Synthesizing market signals
April, 2025
Meet Mariya
Mariya Tarakanova is a trailblazer at the intersection of emerging technology, innovation, and strategy. Mariya’s approach to leadership is thoughtful and strategic — much like her off-the-clock self. A devoted yoga practitioner, she credits the discipline of movement and mindfulness with helping her navigate complexity with clarity and lead with intention in today’s fast-paced world.
How “She Runs on AI”
Mariya is constantly exploring how emerging technologies can make work better, not just faster. Lately, Generative AI has become one of he go-to tools. She uses it daily, not just to save time, but to improve the way she thinks, writes, and makes decisions. Whether it’s organizing research, summarizing meetings, or sparking new ideas, GenAI has become a meaningful part of her workflow.
Her top tip? It's all in the prompt.
"How you write a prompt determines what you get back. Be clear, provide context, and communicate with the AI in a conversational yet thorough manner, as if you're explaining something to someone who's still learning."
She emphasizes that not all AI models are created equal. "Some models are better at research. Others shine at content generation. I experiment and find what works better for the task at hand."
And she always keeps one thing in mind: trust, but verify.
"Fact-checking is non-negotiable. GenAI doesn’t 'know' things — it’s predicting what word comes next based on patterns. Hallucinations happen. That’s why you need to guide it, refine the output, and tailor it for your audience — whether that’s senior executives, technologists, or anyone else you’re communicating with."
Her #1 AI Hack
“Treat AI like a collaborator, not a shortcut. You're guiding it to amplify your vision. Set clear goals, and fine-tune the output to match your audience and intent.”
How AI Changed Her Routine
Before, Mariya spent significant time on research. Much of the work was manual, requiring constant oversight and guidance to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
With GenAI, it’s like having a dedicated team to help curate, research and draft. It takes care of the heavy lifting, freeing up Mariya’s focus to leading strategy, creativity, and making smarter decisions.
Bonus: Agentic Workflows in Action: Mariya is now experimenting with agentic workflows — chaining together small, purpose-built AI agents to take on more complex tasks. One early example: an agent that compiles daily market research across sectors, synthesizes key trends, and delivers a tailored digest via email. It’s not just automation — it’s augmentation, helping her to stay sharp, informed, and future-focused.
Her Advice to Women Exploring AI
"If you’re curious about GenAI but don’t know where to start — you’re not alone. Try one experiment. Build one agent. Use it to make your work easier, your ideas bolder, your voice louder. You’ve got the instinct — GenAI is here to amplify it."
Follow SheRunsOnAI™ for inspiration from women building, thinking, and leading with AI. Let’s ‘Run on AI’, not to run faster but go to places we’ve never been before, together.