Dr. Lisa Bélanger
Behavioural Change Expert | Researcher

As AI and automation transform the workplace, employees’ ability to problem-solve, think critically, and adapt emotionally is becoming a vital competitive advantage. While AI excels at processing data and executing repetitive tasks, it lacks the human qualities of contextual understanding, creative thinking, and empathy. By investing in the development of these uniquely human skills, organizations ensure their workforce remains agile, innovative, and indispensable.

Equally important is fostering mental agility and emotional intelligence (EI). Mental agility enables employees to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, pivot strategies, and embrace lifelong learning in an ever-evolving landscape. Emotional intelligence enhances teamwork, strengthens communication, and builds resilience in the face of challenges. Together, these skills create a workforce that not only complements AI but also drives human-centered innovation, cultivating a workplace culture that balances technological efficiency with empathy and creativity.

These are human skills, and like any other skill we are not born with them. They need to be taught, modeled, and rewarded. I see a trend where thriving workplaces are creating equal strategic investment into human and technology development.      

Ron Tite
Purpose-Driven Leadership and Marketing Expert

In recent years, corporate purpose has become a feel-good, hugs-first free-for-all, zigzagging from saving the planet and championing human rights to hosting kitten yoga and naming office plants to “humanize” sustainability.

In 2025, purpose is getting a wake-up call. Purpose is the strategic heartbeat of an organization and should be the unique driving force behind the business-building actions of the people within it. This year, we’ll see a bold shift away from “purpose as PR” and toward a focused, strategic force that unites how a company pursues growth, not how it pursues applause.

This will change work culture drastically. Expect return-to-office mandates, a renewed emphasis on performance over participation, and a pivot from “flexibility at all costs” to “alignment for shared success.” 

With economic uncertainty, political chaos, AI propulsion, and the threat of you-know-who with his you-know-what, businesses will be fighting for every last dollar. The only way to win? Rewrite purpose and get back to business.

It’s not as harsh as it sounds. When growth strategies and corporate purpose align, employees can be inspired instead of disillusioned, customers can be trusting instead of skeptical, and organizations can thrive — even in uncertain times.

Purpose isn’t your moral compass — it’s the heart of your business strategy in 2025.

Jamelle Lindo
Emotional Intelligence and Resiliency Expert

As AI and technology continue to transform the workplace, today’s landscape calls for leaders to balance innovation with the human side of work. Emotional intelligence (EQ) serves as a critical tool in this process.

Here are three trends paired with EQ skills and tips to help leaders thrive in 2025:

1. Hybrid Workplaces and Remote Teams

Self-Awareness: Recognizing emotions fosters clarity during challenging interactions.

Tip: Reflect on triggers before and after virtual meetings to refine your communication.

2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Empathy: Understanding others’ experiences strengthens DEI efforts.

Tip: Talk less and ask more, to develop your understanding of someone else’s POV.

3. AI Integration and Workforce Adaptation

Independence: A strong sense of autonomy is key as AI reshapes roles.

Tip: Identify with your internal skills and resources, not your external title.

By cultivating these EQ skills, leaders create harmonious teams who perform alongside and within emerging technologies.

Dr. Samra Zafar
Physician | Expert on Authentic Leadership and Inclusive Wellness

As AI continues to reshape the workplace by automating not only routine tasks but many core parts of job roles, leaders need to double down on the things that are inherently human — emotional intelligence, authenticity, connection, and courage. 

Research shows that 85% of employees believe AI will impact their jobs in the next few years. This often leads to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty. At the same time, many leaders are reporting higher rates of burnout and imposter syndrome as they deal with challenges they were never trained for. Prioritizing workplace well-being has never been more important!

Leaders who lead with high emotional intelligence can empathize with their employees and inspire psychological safety, trust, and confidence in their teams. Adopting a more human-centered approach and implementing well-being initiatives that help prevent burnout is a powerful combination that enables leaders and teams to thrive while embracing transformation!

Dr. Susan Biali Haas
Expert in Burnout, Stress Resilience, Leadership, and Performance

Today’s complex, ever-changing world and workplaces demand a fundamental pivot in how we work and live. Working “harder” will literally kill us. The ongoing burnout epidemic is proof that the old ways don’t work in our new world.

We must learn to leverage the enormous untapped potential of our brains to meet the demands of today and the future. 

As a leader, your brain is your greatest asset. The state of your brain determines the quality of your decisions, your capacity for innovation, your response to a crisis, and your ability to envision and enact change.

Neuroscience-based strategies enhance and shape our brainpower, helping us to meet intense demands and changes head-on, while performing with greater ease and effectiveness.

Perhaps best of all, the tactics that bring out the best in your brain simultaneously strengthen your life, your health, and your relationships. With neuroscience, everyone wins.