The Phoenix Leadership Podcast

12: The First Time I Fired an AI Agent

When your team includes someone who never sleeps, never asks questions and yet can’t sense context, how do you lead with humanity?
 
Because AI is now part of your team, accountability needs to evolve. This isn’t sci-fi, it’s happening today.
 
In our latest episode of The Future‑Ready Leader, I share a real moment when an AI agent in a pilot team started sending awkward, even offensive recognition messages.
The reaction wasn’t to disable the tool, it was to treat it like a teammate and hold it accountable. That’s where AI‑centred empathy comes in: not for the bot, but for the humans affected by its output.
 
We unpack why leaders now need:
- Clean AI accountability frameworks
- Bias intervention and retraining protocols
- New feedback loops that bridge code and care
- Clarity in role definitions—assistant, advisor, or decision‑maker?
- Psychological safety that acknowledges AI’s place in the team
 
You’re not alone if this feels like uncharted territory.
 
Use our Leadership Vitality Scorecard (link below) to check in on your clarity, connection, and resilience right now. And dive deeper with the full episode.
 
👉 Listen now + grab your scorecard: https://bit.ly/LeadershipVitalityScorecard Explore our leadership development solutions:https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/our-leadership-solution

11. Layoffs and Leadership Integrity: The Conversations We’re Not Having Enough

Layoffs aren’t just business decisions. They’re leadership tests.And too often, leaders are handed the script, but not the tools.
 
When teams are restructured, budgets are cut, or entire departments are let go, what’s left behind isn’t just an org chart, it’s emotional residue: survivor’s guilt, disengagement, and trust that quietly erodes.
So what does real leadership look like in those moments?
 
In this episode of The Future Ready Leader Podcast, Afsheen explores the emotional fallout of layoffs, especially for female leaders who are holding space for others while carrying their own uncertainty.Drawing from reports by Harvard Business Review and McKinsey, she unpacks why the way we lead through uncertainty matters more than ever.
 
You’ll learn:🔸 Why integrity not just resilience is the leadership edge we need🔸 What research says about post-layoff culture and credibility🔸 What you can do now to lead with clarity in uncertain terrain
Want to lead with more intention and less depletion?
Join our live workshop:Women Who Thrive and Lead in Uncertainty:
Begin to create your fully realised self-engagement plan
🗓 July 1, 2025 | 12:00–1:30 PM CET | Live & Virtual🎟 Register here (limited spots only!) → https://bit.ly/THRIVEandLEAD
 
You’ll walk away with:✔ A leadership vitality self-assessment✔ A personal engagement plan✔ Language to set boundaries and protect your leadership energy
 
Because leadership today isn’t about being louder.It’s about being more aligned.
 
#LeadershipDevelopment #WomenWhoLead #LeadershipIntegrity #Layoffs #FutureReadyLeaderAccess the leadership vitality scorecard here:https://bit.ly/LeadershipVitalityScorecard 
 
🎧 Listen now:📺 YouTube: https://youtu.be/p5TRSkBJHYY?si=LRdZdl3Qd50vhjmy
🎧 Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/layoffs-and-leadership-integrity-the-conversations/id1730899556?i=1000713837129
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pT8q6nZG3z1Dfe595z3Zp?si=BLxonv16Q8inzRAiCQNGWQ
🌐 Website: https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/podcast-2/episode/f0c34374/layoffs-and-leadership-integrity-the-conversations-were-not-having-enough
 
🔗 Want to build engagement from the inside out?Explore our leadership development solutions:https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/our-leadership-solution

The Emotional Cost of AI: What Leaders Aren’t Saying (But Need To)

Feeling the pressure to keep up with AI… but quietly wondering where you fit in?
 
From boardrooms to Zoom rooms, leaders across the globe are asking:Is there still space for humanity in leadership… or are we being replaced by data and speed?
 
