability in the age of AI. Before founding AI23, she held multiple executive leadership roles guiding organizations through integration and expansion.
In addition to her role at AI23, Erica is the CEO of Yellow Cedar Group, a leadership and organizational development firm dedicated to building connected, human-centered workplaces. She holds a Master’s in Positive Organizational Design from Case Western Reserve University, where she was mentored by Dr. Richard Boyatzis, and is certified as an Executive Coach. Her approach blends the science of organizational design with the practice of conscious leadership—helping organizations evolve intentionally and lead with presence, purpose, and precision.
Michael (Mike) Rojas is a founder, owner, and the Chief AI Officer of AI23.
Michael Rojas prior to AI23, he served as the Chief Innovation Officer at AXS, a global leader in ticketing, marketing, and data technology. With over 30 years of experience as a technologist, executive, and entrepreneur, Michael led a team committed to pushing the boundaries of emerging technologies and exploring new revenue opportunities for clients, fans, and AXS.
Mike collaborates and advises on AI strategy with organizations such as Amazon, and the NFL. Mike has been pioneering in the field of GenAI for several years, including, deploying a trained AI model within the AXS, a global leader in ticketing, marketing, and data technology, resulting in customer service scores that exceed industry averages, while increasing retention of call center staff.
As a seasoned industry veteran, Michael has an extensive background in product development, leadership strategy, engineering sciences, and system architecture. He gained valuable entrepreneurial experience as CEO of Ayalogic, Inc., one of the first companies to receive funding from JumpStart Inc. His innovative work at Ayalogic earned him accolades from Governor Taft, who called him the “Thomas Edison of Ohio.”
Michael’s professional journey includes a significant tenure at NEC America, where his innovative contributions were instrumental in transforming NEC from a minor player in the US market to a formidable competitor, challenging industry giants like Lucent and contributing to the decline of Nortel.
Holding over 30 patents in the fields of complex software systems, voice and video technologies, as well as identity and access control systems, Michael has established himself as a leading figure in technological innovation. He currently resides in Canton, OH with his wife and their 4 sons.
Craig Francisco is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience leading growth, operational excellence, and business transformation across diverse industries and global markets. As CEO of AI23, he combines deep operational expertise with board-level and advisory experience to help organizations harness the power of Human + AI transformation.
He has coached executive leaders, guided acquisition integrations, and implemented best practices to drive sustainable growth, while also leading more than 25 successful mergers and acquisitions across North America, Europe, and South America. Throughout his career, Craig has built high-performing teams, scaled businesses efficiently, and delivered measurable results in complex, fast-changing environments.
Recognized for his ability to align people, process, and strategy, Craig believes extraordinary outcomes are achieved when human potential and business innovation intersect.
He attended Bowling Green State University and has completed advanced training in Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen continuous improvement methodologies.
Ryan is a founder, owner, and Chief Engineer at AI23. He is responsible for steering the software engineering and architectural efforts aligned with the utilization of generative AI technologies. Additionally, he oversees the development of custom solutions that integrate advanced computational models and AI to enhance product capabilities and operational efficiency both internally, for AI23, and its clients.
Ryan is an independent software consultant with over 20 years of experience as an engineer, sales executive, and entrepreneur. Ryan specializes in .NET and Python backend development and has engineered custom data integrations for clients such as the NFL Ticket Exchange, StubHub, NCAA Final Four, SeatGeek, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Cleveland Guardians.
Shortly after receiving his M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toledo, Ryan developed and sold an automated medical reporting solution for cardiologists and vascular surgeons that has led him down his current career path as a software engineer and entrepreneur. Ryan holds 4 patents in the areas of cloud-based management systems and video processing technology.
This is what we believe and value
We believe Mission and Team come before Ego.
As such, we value “What’s Right”, not “Who’s Right”. We seek to pull the genius from each person we work with. We ask more questions than make statements. We listen more than we talk. The most helpful idea that makes progress wins.
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We value Truth.
We seek the truth and speak the truth.
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We believe in Extreme Ownership.
We seek to serve and if something doesn’t go the way we intend, we own it. There is no blame at AI23, only ownership.
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We believe in Enhancing Equity.
We believe in abundance. We also believe that there should be a fair value exchange between company and each individual contributor. We recognize, reward, and advance our team members.
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We embrace Evolution – through Experimentation, Learning, and Adaptation.
True to our mission of unlocking potential, we are in the relentless pursuit of growth, learning, and manifestation of potential – for ourselves, for AI23, for our clients, and for humanity. We boldly walk into uncertainty trusting our ability to learn, adapt, and excel.
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Join us in The Potential Era
We are AI23. Human-first. Adaptive Intelligence-Powered. And here to help you define disruption.