The Liza Engel Blog

Why humanity is becoming our most powerful leadership asset in the age of AI No matter how much I love a powerful new tool, I believe our most significant advantage isn’t technology - it’s our humanness. And in a world increasingly shaped by AI, that belief feels more urgent than ever. People aren’t necessarily craving faster answers or more intelligent systems. Impressed by it? Absolutely. But what they truly crave is much simpler: Human connections that still feel human. T

“When did AI begin - was it two or already three years ago?” That question came up in a recent conversation, and it stuck with me. As December invites reflection, my team and I find ourselves doing just that - thinking not just about what we do or why we do it, but how we operate. And what is the role of AI in all of this? One thing is clear, the “how” has changed, and so has the path. Photo by Christoph Engel Every leader feels it: How do we lead in the age of AI? What does

“I really don’t think AI is going to impact my work.” If I had a dollar (or franc) for every time a leader said that, I’d be running a foundation by now. But here’s the real question: who are they trying to convince? The Moment We’re In We’ve entered a new era for leadership. You can debate whether it’s unprecedented; either way, the rate of change certainly is. And the kind of leadership it demands? It’s already overdue. Here’s what I’m seeing: leaders are landing in one

Last week I was speaking to a room full of students. I was speaking in English, and most of them had French, Italian, or Swiss-German as their first language. Many had their laptops open. Were they watching Netflix, or were they translating and summarising me? I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the latter is true. So I wondered: how would AI summarise a live talk? So I ran one of my recent talks through an AI tool. It nailed every fact - but missed the po

A senior leader recently told me: “I hate emails that sound like AI. I avoid using it. I don’t want to lose my authenticity.” That reaction is increasingly common - and increasingly justified. Especially now, when we are flooded with AI-generated content that’s not just clunky, but false. A recent Swiss newspaper article found that over half of all online articles may now be generated by AI, with many containing errors or outright fabrications. Entire websites are creating c

Last week, I shared a two-minute AI prompt to help you clarify what you actually want to say, before writing a single word. This week is step three: once your message is clear, how do you choose the best way to deliver it? How you share a message can make or break how it’s received. Photo by Erin Minuskin on Unsplash A few years ago, a leader I worked with wanted to announce a significant change in his organization. He wrote what was undoubtedly a carefully crafted email. The

“I spend more time fixing AI drafts than writing them myself.” I often hear this from thoughtful professionals who want to utilize AI but ultimately feel frustrated. They expect speed and get stuck in revision loops instead. Last week, I visited two gymnasiums with my son. One visit was terrific; the other, not so much. Photo by Alizea Sidorov on Unsplash At the one school, the speech began with us all being scolded for arriving too early, even though we’d taken the only trai

You know that one person who used to write awkward emails? The kind that made you cringe a little - but at least you knew it was them. Then suddenly, all their emails start with: “I want to thank you for your valuable input… your perspectives really helped us gain insight…” And you think: AI is writing me now. And maybe - just maybe - you start to miss those clumsy, slightly chaotic messages because those had a human personality. This new version? It could’ve come from anyone

I recently read a story in a hotel magazine about a mountain restaurant above Oeschinensee in Switzerland. It’s surrounded by peaks, reachable only by cable car or with a hike for the more adventurous — the last place you’d expect to find automation or AI. Yet, the owners installed modern kitchen technology that streamlines food preparation, reduces labour strain and food waste. They did it to stay viable. Even at 1,500 meters, they saw the shift coming. Tourism has surged,

Yesterday, I logged into a familiar tool and noticed three new AI features I hadn’t seen yesterday. No training. No announcement. Just...

When was the last time someone asked you not just what problem to solve, but how the very workflow producing the answer should be built...

A few months ago, at an event, a leader leaned in and lowered his voice as if admitting something he shouldn’t: “I feel like I should...

“AI is important - we’ve got a team on it.” An innovative, capable leader recently told me this, and it’s something I often hear:...

Last week, I walked into a conference room buzzing with questions about AI. One leader was clearly at the starting line, stumbling over...

There comes a moment in every leader’s journey when clarity arrives—sometimes it can be like a lightning bolt, and other times it is a...

Hybrid and virtual meetings are efficient. They save travel, allow flexibility, and bring people together across geographies. But let’s...

I had to bite my tongue. Every part of me wanted to jump in. Someone was sharing a complex problem I had faced before, and my instinct...

A Moment That Shifted the Room I was in a room where decisions were being made. A colleague—let’s call her Jane—offered a thoughtful...

In uncertain times, people don’t need more noise. They need leaders who are in tune with the moment, their people, and the purpose that...

There was a time when I’d work right through the journey to my holiday destination—head down, laptop open, missing the quiet magic of...