AI readiness in practice: Leading with people, not just tools

The companies making real progress with AI aren’t just adding new technology. They’re preparing their leaders to guide people through constant change. That means developing capacities like building trust, navigating complexity, and holding courageous conversations. Not simply speeding up technical training.
Torch CEO Heather Conklin will join Zapier Chief People Officer Brandon Sammut to share what they’re seeing in practice.
These leaders are living this in real time, and they’ll explore how managers are connecting daily work to strategy, addressing fear openly, and staying steady as expectations evolve. They’ll also highlight how contextual coaching creates a two-way flow of insight between leaders and the organization, so change is guided by what’s really happening on the ground.
What you’ll take away:
- A real-world lens for building trust under pressure
- How to coach courageous conversations without stalling momentum
- A simple pattern for turning team signals into org-level decisions
This session will give you practical ways to keep leaders steady and teams moving as AI expectations rise.