In this episode of Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Shelly Swanback, board director, transformation executive and co-author of The AI Edge. Shelly has spent her career helping organizations navigate digital disruption, including co-founding Accenture Digital and leading companies like Western Union and TTEC through major transformation. She and Tammy get into leading when you don’t have all the answers, connecting “soft skills” to the business and reframing ongoing learning so it's a central part of the job.

Highlights from the episode include:

• AI is more emotionally charged. AI is the first technology designed to replicate human intelligence, and people know it. Unlike past waves, this one is hitting employees at a personal and emotional level. People are worried about their own jobs, yes, but also about AI’s impact on society and the world. With stakes that high, communication is more important than ever.
• Uncertainty and vision can coexist. Not having all the answers is not an excuse for not having a direction. Shelley argues leaders need to paint a picture their organizations can rally around. Be honest about what's still uncertain and repeat that story far more than feels necessary. By the time you're tired of telling it, people are just starting to get it.
• Turn learning into part of the job. Leaders can encourage ongoing learning by making it a daily practice. Wave these three questions into every team conversation: What did we learn? What will we do differently? And what do we want to learn next? That kind of curious and continual inquiry is more powerful than a one-time training.

Check out the full episode to hear the leadership advice that changed Tammy's career and why connecting the dots between the market and your people is always time well spent.

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Please note that the views expressed in this episode may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.