The Human Is The Loop Not Just In It When Leading in the AI Revolution with Allison Shapira
Are you feeling the tension between staying authentic and using AI tools in your leadership? You're not alone. Many executives are grappling with this exact challenge, and the stakes have never been higher.
What happens when the biggest threat to authentic leadership isn't AI itself, but how we choose to use it? Communication expert Allison Shapira has spent years helping executives find their voice in moments that matter most. Now she's tackling the question keeping leaders up at night: How do you stay human when the tools you're using aren't?
Her new book, AI for the Authentic Leader, isn't about becoming an AI expert—it's about alignment, presence, and whether the future of leadership will amplify our humanity or quietly erase it.
In this conversation, Allison reveals where most leaders are already falling out of alignment without realizing it. She shares why vocal fry in AI assistants could literally program weakness into future voices, and explains the critical mistake executives make with AI that actually undermines their credibility.
Find out more about Allison on her website.
Here are 5 key insights you can expect from this episode on balancing human connection and AI efficiency:
- The AI Authenticity Loop framework - Why the human isn't just "in the loop" but is the loop, and how this mindset shift changes everything.
- The "Why You?" question - A powerful tool for finding your authentic voice before crafting any message or entering any high-stakes conversation.
- Value-centered AI alignment - How to use AI tools to amplify your best authentic self rather than outsourcing your voice entirely.
- The vocal fry warning - Why AI voice assistants are programming vocal weakness into future generations and what leaders can do about it.
- Practical boundaries for AI use - A simple test to determine when AI assistance is appropriate and when human-only effort demonstrates true value.
If you've ever wondered whether you can use AI tools without losing your authentic voice, this episode will change how you think about both technology and leadership. The future belongs to leaders who can harness AI while staying deeply human—and this conversation shows you exactly how to do it.
00:01:30
AI and Authentic Leadership Introduction
00:03:02
Finding Your Voice Through Travel
00:05:54
Using AI to Amplify, Not Replace Your Voice
00:10:07
The Critical Importance of Alignment
00:15:20
Public Speaking as Leadership
00:18:03
Finding Your Authentic Voice with "Why You"
00:22:20
Overcoming AI Fear and Resistance
00:26:31
AI's Dangerous Vocal Programming
00:31:19
Maintaining Authenticity with AI Tools
00:35:13
Building Confidence in the AI Era
00:40:41
Connecting with Allison and Resources
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Lori Adams-Brown, Host & Executive Producer
A World of Difference Podcast