In this episode of The Future Ready Leader Podcast, we unpack:📉 Why optimism about AI is divided across countries and classes🧠 How AI is quietly triggering disengagement, identity loss, and burnout in leaders🧭 What emotionally intelligent leadership must look like in the age of disruption
 
And if you’re asking deeper questions like:
What does leadership look like when instinct isn’t enough?
Can I thrive in this new world without losing myself?
How do I lead when everything’s evolving unevenly?
Then this is your invitation…
🧡 Quiet Thriving – How Leaders Survive and Lead in Chaos📅 July 1 | ⏰ 12:00–1:30 PM CET | 💻 Live on Zoom🎟 Early bird pricing ends June 10: bit.ly/QuietThriving
 
This is not another webinar.
 
It’s a 1.5-hour, coach-guided experience for people leaders navigating uncertainty, quiet fatigue, and the tension between innovation and humanity.
 
You’ll leave with:✅ A template for a fully realised leadership vitality blueprint✅ The language to set boundaries and lead from values✅ Tools to thrive, not just adapt in an AI-driven world
 
Leadership in this era isn’t just about keeping up with what’s next.It’s about ensuring no one is left behind, including you.
 
🎧 Listen in. Then pause long enough to ask:Am I leading from clarity… or from noise?
 
Because you don’t need to be louder to lead.
 
You just need to be aligned.

Engagement Falls to 21% in Gallup’s 2025 Global Workplace Report

Global engagement has dropped again. So what now?
 
According to Gallup’s 2025 Global Workplace Report, only 21% of employees worldwide feel engaged. And the steepest drops are showing up among people leaders, especially women and younger managers.
 
This isn’t just a workforce challenge.It’s a leadership crisis.
In this episode of The Future Ready Leader Podcast, we unpack:🔹 Why traditional engagement tactics are no longer working🔹 What’s quietly draining your top talent (without showing up in surveys)🔹 And what future-ready organizations must do now to course-correct
 
This is your opportunity to pause, rethink, and reengage, starting with your own leadership.
 
Haven’t taken time to check in with yourself?We are inviting experienced people leaders to join our free 90-minute session:
The Missing Meeting: 90 Minutes With Yourself🗓 June 3, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CET🎟 Register now: https://bit.ly/90minutesmeeting
🎙 Watch, share, and start the conversation:
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePhoenixCoachingCo./videos
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Z8G6Wwb4WsT4quiEtAhEm?si=e2dcc6abaf524146
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-phoenix-leadership-podcast/id1730899556
🌐 Website: https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/podcast-2
Cited References:
Gallup, State of the Global Workplace 2025 Report
Key stat: Global engagement has dropped to 21%, down from 23% in 2023, the second recorded global decline.
Deloitte Human Capital Trends Report (2024)
Key stat: Trust in leadership is one of the top three drivers of retention and engagement.
Forbes Leadership Insights (2024–2025)
Insight: The need for system-level leadership development is becoming critical as companies face talent flight and burnout.

The Core Skills for 2030 - Are We Building a Future for the Privileged Few?

Are we building a future for all or just for the privileged few?
The now-viral Core Skills for 2030 chart from the World Economic Forum finally centers on skills like empathy, curiosity, and self-awareness.
That’s progress. That’s the hope.
But without reflecting on who gets left behind in this blue print of the future, and how we can ensure they don't, we are at risk of widening the power and equity gap.
Our CEO, Afsheen Ismail-Wey, unpacks this tension in our latest episode of the Future Ready Leader Podcast.This is a call to every leader who wants to shape the future in an inclusive and equitable way.
Because building a human-centered future isn’t about identifying the skills of the future. It’s about ensuring access to them.
 
