How to Use AI for Real-Life Productivity with Julia Druck

Mastering the Juggle: How AI Can Revolutionise Family and Work Life for Ambitious Mums

We’ve all been there. The school send home a last-minute World Book Day letter that inevitably goes missing. The class WhatsApp is buzzing with reminders about clubs, non-uniform days, and birthday parties – but your head is already spinning, just trying to keep track. The sense that, despite our best efforts, something crucial will slip through the net is an all-too-familiar anxiety for many mums.

But what if, instead of fighting a losing battle with post-it notes and memory alone, you could call on your very own digital assistant—a “command centre” for your whole life? That’s exactly what this week’s episode of Mums on Cloud Nine dives into, as AI consultant Julia Druck joins the team to reveal how automation and artificial intelligence are not just for techies and big business but are already transforming the everyday lives of families.

Here, we break down Julia’s fascinating journey, unravel the key lessons behind her “family command centre”, and explore practical ways AI can support the unique juggle of motherhood, career, and personal growth. If you’ve ever wished for an extra pair of (virtual) hands or a little more headspace, this post is for you.

The Secret Lives of Mums: Why the Mental Load is Real

Mums know the real “to-do list” isn’t written down. It’s remembered. It’s the endless calendar reminders ticking away in our minds: next week’s swimming kit, World Book Day costume, whose birthday is coming up, who’s vegan at which party, and which club changes time next month. It’s also the invisible admin of sorting doctor’s appointments, replying to emails from school, navigating our own work tasks, and – somewhere in there – caring for ourselves.

This is the context that inspired AI consultant Julia Druck to act. After a rich and varied career from the Royal Navy to fintech product management, Julia experienced what many women do: the ceiling of inflexibility in traditional roles, the tug to create new solutions not just for clients, but for her own family. Setting up her own AI consultancy, Serpent, alongside her husband, Julia found technology could offer relief that felt almost tailor-made for a mum’s brain.

From Burnout to Breakthrough: Julia’s Journey

The typical picture of an AI consultant may be someone with a linear career in tech, but Julia Druck proves this stereotype is ripe for disrupting. Her route included a leap from weapons engineering in the Royal Navy, to mature studenthood and then into sales, marketing, and product management. Ultimately, a desire to “build something for our family”, fuelled by hitting that all-too-familiar glass ceiling in corporate life, prompted Julia and her husband to co-found Serpent, specialising in helping professional service companies implement AI and automation.

But perhaps the most intriguing project was far closer to home: a digital “family command centre” that uses AI agents to wrangle the myriad details of daily life. It was a solution that blossomed from personal need, and one that resonated with families everywhere.

What Exactly Is a “Family Command Centre”?

The concept sounds fancy, but the execution is beautifully practical. Picture this: a digital tool that reads and harvests information from your emails—school newsletters, club updates, party invites—then effortlessly colour-codes calendar entries, sets reminders, and can even chat with you the next time a fellow parent hands over an invitation at the school gate. It’s a place where appointments, tasks, important dates and recurring chores are centralised and, crucially, automated.

Using a no-code, low-code platform called Lindy, Julia Druck constructed a system that:

• Connects to Gmail and scans for updates relating to school or extracurriculars
• Extracts event details and automatically adds them to the family calendar, colour-coded for each child
• Allows manual additions via a friendly chatbot interface (for those face-to-face reminders or hand-written notes)
• Recommends birthday cards and presents (with direct links!)
• Generates a weekly digest of upcoming events, tasks and needs, so nothing catches you off guard

The result? Less frantic, last-minute scrambles and more calm, proactive planning. A digital memory that helps us focus on what matters, not what’s missing.

Why AI Now? Tackling the Fear Factor

For many women, the idea of engaging with AI or automation sounds intimidating. Isn’t it just for developers? Julia Druck demystifies this perfectly. She herself started her AI journey with curiosity, joining free workshops, low-cost bootcamps, and playful online courses. Many platforms, like Lindy, supply accessible templates and drag-and-drop interfaces, requiring little to no coding knowledge.

A key message from the podcast: don’t be put off by tech jargon. Today’s AI is increasingly user-friendly. The best way to start is by “having a go” at home, where mistakes don’t carry high stakes, and you’re the expert of your own needs. Playing with email automation or task tracking for household admin not only builds valuable digital skills but also shrinks the fear of new technology.

“And that’s one of the key skills with AI,” Julia reminds us, “knowing what good looks like.” As a parent or carer, you already know what your routines and responsibilities require. Experimenting with AI for familiar problems lays the groundwork for applying these skills at work, or indeed, anywhere that process, organisation, and a clear head support wellbeing.

Practical AI Tools for Mums

Not ready to build your own automation from scratch? No problem. There’s an ever-growing suite of tried-and-tested apps that offer AI-powered organisation. Recommended by Heather Black, tools such as SaneBox, Todoist, and Reclaim connect to your calendar, emails, and task lists to combine both household and workplace commitments. With features like automated reminders, colour-coding, digest lists, and smart scheduling, they reduce the need for endless repetitive admin.

