In a world where artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work, lead, and connect, one truth remains: technology a remarkable tool, but it’s human connection that fuels creativity and innovation.
 
Human at the Helm is a thought-provoking panel discussion designed for forward-thinking leaders who want to harness technology without losing the creativity, empathy, and collaboration that define great teams.

Join a panel of industry experts, innovators, and leadership visionaries as they explore strategies for integrating AI into the workplace while preserving authentic human interaction, ethical decision-making, and meaningful workplace culture. You'll gain actionable insights on fostering trust, communication, and innovation in an increasingly digital world.

This session is for any learning leader who wants to empower their teams, create a fearless culture of collaboration, and ensure that AI serves as a tool—not a replacement—for what makes us uniquely human.

Learning Objectives:

• Harnessing AI Responsibly: Learn how to integrate AI into your workplace in a way that enhances—not diminishes—human connection and creativity
• Overcoming Fear & Resistance: Discover strategies to help employees embrace AI while maintaining their confidence and voice in a tech-driven environment
• Building a Human-Centric Culture: Explore ways to preserve empathy, ethics, and trust in decision-making as AI plays a greater role in everyday work
• Empowering Human Strengths: Identify the uniquely human skills—such as emotional intelligence, problem-solving, and leadership—that AI cannot replace

Karin Hurt helps human-centered leaders find clarity in uncertainty, drive innovation, and achieve breakthrough results. She’s the founder and CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders, a global leadership development and training firm known for practical tools and leadership development programs that stick.

She’s the award-winning author of five books including Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates and Powerful Phrases for Dealing With Workplace Conflict and hosts the popular Asking for a Friend Vlog on LinkedIn. A former Verizon Wireless executive, she was recently named by Inc. Magazine as Top 100 Great Leadership Speaker.

Dr. Avi is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, and leadership coach, renowned for transforming challenges into opportunities using neuroscience and AI-driven strategies. With 30 years of experience, he has mentored thousands of leaders worldwide, guiding organizations toward sustainable growth and peak performance.

As the visionary behind Dr. Avi Global, he empowers CEOs, founders, and executives with actionable solutions to navigate market uncertainties, skills shortages, and productivity challenges. He has worked with global giants like Microsoft, BUPA, and GSK, and played a key role in growing Pfizer Australia’s revenues beyond $1 billion. His crisis leadership during COVID-19 earned him recognition from the International Hospital Federation.

A sought-after speaker, Dr. Avi has shared stages with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Malcolm Gladwell. His books, endorsed by icons like Dr. Deepak Chopra, provide a blueprint for transformative leadership.

Known for his engaging storytelling and innovative approach, Dr. Avi blends human insight with AI to inspire and equip leaders for success in an ever-evolving world.

 
Sara Canaday is a leadership strategist, speaker, and award-winning author who helps leaders sharpen their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving business world. Drawing from her experience as a former executive, she brings a practical, real-world approach to navigating today’s high-demand environment.

As the founder of her leadership development firm, Sara has worked with Fortune 500 companies, including Dell, Lockheed Martin, Starbucks, and Microsoft, to equip leaders with the insights and strategies they need to enhance their impact, foster stronger teams, and elevate the more human-centric, high-value aspects of leadership. Her three books - widely recognized for their actionable insights - along with her LinkedIn Learning courses, watched by over 6 million people worldwide and translated into 13 languages, provide leaders with the tools they need to thrive.

Known for her engaging style and sharp business acumen, Sara blends human connection with modern leadership strategies. She challenges conventional thinking and equips leaders with fresh perspectives to succeed in an era of transformation.

Jon Peters is a thought-leader in corporate learning, blending technology, creativity, and human insight to transform leadership development. As the Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of AthenaOnline, he launched the industry’s first microlearning platform, QuickCoach, in 2000—one of the original cloud-based learning solutions and an early SaaS company. Jon’s innovative approach has positioned Athena at the forefront of AI-powered coaching, earning recognition as one of Training Industry Magazine’s top companies to watch in AI. Jon is also an active board member of The Institute for Management Studies.

Driven by a passion for innovation and creativity, Jon has developed and filmed thousands of expert-led lessons for QuickCoach featuring luminaries like Marshall Goldsmith, Beverly Kaye, and Michael Bungay Stanier. His love for storytelling and design also led Jon to production and animation work for Lucasfilm, Pixar, Google, Dignity Health, Adobe, Hoka, the Visual Effects Society, and other well-known brands.

Athena's learning products have earned numerous prestigious industry awards over its 30-year history and have been featured in Wired, Forbes, and various training industry publications. With a career spanning Silicon Valley tech, film production, and leadership development, Jon thrives at the intersection of innovation and education, continually pushing the boundaries of how people learn and engage with content.