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

Welcome back to another episode of HeartWired: the podcast where we explore how emotionally intelligent leadership can thrive in an AI-powered world. I’m your host, Dr. Mary Jean Vignone, and in this episode, we’re diving into the future of banking, risk, compliance, and the undeniable human element at the core of technological change.

In this insightful conversation, I sat down with Laurel Sykes, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at American Riviera Bank, a seasoned leader with over 30 years navigating regulatory shifts, mergers, and enterprise risk management in the banking sector. Together, we explore how AI is evolving the finance industry, from fraud detection to hiring practices, and how leaders can balance innovation with human empathy.

Laurel Sykes is a powerhouse when it comes to banking risk, compliance, and operational excellence. With her deep expertise in enterprise risk management, anti-money laundering, business continuity, and much more, she’s uniquely positioned to unpack how AI is reshaping financial institutions without losing sight of the very real people behind the numbers.

1. The Evolution of AI in Banking:
2. We explore how AI isn’t new to banks from algorithms powering credit decisions to today’s generative models creating content and analyzing vast data streams.
3. Balancing Innovation & Security:
4. Laurel discusses piloting AI tools like Copilot internally, focusing on privacy, security, and limiting exposure to sensitive client data.
5. AI Risks & Real-World Safeguards:
6. Practical insights into how improperly configured AI can expose confidential information or amplify fraud risks and how keeping an expert “human in the middle” is non-negotiable.
7. Fraud in the AI Age:
8. The episode covers real examples of AI-powered fraud, including deepfake scams, voice impersonation of loved ones, and evolving social engineering targeting everyone from seniors to young adults.
9. Maintaining the Human Touch:
10. Even as automation grows, banking remains a relationship business. Laurel and I discuss how authenticity, emotional intelligence, and intentional leadership keep enterprises grounded.
11. AI in Hiring & HR:
12. The challenges of AI-generated resumes and candidates using AI in interviews, plus tips for crafting behavioral interview questions that reveal true experience beyond what an algorithm can prepare.
13. Leadership in a Tech-Driven Era:
14. Advice for leaders: Pilot AI thoughtfully, treat AI like an intern—not a replacement—and always double-check results for accuracy, compliance, and tone.
15. Regulatory Insights:
16. What leaders need to know about emerging laws governing AI, automated decision-making, and consumer data protection.

As AI becomes embedded in nearly every organizational process, leaders face the dual challenge of driving efficiency while remaining vigilant stewards of data, relationships, and trust. This episode is a must-listen for financial professionals, risk officers, HR leaders, and anyone navigating technological change with a human-first mindset.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please subscribe to HeartWired and share this conversation with colleagues or friends who care about the intersection of tech, trust, and leadership. And if you want to stay on the cutting edge of emotionally intelligent management in an AI world, leave us a review or reach out with topics you’d like us to cover next.

Thanks again for joining me and Laurel Sykes on this journey. Remember: technology shapes the future, but heart shapes technology’s impact.

Subscribe. Share. Stay HeartWired.

Dr. MJ

Mentioned in this episode:

HeartWired is part of the eWomenPodcastNetwork

eWomenPodcastNetwork

Welcome to HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI World! In this episode, I dive deep into the intersection of intuition, leadership, and artificial intelligence with the dynamic Deborah Deras. With three decades of corporate experience, a focus on AI education, and an inspiring outlook on emotionally intelligent leadership, Deborah brings a fresh perspective to today’s rapidly changing landscape.

We explore how leaders can cultivate and trust their intuition amid the noise of fear and fast-paced technological change, especially as AI is integrated into more aspects of our organizations and lives. Deborah’s stories, including her surprising path to becoming an AI educator at Santa Barbara City College, offer actionable wisdom for anyone navigating transformation.

Deborah Deras is an accomplished international speaker, organizational leadership doctoral student, corporate trainer, and the author of “Your Ego Is Not Your Amigo.” She specializes in helping leaders access their intuition, move beyond imposter syndrome, and embrace emotionally intelligent practices that keep humanity at the center of technology.

Key Takeaways and Topics

1. Understanding Ego vs. Intuition: Deborah explains how ego shows up as a “barking puppy” and why trying to suppress fear can actually amplify it. Instead, she shares tools for training your inner voice and working with, rather than against, your fear.
2. Women and Leadership: We discuss why women often hold themselves back from advancement and how to lean into possibility over perfectionism.
3. The Role of Intuition in AI Adoption: As organizations rush to integrate AI, leaders must use intuition and emotional intelligence to guide responsible innovation. Deborah raises powerful questions for leaders to ask: Does AI align with our core values? Are we losing sight of the human touch in pursuit of efficiency?
4. Vision & Discernment: AI can synthesize data, but it lacks lived experience, vision, and discernment—traits only humans can contribute. Deborah emphasizes that emotional intelligence and intuition are superpowers in the AI era.
5. Practical Mindfulness: Learning to “come home” to yourself requires moments of stillness and reflection. We talk about practical ways leaders can slow down and check in with their intuition amidst constant technological acceleration.
6. Personal Stories: Deborah shares her own path to AI education, guided by intuition versus logical career planning—and the business implications for integrating or misusing AI tools.

