Eps.82 | Payal Nanjiani on why self-mastery matters more than ever in the age of AI

Tim Bond speaks with leadership coach and author Payal Nanjiani, whose work spans Fortune 500 organisations, mid-sized firms and fast-growth teams across the world. Payal explains why many leaders feel unsettled about AI despite their excitement, and how this shift reveals something deeper about how people learn, grow and relate to one another.

Payal draws on her experience working across industries from entertainment to manufacturing, sharing why human qualities such as presence, emotional balance and reflective thinking now matter more than ever. She explains how leaders can move from being sources of information to becoming sources of inspiration and transformation for their teams.

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Timestamps:

00:01:00 Payal's journey from corporate HR to executive coaching

00:04:00 Blending Eastern philosophy with Western leadership

00:06:00 Working across industries on people transformation

00:09:00 AI as a tool for augmentation rather than replacement

00:12:00 Mixed reactions from leaders: excitement and fear

00:16:00 How leaders can help people find themselves

00:19:00 Cultivating qualities that machines cannot replicate

00:21:00 CEO resistance to AI transformation

00:25:00 Moving from top-down announcements to collaborative communication

00:29:00 Partnering with AI without losing individuality

00:33:00 Self-mastery as the key leadership skill

00:34:00 The importance of morning routines and reflection

00:36:00 Remembering what makes humans irreplaceable

Want to learn more? Connect with Payal Nanjiani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalnanjiani/ Visit Payal's website: https://nanjiani.com Connect with Tim Bond: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tngbond/

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