Human Leadership, Smart Tools: Using AI to Strengthen Performance Conversations

Great ownership cultures don’t just happen—they’re built through strong, intentional leadership at every level. But in many employee-owned companies, especially those in blue-collar and decentralized environments, leaders are promoted for their operational excellence—not necessarily for their leadership experience. This can make it challenging to scale effective performance conversations, coaching, and leadership growth across the organization.

This high-energy, hands-on workshop will show you how one employee-owned holding company is tackling that challenge in a fresh, innovative way by using accessible, everyday AI tools to make leadership development more personal, practical, and scalable, without losing the human touch that makes ownership cultures thrive.

You’ll see real-world examples of how AI is being used to:
* Equip leaders with coaching language and feedback frameworks that build confidence and consistency
* Create leadership reflection tools and conversation starters tailored to individual contexts
* Support Start–Stop–Continue performance discussions that deepen trust and accountability
* Make leadership growth less about “training programs” and more about real conversations that fuel culture

This is not a technical session—you don’t need to be an AI expert to participate. Through live demonstrations, small-group activities, and collaborative problem-solving, you’ll experience how simple AI tools can help you meet real leadership development needs in your organization.

Participants will work in breakout groups to apply provided AI prompts to their own leadership challenges, then share creative approaches with peers. You’ll leave energized, equipped, and inspired. And you’ll have tangible tools, ready-to-use AI prompts, and practical strategies to take back to your organization.

Whether you’re looking to strengthen leadership capacity, deepen ownership culture, or simply find innovative ways to do more with less, this workshop will give you the insight and confidence to put AI to work for your leaders—in real, human-centered ways.