Emotional intelligence has always mattered in project work—but in the age of AI, it’s becoming a differentiator. In this episode, Galen sits down with Nadja El Fertasi, founder of Thrive with EQ and former NATO leader, to unpack how EQ shows up in high-stakes digital transformation—and why it may be the most overlooked risk mitigation strategy in your toolkit.

Drawing from nearly two decades inside NATO’s cyber and digital transformation initiatives, Nadja shares how stakeholder engagement, influence, and emotional resilience directly impact everything from project delivery to cybersecurity. As AI accelerates automation and amplifies both opportunity and risk, the real question isn’t whether EQ still matters—it’s whether we’re investing in it fast enough.

Resources from this episode:

Join the Digital Project Manager Community
Subscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcasts
Check out this episode’s sponsor: Toggl
Connect with Nadja:
- LinkedIn
- Thrive with EQ

What NATO Taught Me About EQ in High-Stakes Transformation