Not long ago, in a meeting with a group of senior executives here in Bangkok, I noticed something interesting. While everyone was talking about Generative AI, the opportunities, the fears, the future, very few were talking about leadership.
How will we, as executives, actually lead in a world transformed by AI?
It struck me that while AI advancing at incredible speed, leadership thinking must move even faster. This is not just another business trend. It is a profound shift - one that challenges how we define value, build teams, and set strategy. Here are a few thoughts I wanted to share.
Gen AI is No Longer “Optional”, It is Strategic
According to PWC’s 2024 Global CEO Survey, over 60% of CEOs believe AI will significantly reshape their business models within three years.
From my own conversations with clients in various industries across Thailand, I would say that estimate feels conservative. Yet while excitement is high, true strategic action is still patchy.
Embedding AI into core strategy, not just experimenting around the edges, is where the real leadership challenge lies.
Agility Will Separate the Leaders from the Managers
AI accelerates change cycles beyond anything we have seen before. The leaders who will thrive are those who can move with speed, make decisions with imperfect information, and pivot when needed. Old habits; heavy processes, slow approvals, endless risk analysis. All of these will be liabilities, not strengths.
The new leadership equation is vision + speed + courage.
Human-Centred Leadership is More Important, Not Less
That is a fear that AI will replace people. I remember talking about this at a roundtable with my colleagues few months ago. The reality is that leaders who fail to inspire people will be the ones replaced. In a word of AI tools, it is human skills - empathy, judgement, trust-building - that will matter most. Executives must become better at being human, not less.
Organisations will need people who can work with AI, not just around it.
The Ethics of AI Will Define Reputations
One point I feel strongly about: trust will be the new currency. You read that correctly.
AI systems bring risks: bias, misinformation, privacy breaches, that are not theoretical. Executives must lead with transparency, fairness, and responsibility before problems arise, not after.
Trust, once lost is difficult to rebuild.
Final Thought: Courage Over Comfort
I believe the next generation of great leaders will not be the ones who master every tool or platform. They will be the ones who ask better questions, who challenge assumptions, and who lead their organisations through uncertainty with vision and humanity. The age of Gen AI does not need less leadership. It needs better leadership.
At Grant Thornton here in Thailand, we are working with organisations to prepare leaders and teams for exactly this future, with human capital strategies that combine technology readiness with human strength.
If you are thinking about what leadership looks like for you and your organisation in this new era, I would be delighted to have that conversation.
Talent Pulse – From Human Capital Consulting Team at Grant Thornton, Thailand
