Redirecting.work

 

The shift required her to leave behind not only a business model, but also an identity she had spent years building. "I quit everything," she said. "I stopped taking consulting clients and jumped into a completely different pool."

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The decision wasn't driven by dissatisfaction with her work. Instead, it emerged from a growing realization that she had something more scalable to offer. Through her consulting and research, she and her colleagues had developed tools that helped uncover what motivates people at work. Rather than delivering those insights one client at a time, she saw an opportunity to reach far more people through technology.

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Transition 

That realization sparked two new learning journeys at once: entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. 

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Neither came naturally. Smadar had no technology background. She wasn't coming from a startup culture. She had never pitched investors. She was moving from being the recognized expert in the room to being the beginner. "It required leaving behind my name and reputation," she reflected. "I had to learn entirely new skills, unlearn some old ones, and transform others."

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The transition demanded more than technical learning. It required a different mindset. She approached the experience with humility and openness, accepting that she would spend significant time navigating uncertainty. Patience became essential. So did self-reflection. Rather than trying to protect her old identity, she embraced being a beginner.

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Looking back, Smadar believes one of the hardest parts was learning to be comfortable not knowing. As a consultant, she was accustomed to being the person with answers and expertise. As a founder, she often found herself asking questions, seeking advice, and learning through trial and error. The experience taught her that growth often comes from surrendering certainty and remaining open to possibilities that can't yet be seen.

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Support played an important role. A mentor from an accelerator program helped guide her through unfamiliar territory. She also intentionally built what she describes as three circles of support: fellow female founders who understood the entrepreneurial journey, HR leaders in the United States who provided market insight, and trusted colleagues and friends who offered perspective and encouragement. Financial reserves gave her the freedom to take risks without immediate pressure.

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Current direction

Today, Claro Mentor reflects both her consulting roots and her entrepreneurial vision. The platform identifies the motivators that drive individual employees and uses AI-powered coaching to help managers and employees take meaningful action. By learning both personal drivers and organizational context, Claro can guide conversations, support development, and help leaders build high-performing teams.

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The company's primary audience includes managers, CHROs, and learning and development leaders in organizations of up to 5,000 knowledge workers across healthcare, education, technology, and professional services. The platform is already serving customers, including organizations that have renewed their subscriptions.

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For Smadar, the goal extends beyond technology itself. She believes organizations facing rapid AI adoption, reskilling requirements, and continuous change need tools that help people maintain energy, engagement, and connection. Her philosophy is simple: use AI to help organizations become more human.

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What excites Smadar most is the opportunity to combine technology and humanity rather than treat them as opposing forces. She loves building something that can help people thrive during periods of change while also creating measurable business impact. Although entrepreneurship has been one of the most challenging experiences of her career, it has also been one of the most energizing. She is still learning every day and remains deeply curious about what is possible when AI is used to support, rather than replace, human potential. 

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Advice for Becoming an AI Entrepreneur

Looking back, she sees entrepreneurship as one of the most demanding transitions of her career. Her advice for others considering a similar path is straightforward.

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• Prepare yourself financially and emotionally. Entrepreneurship requires reserves of both money and energy. There will be uncertainty, setbacks, and sleepless nights.

• Adopt a beginner's mindset. Humility is not optional. The willingness to learn is your greatest advantage.

• Be willing to unlearn. Old assumptions, familiar approaches, and previous successes can become obstacles. "Be a kaleidoscope," she advises. Keep shifting perspectives so you can see the biggest picture.

• Don't do it alone. Seek mentors. Build partnerships. Create circles of support around you.

• Love the dream. "You have to love it," she said. "Love it like you love your kids."

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For Smadar, becoming an AI entrepreneur wasn't simply a career move. It was a transformation of identity. By stepping away from what she already knew, she created space to build something entirely new and potentially far more impactful than she had imagined.