In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into how emotional intelligence empowers us as leaders in the rapidly advancing age of AI.

I have the privilege of sitting down with Noah Daniels, Senior Vice President of Market Development at Simpson Strong-Tie. Noah’s career is a remarkable journey that seamlessly blends technical expertise with a true people-first philosophy. He’s known for championing emotionally intelligent leadership and driving digital transformation in the traditionally structured world of manufacturing.

We explore Noah’s unique approach to integrating digital transformation within Simpson Strong-Tie, a 70-year-old manufacturing company that’s leading innovation in homebuilding and affordable housing. We get into the challenges and opportunities when introducing technology to an under-digitized industry, and how staying human-centered is the key differentiator in a tech-focused landscape.

Noah and I also get personal as we talk about the “double whammy” impact of post-Covid isolation and AI automation on our social fabric, especially how these forces affect younger generations. We reflect on the urgency of emotional intelligence in leadership, and why relationships, empathy, and vulnerability are more crucial than ever.

• Digital Transformation with Heart: How Noah is leading the charge at Simpson Strong-Tie by blending innovation with a human-first approach in a manufacturing environment.
• Affordable Housing Solutions: The role of technology and emotional intelligence in addressing the housing crisis and building more accessible homes.
• AI and Outsourcing Our Thinking: The risks of letting AI do the thinking for us, and strategies to maintain critical and creative human thinking on your teams.
• Emotional Intelligence Post-Covid: The heightened importance of empathy, connection, and psychological safety in a remote and automated workplace.
• Building Trust Remotely: Practical tools for engaging virtual teams, fostering trust, and sustaining meaningful relationships even when you’ve never met in person.
• Addressing AI Anxiety: How to help your team move past the fear of job loss through continuous learning, a growth mindset, and leveraging unique human strengths.
• The Indispensable Power of Empathy: Why empathy is the one irreplaceable human quality that no AI will ever replicate and how it builds trust, loyalty, and collaboration.

If today’s conversation resonated with you, I encourage you to share this episode with a leader or friend who needs to hear it. Want to keep leading with heart in the AI age? Subscribe to HeartWired for more insights and connect with Noah Daniels on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-daniels-0a0b911/

Stay wired to what matters most and keep leading with empathy.

Welcome to HeartWired! I’m Dr. MJ, and today’s episode is packed with powerful insights for anyone curious (or a little apprehensive) about navigating the intersection of AI, leadership, and being authentically human in a tech-driven world.

Hilary Bilbrey is not just an award-winning author and speaker; she’s a true thought leader in emotional intelligence, resilience, and authentic leadership. Hilary’s work especially her book The Authenticity Key challenges us all to deepen self-awareness, lead with integrity, and leverage technology as a tool for good, not as a replacement for meaningful human interaction.

In this candid conversation, Hilary and I dive into the real effects AI is having on our personal and professional lives both the exciting opportunities and the fears it brings up. We talk about the “pleasing bias” in AI, the importance of asking machines for honest feedback (instead of just flattery!), and actionable strategies for keeping our core values at the center as we embrace new technologies.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

1. AI’s Built-in Bias to Please: Hilary breaks down why AI is designed to tell users what they want to hear, and how that can limit our growth unless we intentionally ask for challenge and critique.
2. Prompting for Growth: Learn practical prompts to get AI to disagree with you, point out your blind spots, or play the role of “devil’s advocate” to strengthen your proposals, presentations, or ideas.
3. Conversational AI: Hilary shares her real-world workflow using both voice and text with AI to brainstorm, plan, and iterate, whether she’s on a walk or at her desk.
4. Self-Reflection & Capability Models: Discover how AI can serve as a tool for honest self-assessment and ongoing personal development.
5. How AI Can Enhance Our Humanity: Together, we debunk myths about AI making us less relevant, and show how it actually frees us to focus on deeper relationships, real listening, and meaningful work.
6. Authenticity in an AI World: We explore why you must know yourself your values, strengths, and leadership style before you can “train” any tool to reflect your true voice and aspirations.
7. Overcoming Fear with Curiosity: Hear Hilary’s simple, “safe” ways to start exploring AI, from vacation itineraries to finding unique gifts, before working up to using it for business decisions and coaching.

