Interview with Philippe Johnny Francis, Founder of CLT
The story of how Consulting Logical Technologies (CLT) began, from the mind of its founder. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Philippe Johnny Francis, who came highly recommended by a mutual connection. She described him as "a 'Rockstar' manager" who had recently transformed his business and I must say, she wasn’t exaggerating. PJ is quite a character, sharp, insightful, and with a unique pulse on how businesses today are transforming their operations with AI technology and strategy. His combination of charm and sharp thinking made for a conversation that was not only interesting but truly memorable.
Katarina Kuznetsov: Philippe, thank you for joining us today. Let’s start with your background. Can you tell us a bit about your journey before CLT?
Philippe Johnny Francis: Absolutely. My story starts in Belgium, where I was born and raised. From an early age, I had this natural curiosity for how things worked, especially in art & technology. After studying business management, I actually kicked off my career in a completely different arena. Interior and exterior design in the real estate world. I launched my first company in my late 20s. While we achieved some early success, the business ultimately faced bankruptcy after three years. It was a humbling experience, and it taught me the realities of entrepreneurship, the importance of adaptability, and the need for strategic focus.
Around that time, I also became intrigued by financial markets and began independently analyzing ETFs in oil and energy sectors, diving deep into data, algorithms, and automation tools. Did I make a fortune? Not even close. Did I lose money? Yes a lot (Laughs), but those lessons stuck with me. They sharpened my understanding of systems, risks, and the power of data. Looking back, not every move was a win, but every step was part of the evolution. I believe that’s the heart of innovation, testing, learning, and pivoting. Successes and failures, they’re both teachers. And they’ve given me a perspective that blends resilience with a relentless drive to push the limits.
Katarina Kuznetsov: I would argue this adds depth and authenticity to your story. Many of today’s most successful entrepreneurs experienced setbacks before achieving their breakthroughs.
Philippe Johnny Francis: Yes, without a doubt. I’ve always believed that setbacks aren’t just failures but opportunities to learn, adapt, and come back stronger. In fact, I’d say those tough experiences taught me lessons no business school ever could. They gave me the resilience to face uncertainty and the creativity to find new solutions. And when you combine that with a solid roadmap, like we’re doing at CLT, you don’t just bounce back, but you bounce forward.
Katarina Kuznetsov: Before we dive into the story of CLT, could you tell us more about your professional background? I noticed from your LinkedIn profile that you’ve held positions with several prominent multinational companies.
Philippe Johnny Francis: Right, my career in the corporate world started at the entry level as a customer service agent about 11 years ago, where I quickly realized the importance of understanding clients’ needs and delivering real value. Over time, I worked my way up through various roles, first as a subject matter expert, then as a team lead, and eventually into management. In my later roles, I focused heavily on service and client management, combined with project management responsibilities. This progression gave me a deep understanding of both operational excellence and strategic leadership.
I had the privilege of working for several large multinational organizations. During that time, I honed my skills in cross-functional team management, large-scale project delivery, and client engagement across different industries and regions. I basically learned not only how to deliver on complex projects but also how to navigate the dynamics of global organizations and build strong, collaborative partnerships with clients and stakeholders.
Katarina Kuznetsov: So, when did the idea for CLT truly take shape?
Philippe Johnny Francis: Well, I mean, my work exposed me to many pain points that businesses face when trying to innovate, especially in the realm of digital transformation. So the idea really crystallized in 2023. After years of consulting and managing IT projects, I realized there was a huge gap in the market. Many companies were overwhelmed by the complexity of integrating digital technologies. They either lacked the expertise or were deterred by high consulting costs and unpredictable outcomes.
When I just started CLT, I mainly focused on project management and service delivery management, but it was only until the beginning of this year that I felt the need to transform the business because the market had also shifted. Over the last 2 years, I had the opportunity to work with a mid-sized software development company, and we achieved some great successes together. I also want to emphasize how much respect I have for the founders and the incredible team I worked with. However, at a certain point, they made the decision that they no longer saw the need for a dedicated project manager role.
Honestly, I’m genuinely grateful for that feedback. It made me realize that traditional project management is evolving, and in some contexts, it’s becoming a legacy approach. I saw myself as one of the last dinosaurs, and that insight was a wake-up call. It highlighted the need to adapt and move forward, which ultimately inspired me to transform CLT and focus on helping companies transition into the future, where AI, agility, and continuous delivery are the new norms. I witnessed firsthand how AI is reshaping industries, but I also saw how many companies, especially small and medium-sized ones, are struggling to keep pace with these rapid changes.
That realization planted the seed for me to evolve my vision for CLT. I quickly earned two AI certifications to deepen my expertise, and I’m currently working toward my third. This commitment to continuous learning and innovation became the foundation for what would eventually grow into what CLT is today.
Katarina Kuznetsov: And where are you today with CLT?
Philippe Johnny Francis: It’s a mix of excitement and hustle. We are a small, agile team with a clear vision to simplify AI adoption for businesses. We are just starting by reaching out to our network, friends, former colleagues, and early adopters, offering pilot projects and workshops. We are very focused on delivering tangible value from day one. For example, helping a mid-sized logistics company implement a simple AI-driven inventory forecasting tool or assisting a startup with an automated customer support bot. These early wins are crucial in building credibility and refining our approach.