Others, like ChatGPT and Claude, can now be connected to your personal accounts—even generating weekly summaries or suggesting actions from your messages. This is where life is heading. As platforms integrate even more closely with our daily systems, the tools mums always daydreamed about are finally a reality.

And if you’re feeling adventurous? Platforms like Lindy and Make.com offer “no-code” interfaces that anyone comfortable with basic digital tasks can dabble in—perfect for those who want something personalised without the learning curve of full-fat programming.

Embracing the AI Mindset: What’s Holding Us Back?

One thread runs through every discussion on AI: confidence. That nagging sense we’re behind, or that today’s breakthroughs are only for “that kind of person”. The Mums on Cloud Nine team are passionate about dispelling these myths.

Here’s the truth: everyone is learning on the job when it comes to AI. New features and possibilities hit the market at breakneck speed. Even experts feel a little behind sometimes. The secret is to start small—maybe automating birthday reminders or school diary events—and let your confidence grow in step with your experience. Every old skill, from organising calendars to breaking down complex tasks, is directly transferable.

And here’s an empowering thought: mums and carers bring something essential to this tech revolution—empathy and lived experience. Solutions designed by women, for women, are more likely to answer real challenges like World Book Day panic or after-school logistics.

Building Digital Literacy: Learning as You Go

One of the most empowering steps you can take is to invest just a little time in upskilling. Julia’s list of resources starts with free and low-cost online training, such as YouTube tutorials and short product bootcamps. She emphasises finding teachers and experts whose style feels welcoming and relatable, not intimidating.

Many courses offer ready-made templates to start tinkering right away. The community spirit around these tools means there are plenty of sharers—once you’ve had success with your own set-up, you’re bound to find others eager to swap ideas.

Why does this matter? Because digital literacy is increasingly important for both career and personal balance. Learning to automate lets you take back valuable time, strengthen your professional prospects, and set a powerful example for your children along the way.

From Juggle to Joy: Small Wins, Big Change

If you take just one thing away from this episode of the Mums on Cloud Nine podcast, let it be this: the future is not just about surviving the juggle, but thriving through small, smart wins. The family command centre might begin as a way to dodge the late-night scramble for a fancy-dress costume, but it’s really about reclaiming time, nurturing your own learning, and making space for joy.

It doesn’t matter if you start with a simple automated reminder or build your own all-singing, all-dancing calendar system. What matters is that mums, so often caught in the crossfire of invisible labour, finally have the tools to share the load. And as AI gets easier, more intuitive, and more tailored, that support is only set to grow.

The Ambitious Woman’s Mindset

At Mums on Cloud Nine, we’re driven by the belief that when women are empowered with confidence and the right tools, there’s no limit to what we can achieve—career progression, personal growth, and a family life with less stress and more meaning. AI isn’t about replacing what mums do best. It’s about amplifying it.

The journey from overwhelmed to empowered starts with curiosity, trial and error, and connection—with each other and with the new skills that will shape our future. From learning the basics of AI to mastering the art of automation, every step taken is a step towards reclaiming time and space for what matters most.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro, a nervous first-timer, or somewhere in between, remember: every mum deserves a digital ally. The message from Julia and the team is clear—don’t wait for permission, perfection, or the “right” moment. Start small, swap ideas, and watch how quickly that confidence grows.

Want to Learn More or Get Started?

• Explore free and paid AI bootcamps or templates recommended by Julia Druck, such as those offered by Lindy, on YouTube, and trusted platforms. We’ll share a round-up in the show notes.
• Try introducing one small AI-powered change, such as setting up calendar automation or a birthday reminder system—with so many tools offering free trials, it’s low risk and high reward.
• Reach out to community forums and other mums trying the same thing. Sharing success (and the odd mishap) is the fastest route to learning.
• Above all, grant yourself the same empathy and encouragement you would your children. Learning is lifelong—and little wins become big change sooner than you think.

Julia’s Free Guide:

https://mumsoncloudnine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MUMS-on-Cloud-NINE-Podcast-AI-agent-resource.pdf

Mentioned in this episode:

• Lindy (No-code AI agent platform): https://www.lindy.ai/assistant
• Susama: https://www.sunsama.com/
• Todoist: https://www.todoist.com/
• Reclaim: https://reclaim.ai/
• Claude: https://claude.ai/login
• Comet: https://www.perplexity.ai/comet
• YouTube tutorials for Lindy AI: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lindy+ai+tutorial

The juggle of motherhood and ambition need not be a zero-sum game. With the right mindset and a willingness to try, AI can be the secret weapon that gives you back your time—and maybe even your sanity.

Feeling inspired? Subscribe for more mindset tips, practical guides, and empowering stories from the frontlines of mums doing amazing things. Here’s to a brighter, bolder, and better-supported future—on the cloud and beyond.