AI Tip of the Week:
As we were preparing for our Prompt Engineering workshop, we realized that we had a problem with some of our slides. We always use “dark mode,” since it helps our audience – and us – read the slides better. But something happened to our deck template, such that some of the slides had a white background (horrors)!
Luckly – ChatGPT to the rescue: “How do i change the master background of all of the slides in my powerpoint deck?”
Boom. Sorted.
Our Prompt Engineering Masterclass
This past Friday, we held our first-ever Prompt Engineering Masterclass. It was fun! We believe firmly that the best way to become an AI Power User is, well, to use AI in your daily life! So we talked about that!
Folks joined us from all over the world. To attend, some of them braved wildfires, last-minute meetings, and childcare mishaps. Life happened! But we had a bit of fun too.
We talked about many of the things y’all already know. Even though, (according to LinkedIn) everyone in the world is using AI – most people actually aren’t. It’s a great time to start!
So, we called the workshop a masterclass in “Prompt Engineering.” What is that arcane term, anyway? In short, it’s the art and science of giving instructions to the AI product.
For this newsletter, get out your fave AI tool and follow along!
You remember our Ultra Top Secret Basic Prompt Template?
Tiny Cats Eat Oranges. Yes, we have t-shirts!
- Task – [What do I want AI to do for me?]
- Context – [Anything to include, avoid or caveats]
- Example – [Any examples as templates]
- Output – [The format to use]
Here were some of the prompt templates we went through:
Basic Prompt Template: Brainstorm
- Task – Come up with 10 names for a unisex fragrance line
- Context – Come up with ideas that are themed around operas, opera houses, film noir. Avoid using actual opera or movie names.
- Example – An example would be Act 3 Elixirs
- Output – Put this in a list, with a one-liner describing the fragrance that we could use for marketing
Basic Prompt Template: Write something
- Task – Write a blog post for Nocturn Noir, a unisex fragrance for evening
- Context – Write it for a 40-something person who has lots of evening events like dinners, shows, gallery visits, etc. Come up with a clear benefit for this person.
- Example – [optional]
- Output – Have this be 250 words in a paragraph and generate a potential header image for the post
Basic Prompt Template: “Act As”
- Task – Help me build and launch Nocturn Noir for a Fall 2025 release
- Context – Act as a business mentor who has launched hundreds of retail businesses all over the world, who specializes in the fragrance business. Think of things that are unique to fragrances such as toxicity, shipping bottles, etc.
- Example – Help me consider how to consider toxicity, shipping bottles
- Output – Have this output be in a back and forth conversation, while you pause and wait for my response when you ask me a question
We ran through 10 of the prompts we use DAILY:
1. Get quick info
2. Explain complex things
3. Simplify complex things with examples
4. Translating from (or into) other languages
5. Converting stuff (e.g. from one format to another)
6. Extracting text from images
7. Learning how to use unfamiliar websites
8. Starting small biz (we tend to do this a lot; it’s a thing)
9. Summarize everything
10. Make it better, e.g., “How would I improve my LinkedIn profile if I was looking for a job as a tech evangelist in a company of over 50K people: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donasarkar/”
We introduced them to our “prompt, iterate, & validate” framework for prompt engineering:
Prompt:
First, start with a basic prompt. The quicker the better. Maybe you can get it on the first try!
Iterate:
If you don’t get exactly what you want, iterate until you get what you want:
- Identify the task where you are the expert. Figure out which part doesn’t need your “special sauce” or voice and get AI to help
- Give AI as much context as possible, as if you were training an intern
- Give AI step-by-step instructions (in different prompts is fine)
- Iterate on the initial answer by asking for examples, refinements, etc.
Validate:
Remember – it’s very important to validate the output from GenAI. Don’t be “that one person who didn’t check their work before handing it in.”
We get it – it’s easy just to take it & run with it. Just don’t do it.
Ask us how we know this. Stories, we can tell.
Fancy stuff!
We also wanted folks to head away with some of the more complicated tactics we can try, for those times where we need them:
1. Chain of Thought Prompting (Break Down Complex Problems)
Ask for a step-by-step breakdown.
Example:
“Explain step-by-step how to create a product roadmap for a SaaS company focused on healthcare. Consider regulation, customer feedback, & AI integration.”
Why it works: ChatGPT performs
better when guided through logical steps, like how experts approach thorny problems.
2. Imitate Specific Tones or Personas
Ask ChatGPT to write in the style of someone specific.
Example ”Write a LinkedIn post about the importance of accessibility in software dev in my style (Dona Sarkar) using my voice—bossy, a bit goofy, & direct.“
Why it works: Good for branding & consistent voice in content creation (whether personal or biz).
3. Generate Frameworks & Blueprints (Not Just Answers)
for detailed frameworks to reuse across projects.
Example Prompt: “Create a reusable 4-step framework for conducting a Responsible AI workshop in a corporate environment.“
Why it works: You’ll get more structured, high-value outputs that you can turn into templates, workshop guides, or training content.
4. Iterative Refinement (AI as a Thought Partner)
- Keep going after first response. Revise & tweak until you get what you want.
- Example prompts (one after another, as the name implies):
- “Create a product launch checklist.“
- “Revise to launch a fashion line.“
- “Shorten to top 5 tasks for Jan launch.“
- Why it works: Treat ChatGPT like a personal assistant who listens, changes, & evolves with feedback.
5. Prompt Memory (Simulate Long-Term Context)
- Add to prompt by “reminding” AI of prior interactions.
- Example: “In our last conversation, we discussed setting up an AI-based B2B knowledge business. Now help me create a 3-month content calendar for LinkedIn posts focused on AI for product managers.“
- Why it works: ChatGPT doesn’t have long-term memory (yet), so giving a quick recap can make more relevant!
6. Ask Me Questions
- Get AI to ask you questions to get deeper into the problem
- Example: “I don’t know what I want to do when I retire. Ask me questions so I arrive at an answer:”
- Why it works: It’s like talking to an un-biased therapist!
7. Teach Me
- Get AI to teach you something. Go deeper in the areas you are less familiar
- Example: “As an advanced user of ChatGPT, teach me how to use it better.”
- Why it works: It’s like talking to an endlessly patient teacher
Prompt Libary
Write down the prompts that worked well and reuse them as templates. Fancy ppl call this a “prompt library!” A prompt library, which is a VERY good tool to showcase your skills.
We use Excel or Google Sheets (shareable) with the following fields:
Tool
Scenario
Prompt
Example Response
Notes
Here’s ours (just to get you started, not for copying & pasting)!
Remember: prompt, iterate, & validate!!
Finally, we showed everyone how to build a custom GPT (requires an Open AI ChatGPT Plus subscription).
We had lots of fun! Have a great week!
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