🎧 Tune in now to hear:– Why this chart stirred both inspiration and discomfort– The silent ways privilege gets embedded into “future-ready” narratives– What can we do to ensure no one gets left behind
 
👇 Watch, share, and start the conversation:
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePhoenixCoachingCo./videos
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Z8G6Wwb4WsT4quiEtAhEm?si=e2dcc6abaf524146
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-phoenix-leadership-podcast/id1730899556
🌐 Website: https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/podcast-2
 
Let’s lead with nuance.Let’s lead with equity.Let’s lead forward—together.
🔗 Want to equip your leaders with the core skills that actually shape the future?
Explore our leadership development solutions here:https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/our-leadership-solution
References:
World Economic Forum (2024). Future of Jobs Report.https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2024/
Gallup (2024). State of the Global Workplace Report.https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx
Forbes (2023). Leadership Trends Transforming the Workforce.https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2023/11/30/leadership-trends-transforming-the-future-workforce/

Only 23% of Employees Are Engaged—Here's How to Lead the Change

Only 23% of employees are engaged—and that’s the highest it’s ever been.
Let that sink in.
In this episode of the Future-Ready Leader Podcast, Afsheen Ismail-Wey (CEO of The Phoenix Coaching Co.) dives into one of the most quietly devastating—and surprisingly hopeful—trends in leadership today.
We explore:
🔸 Why the real engagement crisis is a leadership crisis🔸 The hidden cost of low engagement ($8.9 trillion, to be exact)🔸 What high-engagement organizations are doing differently🔸 The critical leadership shifts needed in 2025 and beyond
This is more than an episode—it’s a call to lead with intention.
👉 If you’re building a culture people want to be part of, start here.Let’s move from performative to powerful leadership.
🎧 Listen now:📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePhoenixCoachingCo./videos
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Z8G6Wwb4WsT4quiEtAhEm?si=e2dcc6abaf524146
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-phoenix-leadership-podcast/id1730899556🌐 Website: https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/podcast-2
🔗 Want to build engagement from the inside out?Explore our leadership development solutions:https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/our-leadership-solution
#LeadershipDevelopment #FutureReadyLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #CultureShift #LeadershipMatters #ThePhoenixCoachingCo

Before You Quit – The Realities of Going Solo

Thinking of walking away from your corporate job to finally do what you love?
Before you quit—listen to this.
In this unfiltered episode of The Future-Ready Leader Podcast, Afsheen Ismail-Wey, CEO of The Phoenix Coaching Co., shares the truth behind the glamor of going solo. From burnout to branding, freedom to financial pressure—this is the conversation too many leaders skip before they take the leap.
🔍 We dive into:
The hard truths behind "following your passion"
Why leaving a toxic role doesn’t mean you’re ready to lead a business
The myths that hold corporate professionals back from building sustainable success
How to build your path with clarity, courage, and commercial strategy
If you're considering the leap—or are already mid-air—this episode is your anchor.
🎧 Tune in now and prepare to lead with intention:📺 YouTube – The Phoenix Coaching Co.🎙️ Spotify – The Future-Ready Leader
🍏 Apple Podcasts🌐 Full library: https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/podcast-2
💼 Want support as you transition into a more purpose-driven leadership path?Book a free discovery call → www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/our-leadership-solution
#FutureReadyLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #GoingSolo #ExecutiveCoaching #BurnoutRecovery #ThePhoenixCoachingCo

AI Integration in Leadership Development: Integrating Technology with Humanity

What happens when AI stops just supporting leadership—and starts defining it?
 
In this episode of The Future-Ready Leader, Afsheen Ismail-Wey, CEO of The Phoenix Coaching Co., dives into the opportunities and risks of AI in leadership development.
 
From real-time coaching platforms to bias in AI-driven assessments, she explores the human cost of leaving leadership to algorithms—and how we can lead with both innovation and intention.
 
🎯 You’ll learn:
- How organizations are using AI in performance, talent, and leadership decisions - The risks of algorithmic bias in leadership pipelines
- Why emotional intelligence, ethics, and lived experience can’t be automated
- What a balanced, human-centred approach to AI looks like in modern leadership
 
🔗 Want to build future-ready leaders in your organization?
Learn more about our leadership development framework here:
👉 https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/our-leadership-solution
 
🎧 Listen or watch the episode:
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePhoenixCoachingCo./videos
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Z8G6Wwb4WsT4quiEtAhEm
🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-phoenix-leadership-podcast/id1730899556
🌐 Podcast Website: https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/podcast-2

Future-Ready Leaders: Why External Curiosity and Adaptability Are the Top Predictors of Success

Future-ready organisations need future-ready leaders ready to create a sustainable impact on the business.
 
