How to Lead with Heart in the Age of AI

Maria Ross, Author and Podcaster

As AI accelerates systems and decisions, the human capacity to connect, listen, and lead with care becomes our greatest strategic advantage. In this timely talk, empathy expert, podcaster, and award-winning author Maria Ross explores how leaders can balance employee well-being and performance objectives—without burning out. Drawing on her years of research and her books The Empathy Edge and The Empathy Dilemma, Maria offers practical tools to lead from grounded compassion, create trust-based cultures, and navigate the tension between efficiency and care. For those devoted to both values-aligned leadership and high performance, this session offers a powerful reminder: empathy isn't a soft skill—it's the foundation for innovation, engagement, and sustainable results.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn why your ability to connect and lead with care is the single greatest competitive advantage in the age of AI and automation.
• Get practical tools to balance the human element with performance objectives and personal boundaries without sacrificing results or experiencing burnout.
• Discover how to cultivate a high-trust culture that fuels innovation, engagement, and sustainable, long-term success.

Maria Ross is a speaker, author, strategist, and empathy advocate who helps leaders, teams, and brands accelerate growth through compassion. She's authored multiple books, including The Empathy Dilemma: How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries, and hosts the top-rated The Empathy Edge podcast. Maria delivers dynamic keynotes and leadership workshops for companies including Salesforce, New York Life, and TBWA/Worldwide, and has been featured in MSNBC, NPR, and Forbes.