In the final session of our three-part webinar series with Microsoft, we discuss responsible AI-driven leadership at work. “Responsible AI” often focuses on checklists, governance frameworks, and compliance. But this conversation, led by Grant Dess from Microsoft, took a different approach.
It focused on using AI in ways that amplify what people uniquely bring to the workplace, encouraging leaders to use AI intentionally.
Part 1 Recap: Becoming a Frontier Firm: Agentic AI and Workforce Transformation Strategies
Part 2 Recap: Microsoft’s Copilot ‘Customer Zero’ Story: Inside Microsoft’s Agentic AI Transformation
What Makes Us Uniquely Human?
Grant kicked off the webinar by asking attendees to write down three to five traits that make us uniquely human. The chat lit up with answers like:
- Empathy
- Intuition
- Ability to love
- Failure
- Critical thinking
- Fear
- Quirks
- Emotions
This simple exercise set the tone for the entire session, reminding everyone that they have unique qualities that AI doesn’t, or at least can’t fully copy.
AI is great at handling mundane, repetitive tasks that we have to do, but don’t require the expertise we have as part of our role. By handing off these chores to AI, we reclaim time and mental space for critical thinking, problem-solving, and conversations that truly matter.
Empathy: The Most Undervalued Skill
Grant described empathy as “one of the most undervalued skills” in a corporate environment. He shared a practical example of using Copilot to prepare for one-on-one meetings with his team at Microsoft.
Before one-on-one meetings, Grant began using Copilot to summarize his recent interactions with each team member. Copilot pulled together emails, Teams messages, meeting notes, and collaborative touchpoints. What surfaced wasn’t just task-related updates.
It revealed important context: someone recovering from illness, someone preparing for Ramadan, someone managing personal demands.
Instead of rushing into status updates, Grant could start conversations with genuine care and awareness.
TAKEAWAY
Pair human judgment with AI-generated insight to strengthen relationships, not weaken them.
Imperfection: Flaws Build Connection
Our imperfections make us human (and that’s not a bad thing.)
Grant shared an example from the AI startup Cluely, which launched an unconventional NY Times Square ad that read:
“Hi, I’m Roy, I’m 21. This was very expensive. Please buy my thing.”
It was misspelled, overly simple (white background with black text), and yet it went viral.
Why?
Because people gravitate toward authenticity, which is often a result of owning our imperfections. AI can make things efficient, but humanity makes things memorable.
Striving for perfection can leave us feeling like a cog in a wheel, disconnected from the meaningful work that used to be fulfilling. Embracing imperfection doesn’t mean intentionally making mistakes. It’s accepting that we aren’t machines built for precision and recognizing that our flaws set us apart.
TAKEAWAY
The “imperfect” marks of humanity are what build trust.
Leadership: Keep People at the Center
How do we preserve and motivate the human spirit in our organizations?
Don’t automate the important things.
Grant shared an example from his own experience. Copilot helped Grant prepare for his annual review by summarizing Teams meetings, chats, Outlook emails, etc. and translating those activities into business impact.
While AI can support the process, no one wants their performance summed up by an algorithm alone.
Imagine getting your annual review emailed to you without your manager talking to you personally about your growth, your challenges, or your wins. If we let AI do all the talking, we lose the honest conversations, mentoring moments, and recognition that make people feel valued.
The real risk here for leaders is becoming distant from reality and losing touch with the people who shape the company’s culture.
TAKEAWAY:
Use AI to automate tasks, not relationships.
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCE
Copilot Security Checklist: 25 Questions Every Leader Should Ask
Copilot is secure by design, but is your organization ready for it? Download our 25-question checklist to find out.
Key Takeaways for Modern Leadership in the Age of AI
You should absolutely use AI to accelerate productivity and unlock new levels of efficiency but do so intentionally. Here are some reminders for responsible leadership in the age of AI.
- Keep humans at the center even as you automate.
- Stay involved with your people, using AI to summarize and organize, not replace your presence.
- Balance automation with human connection and ethical decision-making.
- Start with focused AI pilots to build confidence and momentum.
- Keep humans in the loop with agent-led processes.
- Communicate the “why” behind your organization’s AI transformation.
- Help employees see AI as an enabler, not a threat.
- Amplify what makes us human; automate what distracts from meaningful work.
As a final takeaway, consider this simple principle from a recent book Grant said he was reading: always invite AI to the table.
- Can it help you analyze the task?
- Help you write the first draft?
- Offer a new angle?
- Challenge your assumptions?
Sometimes AI will help. Sometimes it won’t. Sometimes it shouldn’t.
But it’s worth giving AI a chance to amplify your work.
Webinar Series Recap: Leading the Next Wave of Business with AI & Copilot
C5 Insight’s Microsoft AI webinar series explored three dimensions of becoming an AI-ready organization:
WATCH THE RECORDINGS ON YOUTUBE
- How to become a Frontier Firm
- How Microsoft pressure-tested Copilot as Customer Zero
- How to lead with AI responsibly at work
If there’s one theme across all three, it’s this:
AI transformation is ultimately people transformation.
At C5 Insight, we believe your AI transformation begins and ends with people. Explore our Microsoft Copilot consulting services to accelerate business results and reduce the friction that prevents your people from doing their best work.
Let’s keep learning together as AI reshapes the way we work.