Steve Adubato’s Lessons in Leadership: Artificial Intelligence in Leadership

By Steve Adubato, PhD On Jan 22, 2026

In this special, “Steve Adubato’s Lessons in Leadership” mini-seminar, Steve and his co-host Mary Gamba break down some of the keys to embracing, understanding and utilizing Artificial Intelligence. You need to confront AI, or it will confront you.

---

The best leaders must embrace the fact that Artificial Intelligence is all around us. It is engrained in decision-making, strategy, communication, and operations across nearly every sector. For leaders, the question is no longer whether AI matters, but how to engage it responsibly, intentionally, and effectively. Leadership in the age of AI is not about letting machines handle our decision-making. Instead, it is about using AI to better understand the world around us. The most successful leaders are those who remain curious and strategic as they integrate AI into their organizations and cultures. Consider the following keys when it comes to AI in leadership:

• Trial and error…and learn. Leadership has never been about having all the answers, and AI makes that clearer than ever. No one gets this exactly right. The best leaders are willing to test, learn, adjust, pivot, and try again. It is all about asking tough questions, and listening carefully to what works, and what doesn’t. It is also about acknowledging when something falls short. Trial and error isn’t failure; it’s how leaders build real understanding. The key is creating a culture where learning is valued more than pretending everything is “perfect.” It is about progress, not perfection.
• Confront AI, or it confronts you. You can’t ignore AI and hope it goes away. If you don’t actively engage with it, it will show up anyway, and often in ways you didn’t plan for. Employees will use it on their own. Competitors will move faster. Risks will surface when it’s too late to manage them calmly. Confronting AI doesn’t mean becoming a tech expert. It means asking smart questions, understanding how AI is already being used, and making a conscious decision about how it should be used. Leaders who step in early get to shape the conversation instead of reacting under pressure.
• AI is helpful… but not the entire solution. There’s a lot of hype around AI, and some of it makes AI sound like a magic answer to every problem. It’s not. AI can process information quickly, identify patterns, and improve efficiency, which is extremely valuable. But it can’t replace judgment, values, or emotional intelligence. It doesn’t understand context the way people do. It will give you an answer whether it truly understands your question or not. Strong leaders use AI as a tool, not a crutch. They balance data with experience and never forget that leadership decisions still require human responsibility. And remember, AI is only as good as the information you give it.
• Drive the AI process. Don’t let AI drive you. One of the biggest leadership mistakes is letting technology dictate direction, rather than the leader taking the reins. Leaders need to decide why they’re using it, how success will be measured, and who is accountable. That also means setting boundaries around ethics, privacy, bias, and transparency. When leaders intentionally drive the AI process, it becomes an asset. When they don’t, it can quickly feel like it’s running the show.
• AI replaces tasks…hopefully not people. Let’s be honest. AI raises real concerns about people potentially losing their jobs, and leaders can’t dodge that conversation. While AI will replace certain tasks, it doesn’t have to replace people. In fact, used well, AI can free employees from repetitive work and allow them to focus on creativity, problem-solving, and building relationships. The best and most effective leaders invest in training and helping people grow alongside technology instead of being pushed aside by it. At its best, AI should enhance human contribution, not eliminate it. In the end, AI doesn’t lead, people do.

Related Articles: