Leadership in the Age of AI - Are you ready?
Curious, cautious, and optimistic: My August with AI
AI is moving fast—exciting many leaders, unsettling others, and sparking endless headlines. But what does it really mean for how we work, lead, and grow? This August, I immersed myself in AI events, podcasts, and conversations to answer one big question: How can leaders stay grounded and effective as technology transforms our world?
In this blog, I share key takeaways, the voices that inspired me, and a simple framework for leading with clarity, curiosity, and strong values in an era of rapid change.
What Stood Out: What AI Can (and Can’t) Do
AI is everywhere: helping us write, design, code, and even alleviating stress. But here’s the truth: AI doesn’t think like we do. It processes data, recognises patterns, and generates outputs that look like reasoning. Useful? Incredibly. Conscious or self-aware? Not at all.
GPT-5: Power and Responsibility
The release of GPT-5 marks another leap forward: better memory, more personalisation, stronger scientific applications. In discussion with Cleo Abram, Sam Altman described it as the beginning of a “collective brain”—a vast intelligence that could stretch human potential. Yet this “brain” has no built-in values or judgment. As AI evolves, humans must set the direction; the power for breakthroughs is real, but so is our duty to steer.
AI as a Creative Collaborator
At Canva’s Sydney HQ, the message was clear: AI amplifies our creativity, not replaces it
🌟Didier Elzinga (Culture Amp) reminded us that fear is natural in times of transition. For leaders, the job is to absorb that uncertainty and offer clarity. Even if middle-tier tasks shrink, values and leadership will matter more than ever.
🤖 Matthew James (Canva) framed AI agents as tools to automate the dull work—freeing humans to focus on what’s meaningful. Guardrails, though, are non-negotiable. Without them, automation turns messy.
👥Jacky Koh (Relevance AI) argued that AI agents are the next workforce—like teams with roles, tools, and personalities. Yes, they can transform workflows, but design choices matter: too many agents can create chaos.
🎨Jessica Faccin (Canva) inspired us to boost creativity by partnering with AI—clarify intent, stay curious, strive for progress, and use your intuition as a compass.
“AI is making technology feel magical again. Play, experiment, learn now. Values-driven, courageous, and curious leaders will make the most of this moment.”
Entrepreneurship Remains Human
Tech platforms are powerful, but every breakthrough I saw at the SECNA Festival and S2S Summit began with people—grit, purpose, and genuine connection.
At SECNA, brand archetypes clarified the “heart” of social enterprises.
At S2S Summit, success grew from real interactions: workshops, pitches, networking. AI powered experiments and scale, but success depended on clarity of purpose, adaptability, and strong support networks.
The Global Conversation: Hope with Caution
Beyond local events, influential voices worldwide delivered equal optimism and sobriety:
Mo Gawdat warns disruption may hit hard—job losses and social strain—before we see long-term gains. Yet he’s confident ethics and mindset can shape a positive outcome.
Jensen Huang (NVIDIA) offers a bold vision: AI democratising access to biology, climate research, and robotics—giving humanity tools to solve its biggest challenges.
Geoffrey Hinton, the "Godfather of AI," stresses survival hinges on building systems rooted in maternal instincts—embedding care and ethics, not just raw intelligence.
Liesl Yearsley (aKin), said it beautifully at TEDx Sydney 2023: "AI doesn't need a Master; AI needs a mother." Her powerful talk at Moore Park stayed with me since.
The lesson: AI can transform, but human leadership shapes its impact.
“Evolution built maternal instincts into the mother, if we don’t do something like that with this alien beings that we are creating (AI), we are going to be history.”
A Framework for Staying Grounded
Through all the hype, staying effective means returning to simple principles:
💡Think first: Develop your own perspective before asking AI to assist.
🔍Stay curious: Keep questioning as the landscape evolves.
🤝Collaborate: Use AI to amplify your impact—not replace you.
🌍Be responsible: Stay alert to ethical and environmental implications.
🧭Values first: Teach AI what matters; your ethics will guide its behaviour and outcomes.
The Bottom Line:
AI can accelerate, amplify, and scale—but it cannot replace purpose, empathy, or vision. That remains our responsibility. When paired with clarity, values, and courage, AI becomes a powerful amplifier of what we choose to create.
As AI keeps evolving, so must we. Leaders who stay curious, collaborate, and lead with clear values will shape the future.
I’d love to hear how you’re experimenting with AI in your work and life—what excites you, what challenges you, and what possibilities you see for your business.
If you’d like to take this conversation further, book a time with me. Together, we’ll assess your AI Mindset as a Founder, CEO, or leader of a growing business and explore how you can lead confidently in the age of AI.