If this episode resonated with you or if you know someone struggling to find balance between technology and their own wisdom, please share HeartWired with them! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

Connect with Deborah Deras at DeborahDeras.com to access her free meditation or check out her latest book, “Your Ego Is Not Your Amigo.”

Want more conversations about emotional intelligence and leadership in the AI era? Make sure to stay in touch for future episodes—and don’t forget to slow down, listen to your intuition, and lead with heart.

Thank you for listening!

— Dr. MJ

Timestamps:

00:00 "Fear, Excitement, and Intuition"

05:51 "Embracing Change Beyond Fear"

08:24 "Balancing AI Innovation and Safety"

11:46 Right Place, Right Time

13:29 "AI Use Must Align Values"

20:27 "Finding Stillness Amid AI Progress"

21:19 "Stillness Amidst Technology"

25:12 "Intuition, Emotional Intelligence, AI"

Mentioned in this episode:

HeartWired is part of the eWomenPodcastNetwork

eWomenPodcastNetwork

Welcome back to HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI World! I’m Dr. Mary Jean Vignone, your host, and in this episode, we dive deep into the crossroads of technology, education, and emotional intelligence with our incredible guest, Alan Sitomer–award-winning educator, CEO of Mastery Coding, and author of 23 books.

Alan Sitomer’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. From his beginnings as a high school English teacher in inner-city LA to being named California Teacher of the Year, Alan now leads Mastery Coding, a company transforming computer science education for K-12. He’s also a member of the California Department of Education’s AI Task Force and spearheads the United States Academic Esports League, bridging the gap between student passion and workforce opportunity.

In this episode, Alan and I discuss:

1. The challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into education and society
2. How emotional intelligence shapes decision-making in leadership, especially amidst rapid technological change
3. Alan’s philosophy of humility and ethical awareness when tackling AI’s impact in schools
4. The importance of engaging students with passion-driven, relevant curriculum (hello, video games & esports!)
5. Practical wisdom on developing tenacity and resilience in a world of instant gratification
6. Alan’s advice for cultivating purpose-driven leadership and the role of love vs. fear in impactful decisions

Key Takeaways

1. Humility is essential: When dealing with AI’s unknowns and ethical dilemmas, leaders must embrace humility and foster informed, civil dialogue.
2. Connection matters: Alan believes harnessing student passions (like gaming) can fuel academic and career readiness, as seen through initiatives such as the USA Academic Esports League.
3. Emotional intelligence in leadership: Whether in the classroom or the boardroom, listening, transparency, and understanding your own strengths/limitations are vital.
4. Developing resilience: Alan shares candidly about his 14-year journey of rejection as an author, offering insight on staying true to meaningful work—even when faced with adversity.
5. Love over fear: In AI-driven workplaces and communities, having a healthy relationship with your own fears and making decisions from a place of authenticity and love, not fear, will foster alignment and lasting impact.

Topics Covered

1. The future of education and AI
2. Emotional intelligence and ethical leadership
3. Social awareness and empathy in system-wide decisions
4. Esports as a vehicle for STEM/STEAM learning and workforce development
5. Navigating rapid tech change and capitalism’s influence in edtech
6. Building resilience and meaningfulness in a fast-paced world

If you’re passionate about emotionally intelligent leadership or curious how technology meets humanity, join the conversation! Start by checking out Mastery Coding and the United States Academic Esports League at usacademicesports.com. Share this episode with fellow educators, tech leaders, and parents—let’s build a future where students are prepared not just with skills, but with emotional intelligence and purpose.

Subscribe to HeartWired for more discussions at the intersection of AI, education, and the human touch. Leave your thoughts or questions in the comments, and let’s keep this important dialogue alive.

Thank you for listening!

Dr. M.J.

Mentioned in this episode:

HeartWired is part of the eWomenPodcastNetwork

eWomenPodcastNetwork

Welcome back to HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for an AI World! I’m Dr. MJ, your host, and in this episode, we dive deep into where cutting-edge technology meets true human empathy in mental health. Joining me is the remarkable Mehek Mohan, co-founder of Kahani—a personalized, gamified recovery platform supporting people with eating disorders using evidence-based therapy and artificial intelligence.

Mehek brings a fascinating blend of experiences to the show. She’s a Stanford MBA graduate with a background in molecular biology from UC Berkeley, and has led AI initiatives in the pharmaceutical industry. Inspired by her personal journey and her family’s legacy in medicine, Mehek Mohan has channeled her passion into Kahani, aiming to revolutionize access to continuous, personalized mental healthcare.

