What if the “soft skills” we often overlook are actually the most strategic—and essential—in the age of AI?

In this episode, leadership expert Dr. Bushra Khan and host Kate O’Neill explore the power and business impact of emotional intelligence, challenging outdated leadership myths and redefining what skills matter most for future-ready teams.

Topics Covered:
Why “soft skills” should be called “strategic skills”
Emotional intelligence as a leadership framework
Evidence-based emotional intelligence in organizations
Critical thinking, persuasion, and influence for tech leaders
Challenging the myth of micromanagement
Culture’s impact on leadership assumptions
Candor vs. bluntness in high-stakes communication
Balancing bravery and kindness in decision making
Practical approaches to EI skill-building in companies
Finding hope and optimism in leadership

Connect with: Dr. Bushra Khan
Linkedin
Website

Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome & redefining soft skills
00:00:37 – Emotional intelligence as leadership
00:01:20 – Reframing skills for a tech-driven world
00:01:55 – Why “soft” is inadequate and damaging
00:02:49 – Strategic skills vs. technical expertise
00:04:33 – Critical thinking & real-life practice
00:05:43 – Evidence-based EI: Research & impact
00:06:05 – Describing great leaders (EI in action)
00:08:47 – EQ vs. IQ & technical skills
00:11:06 – The emotional intelligence framework
00:12:34 – Making EI accessible in everyday life
00:13:24 – The myth of micromanagement
00:15:46 – Coaching, mentoring, and trust
00:17:13 – Cross-context skills: work, life, community
00:17:43 – Leadership mental models across cultures
00:18:35 – Cultural differences in trust and hierarchy
00:22:23 – Candor, clarity, and high-stakes communication
00:23:14 – Building trust for high-pressure moments
00:26:33 – Balancing bravery and kindness
00:29:29 – EI is not just being nice—using frameworks
00:31:34 – Practical “how” for applying EI
00:32:07 – Why companies should invest in human skills
00:32:41 – Making skills training bite-sized and evidence-based
00:35:44 – Key takeaways & actionable advice
00:36:23 – Finding hope and optimism in leadership
00:39:53 – Gratitude and closing remarks

What are the questions only humans can ask in an age where AI seems to have all the answers?

In this episode, Kate O’Neill and futurist Ben Pring dive deep into the uniquely human skills and judgments that technology can’t replicate, and explore how leaders and organizations can navigate uncertainty, ask better questions, and shape a more human-centered future.

Topics covered:
Placing today’s AI advancements in historical context
How technology replaces skill with judgment
The value of asking better questions in an AI-driven world
Why leaders avoid tough decisions about humans vs. machines
How incentives and alignment shape organizational outcomes
The policy gaps at the intersection of technology, strategy, and labor
Distinguishing human creativity from AI-generated “slop”
How to maintain humanity and funkiness in a synthetic content flood
Hope and optimism for the future of work and technology

Connect with Ben Pring:
benpring.com

Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome to the Tech Humanist Show
00:00:18 – The Human Ability to Ask the Next Best Question
00:00:32 – Computers Are Useless: Asking the Right Questions
00:01:05 – Introducing Ben Pring
00:02:21 – Historical Context for Today’s AI Moment
00:04:47 – Technology: Replacing Skill with Judgment
00:08:14 – What Leaders Should Be Asking in an AI-Powered World
00:13:08 – Why Leaders Avoid Tough Questions About Automation
00:16:13 – Decision-Making in Times of Uncertainty
00:19:10 – Distinguishing Priorities from Trivialities
00:24:22 – Aligning Incentives and Unintended Consequences
00:25:41 – Have We Gotten Better at Taming the Monster?
00:29:26 – The Most Important Policy Questions We’re Not Asking
00:33:59 – The Car as a Parallel: Infrastructure and Human-Centric Design
00:36:21 – What Remains Distinctly Human in a Synthetic Content World
00:41:01 – Invention, Funkiness, and Problem-Solving
00:42:46 – Hope and Optimism for the Future
00:49:03 – Closing and Where to Find Ben Pring

What if climate action and economic growth aren’t at odds—but actually deeply aligned?

