#471 The Future Needs Soul: Mona Bavar on Human-Centered AI and Branding

The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we dive into the intersection of technology, creativity, and brand authenticity with Mona Bavar — founder of DLISH and BlueApples.ai. From a childhood shaped by cultural resilience to building borderless brands rooted in storytelling, Mona shares why the future of innovation needs more than algorithms — it needs soul.

📌 Key Takeaways

• Why your brand story matters more than ever in the AI age

• The difference between scaling fast and building with soul

• How Mona went from gifting to launching an AI agency rooted in authenticity

• Real-life case studies of AI in brand strategy, market research, and storytelling

• The role of vulnerability and purpose in leadership and entrepreneurship

• Why asking the right questions is the most creative act in AI-driven work

⸻

💡 What You’ll Learn

• How to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini for creative ideation without losing your voice

• Why understanding your “why” is non-negotiable for sustainable brand building

• Tactics for blending human emotion with automation in a noisy digital world

• How Mona helps clients transform brand identity into impactful narratives using AI

👤 About the Guest

Mona Bavar is a creative entrepreneur and founder of DLISH, a Europe-based gifting company that curates meaningful experiences through food and design, and BlueApples.ai, an AI consulting agency helping businesses implement AI while preserving their unique brand voice. Her work bridges design, purpose, and emerging technology.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bavar/

https://dlish.us/

https://www.blueapples.ai/

⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Mona’s background

03:00 – Story behind DLISH & cultural roots of the brand

07:00 – Is AI killing creativity or enhancing it?

10:30 – Avoiding generic content with AI

15:00 – Shortcuts vs. long-term brand building

18:00 – Examples of AI-powered storytelling & product positioning

25:00 – Asking better questions: the key to powerful outputs

27:30 – Personal branding and building trust through vulnerability

32:00 – Customer-centricity, inspiration, and Steve Jobs

36:00 – What Mona means by “the future needs soul”

40:00 – Advice for entrepreneurs on staying grounded in their why

42:00 – Where to connect with Mona