Staying Ahead of the Curve With Strategic AI Learning
At Rizco, staying ahead of the curve means continually strengthening our expertise, expanding our capabilities, and investing in tools that help our clients succeed. As artificial intelligence rapidly evolves, that commitment includes building a deep, practical understanding of AI—how it works, how to use it responsibly, and how to apply it in meaningful ways that support strong brands and long-term growth.
That’s why we’re proud to share that three members of Rizco’s team—Marketing Associate, Ava Bongiovanni, Project Manager, Delia Latini, and President and Partner, Debra Rizzi—are now officially accredited through Denison University’s Denison Edge program: AI Unboxed: Use It, Shape It, led by AI expert Sheyla Finkelshteyn.
Rizco’s Collaboration With Dension Edge
Rizco has a special connection to Dension Edge, having led the brand strategy and award-winning web buildout for the program in 2024 (edge.denison.edu) and continuing to support the platform today. Denison Edge is designed for college students, recent graduates, and both new and established professionals, providing opportunities to upskill and apply classroom fundamentals directly in the workplace.
Upon completing a program, participants earn industry-approved badges to showcase their achievements across LinkedIn, resumes, portfolios, email signatures, social media, and more. These credentials demonstrate expertise in AI, analytics, business, finance, logistics, and marketing communications grounded in practical, real-world applications.
Inside Rizco’s AI Learning Experience
AI Unboxed is an immersive learning experience that dives deep into the foundations of AI, exploring theory and practice across narrow AI, machine learning, and deep learning, natural language processing, generative AI, and large language models.
Participants also engage in interactive demonstrations that make AI concepts tangible. During one session, Delia sketched a simple leaf on her screen, and an AI system identified the object in under 20 seconds—an example of how quickly visual recognition and machine learning technologies are advancing.
Beyond tools like ChatGPT, the program emphasizes critical thinking, ethical considerations, and strategic, real-world applications, reinforcing the importance of human judgment alongside emerging technology.
Applying AI With Purpose
For Ava, Delia, and Debra, the Denison Edge program was more than learning new tools. It sharpened their strategic mindset for using AI effectively, creatively, and responsibly in client work and organizational communication.
As Sheyla Finkelshteyn emphasizes throughout the course, AI is not a replacement for human ingenuity; it is a tool to augment it, helping teams function more effectively, make smarter decisions, and innovate faster. This approach aligns with Rizco’s perspective on AI and creative intelligence.
“AI is a powerful tool, but it is only as effective as the curiosity, ethics, and creativity we bring to it,” says Debra Rizzi. “Through Denison Edge, we have learned not just how AI works but how to question it and shape it in ways that elevate our work and impact.”
Rizco is proud to foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and strategic growth. With Ava, Delia, and Debra earning their AI accreditation, our team is better equipped to deliver brand-led, thoughtful marketing solutions that drive measurable impact—using AI to support strategy, not replace it.
