The Business of Learning The Business of Learning, Episode 94: Developing Emotionally Intelligent Leaders in the Age of AI
Feb 27, 2026
Dr. Mikah Sellers, workforce futurist and bestselling author focused on leadership and the future of work. He explains how emotionally intelligent leadership looks in AI-driven workplaces. He reframes EI as trainable behavior and outlines core components like self-awareness and empathy. He covers measuring EI with validated tools and designing immersive, coached learning that changes leader identity over time.
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Emotional Intelligence Shapes Decision Making
- Emotionally intelligent leadership shapes how leaders make decisions by staying grounded, reading emotional climate, and responding intentionally rather than reactively.
- Mikah Sellers emphasizes slowing down during acceleration to keep teams cohesive and tap into human strengths amid tech mediation.
Emotional Intelligence Is The New Operating System
- As AI automates technical tasks, emotional intelligence becomes the operating system that differentiates leaders in high-change environments.
- Sellers notes EI enables trust, self-regulation, and cohesion when leaders must decide what to automate and who may be displaced.
Position Emotional Intelligence As A Measurable Skill
- Reframe emotional intelligence as behavioral and trainable by anchoring it to observable actions like listening, conflict response, and stress decision-making.
- Pair training with validated assessments and tie EI development to business outcomes like retention and engagement.