Human Centricity in an AI World

Embrace the Future with AI While Prioritizing Human Values

Generative AI is revolutionizing the way we work, creating new possibilities and challenges. In this rapidly evolving landscape, it's essential to balance technological advancements with human-centric values. Join us for a virtual conference designed to empower knowledge workers with insights, skills, and strategies to thrive in an AI-driven world while prioritizing human connection.

Keynote Topic: Will AI Take Your Job?

Explore the transformative impact of AI on job roles, the creation of new job categories, and the importance of human-centered skills in navigating this change. Learn from our journey through the GenAI space and discover how AI can enhance productivity while reshaping professional landscapes.

Who Should Attend?

Learning and Development and HR Professionals: Discover strategies to integrate AI into training programs while maintaining a focus on human connection and engagement.
Project Professionals: Learn how AI can enhance project management practices and improve efficiency without losing sight of the human elements that drive team success.
Any knowledge worker interested in leading the way through the next transformation - AI adoption!

Why Attend?

Gain Practical Insights: Learn from industry experts and thought leaders on how to leverage AI while maintaining a human-centric focus.
Enhance Your Skills: Participate in interactive workshops and sessions designed to boost your project management and critical thinking skills.
Network with Peers: Engage in roundtable discussions and connect with professionals facing similar challenges and opportunities.
Earn Credits: Attendees can earn six hours of credit towards the certification of your choice. This includes six PDU/CDU credits.
Stay Ahead of the Curve: Understand the latest trends and strategies in integrating AI in a human-centric way, prioritizing human connection.
Exclusive Giveaways: We will be giving away two seats in a class and four $50 Amazon gift cards throughout the day!

You Will Learn:

How to Cultivate Emotional Intelligence and Build Strong Interpersonal Skills: Develop skills to maintain strong interpersonal relationships and empathy in an AI-driven workplace.
Effective Problem Solving and Systems Thinking: Learn methodologies for addressing complex challenges and implementing systemic solutions in a tech-centric environment.
Critical Thinking in AI Integration: Cultivate the ability to analyze and evaluate situations critically, ensuring strategies align with human-centric goals.
Navigating AI Challenges: Gain awareness about AI bias, copyright, security, and energy consumption to promote responsible and sustainable AI practices.
Mastering Essential Leadership Skills: Gain insights into the power skills necessary for effective leadership in an AI age, including communication, adaptability, and decision-making.
Fostering Creativity and Innovation: Explore techniques to encourage creative thinking and innovative problem-solving in a world augmented by AI.
Analytical Thinking and Strategic Analysis: Develop the ability to interpret data and trends, making informed decisions that balance technological advancements with human values.

Register Now!

Don't miss this opportunity to transform your approach to AI and enhance your professional skills. Secure your spot today and join us for a day of learning, networking, and growth.

Michelle Ruddenklau

Principal Consultant

Skills Development Group

Michelle has over 15 years of experience in higher education, strategic implementation, and education management. She excels in developing strategies and workforce development solutions, with expertise in multi-modal education models, industry training, and program design. Michelle has collaborated with universities, industry training organizations, and private institutions to enhance performance and education solutions across various sectors, including health and education. She co-designed and leads Skills Dx, offering capability, diagnostics, and talent development services for clients in the U.S., Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Shane Hastie

Global Delivery Lead

SoftEd

With newfound inspiration, I felt the pull to get back in the classroom and returned to SoftEd as the Global Delivery Lead. Drawing on over 35 years of experience in business analysis, product development, and organizational change, I love guiding people as they transform from traditional to modern, more healthy ways of working.

Suzie Bishop

Vice President of Product Development

The Center For Leadership Studies

Suzie Bishop is an established leader in workplace education and leadership development. She joined The Center for Leadership Studies in 2012 in Marketing, revitalizing the brand and contributing to its recognition as a Top 20 Leadership Training Company. Transitioning to Product Development in 2019, she now serves as the vice president, leading the creation of innovative learning solutions. In 2021, she spearheaded the Product Technology Strategy Initiative, enhancing CLS’ leadership programs. Suzie is a Certified Professional in Training Management (CPTM) and has received accolades such as Thirty Under Thirty Leader and membership in Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches. She also co-chairs Forefront, a non-profit organization powered by 100Coaches with a mission to support the growth and development of future executive coaches and talent professionals.

