AI Is Changing Work, But Human Leadership Still Matters

16 Nobel laureate economists teaming up with tech leaders to send a warning on artificial intelligence that the tech can disrupt both blue and white collar jobs.

Now they say AI will transform the economy even more than the industrial revolution and in a shorter time frame.

And a recent study from R and Revello labs finding that heavy AI adopters increased head count and entry level hiring by double digits over two years.

Well joining us live here at the New York Stock Exchange to break all of this down is Georgie Dickins co-founder.

And managing director of Kachaan Group.

Georgie, great to have you here.

Thank you so much for joining me.

Thank you, it's nice to see you.

Well, when it comes to artificial intelligence, we know that the target audience is human beings.

So what is one leadership trait that this technology can't actually address?

Yeah, and, and I'm going to go there, but I, a book I'm reading at the moment is from Ryan Wislansky, the CEO of LinkedIn, and I think there's something really, like a really powerful line he shares in the book, which is.

Today's world it's not human or AI, it's human with AI, and he speaks, you know, we all have a role within our organizations, and it's about breaking down that role into the skills, into the tasks that that that that that that come under that role, and then looking at what can you automate, and they fall into three buckets.

So we have the first bucket which is tasks that AI can do alone, the second bucket is AI with human, and the third bucket which you speak to is, you know, what are humans uniquely positioned to do.

And in my work with global leaders, there is a huge, a big agenda item is looking at AI.

In fact, a leader I was working with yesterday, he said they've been measuring everyone's AI utilization since 2024 and 95% of their workforce are using it 90% of working days.

So there's a heavy focus on it, and I think it's working out where you can leverage the efficiencies, and there are core skills that humans are uniquely positioned to do.

If we look at any great leader across any sector, they are great storytellers.

They have the ability and where we speak from is where we connect to.

When they tell that vision, that story, you know, they have a way that they speak that inspires, that motivates, that captivates people.

Um, so I think being that communication is critical.

I think people today want to hear from leaders, they wanna see leaders, they wanna know that you're human.

Um, when we think about trust, um, great leaders typically have a trusted, uh, are trusted by their organization.

And trust comes from words, it comes from actions, it comes from doing what you say, saying what you'll do, and trust is earned over time.

So I think communication's still a, a key skill, um, and even for leaders if they're communicate, you know, they're more introverted, again, it's about how you get good at making sure that you can speak about what you, your organization does in a really compelling way.

Yeah, and Georgie, you work with C-suite.

Executives and advise them as well.

So what would you say is the one skill that leaders need right now to survive?

Well, there's there's many, I think one of the key ones is adaptability.

The world is moving so fast, you know, how do you stay relevant when everything is moving so fast?

So I think it's been really intentional about what news sources you're subscribing to, um, because you want to stay relevant, but again, you could be.

Reading the news 24/7, so adaptability, the ability to be flexible and to flex.

I think the second piece is really making sure as leaders, your leadership team, who do you surround yourself with, and it's about having the Avengers.

And if we think of the Avengers, all superheroes, um, individually brilliant, collectively stronger, and so great leaders, they surround themselves with great people, they empower them and they get out of the way.

And then the third piece, and I know you asked me for one, but the third piece is, and I, I've seen this with, um, a leader recently spoke to the, the summer interns they're bringing in, and they give their summer interns real responsibility, very close proximity to the process, because they don't want to become a, a generational organization.

And you know the younger generation coming in, they're native to technology, so it's recognizing that you can learn from everyone, not just your peer group, but anyone within the organization and really being intentional around that.

Yeah, and Georgie, as you mentioned, it is summer internship season right now here in the US, so it goes without saying that we are living longer and we're working.

Of so many different generations nowadays.

So what do you think is key as we move forward for everyone to be able to communicate?

I think first of all having a high learning agility, recognizing that people have different communication preferences.

I think we can often judge someone's communication by how we speak.

So it's that openness and that empathy.

Putting yourself into the shoes of others and the ability to flex, uh is being authentic with more skill, knowing the situation, the audience, you know, being authentic, but what are the levers you need to dial up or dial down to drive the outcome you're looking for.

Well, Georgie, always great having you on the show.

Thank you so much for joining me today and thank you so much for sharing your insights.

Thank you, it's appreciate it.

Thank you.