Key Highlights:
- The next wave of AI will elevate rather than replace people, making human creativity, empathy, and nuanced judgment all the more indispensable.
- Future-ready leaders combine technical fluency with deep emotional intelligence to build trust and adaptability in their teams.
- Empowering others rather than hoarding knowledge fosters resilience and prepares organizations for constant disruption.
- Coaching in an AI context is less about answers and more about cultivating curiosity, asking better questions, and rewiring mindsets.
- The future of work remains fundamentally human, and it needs leaders who can harness technology to unlock human potential.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the Summit Series in Detroit, an energizing gathering of bold thinkers and leaders shaping the future. One of the most provocative moments came during a session with Marc Porat, titled “A Techno-Visionary’s AI Forecast.”
Porat—known for coining the term “information economy” doesn’t just predict the future. He frames it. His forecast? The next wave of AI won’t just transform industries, it will transform what it means to be a leader.
What AI Demands of Leadership
Porat’s vision isn’t about automation replacing us. It’s about elevation, using AI to liberate human capacity for creativity, empathy, and decision-making. But that shift demands a new kind of leadership: one rooted in trust, adaptability, and deep emotional intelligence.
It made me think of the work I’ve been doing with my Best Boss project, interviewing leaders across industries about what it takes to build teams that thrive, even as the ground beneath us shifts. In every conversation, the same truth surfaces:
The best bosses aren’t just tech-savvy; they’re also effective leaders. They are people-smart.
They don’t panic in the face of disruption; they prepare their teams for it. They don’t hoard knowledge; they empower others to lead. And they aren’t afraid of AI, they’re using it as a tool to unlock human potential.
Coaching for the Future of Work
In my executive coaching practice, I’m increasingly helping leaders navigate this AI-infused terrain. The challenges are real:
- How do you lead when your team includes both humans and algorithms?
- How do you keep people engaged when their roles are being redefined?
- How do you model curiosity and calm when the pace of change is dizzying?
Coaching in this context isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about helping leaders ask the right questions. It’s about rewiring mindsets, not just workflows.
A Call to Visionary Leadership
Marc Porat reminded me: Techno-visionaries aren’t just in Silicon Valley. They’re in our boardrooms, classrooms, and communities. They’re the leaders who understand that the future of work is, above all, still human.
If you’re a founder, executive, or team leader trying to future-proof your leadership in this AI moment, let’s talk. Whether through 1:1 coaching, team development, or through the insights in my upcoming book Best Boss: What the Greatest Leaders Do Differently, I’d love to help you lead with vision and heart.
Because the future doesn’t just need technology. It needs the best of us.
I’d love for you to join the conversation by subscribing to our YouTube Channel or our Podcast here: https://thebestboss.buzzsprout.com/