In this episode, Kate O’Neill sits down with Tom Chi to challenge conventional thinking about climate solutions, innovation, and the future of planetary restoration.

Topics Covered:
The emotional impact of witnessing coral reef collapse
Reimagining climate action through the lens of both ecology and economy
Lessons from Google X: rapid prototyping and low-cost innovation
How Google Glass shaped the understanding of visual information and human experience
Insights into planetary restoration and urgent timelines for action
The concept of “Climate Capital” and investment strategies for sustainability
Aligning ecological wins with economic incentives
Overcoming barriers in climate-tech: capex inertia and effective policy
Interconnectedness and its influence on business and technology
Innovative approaches for sustainable material management

Connect with Tom Chi:
LinkedIn
At One Ventures Website

Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome & Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show
00:00:15 – Tom Chi on Reef Collapse and Global Tragedy
00:00:43 – Rethinking Climate Action: Ecology vs. Economy
00:02:15 – Conversation Kickoff: Meet Tom Chi
00:02:36 – Google X, Rapid Prototyping, and Hardware Innovation
00:06:24 – Augmenting Human Vision: Google Glass Discoveries
00:13:08 – From Tech Innovator to Planetary Restoration
00:16:33 – The Gravity of Coral Loss & Civilization-Scale Decisions
00:19:47 – Becoming Net Positive to Nature: NE Ventures Approach
00:21:01 – What “Climate Capital” Really Means
00:27:01 – Structuring Climate-Tech Investments & Timelines
00:28:57 – Advice for Funders: Overcoming Green Premiums
00:33:15 – Interconnectedness: Tech, Nature, and Business
00:38:43 – Building Lasting Systems with Nature
00:39:13 – The One Law to Accelerate Climate Solutions
00:47:21 – Empowering Change: Rates Not States
00:47:30 – Book Release: Climate Capital
00:48:17 – Closing Remarks & How to Connect

What if the secret to solving your organization’s toughest problems was thinking like a 10-year-old?

Discover how childlike creativity and fun can reframe complex business challenges, spark innovation, and drive real results.

Topics Covered:
Childlike thinking for organizational problem-solving
Playful penalties to boost accountability
Storytelling and translating complex issues for kids
Change management through unbiased perspectives
Dementia care and deepfake technology solutions
Mechanisms for creativity: no rules, have fun, do good, no shame
Designing inclusive, impactful brainstorming sessions
Bridging playfulness and business gravitas
Applying kid-inspired thinking to AI and executive decisions
Keeping curiosity and creative practice alive in organizations

Connect with Bas Warmerdam:
ConsultingKids.com
LinkedIn

Episode Chapters
00:00:05 – Welcome & Intro to the Tech Humanist Show
00:00:17 – “Playful Penalties” concept and team accountability
00:00:41 – Bas Warmerdam’s work with Consulting Kids
00:01:50 – Approach and methodology using children as junior consultants
00:03:38 – Reframing collaboration problems through childlike solutions
00:04:24 – Implementing playful penalties and organizational impact
00:06:02 – The “Thinking Like a Child for Professionals” process
00:08:27 – Bringing executives into the classroom and change management benefits
00:09:23 – Storytelling for complex issue translation
00:12:14 – Mechanisms for leaders to use childlike thinking in their teams
00:15:09 – Four key thinking mechanisms from kids
00:15:50 – Example: Dementia care and “no rules” thinking
00:18:28 – How professionals can integrate fun and purpose
00:19:55 – Embracing “no shame” in creative business solutions
00:20:41 – Creating inclusion for quiet and underrepresented voices
00:22:03 – Reintegration: Bringing creative ideas into business practice
00:24:21 – Childlike thinking for AI-related decisions
00:26:55 – Using kid-driven creativity to challenge AI authority
00:28:40 – Sustaining childlike thinking post-consulting
00:30:41 – Keeping curiosity sharp and connecting at home
00:32:19 – How to connect with Bas Warmerdam and Consulting Kids
00:32:55 – Closing remarks and credits

What if the future of work means being present without actually “being” there?

