Keynote - At the Tipping Point of AI - Leading with Humanity Through Disruption, Efficiency & Change

Описание: At the Feb 2026 Opal Conference for People Development & Talent Analytics, Jess Smith, owner of Breakthrough Wellness, gives a keynote speech on leading through transformation.

Keynote Overview:
We are at an unprecedented inflection point. Companies are restructuring fast, with over 720,000 job cuts in 2024, many tied to AI and automation. Experts forecast that 44% of skills will be disrupted (WEF), 30% of roles reconfigured (Gartner), and 62% of employees report anxiety about AI (PwC). Engagement is low: only 31% are engaged, while 17% are actively disengaged (Gallup, 2024). Global engagement dips add an estimated US$438 billion in lost productivity worldwide. Managers are disproportionately affected, compounding organizational risk.
This keynote blends data, lived experience, and insights to show how to lead responsibly — balancing efficiency and performance with empathy, clarity, and trust.

Core Themes:
Energy as a shared resource: Leadership presence sets emotional culture.
Culture moves at the speed of trust: Trust and transparency outweigh process during uncertainty.
Coach forward: Help people reimagine their place in an AI-enabled workplace.
Responsible AI adoption: Preserve human dignity while implementing technology.
Rebuilding after disruption: Steps to restore stability, connection, and engagement post-change.

Audience Takeaways:
A roadmap for the AI era: communicating transparently, supporting employees through ambiguity, protecting culture, maintaining trust, and guiding organizations toward sustainable, human-centered transformation.