Leadership Development Insight from Danita

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It's a pressing Leadership Strategy question: Will you manage AI, or will AI manage you? Or, as a Millennial friend recently asked - Will AI enslave you?

This question came to life twice recently.  First, with my grandchildren on a Cancun family vacation, watching the “robot-taking-over-the-world” movie. Next, during my conversation with Regina Barr on the Women at the Top podcast. It's also the central question of my upcoming book, Character Mandate: Winning Strategies for Leading in the AI Revolution. As we step into a 500-year shift—where technology outpaces our moral frameworks—it’s clear that character must become our compass.

Publication: Axios AI Plus Authors: Megan Morrone and Emily Peck Date: September 8, 2025

One Big Thing: AI Job Anxiety is Coming at the Worst Time

Workers at all stages of their careers — from job hunters to job havers — are increasingly anxious about the lightning-fast deployment of AI. Why it matters: Their fears come at a particularly fraught moment, with jobs in scarce supply, hiring frozen in many industries, and corporate leaders relentlessly pushing this technology as a replacement for humans.

AI is changing faster than ever. The real question is, how will you lead in the middle of it? What leadership skills might help you navigate the digital and technological storm? AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s already shaping the way you work, lead, and make decisions. But beyond the amazing tools and possibilities, it also stirs up some tough questions: What values guide the way you use AI? And how do you keep your leadership grounded when the world around you feels like it’s accelerating?

As part of my Leadership Development work, I recently started reading Boys Adrift: The 5 Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men by Leonard Sax, MD, PHD. In the first 4 chapters, he's talking primarily to those involved in educating and training today's K-12 students about these trends:

  • Changes at School
  • Video Games
  • Medications for ADHD
  • Endocrine Disruptors
  • Lack of Male Role Models