I recently spoke with Sarah Medilo for the Prompted: Builder Stories podcast, and what emerged was far more than a story about technology. It was a conversation about family, resilience, and rediscovering purpose through building with AI.
A Career Rooted in Family and Innovation
“I actually started my journey in the HubSpot ecosystem as a CEO of the top HubSpot partner in the Philippines,” she shared—an early indicator of her deep experience in both technology and leadership.
But in 2024, everything shifted. Her mother was diagnosed with late-stage Alzheimer’s, and Sarah made the difficult decision to pause her career. “I had to make a decision on really spending my time with my mom and focusing on family,” she said. A hybrid role at a local bank later allowed her to stay close to her mother while continuing to apply her expertise in revenue operations—a season of reflection, recalibration, and redefining what mattered most.
Discovering the Possibilities of AI
Her return to the tech world came through an unexpected spark. During an agent building workshop, Sarah experienced a turning point. “I realized that hey, you can build agents too,” she recalled, highlighting the accessibility of this new wave of AI tools—especially for those without a traditional developer background.
Her first project came from a deeply practical need. Living in a region vulnerable to natural disasters, she built a “go bag prepper” agent—a tool designed to help families prepare essential items tailored to their unique needs. “I need a go bag prepper. I need an agent that will help me list down all the things that I need to prepare,” she explained. Simple, useful, and rooted in everyday life, the project showed her how AI agents could solve real problems for real people.
Building for Impact—Not Just Efficiency
Beyond personal tools, Sarah began applying AI agents in her professional work, particularly with mission-driven teams. She created automated scorecards to reduce the hours spent on analysis and administrative tasks, freeing her colleagues to prioritize the human side of their roles.
“I really feel like we can use this for good. We can use this to… allow us to extend our time for meaningful things,” she reflected. For Sarah, AI is not a shortcut—it’s a way to enable deeper connection, better service, and more intentional work.
Embracing Technology With Purpose
Throughout our conversation, Sarah returned again and again to the idea of embracing technology with openness rather than fear. “Don’t be afraid of technology. AI is just another technology that we have now,” she said.
Her perspective is refreshing and grounded: Technology isn’t an end in itself, but a tool—one that, when used thoughtfully, can enhance our lives, relationships, and impact.
A Call to Build Together
As we wrapped up, Sarah shared an invitation with the broader community: Take what she has built, and expand it. Whether improving the go bag prepper agent or designing agents for other everyday challenges, she hopes others will build on the foundation she’s started.
Sarah Medilo’s story is one of innovation shaped by humanity. It reminds us that AI isn’t just about efficiency or automation—it’s about creating space for what truly matters. Her journey challenges us to ask not only what we can build, but why—and how technology can support the balance, purpose, and connection we’re all seeking.
