People Squared - Leading in an AI World With Nikki Barua

For more than 25 years, Nikki Barua has helped global brands reinvent their culture, capabilities, and competitive edge.

In this episode, Nikki introduces the idea of "People Squared." Let AI do what machines do best, while humans double down on connection, empathy, and judgment. When leaders combine both, teams become exponentially more capable.

We explore what leadership, customer experience, and human connection look like in a world where AI is reshaping how work gets done.

In this episode:

• Why great service is about being seen, feeling understood, and knowing you belong.
• How leaders must shift from directing tasks to explaining the why and providing context.
• Why identifying your superpower and zone of genius matters more in the AI era.
• How to find and eliminate friction points that slow teams down.
• Why empathy, curiosity, and human judgment will matter even more as technology advances.

AI will continue to transform how work happens. The leaders who thrive will be the ones who learn how to combine technology with what only people can do.

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Tony Johnson is a Customer Experience + Hospitality Consultant, Keynote Speaker, Trainer, and Author with a wide background including higher education, restaurants, retail, travel, city government, chambers of commerse, and leisure. He regularly speaks and coaches organizations to IGNITE THEIR SERVICE using his common sense approach to Customer engagement and retentions. Tony has spoken to government agencies, airlines, universities, and many Fortune 500 companies to unlock their amazing capacity for excellence.

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