SPOS #996 – Christie Smith On Distributed Teams, Generative AI And Global Shifts

Aug 10, 2025

Christie Smith, a former senior executive at Apple, Deloitte, and Accenture, now leads The Humanity Studio, focusing on redefining leadership in the modern workplace. She discusses the urgent need for empathetic leadership in a post-pandemic world, where people-centered approaches are key. The conversation dives into how organizations must move beyond traditional productivity measures, emphasizing human energy and emotional connections. Moreover, she explores the complex dynamics of distributed teams and the ethical dilemmas posed by generative AI, calling for a balanced, mission-driven culture.

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INSIGHT

Leaders Must Suspend Self-Interest

Emotional intelligence alone is no longer sufficient for modern leaders.
Christie Smith urges leaders to adopt emotional maturity by suspending self-interest to serve people and purpose.

INSIGHT

Mental Health Is A Silent Pandemic

Christie Smith describes mental health as a silent pandemic comparable to COVID in seriousness.
She argues workplaces must reinsert humanity or society faces severe consequences.

INSIGHT

Employees Demand Purpose, Agency, Well‑Being, Connection

Employees now prioritize purpose, agency, well-being, and connection from employers.
Christie Smith says organizations must align mission, work design, and care to meet these demands.

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Welcome to episode #996 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Christie Smith is a former senior executive at Apple, Deloitte and Accenture with over three decades of leadership experience across industries including life sciences, consumer goods and finance. She holds a doctorate in Social Work and Organizational Psychology and now leads The Humanity Studio, a leadership advisory firm focused on redefining the future of work. In her new book, Essential - How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership (along with her co-author Kelly Monahan), Christie outlines a bold new framework for leaders navigating a post-pandemic, AI-driven, decentralized world. This episode explores the urgent need for management transformation - from command-and-control to people-centered leadership - and how today’s leaders must adapt to rising expectations around purpose, trust and equity. Topics include the power shift from corporations to individuals, the cultural cost of distributed work, and why organizations must stop measuring productivity and start cultivating human energy. The discussion also unpacks the psychological strain of "always-on" work cultures, the promise and peril of generative AI, and how leaders can build communities, not just companies. At its core, this conversation is about what comes after burnout… what it means to lead with humanity, design systems that elevate people, and use power responsibly in a time of profound disruption. For anyone rethinking what it means to lead, build and belong in the modern workplace, this episode offers a timely and hopeful reframing of what’s possible. Enjoy the conversation...

Running time: 56:23.
Hello from beautiful Montreal.
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Here is my conversation with Christie Smith.
Essential - How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership.
The Humanity Studio.
Follow Christie on Instagram.
Follow Christie on LinkedIn.

Chapters:

(00:00) - The Evolving Role of Leadership. (03:06) - Emotional Maturity in Leadership. (05:51) - The Impact of the Pandemic on Leadership. (08:55) - Employee Expectations and Organizational Change. (11:54) - The Shift Towards Purpose-Driven Leadership. (15:05) - Navigating Challenges in Large Organizations. (18:11) - The Rise of Entrepreneurship and New Work Models. (21:03) - Community and Connection in the Digital Age. (33:24) - The Human Element in AI and Workplaces. (39:10) - Agency and Connection in Leadership. (45:51) - Legacy and Leadership in a Changing World. (52:10) - Building a New Organization: Culture and Purpose. (58:28) - Curiosity and Hope in the Face of Challenges.