09/09/2026
The more capable AI becomes, the more intentional we need to become about the value only people can bring.
That was one of my reflections after attending the African Professional Network of Irelandf APNI event at eBay in Dublin last week.
The conversation brought together perspectives from AI, data, technology and talent, with Charles Ezenwa Nwankire, Ph.D, MBA, Michelle O'Doherty, Lorenzo Tomaselli and Roselyn Manegene, with Happiness Omochere-Esho leading the conversation.
What stayed with me was that the conversation about AI is no longer simply about the technology.
It is about people.
How we work.
How we learn.
How we lead.
And how we continue to create value as the nature of work changes.
I have said before that the future does not need us to compete with AI.
It needs us to become more human.
That means strengthening the things technology does not remove the need for: judgement, curiosity, relationships, communication, adaptability and leadership.
The challenge for leaders is not simply to ask, “How do we use AI?”
We also need to ask:
“What kind of people and organisations do we need to become because of it?”
A thought-provoking evening, and it was also good to catch up with Siobhán Curtin and other amazing people.
Thank you to APNI and eBay for creating the space for the conversation.