37 - The Emotional Intelligence of AI: Can Machines Really Understand Us?
Leading Human-Centered Organizations in the AI Era: Insights from Sonja Price
In this episode of the AI & Data Driven Leadership Podcast, host Dean Guida sits down with Sonja Price, Executive Advisor at Infinite Leaders, to explore how leaders can navigate organizational growth, culture, and AI adoption while keeping people at the center. Their conversation provides practical strategies for fostering emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making, and high-performing teams in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Human Leadership and AI: Balancing People, Culture, and Technology
Sonja emphasizes that even as AI transforms workflows and automates routine tasks, human judgment and connection remain the foundation of effective leadership. Leaders must intentionally cultivate culture, design processes, and model behaviors that reinforce trust, accountability, and collaboration across teams. Without a people-first approach, technology alone cannot drive sustainable performance.
She also highlights the importance of integrating AI thoughtfully, using it as a tool to augment human decision-making rather than replace it. By validating AI-generated insights with human expertise and ensuring cross-functional collaboration, organizations can leverage AI while maintaining ethical standards and operational resilience.
Finally, Sonja discusses strategies for preparing leaders and teams for the future of work. Developing holistic skills—emotional intelligence, storytelling, influence, and systems thinking—alongside technical acumen ensures leaders can adapt to rapid technological changes while keeping culture, ethics, and human engagement at the forefront.
About Sonja Price
Sonja Price is an Executive Advisor at Infinite Leaders, specializing in leadership development, organizational culture, and change management. With extensive experience guiding executives and teams, Sonja helps leaders navigate the challenges of growth, technology adoption, and conscious organizational design.
About Infinite Leaders
Infinite Leaders provides advisory and coaching services that empower leaders to build resilient, purpose-driven organizations. Their approach combines leadership development, cultural strategy, and ethical practices to help companies thrive in dynamic and technology-driven markets.
Links Mentioned in This Episode
Key Episode Highlights
The enduring value of human judgment, culture, and emotional intelligence in leadership.
Best practices for integrating AI responsibly without compromising collaboration or ethics.
Designing organizational culture to break silos and build shared accountability.
Preparing leaders and teams for future work through holistic skill development.
Leveraging ethical frameworks and conscious leadership to drive sustainable performance.
Conclusion
Sonja Price and Dean Guida underscore that effective leadership in the AI era is not about replacing humans with technology but about amplifying human potential. By combining ethical AI adoption, strong culture, and people-centered leadership, organizations can achieve high performance while maintaining trust, collaboration, and purpose.
Explore Slingshotapp.io to learn more about AI-driven leadership solutions, and if you’re a qualified leader interested in sharing your insights, apply to be a guest on the AI & Data Driven Leadership Podcast here.
