C-Suite Perspectives On AI: Author Leisse Wilcox On Where to Use AI and Where to Rely Only on Humans
An Interview With Kieran Powell
Use AI for Efficiency, Not as a Shortcut to Connection: AI can increase efficiency, but human connection requires time and effort. Relationships aren’t something you can “optimize.” While AI helps me create content faster, my engagement with clients — whether through calls, workshops, strategy, or email — is intentional and personal. This combination allows me to amplify my reach without sacrificing quality or connection.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance and integrate into various aspects of business, decision-makers at the highest levels face the complex task of determining where AI can be most effectively utilized and where the human touch remains irreplaceable. This series seeks to explore the nuanced decisions made by C-Suite executives regarding the implementation of AI in their operations. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Leisse Wilcox.
Leisse Wilcox helps make you the leader everyone wants to work with. An expert in behavioral change, resilience, and high-performance leadership, Leisse is known as “the Secret Weapon of the C-Suite” and “the Marie Kondo of your Unconscious.”
She helps leaders clear mental clutter, navigate change, and maximize performance by future-proofing their leadership. Trusted by brands like TD, AGF, Aviva, and Entrepreneur, Leisse empowers leaders to create human-centered workplaces where people love to be. As an award-winning speaker, certified Leadership, Executive, and Organizational Development Coach, cancer survivor, and twice-bestselling mental health author, her focus on mental well-being enhances communication and confidence for long-term success.
When she’s not lighting up the stage, the page, or the internet, find Leisse road-tripping for tacos with her husband, listening to Taylor Swift with her three daughters, or binge-watching HBO with her dog.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
I am happy to be here! My backstory is a bit of a winding road, but it all ties together in the work I do today: I started out in the world of family and parenting education, helping people build meaningful relationships at home. After starting my own family (hello, 3 kids in 2 years), life threw me some major curveballs: cancer, divorce, solo parenting three young daughters — all while building a six-figure business from scratch.
What I learned through those challenges was that leadership, whether at home or in business, is fundamentally about relationships. It’s about how we connect, communicate, and inspire. That realization — especially post pandemic — led me to focus my work on Future Proof Leadership — helping leaders and teams thrive by leveraging emotional intelligence, resilience, and the human connection in a rapidly changing, AI-driven world.
Now, I specialize in helping organizations navigate change, foster trust, and build workplaces where people actually want to be. I bring my lived experiences, professional expertise, and a deep passion for human-centered leadership to everything I do, whether it’s speaking on a stage, coaching executives, or consulting on workplace culture.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Oof. Early in my journey, I made the mistake of trusting the “great on paper” guy — twice. Once it was a mentor, and later, a coach. Both turned out to be con men, costing me dearly emotionally, mentally, and financially.
While painful, these experiences were also masterclass lessons in self-trust, strategy, and the importance of authenticity and integrity. They taught me to trust my instincts and do my homework. More importantly, they reaffirmed why being the real deal is non-negotiable for me: in an industry where unprofessional, incapable, and even predatory coaches can thrive (sorry not sorry), I pride myself on delivering the results I promise with integrity and heart.
The lesson? Always trust your gut, do your due diligence, and know that even tough mistakes can shape you into a stronger, more intentional leader.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?
Yes! I’m currently working on my third book, Family Dinner Will Save the World, and I couldn’t be more excited about its potential impact.
The premise is simple yet profound: in a world increasingly driven by automation, the one thing we cannot automate is relationships. The family dinner table, in many ways, is like a mini boardroom — a training ground for the next generation of leaders to develop skills we desperately need more of: confidence, compassion, resilience, authenticity, integrity, and intergenerational communication.
This book bridges the gap between next-gen leaders and seasoned professionals, reminding us that future-proof leadership is really emotionally intelligent leadership. And let’s face it — no amount of tech, apps, or updates can solve the people problem we’re facing in workplaces today.
Family Dinner Will Save the World is about taking a step back to realize that the small, intentional rituals — like sitting down for a meal together — hold the power to shape not only better relationships but better leaders. I’m confident that its simple yet impactful message will be a meaningful piece of the puzzle as we navigate this increasingly automated world with a much-needed human touch.