The workplace is evolving faster than ever.Leaders who embrace external curiosity and adaptability are the ones who drive innovation, navigate uncertainty, and create real impact. But how can organizations identify and cultivate these traits in their leaders?
 
🔎 In this episode of The Future Ready Leader podcast, Afsheen Ismail-Wey, CEO of The Phoenix Coaching Co., explores:✅ Why external curiosity gives leaders a competitive edge in decision-making✅ How adaptability is the key to sustaining success in volatile markets✅ The top interview and assessment strategies for hiring and developing future-ready leaders
 
🎯 If you're in HR, talent acquisition, or leadership development, this episode is packed with insights you can apply right away.
 
📢 Want to go deeper?Join Afsheen Ismail-Wey & Dr. Beat Habegger at HR FESTIVAL Europe 2025, where they’ll be diving into this topic LIVE.
 
📅 When? March 26, 2025 | 12:00 - 13:00📍 Where? Messe Zürich🎟 Secure your free ticket with code PHO_HRF25_88DS🔗 Register here: HR Festival Registration
🔊 Listen to the full episode now!🎧 Spotify: The Future Ready Leader
🍏 Apple Podcasts: Listen here📺 Watch on YouTube: The Phoenix Coaching Co.
#LeadershipDevelopment #FutureReadyLeaders #HRInnovation #TalentManagement #PhoenixCoachingCo

The Future of Women in Leadership - The Illusion of Progress

The Real Issue Isn’t Women’s Talent—It’s Who Holds the Power
Women don’t lack the skills, the ambition, or the qualifications to lead. The real issue? Who holds the power—and the systemic barriers designed to keep it that way.This year we don’t need yet another polite conversation about Women in Leadership on International Women’s Day. We need real accountability, real power shifts, and real change. Because right now the powers that be are actively wrestling back any progress made so far.And despite decades of work, only 29% of executive roles are held right now by women, according to McKinsey’s latest Women in the Workplace report. At this rate, we won’t see gender parity for another 50 years. The question is: Who benefits from keeping things the same or even making it harder for Women to Lead?What We’re Breaking Down in This Episode:
✅ Why the pay gap is actually a power gap—and how companies continue to get away with underpaying women✅ How leadership structures were built to exclude women—and why DEI programs are failing✅ The biggest biases still holding women back (hint: it’s not a “confidence gap”)✅ Why fixing leadership—not women—is the only way forward
🎧 Listen on:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Z8G6Wwb4WsT4quiEtAhEm?si=e2dcc6abaf524146
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-phoenix-leadership-podcast/id1730899556Our website: https://www.thephoenixcoachingcompany.com/podcast-2
Hear the raw truth and the action we need to take.What’s Your Take? What’s the biggest barrier to more women in leadership today?Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s build a system that actually works for women.
📢 Join the HR Festival Europe 2025
Change isn’t just about awareness—it’s about action. If you’re ready to build a leadership pipeline that actually works, let’s take the conversation further:
HR Festival Europe 2025🎤 Presentation: Future-Ready Leaders: Why External Curiosity and Adaptability Are the Top Predictors of Success⏰ Date & Time: March 26, 2025 | 12:00 - 12:30 PM📍 Stage: Recruiting Stage👥 Speakers: Afsheen Ismail-Wey (CEO, Leadership & HR Advisor, The Phoenix Coaching Co.) & Dr. Beat Habegger (Professor, FHNW)📌 Booth No: D.01.8
🔗 Secure Your Free Ticket Here using our code (PHO_HRF25_88DS): HR Festival Registration
🔔 Subscribe for more bold leadership conversations.
📩 Work with us: The Phoenix Coaching Company