ScaleUp:AI

AI-powered leadership: Transforming strategy and driving high-performing teams

Insight Partners | January 23, 2025| 2 min. read

This session explores how AI empowers business leaders to plan, execute, and evaluate strategies in a rapidly evolving landscape. From real-time insights and task automation to data-driven decision-making, AI-driven tools are helping organizations remain agile and competitive.

Key speakers

These insights came from our ScaleUp:AI event in November 2024, an industry-leading global conference that features topics across technologies and industries. Watch the full session below:

Key takeaways

  1. AI adoption is a 50/50 split: While some organizations are at the forefront of integrating AI into their workflows, others remain stuck in proof-of-concept stages, hesitant to take the leap due to organizational resistance, lack of clarity, or ethical concerns.
  2. AI as a strategic enabler: Tools like Quantive and Leapsome automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks, giving leaders the bandwidth to focus on high-impact strategies and people-first initiatives.
  3. Behavioral change is critical: Leadership must prioritize fostering a culture of adaptability, inclusivity, and openness to change to ensure successful AI adoption.
  4. Skills vs. abilities: As AI automates routine skills, organizations must cultivate human-centric abilities such as empathy, communication, and strategic thinking to remain competitive.

“AI is not just a technological revolution; it’s a human evolution”

AI adoption in enterprises remains uneven. According to Visconti, the corporate landscape is split between organizations that cautiously explore AI and those rapidly integrating it. He described this as a “50/50 race between those who are AI-conscious and those who are AI-ready.”

Podewils added nuance to this, pointing out that while many companies have implemented AI tools, adoption lags due to a lack of intentional change management. “AI is not just a technological revolution; it’s a human evolution. It needs very intentional change management to ultimately drive the adoption,” she said. Companies must prioritize both technical and cultural readiness to succeed.

Strategic planning, simplified by AI

Quantive’s approach to strategic planning centers on efficiency and insight. Visconti explained that the traditional strategic planning process is often bogged down by inefficiencies and manual tasks.

“We are amplifying the human component in the entire journey. Because without the human-led process, the process is not particularly well thought through.”

Quantive’s AI-powered tools reduce the time needed for ideation and execution by automating repetitive workflows, enabling leaders to focus on crafting effective strategies. However, Visconti cautioned against removing the human element entirely: “We are amplifying the human component in the entire journey. Because without the human-led process, the process is not particularly well thought through.”

Fostering productivity and engagement

Leapsome addresses one of the most pressing challenges organizations face today: manager burnout. Podewils highlighted the increasing workloads of managers, exacerbated by layoffs and economic uncertainty. “So the question is, how do we make their jobs easier? How do we help them to automate processes?” she said.

The Leapsome platform analyzes employee performance and engagement data, generating actionable insights and personalized plans for leaders. For example, AI can instantly summarize thousands of survey comments and produce actionable recommendations.

Leapsome also integrates AI into everyday workflows, offering co-pilot tools that assist managers with running effective one-on-ones, navigating tough conversations, and aligning team goals with organizational strategy.

“If you’re a leader, you must have the ability to look around the corner”

Leadership plays a pivotal role in overcoming resistance to AI adoption. Visconti argued that fostering a culture of adaptability starts at the top. “If you’re a leader, you must have the ability to look around the corner,” he said. He emphasized that leaders must proactively guide their teams through the transition, fostering a mindset of curiosity and openness across the organization.

Podewils expanded on this, noting that effective change management requires clear communication, training, and role modeling. “I think a lot of the adoption gap we’re seeing is linked to [lack of clarity] within companies as to what we’re actually trying to achieve with our AI strategy and where we’re heading,” she said.

A skills-based future

The workplace of the future will place greater emphasis on human-centric abilities. Visconti advised organizations to distinguish between trainable skills and innate abilities. “Skills are something that you can absolutely train. Good luck to the skilled people because there is a chance, a high chance, that AI is going to come after you. When instead, there is a bifurcated view… the ability. Abilities are not coachable; communication skills and ability to connect with people, it’s very hard to coach,” he explained.

“Curiosity matters, having a growth mindset matters. I think empathy still matters.”

Podewils added, “Curiosity matters, having a growth mindset matters. I think empathy still matters. The other one is probably also like, underrated communication skills.” Both speakers emphasized that while AI can automate repetitive tasks, it cannot replace the human touch.

Watch more sessions from ScaleUp:AI, and see scaleup.events for updates on ScaleUp:AI 2025.


Note: Insight has invested in Leapsome and Quantive.