Thank you for that. Let’s now shift to the central focus of our discussion. In your experience, what have been the most challenging aspects of integrating AI into your business operations, and how have you balanced these with the need to preserve human-centric roles?
In my own business, AI has been more of a partner than a disruptor — a tool I leverage to make life easier, streamline processes, and enhance content creation. Ultimately, it’s allowed me to amplify my impact by clearing tasks off my plate and helping me do more with less.
What I teach my clients is that AI is simply the next interruption in how we work — on par with the industrial revolution, vaccines, and the internet. It’s here, and no amount of fear or resistance will change that.
The challenge isn’t integrating AI; it’s striking the balance between embracing its capabilities and preserving what makes us human. AI can handle data, automation, and processes, but it can’t replicate emotional intelligence, creativity, or relationship-building — the very elements that define leadership.
That’s exactly what I’m writing about in my upcoming book. The formerly “soft skills” of emotional intelligence — like empathy, resilience, and trust — are now the essential skills. Even Jamie Dimon has identified them as the key distinguishing factor between good and great leaders.
It’s time to shift our focus back to the human element of work, where creativity, innovation, and connection thrive. AI can be a powerful partner, but it’s the human touch that will future-proof leadership and define the next era of success.
Can you share a specific instance where AI initially seemed like the optimal solution but ultimately proved less effective than human intervention? What did this experience teach you about the limitations of AI in your field?
That’s exactly what I teach: we cannot automate relationships. AI is an incredible tool — a powerhouse for streamlining processes and scaling impact — but there are limits to its effectiveness, especially when it comes to human connection.
One example is in leadership development. AI can analyze team dynamics, provide feedback suggestions, or even generate training plans. But when it comes to building trust, navigating complex emotions, or fostering genuine connection, AI falls short.
I’ve seen situations where leaders leaned heavily on AI-generated insights for team management, only to find that morale didn’t improve. Why? Because no algorithm can replace a heartfelt conversation, a listening ear, or the nuanced understanding that comes from being human.
What this taught me — and what I emphasize to my clients — is that AI works best as a partner. When we use it to handle the repetitive, data-driven tasks, we free ourselves to focus on what AI can’t do: innovate, create, and build relationships. That’s where the magic of leadership happens.
How do you navigate the ethical implications of implementing AI in your company, especially concerning potential job displacement and ensuring ethical AI usage?
Work as we know it is evolving: just like you don’t meet a lot of blacksmiths anymore (after horses were replaced by cars for transportation), we’re going to see entire industries altered or even wiped out by AI. At the same time, our uniquely human ability to innovate will spark new industries and opportunities that we can’t even imagine yet.
Using AI ethically in this context means we aren’t throwing the baby out with the bathwater, but rather finding ways to partner, bridge the gap, and evolve as work evolves.
In my company, ethical AI usage focuses on two key areas; One, to Prioritize Human-Centric Roles: Using AI to streamline repetitive tasks frees up time for creativity, problem-solving, and relationship-building — the aspects of work that only humans can excel at, and Two, to Upskill and Prepare for Change: Instead of fearing job displacement, we focus on helping individuals and teams adapt by investing in the skills that will always be in demand: emotional intelligence, adaptability, and innovation.
AI is an incredible partner, but the heart of work remains human. By approaching AI with responsibility and foresight, we can ensure that it enhances — not replaces — the human experience in the workplace.
Could you describe a successful instance in your company where AI and human skills were synergistically combined to achieve a result that neither could have accomplished alone?
One of the most successful instances in my work where AI and human skills combined was during the development of a tailored leadership training program for a client’s team.
We used AI to analyze the team’s behavioural data, communication patterns, and feedback trends. AI provided valuable insights, identifying specific gaps in collaboration and areas where trust was lacking. This data alone, however, was just information — it lacked context, emotion, and nuance.
The human element came into play when interpreting — and executing on — those insights. As a leadership expert, I brought the empathy, understanding, and emotional intelligence needed to connect the dots, facilitating in-depth conversations with team members, uncovering the underlying dynamics that AI couldn’t detect — such as interpersonal conflicts and misaligned expectations — and creating a road map to deliver the results they wanted.