Katarina Kuznetsov: Could you provide a few examples of how AI can help small businesses reduce operational costs?
Philippe Johnny Francis: One of the most impactful ways AI can help small businesses save money is by automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks. For example, deploying an AI-powered virtual assistant or AI agent to handle routine customer inquiries can significantly reduce the need for a large support team while improving response times and customer satisfaction. That alone can save tens of thousands of euros annually, depending on the scale of the business.
Another clear use case is automating back-office functions like invoice processing, payroll management, and inventory tracking. These are processes that typically consume a lot of manual effort. By integrating AI tools to handle them, businesses can reduce errors, save time, and free up staff to focus on more strategic tasks. The ROI on such investments can be substantial; for instance, a small business might see a return of 3 to 5 times the initial cost within the first year, simply through saved labor and improved efficiency.
AI can also enhance sales and marketing efforts through predictive analytics and personalized customer engagement. For example, AI can analyze customer behavior data to identify the most promising leads or suggest targeted marketing campaigns, which can increase conversion rates and reduce marketing spend. I recently helped a therapist, many of the daily tasks in such a business are repetitive and time-consuming, but they’re essential for smooth operations.
This includes things like appointment scheduling, client intake and follow-up forms, billing, and even sending out reminders for upcoming sessions. By implementing an AI-powered scheduling assistant, the therapist can fully automate appointment booking and rescheduling. The AI can sync with her calendar, automatically handle time zone adjustments for remote clients, and even send personalized reminders via email or SMS. This not only saves time but also reduces no-shows, directly increasing revenue. AI can also automate the creation of session notes by integrating with a voice recognition tool. After a session, the therapist could dictate key points, and the AI would generate a summary, saving her hours of manual documentation every week.
For billing and payment processing, AI tools can automate invoice generation, send payment reminders, and even reconcile payments with bank records. This streamlines cash flow and reduces the need for external bookkeeping services. The return on investment here is clear. By automating these daily tasks, the therapist could save up to 10, 15 hours per week, which she can now reinvest in seeing more clients, enhancing service quality, or simply achieving a better work-life balance.
Katarina Kuznetsov: So, as a founder of an AI consulting agency, what do you believe are the biggest misconceptions about AI today?
Philippe Johnny Francis: That’s a great question. One I hear a lot is that AI feels ‘too robotic’ and that it’s cold and impersonal, and customers will feel like they’re just a number being handled by a system that doesn’t truly understand their needs. But modern AI solutions can be designed to enhance customer experiences, not diminish them. For instance, AI can handle routine requests efficiently while seamlessly handing off more complex issues to a human representative. It’s about striking the right balance. When done right, AI can actually make interactions feel more personal by enabling faster responses, proactive support, and solutions tailored to the customer’s needs.
However, we also have to be careful with another big misconception, which is the belief that AI is a magic bullet, something you can just plug in, and it will instantly solve all your business challenges. In reality, successful AI integration requires a clear understanding of the specific problems you’re trying to solve, a well-defined strategy, and a solid foundation of data. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, and it certainly doesn’t work overnight. It still surprises me how many big multinationals today are failing to build good and accurate AI agents, especially in areas like HR and recruiting.
Let me give you a classic example. Many of these companies develop AI agents in HR to screen thousands of resumes, which in itself sounds like a smart move. The AI screens, let’s say, 1,000 applications and picks the top 50 to move forward. The other 950 candidates get a generic email that basically says, “Thank you for applying, but we’ve decided not to proceed. We’re giving others with more experience and skills the opportunity.”
That’s where the whole system falls apart. First of all, are we really saying the other 950 people had no potential whatsoever? That’s bad screening and a perfect example of how poorly these AI agents are trained. Not only is it ineffective, but it’s also cold and robotic. It shows zero thought for the human on the other end. Imagine if they built a real first-class AI agent, one that’s trained to handle each candidate with a touch of personalization and respect. For example, let’s say a candidate with 7+ years of experience applies and shouldn’t receive that generic “not enough experience” email.
That’s not just bad AI, it’s disrespectful and tone-deaf. Instead, the AI could be trained to provide a more tailored response: highlighting the candidate’s strengths, pointing out the specific skill sets they’re missing, or explaining the criteria that were prioritized.
At CLT, we take this seriously. When we build AI agents, we don’t just focus on functionality, we focus on ethics, personalization, and real user experience. That’s what sets us apart. We believe AI should not just work, it should work well, with thought and care for the humans it interacts with. There’s also this idea that AI is only accessible to large enterprises with massive budgets. At CLT, we’re proving that’s not the case. With the right roadmap and guidance, even small and medium-sized businesses can integrate AI in a way that’s cost-effective and delivers real value.
And finally, obviously, we also have the doom thinkers, who think that AI will replace entire teams or eliminate jobs. The truth is, AI is most powerful when it augments human capabilities. It’s about automating repetitive tasks and freeing people up to focus on higher-value work, which can lead to greater job satisfaction and business growth. The organizations that use AI most effectively are those that combine it with human insight and creativity.
