In a world shaped by disruption, uncertainty, and accelerating AI adoption, what does effective leadership actually look like?

In this episode of Leading Without Illusions, Holly Smithson and Jaye Connolly are joined by Kaye Foster, Senior advisor at Boston Consulting Group, for a candid, unfiltered conversation on the realities leaders are facing today. From declining employee engagement and broken organizational systems to the pressure of navigating AI-driven change, this discussion goes beyond surface-level insights.

Kaye draws on decades of executive leadership, board experience, and advisory work to challenge conventional thinking. She breaks down why many leaders are being asked to succeed inside systems that are fundamentally misaligned, and what it takes to lead anyway.

This episode explores:

• Why today’s workplace systems are failing both leaders and employees
• The growing gap between leadership intention and employee experience
• How AI is reshaping work—and where leaders are getting it wrong
• The importance of investing in people, not just productivity
• Why leadership must start with personal accountability and self-awareness

This is not a conversation about quick fixes. It is about clarity, ownership, and the opportunity to lead differently in a moment that demands it.