Together, AI’s precision and my human-centred approach enabled us to design a program that addressed both the technical and emotional aspects of leadership development. The result? Improved communication, stronger relationships, and a more engaged and cohesive team — all of which would have been impossible without the synergy of AI and human skills.
Based on your experience and success, what are the “5 Things To Keep in Mind When Deciding Where to Use AI and Where to Rely Only on Humans, and Why?” How have these 5 things impacted your work or your career?
- Use AI for Data, But Humans for Decisions: AI excels at analyzing vast amounts of data and identifying patterns, but it doesn’t understand context or nuance. Humans bring empathy, creativity, and ethical reasoning to decision-making. In leadership training, AI identified communication gaps in a team, but it was my human insight that interpreted the emotional dynamics and designed a program to rebuild trust. Without human involvement, the root cause of issues would have been missed.
- Automate Repetitive Tasks, Preserve Relationship-Building for Humans: AI can save time by automating routine processes, but meaningful relationships require a human touch. I use AI to streamline workflows, bring clarity and punch to content, and summarize meeting notes for clients — but all client conversations, coaching sessions, and deliverables are handled personally. This ensures clients feel valued and supported, something no AI can replicate.
- Allow AI Enhance Creativity, Not Replace It: AI can inspire creativity by generating ideas or templates, but it’s humans who refine and infuse work with originality and emotion. For a recent speaking engagement, I used AI to outline key points based on audience trends. However, the heart of the talk — stories, humor, and connection — was purely human. The audience’s response reinforced the importance of authenticity in communication. That creative partnership leads to the most relatable authenticity.
- Use AI for Efficiency, Not as a Shortcut to Connection: AI can increase efficiency, but human connection requires time and effort. Relationships aren’t something you can “optimize.” While AI helps me create content faster, my engagement with clients — whether through calls, workshops, strategy, or email — is intentional and personal. This combination allows me to amplify my reach without sacrificing quality or connection.
- Rely on Humans for Complex Problem-Solving and Ethics: AI is powerful but lacks moral judgment and the ability to navigate gray areas. Human intuition and ethical reasoning are irreplaceable in complex situations.A client faced a workplace conflict involving sensitive interpersonal dynamics. AI could not have provided the nuanced support and ethical guidance needed to resolve the situation. It was the human element — understanding emotions and creating safe spaces — that led to a successful outcome.
These principles have shaped how I approach AI as a tool to enhance, not replace, human expertise. They’ve allowed me to stay adaptable while doubling down on what makes leadership truly effective: empathy, creativity, and connection. By balancing AI and humanity, I’ve been able to scale my impact while staying true to my values and delivering exceptional results.
Looking towards the future, in which areas of your business do you foresee AI making the most significant impact, and conversely, in which areas do you believe a human touch will remain indispensable?
Making travel arrangements for speaking gigs, summarizing and distilling key message takeaways, and analyzing team data to turn into an action plan are all areas of AI I look forward to. My prediction is that over time, we will also see our collective ability to reduce the amount of hours we put in weekly, and come back to a place of being able to rest more, spend time with loved ones, and focus on what brings us joy — not just on what pays the bills.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Every day as a future proof leadership expert I am asked how we lead better, smarter, more effectively — and every night as a mom of three teens I see the answer sitting across from me at our family table. What if “saving the world” is as simple as going home and having dinner with your family?
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I am very Google-able! Start with LinkedIn and Instagram @leissewilcox, YouTube @leissewilcoxconsulting, and of course my website, LeisseWilcox.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leissewilcox/
https://www.instagram.com/leissewilcox/
https://www.youtube.com/@LeisseWilcoxConsulting
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
Truly my pleasure; thanks for opening up the door to have this honest conversation.
About The Interviewer: Kieran Powell is the EVP of Channel V Media a New York City Public Relations agency with a global network of agency partners in over 30 countries. Kieran has advised more than 150 companies in the Technology, B2B, Retail and Financial sectors. Prior to taking over business operations at Channel V Media, Kieran held roles at Merrill Lynch, PwC and Ernst & Young. Get in touch with Kieran to discuss how marketing and public relations can be leveraged to achieve concrete business goals.
C-Suite Perspectives On AI: Author Leisse Wilcox On Where to Use AI and Where to Rely Only on… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.