What if your next workplace colleague isn’t human at all, but an AI?
Listen to this episode on Spotify now.
That’s the bold “what if” question at the heart of this Tea Talk conversation, hosted by Dr. Fiona Aubrey-Smith and me. They bring their distinct chemistry, incisive insights, and unshakeable curiosity to one of the most pressing questions of our time: how will artificial intelligence reshape workplaces and our very humanity itself?
This is a space for a conversation that feels both comforting and provocative, like sharing tea with brilliant friends who dare to ask transformative questions. This time, our guest is Tarja Stephens, a global leader helping CEOs and executives prepare for the age of AI. Tarja emphasizes the human side of transformation using technology. How do leaders prepare? What happens to skills, mindsets, and workplace culture when AI agents become part of the team?
Across this episode, you’ll hear unraveled questions that every listener will soon be facing:
· Is AI integration coming as a gradual shift or a disruptive wave?
· Which industries are already being reshaped by AI agents, and which will follow?
· What skills matter most in a world where machines handle the data: hard skills, human skills, or something deeper?
· How do we confront the fear of job displacement while creating new pathways for growth?
· And most importantly, how do we preserve the essence of what makes us human?
Tarja presents a comprehensive framework of three essential skill pillars for every leader and professional: hard skills (including AI literacy and data literacy), human skills (such as leadership, communication, and empathy), and inner skills (including intuition, imagination, and energy). It’s the last category, the inner skills, that she describes as the superpowers of the future. While AI can analyze data, only humans can trust their instincts, spark creativity, and access consciousness.
The conversation openly discusses tough realities. As I highlight, population shifts and declining birth rates will radically change how societies operate by 2050, making us more reliant on agents to maintain productivity. Fiona adds a perspective on leadership mindsets, or how different leaders view AI change, as either an opportunity for growth or a threat to their structures. Together, the hosts draw out Tarja’s insights in a way that makes the future of work feel less like a distant headline and more like a personal invitation.
Listeners will also hear practical wisdom: why reskilling and upskilling can’t be treated as side projects but instead should be part of daily routines for every employee; why curiosity might be the most valuable tool in the workplace; and why leadership focuses less on adoption and more on creating safe environments for experimentation and learning. Tarja even shares her upcoming book about unlocking the human advantage, offering eight life lessons to help leaders embrace their intuitive intelligence and inner strength.
So, pour yourself a cup of your favorite blend and embrace this thought-provoking conversation. By the end, you’ll find yourself reflecting on your workplace, your inner skills, and maybe even your relationship with AI.
Are you ready to work alongside AI and to become more fully human in the process?
