Forward-Looking Leadership

Author: Dan Freehling

This is a podcast for visionary executives building future-ready organizations. Youll come away from each episode with new insights you can use to stay ahead of the curve and ensure your firm thrives not just today, but for years to come.
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Language: en

Genres: Business, Management

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Amnesty CIO Paul Smith on AI Adoption Beyond the Hype and Developing Talent Others Overlook
Tuesday, 7 October, 2025

Paul Smith (linkedin.com/in/pdsmithmba/), Chief Information Officer at Amnesty International, joins host Dan Freehling (contempusleadership.com) to discuss tech leadership with people and ethics front and center. Drawing from a career that spans industry (defense, automotive, and more) and humanitarian organizations, Paul shares hard-won insights on AI adoption (00:30), four essential digital skills for non-technical professionals (09:32), and emotional intelligence, strategic communication, and talent development for technical leaders (15:53). Paul relays his own journey from a working class background to the global C-suite (22:00) and emphasizes the power of mentorship, permission-giving, and inclusive hiring to help other non-traditional talent make a similar journey (37:54). Recommended reading: “Bulletproof Your Career” by Patricia Romboletti. Show notes at forwardlookingleadership.com.