Chris Knotts

Principal Consultant

Technology Transformation Strategies

Chris is an experienced leader in enterprise technology with over two decades in training, coaching, and emergent technology enablement, particularly in project management. He excels in creating transformative technology training programs focused on software development, data environments, and agile methodologies. His expertise encompasses enterprise software engineering, advanced analytics, data engineering, and the application of AI and machine learning in business.

David Mantica

VP & GM

SoftEd

Drawing from his experience in successfully building a B2B training firm, growing it from scratch to $13M in seven years. His work at SoftEd helps organizations not only cope but thrive even with the ever-changing demands and complexities of modern business.

Lara Hill

VP Marketing

SoftEd

Lara has spent 15 years leading marketing strategy for various ecommerce and tech startups, emphasizing adaptability and value delivery. Her focus extends to advocating for AI literacy and ethical AI practices, ensuring a balanced integration of technology with a human touch in marketing strategies. She consults with organizations to assist leaders in strategically enhancing their digital presence through personal branding and content creation.

Sharon Andrews

Vice President of Strategic Solutions

The Center for Leadership Studies

Sharon Andrews is a seasoned learning professional known for her passion for leadership development and personalized solutions. With a foundation established at FedEx Office, she spearheaded strategic training initiatives, founded the Women in Real Life Leadership Program, and earned the prestigious FedEx Five Star Award. Transitioning to The Wendy’s Company, Sharon led system-wide development efforts and successfully implemented multiple complex training programs. Between the two organizations there wasn’t a training “hat” she didn’t wear when it came to the strategy, planning and rollout of development programs for her people. At both organizations, Sharon facilitated Situational Leadership® training, and was always fond of the intellectual property of The Center for Leadership Studies. Currently serving as Vice President of Strategic Solutions, Sharon brings her passion for premium content and customizing learning experiences to help clients achieve their goals. Beyond her career, Sharon is the mother of three and is committed to giving back to her community in a variety of ways and serves as a mentor to aspiring leaders.

Chris McLean

Vice President of Training & Global Master Trainer

The Center For Leadership Studies

As the Vice President of Training and Global Master Trainer with The Center for Leadership Studies (CLS), Chris McLean oversees the training and delivery team and plays a key role in developing and delivering Situational Leadership® training around the world. Trained by Dr. Paul Hersey, the founder of the Situational Leadership® Model, Chris collaborated closely with him until his passing in 2012. Chris has partnered with major organizations such as Sony, GE Health Care, Samsung, Johnson & Johnson, and The Coca-Cola Company, enhancing leadership and efficiency through his expertise. With over 35 years of leadership experience, he has held various operational and executive roles, including Director of Operations for a restaurant franchise with $13 million in annual revenues. Chris is passionate about developing leaders as well as improving organizational engagement and bench strength. He holds multiple certifications, including Targeted Selection®, DiSC®, EQ-i®, and Lominger’s Leadership Architect.

$59

Conference recording access
Presentation slides in .pdf format
Chat transcript
AI tools resource guide
25% off any SoftEd AI class for a year
Chance to win one of five $50 Amazon Gift Cards (Must be present to win!)