In this heartfelt conversation, Mehek opens up about what inspired her path at the intersection of AI, healthcare, and emotional intelligence. We look at how her lived experiences—and those with her co-founder, both having loved ones affected by eating disorders—shaped their vision for Kahani.

Together, we explore:

1. The critical gaps in mental healthcare for eating disorders and how technology can bridge them
2. Destigmatizing eating disorders and the importance of early intervention through education and community
3. The power and limitations of AI: Why human connection remains irreplaceable—and how AI can enhance, not replace, traditional care
4. Ethical responsibility in AI for mental health: How Kahani implements non-negotiable frameworks, model guardrails, and never gives direct medical or lifestyle advice
5. Personalized onboarding and care plans that adapt to each user’s needs and progress
6. Leadership, emotional resilience, and Mehek’s strategies for managing stress and staying self-aware as a founder

1. AI is a tool, not a replacement for human therapists: Kahani is designed as an adjunct to traditional care, available 24/7, helping users in moments when professional support isn’t immediately accessible.
2. Real-time support for real-world triggers: Whether it’s late-night anxiety or a challenging trip to the grocery store, Kahani offers circuit-breakers and proven frameworks to help users practice healthier coping strategies.
3. Personalization and privacy are top priorities: Kahani uses a 90-minute intake to tailor a four-week plan for each user, while maintaining strong ethical guidelines to protect vulnerable populations.
4. Ethics first: Immediate resources are provided for crises like self-harm, and all AI interactions are founded on introspective, evidence-based methods, never directive advice.
5. Advice for healthcare AI founders: Keep the “human in the loop.” Regularly sample and review AI responses for quality and appropriateness. Lean into your gut feelings—empathy and emotional intelligence are as vital as technical know-how.

Are you or someone you love seeking support for eating disorder recovery? Curious about AI’s role in transforming mental health care? Download Kahani Health on the App Store or Play Store today or visit getkahani.com.

If you’re a founder, leader, or innovator in healthcare thinking of integrating AI responsibly, tune in for actionable insights you can trust from someone who’s building ethical, empathetic technology on the front lines.

Thanks for listening to HeartWired. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and share with your network—together, we can keep humans at the heart of AI-driven progress.

Subscribe now and stay tuned for more stories at the intersection of emotional intelligence, technology, and leadership!

Dr. MJ

Welcome back to HeartWired: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership for the AI World! I’m Dr. MJ, and in this insightful episode, we dive into how artificial intelligence is transforming one of America’s most beloved community organizations: the YMCA. This episode is all about blending heart and technology—showing how emotional intelligence and intentional governance can make AI work for people, not the other way around.

I’m thrilled to be joined by two incredible leaders: George Leis and Jorge Perez. George is a YMCA USA Board Chair, the EVP and Market President for CalPrivate Bank, and a trusted, mission-driven leader committed to building stronger communities.

Jorge is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati and a trailblazer who’s leading the charge on integrating AI across the YMCA movement with vision, empathy, and innovation.

Episode Highlights & Key Topics

The origin story of the YMCA’s AI initiative and how the pandemic accelerated digital transformation within the organization.

Why AI isn’t just about technology, but about staying true to the YMCA’s mission: fostering connection, care, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Real-life examples of AI in action: Meet "Yasmin," the ChatGPT-based AI youth development agent, and "Harmony," the HR agent helping staff and branches nationwide.

Emotional intelligence as the core of effective AI leadership—how self-awareness, empathy, and governance ensure technology enhances (not replaces) human connection.

Lessons learned from governing AI responsibly: Building AI aligned with organizational values, and setting critical guardrails around sensitive use cases.

The evolving role of leaders: Why leading in an AI-enabled world means leading both humans and AI agents with integrity, mindfulness, and a commitment to the human mission.

Actionable advice for future leaders—how being an emotionally intelligent practitioner is now essential in a digital-first, AI-augmented era.

Key Takeaways

AI can dramatically scale human impact, but must be trained and governed with the same care—anchored in values and emotional intelligence—as we would with staff.

Empathy isn’t a “soft skill”—it’s a strategic advantage and absolutely necessary when driving organizational change and innovation.

Leading AI agents mirrors leading people: values, expectations, and continuous training/testing are crucial.

Trust and transparency drive community adoption and the ethical, effective use of technology.

The future belongs to leaders who blend heart and foresight—those who never lose sight of people, even as they embrace new tools.

If you’re passionate about human-centered innovation or leading teams through digital transformation, this episode is a must-listen! Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share HeartWired with fellow leaders and change-makers. If today’s conversation sparked ideas, questions, or you want a deeper dive on any topic, reach out to us. Let’s keep building a world where technology and humanity grow stronger, together.

Stay heartwired,

Dr. MJ

Mentioned in this episode:

HeartWired is part of the eWomenPodcastNetwork

eWomenPodcastNetwork