By Nancy Fornasiero
We recently hosted a fantastic Lunch & Learn where our community gathered to trade top tech tools, workflow hacks, and productivity apps. Unlike traditional workshops with a single expert at the podium, this session was all about peer-to-peer collaboration—members brought their own favorite tools to the table so we could all learn from each other. (Some of us just listened and soaked it all up, which was totally okay too!)
If you missed the session, don’t worry. Here’s a round-up of the app recommendations and tech insights shared by our Acers:
Nancy Fornasiero started the discussion by sharing 2 apps, one for her work life and one for her personal life: 1. Wispr Flow: A smart AI dictation tool that formats spoken thoughts into clean, punctuated text 4x faster than typing—dramatically speeding up her writing workflows. It can even pick up your voice if you are whispering, which makes it perfect for a coworking environment. 2. Letterboxd: A social network for movie lovers that helps you log films you’ve watched, track recommendations from friends, and discover new titles based on your taste.
Matthew Reid highlighted the built-in AI assistant capabilities within Microsoft Copilot to streamline daily work tasks. On the personal side, he recommended Headspace, an approachable mindfulness and guided meditation app that serves as an easy entry point for beginners.
Jason Merrithew explained how integrating the AI assistant Claude with his Excel spreadsheets has transformed his data analysis, taking his overall spreadsheet workflow to next-level speeds.
Catharina Graf introduced two great digital options: Pomofocus: A clean, web-based timer using the Pomodoro Technique to help you work in focused time sprints with scheduled short breaks. 2. Gander Social: A Canadian-made social media platform designed as a calm, privacy-focused alternative to mainstream networks, featuring verified users and ad-free chronological feeds.
Sage Rehmatullah took innovation a step further by building his own proprietary AI system (DATUM) to power a project management tool tailored specifically for architects and construction projects. Be sure to ask him for a demo next time you see him!
Diliana Popova, a copywriter in our community, shared how she custom-built her own dedicated AI agent to automate lead generation and streamline client outreach.
Hamid Ameri broke down the benefits of Wise, an international money transfer service that offers low-fee, mid-market rate transfers and multi-currency accounts for seamless global payments.
Laurette Coetzee offered a strategic AI tip: instead of relying only on general tools, search for AI platforms customized for your specific industry. For example, she uses specialized design AI tools that deliver tailored results standard chatbots simply cannot replicate. She highly recommends The Intelligent Designer –a platform that teaches the basics, how to use the tools, and how to set up specific workflows for a design firm.
Yolanda Baldessara recommended a bunch of helpful resources that she relies Two stand-outs are: 1. CloudLibrary: A digital library app that lets you borrow eBooks and audiobooks for free using your local public library card. 2. SimpleMind: An intuitive mind-mapping tool designed to help visually brainstorm, map out complex ideas, and structure projects.
Jennifer Herring uses HubDoc to manage all of our ACE Coworking receipts and share them with our bookkeeper. It’s made her job much easier!
If you would like to see more of these group-sharing-style Lunch & Learns, please let us know. We could even do a repeat of this one if enough folks are interested. I learned a whole lot from our members, and I bet you would too!