In this episode, Kate O’Neill and Cortney Harding dig into how AI, spatial computing, and XR are quietly reshaping both our work and our very definition of human value, beyond the headlines and hype.

Topics covered:
The transformative power of spatial computing and XR beyond the AI buzz
How enterprises are quietly adopting XR for training and productivity
“Metaverse” vs. “Metaphysical”: the next evolution of immersive tech
Redefining human strengths and “non-machine premiums” in the AI era
How AI and XR can foster inclusion and overcome workplace bias
Practical pilots for leaders: headset days, policies, and workflow innovations
Why employee and consumer satisfaction metrics matter more than ever
Predictions for seamless, reality-blending experiences in the next five years

Connect with: Cortney Harding

Episode Chapters
00:00:05 – Welcome to The Tech Humanist Show
00:00:17 – Premium human strengths in an AI-driven workplace
00:00:28 – Cortney Harding on underestimating XR’s impact
00:01:32 – What’s quietly evolving in XR beyond AI hype?
00:02:01 – XR in the mainstream and the interconnected tech ecosystem
00:04:05 – The underreported impact of XR in enterprise and education
00:05:32 – From “metaverse” to “metaphysical”: reframing the future
00:09:00 – Extended reality, AI, and rethinking collaboration
00:11:25 – Developing non-machine premiums to stay ahead of AI
00:13:47 – Four “E”s where humans have the edge: Emotion, Enhancement, Experience, Ego
00:18:10 – Meeting people where they are: designing human-centered spatial experiences
00:21:01 – Frictionless experiences, seamless recommendations, and what’s next
00:22:24 – When AR/VR is actually worth it (and when a website is plenty)
00:24:31 – Aligning AI with organizational and human goals
00:26:11 – Creating a permission structure for meaningful AI use at work
00:31:11 – The shift from hours worked to task-based value
00:36:45 – One pilot for the future: “Headset day” at work
00:39:18 – Inclusion, avatars, and telling the tech story differently
00:40:29 – Lightning round: best, worst, and most promising XR use cases
00:42:53 – Five-year forecast: immersive experiences as everyday reality
00:43:51 – Where to find “The Spatial Race” and final thoughts

What’s stopping legacy companies from becoming the next Airbnb or Amazon—and how can they unlock platform thinking to transform their assets into thriving ecosystems?

Dive into how established organizations can use the “Digital Phoenix” effect to fuel innovation, leverage their existing advantages, and reshape value creation with cutting-edge insights from the world of platforms.

Topics covered:
Platform business models and value creation
Platform thinking vs. traditional business models
The “Digital Phoenix” effect and leveraging idle assets
Case studies: Telepass, EasyPark, airports, and Chipotle
Overcoming barriers to platform transformation
Internal platforms and cross-functional collaboration
The impact of AI and generative AI on organizations
Employee engagement and organizational change
Shifting from customer-centricity to value architecture
Scaling, flexibility, and regeneration benefits of platforms

Connect with Daniel & Tommaso:
Website: PlatformThinking.EU
LinkedIn: Daniel Trabucchi // Tommaso Buganza

Episode Chapters
00:00:05 – Introduction and welcome
00:00:33 – The rise of platform companies and industries reshaped
00:01:38 – AI’s role in internal platforms and collaboration
00:02:02 – Guests’ background and partnership
00:02:29 – The Digital Phoenix Effect and business transformation
00:04:16 – The Phoenix analogy and legacy company opportunities
00:04:43 – Telepass case study: from legacy to platform
00:05:58 – Overcoming the chicken-and-egg problem
00:07:39 – Idle assets: a startup advantage for legacy firms
00:08:47 – Defining platforms: do both sides need to be tech-centric?
00:09:18 – Types of users and value creation differences
00:10:09 – Legacy firms, tech, and two-sided value
00:12:36 – Nontraditional examples: airports and value creation
00:14:12 – Chipotle’s farmer market: a pandemic case
00:17:11 – Mindset shifts: sustainability, regeneration, and platform transformation
00:19:09 – Barriers to platform adoption: mindset, complexity, and value
00:23:57 – From customer shoes to value architect’s perspective
00:25:10 – Reshaping organizations: multiple customer mindsets
00:27:23 – Common worries of business leaders
00:29:41 – Benefits for companies making the leap
00:33:25 – Organizational change and employee engagement
00:34:14 – Leading innovation and internal platform value
00:36:12 – Creating a win-win within organizations
00:38:26 – AI’s evolving role in platform thinking
00:40:57 – Internal collaboration and GenAI’s sliding doors
00:42:49 – Where to find the guests and resources
00:44:03 – Show credits and closing

