In this episode of the Throttle Up Leadership Podcast, host Dr. John Dentico welcomes Al Kushner, an award-winning author and strategist specializing in the intersection of artificial intelligence and professional presence Al shares his journey from a Brooklyn art school background to becoming a 20-year veteran of LinkedIn, explaining how his unique perspective on art and design helps him help others refine their digital identities. He discusses the inspiration behind his book, The AI LinkedIn Advantage, emphasizing that while many resources cover AI or LinkedIn separately, few combine them to provide a truly competitive edge in today's "noise-filled" digital landscape.

The conversation dives deep into practical strategies for maintaining authenticity while leveraging automation tools like Perplexity, Claude, and 11 Labs. Al explains his "two-prong" approach to profile optimization and outreach, sharing a recent success story of an accountant who grew his connection rate by 400% through targeted AI tactics. Looking toward the future, Al and Dr. Dentico discuss the emerging "entrepreneurial age" and why professionals must embrace AI-powered education and certifications to remain marketable. The episode concludes with a look at the future of search engines and Al's free resources for listeners to audit their own LinkedIn profiles.

• 00:00 – Introduction to Al Kushner and The AI LinkedIn Advantage
• 01:44 – Early Influences: From Coney Island to Art School
• 02:27 – Two Decades on LinkedIn: Evolution of a Thought Leader
• 04:02 – Why Combine AI with Personal Branding?
• 05:03 – Establishing Authority through Content and Newsletter Strategy
• 07:20 – Top AI Tool Recommendations: Perplexity, Google Gemini, and Claude
• 09:48 – Balancing Automation with Human Authenticity
• 10:52 – Video Strategy: Using AI Avatars and Cloned Voices
• 14:16 – LinkedIn Success Rules and Influencer Engagement
• 16:29 – Transparency: Admitting to the Use of AI
• 18:34 – Case Study: A 400% Increase in Connection Growth
• 19:52 – The Future of Work: Certifications and Lifelong Learning
• 22:52 – The Coming AI Shakeout and the Future of Search
• 28:02 – Final Thoughts and Free LinkedIn Audit Resources

You can reach AL at https://linkedvantage.com/

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