If this episode inspired you, share it with a friend or colleague who’s curious about the future of work, AI, and emotional intelligence. Be sure to subscribe to HeartWired so you never miss an episode. And if you’re ready to embrace AI as a partner in your authentic leadership journey start small, stay curious, and trust yourself.

Thanks again to Hilary Bilbrey for her wisdom. You can find more about her book The Authenticity Key wherever books are sold.

Let’s keep leading with heart, one conversation at a time!

— Dr. Mary Jean Vignone

Mentioned in this episode:

HeartWired is part of the eWomenPodcastNetwork

eWomenPodcastNetwork

Welcome back to HeartWired! I’m Dr. MJ, your host, and in this episode, I’m joined by the remarkable Dr. Gemma Sharp, a powerhouse in the worlds of epidemiology, mental health, and ethical AI innovation. Gemma is not only a professor and globally-minded researcher but also the founder of the Global Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders and CEO of her own AI mental health technology company.

In this inspiring conversation, we dive deep into the intersection of mental health care and artificial intelligence. Dr. Gemma Sharp shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and charity leadership, all driven by her desire to create real-world impact. We discuss the importance of human-centered, co-designed AI, how to navigate conflicting stakeholder needs, and the critical ethical boundaries that must guide tech innovation in high-stakes domains like mental health.

Key Takeaways and Topics Covered

1. Why Diverse Roles Matter: Learn how Dr. Gemma Sharp integrates research, clinical experience, and tech leadership to drive meaningful change in mental health ([00:00:49]–[00:02:25]).
2. Co-Design in Practice: Discover the double diamond design model and how involving end-users from the start (those with lived experience, clinicians, advocates, and more) leads to safer, more effective AI tools ([00:05:28]–[00:07:59]).
3. Ethical Guardrails: Explore why “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” is Dr. Gemma Sharp’s mantra for AI development, and the risks of moving faster than governance and ethics allow ([00:12:22]–[00:14:28]).
4. Practical AI in Care: We differentiate between lower-risk uses (admin support, clinical notes, scheduling) and high-risk ones (AI as therapist substitutes), and why current technology is best viewed as an assistant, not a replacement ([00:15:01]–[00:17:27]).
5. Building Trust and Safety: Hear about GEM and EDS-E, two AI-driven tools Dr. Gemma Sharp has co-created, and why listening to user concerns led to “less fancy” but safer, trusted solutions ([00:17:37]–[00:19:42]).
6. Advice for Innovators: The most crucial question to answer before launching an AI mental health tool? Define safety boundaries and know exactly what’s in and out of scope ([00:20:18]–[00:21:01]).
7. Community Impact: Get introduced to the Global Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders, an inclusive, barrier-free organization aiming to welcome all voices in support and research ([00:21:21]–[00:23:23]).

If you’re a clinician, researcher, entrepreneur, or technologist curious about the future of mental health and AI, this episode is packed with wisdom, practical frameworks, and ethical insights. Dr. Gemma Sharp’s perspective balances optimism and caution, always centering technology as a support for, not a replacement of, human connection.

1. Learn more about eating disorders research or join the free Global Consortium: core-ed.com.au
2. Contact Dr. Gemma Sharp through Adelaide University, LinkedIn, or X for more on AI tools and consortium events.

If today’s conversation resonated with you, please share this episode with friends or colleagues interested in responsible AI, human-centered design, or mental health innovation. Subscribe to HeartWired for more thought leadership where tech meets human values and stay tuned for our next episode!

Thank you for being part of the HeartWired community. Your curiosity and commitment to emotional intelligence in the AI age make all the difference.

— Dr. MJ