How can AI and innovation transform not just the business side of sports, but create truly human-centered fan experiences?

In this episode, Christa Stout, the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer for the Portland Trailblazers, talks with Kate O’Neill about building people-first strategies in professional sports, using AI to impact real human experiences, and lessons in innovation from around the world.

Topics covered:

Connect with Christa Stout
Portland Trailblazers Website
LinkedIn

Episode Chapters
00:00:05 – Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show & Guest Overview
00:01:33 – The Scope of Strategic and Innovation Leadership in Pro Sports
00:02:58 – The Rise of Strategy Roles & Future-Focused Planning
00:05:42 – What Makes an Innovative Sports Team?
00:07:23 – Lessons in Innovation from International Experience
00:09:16 – Change Management: Combining Theory and Impact
00:14:54 – Embedding AI Strategy: From Curiosity to Company-Wide Change
00:19:15 – Real-World Results: AI’s Impact on Employee and Fan Experiences
00:22:38 – Humanizing AI: Where Tech Enables Personal Touch
00:26:18 – Redefining “Value” in Sports Organizations
00:29:38 – Evolving Metrics and Exponential Possibilities with AI
00:32:42 – Building Employee Buy-In and Upskilling for AI Adoption
00:35:01 – Tools & Anticipated Changes for the Future of Sports Innovation
00:37:25 – What True Innovation Could Mean for the Sports Experience
00:39:46 – Closing Thoughts, Where to Connect, and Outro

What does it really take for organizations to thrive in an era of constant disruption and rapid technological change?

In this insightful episode of the Tech Humanist Show, host Kate O’Neill sits down with innovation strategist Greg Verdino to explore the critical role of adaptability in modern business. Drawing from their experiences with digital transformation and the development of the ADAPT Manifesto, Greg Verdino shares hard-won lessons on why “always-on” adaptation, curiosity, and investing in future-readiness are more essential than ever.

Topics Covered:
The origins and goals of the ADAPT Manifesto
Why most transformation projects fail
The essential values and principles of adaptability
Common barriers to organizational adaptation
The importance of investing in both technology and people
How AI is reshaping organizational structures and workflows
The difference between reaction and strategic response
Balancing innovation and tradition (“the power of and”)
The need for systems thinking in leadership
Practical tips for fostering adaptability, curiosity, and unlearning

Connect with Greg Verdino:
Website
LinkedIn
YouTube
“Never Normal: Uncommon Ideas for Leaders Who Won’t Settle for the Status Quo”

Episode Chapters
00:00:05 – Welcome to The Tech Humanist Show – Kate O’Neill introduces the show
00:00:51 – How Kate and Greg met: the “Super Team” and curiosity for new technology
00:02:53 – Why adaptability is the key business skill today
00:03:30 – Why digital transformations fail and the birth of the ADAPT Manifesto
00:06:14 – The ADAPT Manifesto values and principles explained
00:10:01 – “Fund the future”: investing in people, processes, and tech
00:11:36 – Common pitfalls in funding innovation and transformation
00:15:13 – Structuring for change in the era of AI
00:21:33 – What gets in the way of adaptation?
00:25:59 – Transformation vs. innovation and keeping up with change
00:30:31 – The lesson of Jenny’s Ice Cream: balancing novelty and consistency
00:32:01 – “The power of and” and avoiding either/or thinking
00:34:12 – The danger of chasing every shiny object (reaction vs. response)
00:36:31 – Trends shaping the next waves of adaptation
00:41:06 – Practical tips: being curious, unlearning, and hands-on learning
00:47:13 – Personal examples of unlearning
00:52:39 – Where to connect with Greg Verdino
00:53:44 – Show credits and wrap-up

What truly separates successful AI adoption from mere “execution theater”?

