Leadership in the Age of AI: What Will (and Won’t) Change

Nove Saycon
3 days ago
3 min read

It's been a busy couple of weeks at Made For More HQ. We're in the thick of conference season AND strategic planning for 2026 and beyond. My inbox and calendar has been filled with questions about AI and preparing leaders and teams for the future of work, and of course sharing my thoughts and insights for businesses and teams. Many of our clients are booking in sessions to kick off the new year for their businesses and teams, if you'd like to talk about that for your business, book a time to chat here.

Everywhere you look, people are asking the same question; “What will AI mean for the future of work?”

Some predict it will replace millions of jobs. Others see it as the greatest productivity tool since electricity. But here’s the question I want to ask you: what will AI mean for leadership? What will it mean for your leadership and that of your people?

Because while AI can automate processes, generate insights, and accelerate decisions, there are things it will never do.

AI won’t replace the courage to lead through ambiguity. It won’t replace the trust leaders build with their teams. And it certainly won’t replace the human presence that inspires people to go above and beyond.

What AI Will Change

AI is already reshaping leadership in significant ways. Leaders will need to:

Make decisions faster, using data and predictive analytics.
Re-skill teams continuously as technology evolves.
Manage the ethical, reputational, and compliance risks of AI use.

McKinsey predicts AI could add $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030, but only if leaders know how to integrate it responsibly (and sustainably).

What AI Won’t Change

The essence of leadership including presence, empathy and courage remains the same.

In fact, as AI handles more of the transactional work, the human side of leadership becomes even more valuable.

People don’t want to be led by an algorithm. They want leaders who see them, hear them, and value them.

I often say: AI might be able to draft your email, but it can’t look someone in the eye and say, “I’ve got you." That’s your job.

The New Leadership Equation

To thrive in the age of AI, leaders must balance two things:

AI Literacy: Enough confidence to lead conversations about technology, ask the right questions, and ensure responsible use.
Human Presence: The courage and empathy to lead people, not just processes.

Leaders who focus on one without the other will fail. Too much emphasis on AI and you risk becoming detached, robotic, even irrelevant. Too little, and you risk being outpaced by disruption.

The age of AI is not the end of leadership, it’s the next evolution of it. The leaders who thrive will be those who see AI not as a replacement, but as an amplifier.

So here’s my challenge to you:Where do you need to grow; your AI literacy, or your human presence?

Because in the age of AI, leadership isn’t about choosing between human and machine. It’s about bringing out the best in both.

Here’s to courageous leadership in the AI era.

If you would like to book in a time to speak with Ally: CLICK HERE.

Ally Nitschke is a best-selling Author, an award-winning Thought Leader and Speaker. She has been working with leaders and as a Leader for over 20 years.

She is on a mission to change the way we communicate at work, to lean into those uncomfortable conversations and lead with courage.

Ally is a Keynote Speaker at conferences, delivers Transformational Programs & highly engaging workshops as well as provides Executive Coaching.