Katarina Kuznetsov: But, wouldn’t you say that a well-implemented AI system has the potential to replace people and jobs?
Philippe Johnny Francis: That’s a fair point, and I’d say yes. AI will absolutely replace certain jobs, especially those centered around repetitive, routine tasks. For example, in software development, we’re already seeing AI tools that can generate code, automate testing, and even propose architecture designs. These tools are improving rapidly, and on certain projects, there might be less need for large development teams because AI can handle many of the foundational coding tasks. But here’s the thing, every major technological shift has followed this same pattern.
If we go back to the farming example, there was a time when a farmer needed a workforce of 10 or 20 people to work a field. Then the tractor was invented. Suddenly, the farmer needed only one person to drive the tractor. Did that mean all the other jobs disappeared forever? No. What happened was an entirely new industry emerged, companies designing, building, and maintaining tractors. Skilled mechanics, engineers, and innovators found new opportunities in this shift. The same is happening with AI.
While some jobs will be automated, others will be created. We’ll see demand for people who can design, implement, and manage AI systems, as well as for those who can focus on strategy, ethics, and user experience. It’s a give and take. The key for businesses and individuals is to stay adaptable and identify where the new opportunities lie.
Katarina Kuznetsov: Another common concern I often hear is that AI is inherently ‘dangerous’ or could eventually become uncontrollable.
Philippe Johnny Francis: Ah yes, the classic ‘AI is evil and will take over the world’ scenario, it’s almost like the plot of every sci-fi Netflix production these days. While it makes for great entertainment, the reality is a bit more nuanced, I would say. First of all, AI doesn’t have desires, ambitions, or emotions. It’s fundamentally a sophisticated tool designed to process data and generate outputs based on patterns and instructions. Because of this, there will always be a critical need for human guidance and oversight. You can ask AI to write a book, for example, but without embedding or teaching it an emotional context or personal experience, the result will lack the depth and authenticity that come from true human insight.
It’s up to us, the users, creators, and leaders, to train AI, to provide it with purpose, and to shape its outputs with emotional intelligence and ethical considerations. There are dimensions of creativity, empathy, and intuition that are inherently human, and these will always be beyond the full reach of AI. That’s why AI is not a replacement for people but rather a powerful augmentation, amplifying what we can achieve while still relying on our uniquely human qualities to give meaning and value to its capabilities. It’s a tool, powerful, yes, but ultimately shaped by the data it’s trained on and the goals set by its creators. It’s like giving a really smart calculator some instructions, it won’t suddenly decide to run for president or stage a coup, right?
Consider this, we trust autopilot systems in airplanes to handle complex flight maneuvers, yet no one’s worried the plane will develop sentience mid-flight and change course just for fun. Or think about smart recommendation engines that decide what movie you might enjoy next. They’re powerful, but they’re hardly plotting world domination.
Of course, with great power comes great responsibility. That’s why ethics, transparency, and human oversight are critical. AI systems must be designed and governed carefully to avoid biases, errors, and misuse. But the ‘evil AI overlord’ is still firmly in the realm of fiction. And trust me, I am the first to admit I enjoy a good sci-fi thriller (laughs), but I’d suggest we focus on real-world challenges, like how to responsibly integrate AI to create value and solve meaningful problems. Rather than worrying about robots rising up tomorrow, which, frankly, if it ever would happen, would almost certainly be the result of a human plan or ‘conspiracy.’
I believe the real focus should be on responsible governance. That’s why I strongly support governments worldwide in establishing clear, ethical regulations for AI development and deployment. Proper oversight ensures that AI serves humanity’s best interests and mitigates risks before they arise.
Katarina Kuznetsov: I have to say, you sound pretty convincing. Then again, you are an AI consultant, so I guess that’s your job! (laughs)
Philippe Johnny Francis: (Laughs) Well, I’d hope so! If I wasn’t convincing, I might need to reconsider my career choice. But seriously, being an AI consultant means I get to be the translator between the world of complex algorithms and real human concerns, making sure the tech serves people, not the other way around. So yes, I’m here to convince, but also to collaborate and build trust.
Katarina Kuznetsov: Focusing specifically on small and mid-sized businesses, how do you envision the landscape evolving over the next five years?
Philippe Johnny Francis: Well, the question is no longer if AI will transform businesses and industries, but when. This transformation is already underway, and I firmly believe that businesses that fail to adapt will struggle to remain competitive in the evolving landscape. Over the next five years, I see AI becoming increasingly accessible and essential for small and mid-sized businesses. What used to be complex, expensive, and reserved for large corporations will become more affordable and easier to implement through tailored solutions and subscription-based models.
AI will transform how these businesses operate, automating repetitive tasks, improving customer interactions through intelligent agents, and unlocking data-driven insights that were previously out of reach. This shift will level the playing field, allowing smaller players to compete more effectively with bigger companies. However, success will depend on how well businesses embrace change and invest in ongoing learning. It’s not just about deploying technology, it’s about integrating AI thoughtfully into processes, culture, and strategy.
Katarina Kuznetsov: Thank you for this interview Philippe
Philippe Johnny Francis: My pleasure.