In this episode host Kate O’Neill sits down with AI transformation leader Deepika Chopra to explore the critical—and often overlooked—dimension of human readiness in AI adoption. Drawing from her experience leading major AI and digital initiatives at Fortune 500 companies and startups alike, Deepika Chopra breaks down the “alignment gap”—the persistent disconnect between what AI can deliver and what organizations are actually prepared to embrace.

Topics covered:
AI literacy and organizational trust
The “alignment gap” in AI transformation
Execution theater vs. genuine adoption
Measuring human readiness:
The HAAS (Human AI Alignment Score)
Culture’s role in successful AI implementation
Differences between startups and enterprises in AI adoption
Practical frameworks for leaders to assess and cultivate readiness
Hopeful outlooks on AI’s human impact

Connect with Deepika Chopra
Website: movefirstalignfast.com
LinkedIn: Deepika Chopra

Episode Chapters
00:00:05 – Welcome and show introduction
00:00:17 – Getting AI literacy and trust within organizations
00:02:18 – The alignment gap: definitions and implications
00:03:38 – Why do organizations get stuck in the alignment gap?
00:04:51 – Real-world example of AI adoption hesitancy
00:05:38 – Execution theater vs. genuine transformation
00:07:38 – The misalignment spiral and its risks
00:08:25 – The power of metaphors in shaping AI trust
00:09:27 – Deepika’s tech journey: failures and insights
00:13:35 – Measuring human readiness: HAAS score explained
00:15:05 – Organizational response to HAAS score
00:16:29 – Practical tips for cultivating AI readiness
00:18:26 – Operationalizing human-centric innovation
00:20:26 – What separates thriving and struggling AI transformations?
00:23:32 – Startups vs. enterprises: alignment gap challenges
00:24:29 – First steps for leaders to break out of execution theater
00:25:57 – The one mindset shift leaders need: Align before you automate
00:27:28 – Hopeful perspectives: the people at the center of AI
00:28:29 – Connect with Deepika Chopra
00:28:50 – Episode wrap and credits

How can technology and indigenous wisdom come together to help humanity solve the climate crisis?

In this episode, Kate O’Neill sits down with Tullio Andrade, chief strategist for COP30, as Brazil prepares to host the first UN climate conference in the Amazon. Dive into a dynamic conversation about the intersection of digital innovation, indigenous knowledge, and global climate action. Learn how satellite monitoring, AI, and community-driven solutions are reshaping our fight against climate change—and how YOU can help build a future that’s both human-centered and planet-centered. Don’t miss this inspiring look at the tech-powered path to a more sustainable world!

Topics Covered:
Interdisciplinary climate strategy
Role of indigenous wisdom
Integrating technology with traditional knowledge
Satellite forest monitoring and AI Community participation in climate solutions
Inclusion and accessibility at COP 30 Scaling climate finance with tech
Mindset shifts in tech and climate sectors

Connect with: Tulio Andrade
LinkedIn
COP30 Brasil

Episode Chapters
00:00:05 – Introduction and episode overview
00:00:17 – Tullio Andrade’s interdisciplinary background
00:00:41 – Role at COP 30 and Brazil’s climate strategy
00:02:04 – Impact of philosophy, cybernetics, and complexity in climate negotiations
00:06:24 – Indigenous wisdom and the People’s COP
00:13:16 – Synthesis of traditional knowledge and technology
00:19:00 – Brazil’s satellite forest monitoring
00:24:55 – Ensuring community-led climate solutions
00:29:28 – Barriers and digital democratization at COP
00:35:52 – Importance of scaling climate finance
00:41:57 – Call to action for the tech community
00:46:33 – Closing thoughts: intentionality and agency
00:47:40 – Outro and credits