Aims: The objective of Leading in the AI Era is to build leaders’ capability to navigate AI-enabled change in a way that is sustainable, human-centred, and performance-driven.
The programme supports leaders to:
- Lead people confidently through uncertainty and continuous change
- Strengthen trust, psychological safety, and engagement during AI-enabled transformation
- Use AI thoughtfully to enhance decision-making, efficiency, and effectiveness in ways that meaningfully support people, performance, and long-term value creation.
- Strengthen emotional intelligence in leadership practice to enable effective sense-making, engagement, and progress through change
- Bridge the gap between “scary technology” and “human leadership” by positioning AI as a tool that creates space for better EQ.
The programme recognises that AI adoption is not primarily a technical challenge, but a leadership and people challenge.
Programme content:
The programme integrates human, operational, and strategic perspectives to support leaders working in increasingly AI-enabled environments.
Key areas include:
- The human impact of AI and automation on roles, identity, and confidence
- Leading through ongoing change by strengthening emotional intelligence as a core leadership capability
- Trust, psychological safety, and transparency during technology-enabled change
- Purposeful use of AI to support leadership judgment and operational effectiveness
- Creating shared understanding around AI-enabled change
- Practical sessions on cognitive load audits, personal capacity release through AI-fluency, and the co-creation of AI governance charters.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:
- Lead teams more confidently and effectively through AI-enabled change
- Apply emotional intelligence to support sense-making, dialogue, and engagement during continuous change
- Build trust and psychological safety during technology-enabled change
- Strengthen leadership judgment around the adoption and impact of AI
- Balance immediate operational pressures with sustained leadership and organisational capability.
- Transition from an “AI Observer” to an “AI Architect” who leverages technology to buy back time for high-value leadership activities.
- Master the ability to foster “The Innovation Zone” by balancing technical experimentation with the psychological safety required to eliminate “Shadow AI.”
- Assess the leader and their team’s readiness by balancing technical skills with psychological safety for innovation.
This programme aligns with the Sustainable People Practices Framework and specifically contributes to:
- Sustainable leadership capability, strengthening judgment, adaptability, and emotional intelligence in leaders
- Employee voice, trust, and inclusion, ensuring people are engaged participants in change rather than passive recipients
- Responsible and transparent use of technology, recognising the impact of AI and automation on trust, fairness, and decision-making
- Long-term organisational resilience, focusing on longer term capability-building and leadership effectiveness rather than short-term optimisation
This programme is designed for:
- Leaders, people managers, and business owners, including those preparing for broader leadership responsibility
- Leaders responsible for implementing, influencing, or leading AI-enabled change
- Leaders seeking to strengthen their leadership capability in complex, fast-changing environments
The programme is suitable across sectors and is not limited to technical or specialist AI roles.
The programme supports organisations to integrate people, performance, and technology decisions in a way that enables sustainable value creation.
With optional One-to-One Coaching / Deep Dive (3 x 1 hour sessions) pricing available upon request.
This programme will be lead by Michelle McDaid and Paul Thompson,
Trainer Profiles:
Experience: Michelle McDaid
- MSc (Hons) in Work & Organisational Behaviour, DCU (Sep 2023 – June 2025)
- CIPD Associate Member
- 25+ years experience leading and scaling global teams across FinTech and HR Tech.
- Mentoring, coaching and building high performance teams across multiple cultures and countries in all roles for 25 years.
- Michelle is passionate about DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging), with a special interest in Gender Equity and Women in STEM. Through her senior roles in technology in AIB, Fidelity Investments and Workhuman, Michelle has championed ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) and has led many initiatives which delivered tangible results. Michelle was an IBEC Diversity Forum member and 30% Club rep and Tech Forum rep while at Workhuman.
- Mentor and committee member on TU Dublin Saer Mentoring Programme.
Experience: Paul Thompson
Qualifications/Professional Development:
- Professional Diploma in Advanced Artificial Intelligence, University College Dublin (Distinction, 2025).
- Strategic Contact Centre Management (Level 9), Dublin Business School.
- Diploma in Executive & Personal Coaching, Kingstown College.
- Lean Six Sigma – Yellow Belt, Moresteam.
- Professional Certificate in Contact Centre Management, NUI.
- BSc (Hons) Computer Science, ITT Dublin (2002-2006).
Experience:
- 16+ years’ experience delivering large-scale customer service transformation across global B2B and B2C organisations including Google, LinkedIn, and Sage. Expert in customer service, CX strategy, operational performance improvement, digital-first service models, and vendor management.
- Founder of ‘What If Now Ltd’, a strategic AI agency empowering start-ups and SMEs to move quickly from AI curiosity to full operational execution with tailored AI, automation and leadership support.
- CCMA Ireland Board Member (Voluntary) (Jan 2022 – Present).
- Provides strategic guidance to 2,000+ CX professionals advocating for industry growth across Ireland.
- Advocate for the growth and professionalisation of the Irish CX industry.
- Judge for the national CX industry awards, including Industry Professional of the Year (2023), Team Leader of the Year (2024), and Advisor of the Year (2025).
- Passionate about leadership development, CX innovation, and building resilient teams.
- A certified coach with a passion for developing resilient, high-performing and empathetic teams.
- Founding Member of Google Ireland Toastmasters and recipient of the Corporate Special Award.