Agenda*

10:00 - 10:10 - Lara Hill - Welcome
- Networking and housekeeping
10:10 - 10:50 - David Mantica - Will AI Take Your Job?
- Explore the impact of AI on the job market in this insightful session. Drawing from extensive research and practical experience in the GenAI space, we'll discuss how AI is transforming roles across industries. Learn how AI adoption parallels previous tech innovations and discover the key to thriving in this new landscape: human-centric skills. Understand which job categories are at risk, which will evolve, and how new roles will emerge, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and continuous learning.
10:50 - 11:00 - Break / Open forum / $50 Amazon gift card drawing
11:00 - 11:50 - Chris Knotts - Fostering Creativity and Innovation: Explore techniques to encourage creative thinking and innovative problem-solving in a world augmented by AI
- The key to incorporating AI into your work successfully is understanding what people are good at and what machines are good at, then striking the right balance. As AI is increasingly able to handle repetitive tasks and analytical work, there continue to be areas where humans are irreplaceable.
  
  One of these areas is creativity and innovation. AI can help here, but the core spark of innovative new ideas continues to be something only people have to give. In this session Chris will discuss:
  
  How to harness aspects of human creativity that AI cannot replicate, such as emotional intelligence, contextual understanding, and intuitive leaps.
  Ideation techniques that are more relevant than ever in an increasingly AI-integrated environment.
  Repeatable creative practices: Chris will discuss structured practices that facilitate systematic innovation and problem-solving in ways that can’t yet be replicated by AI
  
  As we explore these frameworks, we’ll also examine how they can be adapted to incorporate AI tools without losing the essence of human creativity. The goal is to develop the skills to use AI as a complementary tool in the creative process, enhancing but not replacing human input.
12:00 - 12:30 - Bias, Copyright, Security, and Energy: A Panel Discussion Facilitated by Lara Hill and David Mantica
- This panel will discuss the social, ethical, and environmental dimensions of generative AI advancements. This session will dive into crucial topics such as AI bias, copyright issues, security concerns, and the significant energy consumption associated with AI technologies. This is a chance to ponder some of the most pressing questions surrounding AI’s impact on society.

12:30 - 1:00 - Lunch Break
1:00 - 1:50 - Chris McLean, Center for Leadership Studies - Leading With Emotional Intelligence in Today's AI Landscape
- As AI becomes more widespread, bringing with it the compounding ripple effects of change, it's essential to remember that leadership is all about people. Join this session to learn about the critical role of emotional intelligence in the modern AI-driven business world and how it can help leaders build stronger connections that enhance engagement and team performance.
1:50 - 2:00 - Break / Open forum / $50 Amazon gift card drawing
2:00 - 2:50 - Sharon Andrews and Suzie Bishop, Center for Leadership Studies - Human-Centered Leadership in an AI-Driven World
- Join us to discover the pivotal role of human-centered leadership in an AI-driven world. Learn how to leverage a whole-person leadership approach to foster a culture of trust, empathy, and innovation to achieve success in today's evolving landscape.
2:50 - 3:00 - Break / Open forum / $50 Amazon gift card drawing
3:00 - 3:50 - Shane Hastie - Navigating the AI Frontier: The Crucial Role of Critical Thinking in Using Generative AI Tools
- - In an era where generative AI tools are becoming increasingly prevalent, the ability to critically evaluate and effectively utilize these technologies is more important than ever. This talk conveys the significance of critical thinking when interacting with generative AI. Attendees will learn about the potential benefits and pitfalls of these tools, understand the importance of questioning AI outputs, and gain strategies for ensuring ethical and accurate use. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to harness the power of generative AI responsibly and effectively, making informed decisions that enhance their work and safeguard against misinformation.
3:50 - 4:00 - Break / Open forum / $50 Amazon gift card drawing
4:00 - 4:50 - Michelle Ruddenklau - Strategic Thinking and Analytical Thinking: Understanding and Developing Your Human Capabilities, and Leveraging Them with AI
- Strategic and Analytic thinking: Understand why strategic thinking and analytical thinking competencies are critical in the future of work. Assess and develop these competencies to effectively augment your humanness with AI
- This talk will equip you with:
  - Understanding why strategic thinking and analytical thinking competencies are critical in the future of work
  - How to maximize your humanness, and augment with AI for co-intelligence
  - A roadmap for assessing and developing these key competencies, for yourself, or your team
4:50 - 5:00 - Closing remarks / $50 Amazon gift card drawing