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What if the “soft skills” we often overlook are actually the most strategic—and essential—in the age of AI?
In this episode, leadership expert Dr. Bushra Khan and host Kate O’Neill explore the power and business impact of emotional intelligence, challenging outdated leadership myths and redefining what skills matter most for future-ready teams.
Topics Covered:
Why “soft skills” should be called “strategic skills”
Emotional intelligence as a leadership framework
Evidence-based emotional intelligence in organizations
Critical thinking, persuasion, and influence for tech leaders
Challenging the myth of micromanagement
Culture’s impact on leadership assumptions
Candor vs. bluntness in high-stakes communication
Balancing bravery and kindness in decision making
Practical approaches to EI skill-building in companies
Finding hope and optimism in leadership
Connect with: Dr. Bushra Khan
Linkedin
Website
Episode Chapters:
00:00:05 – Welcome & redefining soft skills
00:00:37 – Emotional intelligence as leadership
00:01:20 – Reframing skills for a tech-driven world
00:01:55 – Why “soft” is inadequate and damaging
00:02:49 – Strategic skills vs. technical expertise
00:04:33 – Critical thinking & real-life practice
00:05:43 – Evidence-based EI: Research & impact
00:06:05 – Describing great leaders (EI in action)
00:08:47 – EQ vs. IQ & technical skills
00:11:06 – The emotional intelligence framework
00:12:34 – Making EI accessible in everyday life
00:13:24 – The myth of micromanagement
00:15:46 – Coaching, mentoring, and trust
00:17:13 – Cross-context skills: work, life, community
00:17:43 – Leadership mental models across cultures
00:18:35 – Cultural differences in trust and hierarchy
00:22:23 – Candor, clarity, and high-stakes communication
00:23:14 – Building trust for high-pressure moments
00:26:33 – Balancing bravery and kindness
00:29:29 – EI is not just being nice—using frameworks
00:31:34 – Practical “how” for applying EI
00:32:07 – Why companies should invest in human skills
00:32:41 – Making skills training bite-sized and evidence-based
00:35:44 – Key takeaways & actionable advice
00:36:23 – Finding hope and optimism in leadership
00:39:53 – Gratitude and closing remarks
