Is AI making us more productive... or quietly making us worse leaders?

As artificial intelligence transforms the way we work, most of the conversation has focused on efficiency. But what if we're asking the wrong question?

In this episode of Future Fit Leadership, I sit down with behavioural scientist, leadership researcher and author Penny Locaso to explore one of the biggest leadership challenges of our time: how do we remain deeply human in a world that's becoming increasingly automated?

Drawing on her latest research, The Compassion Advantage, Penny shares why leadership capability is becoming the greatest constraint on organisational performance, why trust is replacing authority as the new source of influence, and how relentless pace is quietly eroding our ability to think clearly, make sound decisions and lead with care.

Together, we unpack the concept of the "thinking recession", the hidden risks of outsourcing judgement to AI, and why leaders must be careful not to trade wisdom for speed. The conversation also explores why compassion is not a soft skill but a strategic capability, how purpose helps leaders navigate complexity, and what organisations need to change if they want leadership to thrive in an AI-shaped future.

This is a conversation about more than technology. It's about the choices we make every day, the behaviours we reward, and the kind of leaders we're becoming.

If you've ever wondered whether we're moving too fast to think, too busy to connect, or too quick to let technology make decisions that require human judgement, this episode is for you.

Please enjoy this conversation.