What if the “soft skills” we often overlook are actually the most strategic—and essential—in the age of AI?

In this episode, leadership expert Dr. Bushra Khan and host Kate O’Neill explore the power and business impact of emotional intelligence, challenging outdated leadership myths and redefining what skills matter most for future-ready teams.

Topics Covered:
Why “soft skills” should be called “strategic skills”
Emotional intelligence as a leadership framework
Evidence-based emotional intelligence in organizations
Critical thinking, persuasion, and influence for tech leaders
Challenging the myth of micromanagement
Culture’s impact on leadership assumptions
Candor vs. bluntness in high-stakes communication
Balancing bravery and kindness in decision making
Practical approaches to EI skill-building in companies
Finding hope and optimism in leadership

Connect with: Dr. Bushra Khan
Linkedin
Website

Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome & redefining soft skills
00:00:37 – Emotional intelligence as leadership
00:01:20 – Reframing skills for a tech-driven world
00:01:55 – Why “soft” is inadequate and damaging
00:02:49 – Strategic skills vs. technical expertise
00:04:33 – Critical thinking & real-life practice
00:05:43 – Evidence-based EI: Research & impact
00:06:05 – Describing great leaders (EI in action)
00:08:47 – EQ vs. IQ & technical skills
00:11:06 – The emotional intelligence framework
00:12:34 – Making EI accessible in everyday life
00:13:24 – The myth of micromanagement
00:15:46 – Coaching, mentoring, and trust
00:17:13 – Cross-context skills: work, life, community
00:17:43 – Leadership mental models across cultures
00:18:35 – Cultural differences in trust and hierarchy
00:22:23 – Candor, clarity, and high-stakes communication
00:23:14 – Building trust for high-pressure moments
00:26:33 – Balancing bravery and kindness
00:29:29 – EI is not just being nice—using frameworks
00:31:34 – Practical “how” for applying EI
00:32:07 – Why companies should invest in human skills
00:32:41 – Making skills training bite-sized and evidence-based
00:35:44 – Key takeaways & actionable advice
00:36:23 – Finding hope and optimism in leadership
00:39:53 – Gratitude and closing remarks

What are the questions only humans can ask in an age where AI seems to have all the answers?

In this episode, Kate O’Neill and futurist Ben Pring dive deep into the uniquely human skills and judgments that technology can’t replicate, and explore how leaders and organizations can navigate uncertainty, ask better questions, and shape a more human-centered future.

Topics covered:
Placing today’s AI advancements in historical context
How technology replaces skill with judgment
The value of asking better questions in an AI-driven world
Why leaders avoid tough decisions about humans vs. machines
How incentives and alignment shape organizational outcomes
The policy gaps at the intersection of technology, strategy, and labor
Distinguishing human creativity from AI-generated “slop”
How to maintain humanity and funkiness in a synthetic content flood
Hope and optimism for the future of work and technology

Connect with Ben Pring:
benpring.com

Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome to the Tech Humanist Show
00:00:18 – The Human Ability to Ask the Next Best Question
00:00:32 – Computers Are Useless: Asking the Right Questions
00:01:05 – Introducing Ben Pring
00:02:21 – Historical Context for Today’s AI Moment
00:04:47 – Technology: Replacing Skill with Judgment
00:08:14 – What Leaders Should Be Asking in an AI-Powered World
00:13:08 – Why Leaders Avoid Tough Questions About Automation
00:16:13 – Decision-Making in Times of Uncertainty
00:19:10 – Distinguishing Priorities from Trivialities
00:24:22 – Aligning Incentives and Unintended Consequences
00:25:41 – Have We Gotten Better at Taming the Monster?
00:29:26 – The Most Important Policy Questions We’re Not Asking
00:33:59 – The Car as a Parallel: Infrastructure and Human-Centric Design
00:36:21 – What Remains Distinctly Human in a Synthetic Content World
00:41:01 – Invention, Funkiness, and Problem-Solving
00:42:46 – Hope and Optimism for the Future
00:49:03 – Closing and Where to Find Ben Pring

What if climate action and economic growth aren’t at odds—but actually deeply aligned?

In this episode, Kate O’Neill sits down with Tom Chi to challenge conventional thinking about climate solutions, innovation, and the future of planetary restoration.

Topics Covered:
The emotional impact of witnessing coral reef collapse
Reimagining climate action through the lens of both ecology and economy
Lessons from Google X: rapid prototyping and low-cost innovation
How Google Glass shaped the understanding of visual information and human experience
Insights into planetary restoration and urgent timelines for action
The concept of “Climate Capital” and investment strategies for sustainability
Aligning ecological wins with economic incentives
Overcoming barriers in climate-tech: capex inertia and effective policy
Interconnectedness and its influence on business and technology
Innovative approaches for sustainable material management

Connect with Tom Chi:
LinkedIn
At One Ventures Website

Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome & Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show
00:00:15 – Tom Chi on Reef Collapse and Global Tragedy
00:00:43 – Rethinking Climate Action: Ecology vs. Economy
00:02:15 – Conversation Kickoff: Meet Tom Chi
00:02:36 – Google X, Rapid Prototyping, and Hardware Innovation
00:06:24 – Augmenting Human Vision: Google Glass Discoveries
00:13:08 – From Tech Innovator to Planetary Restoration
00:16:33 – The Gravity of Coral Loss & Civilization-Scale Decisions
00:19:47 – Becoming Net Positive to Nature: NE Ventures Approach
00:21:01 – What “Climate Capital” Really Means
00:27:01 – Structuring Climate-Tech Investments & Timelines
00:28:57 – Advice for Funders: Overcoming Green Premiums
00:33:15 – Interconnectedness: Tech, Nature, and Business
00:38:43 – Building Lasting Systems with Nature
00:39:13 – The One Law to Accelerate Climate Solutions
00:47:21 – Empowering Change: Rates Not States
00:47:30 – Book Release: Climate Capital
00:48:17 – Closing Remarks & How to Connect