How do you lead well in a world transformed by AI? This week, Do Good to Lead Well tackles this question head-on, as I speak with Mike Sullivan, co-founder and Chief Growth Officer of OneDigital, and the co-author of the timely and insightful book, Workforce Intelligence. Throughout our conversation, Mike breaks through both the hype and the fear surrounding AI in today’s workforce. As a champion of people-centered AI, he offers an inspiring roadmap for activating, not replacing, the human workforce.

Listeners are invited into the story of “Ben,” a digital coworker, and how Mike and his team treat AI onboarding like hiring a real employee: with transparency, development, and high expectations. The result? A culture where humans and digital agents collaborate, learn, and continuously improve together. We also discuss how workforce intelligence is being redefined and how high-performing teams are built not on software alone, but on empathy, transparency, and courage.

For leaders and organizations seeking practical strategies, this episode brims with actionable advice, from measuring workforce intelligence to ensuring HR has a seat at the AI table. It’s a compelling argument for seeing the faces behind the headcount, and for cultivating trust as the cornerstone of 21st-century leadership.

What You’ll Learn

- Start with honesty, not hype when it comes to AI.

- Don’t treat AI as ‘software’: Treat it like a coworker.

- Transparent roles & faces build trust.

- What is your Workforce Intelligence (WI) score? The success metric.

- Activation moments matter.

- Top-down Is the only way forward.

- People Always Come First.

- It’s not either/or. It’s Human Intelligence (HI) + Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Podcast Timestamps

(00:00) – Personal Fear and the Human Side of AI

(06:02) – No Code? No Problem – Mike’s Personal AI Journey

(10:05) – The Human Side of AI Deployment

(12:29) – Hiring AI Coworkers: Internship to Full-Time

(16:33) – Managing a Blended Human-AI Workforce

(21:54) – HR’s Role and Navigating Workforce Change

(26:29) – Defining Workforce Intelligence and the WI Score

(30:58) – Overcoming Employee Fears and Building Trust

(37:43) – Leadership Activation and Empathy in the Age of AI

(53:00) – Final Reflections and The Humanity Test

KEYWORDS

Positive Leadership, AI, Artificial Intelligence, AI Transformation, Workplace Intelligence, People-First Leadership, Human-Centric Organizations, AI Adoption, Digital Coworkers, Organizational Change, Employment Disruption, Job Automation, Human Resources (HR), Talent Management, Growth Mindset, Trust in Leadership, Empathy in Business, AI Onboarding, Blended Workforce, WI score, Transparency in AI, Disruption, Future of Work, Human-AI Collaboration, Managing AI Anxiety, CEO Success

Over the past three episodes, I had a very special guest; Kevin Ford, the former CEO of Calian. Our previous conversations trace a powerful progression from self-leadership to connecting with others. In the final episode of this series, we explore how a profound sense of purpose united by a set of core values truly anchors an organization.

Our discussion moves beyond corporate clichés, as we dig into how purpose statements can resonate from the C-suite to every desk and production floor, and why stories, not slogans, are the secret to unlocking commitment and pride. Listeners will also find practical insights on transforming company values from static posters into lived behaviors, using transparency, feedback, and authentic leadership. This journey ultimately challenges every leader to reflect on the following question: Are your company’s values visible in the daily experience, or just in the posters on the wall?

Through the lens of firsthand leadership stories, our conversation examines the risks of focusing only on financial metrics and offers powerful reminders that true value is created when people are proud not just of their work, but of its impact. Tactics like regular storytelling, open surveys, and clear expectations set the stage for a culture where integrity, respect, and community involvement drive both performance, engagement and well-being.

For leaders and teams navigating the complexity of today’s business world, this episode serves as both an inspiration and a toolkit for embedding purpose and values that last.

What You’ll Learn

- The Power of Purpose-Driven Organizations.

- Developing and Communicating Core Values.

- Storytelling as a Leadership Tool.

- Metrics Matter: Move Beyond Just the Financials.

- Balancing Performance and Values.

- Navigating Personal and Organizational Values Misalignment.

- The Ongoing Practice of Authentic Leadership.

Podcast Timestamps

(00:00) - Introduction to Part 3: The Road We Travelled with an Introduction to Purpose and Values

(03:04) - Defining Purpose in Organizations

(05:25) - Developing and Living a Purpose Statement

(09:28) - The Tangible Benefits of Purpose-Driven Organizations

(13:45) - Strategies for Building a Purpose-Driven Culture

(18:36) - Defining and Living Core Values

(23:06) - Ensuring Alignment Between Stated and Lived Values

(27:05) - Balancing Performance Pressures with Values

(35:06) - Navigating Personal vs. Organizational Value Misalignment

(41:00) - Final Reflections on the Foundations of Positive Leadership

KEYWORDS

Positive Leadership, Purpose-Driven Organization, Core Values, Empathy, Transparency, Respect, Candor, Organizational Culture, Community Involvement, Storytelling, Company Mission, Organizational Alignment, Values Drift, Employee Motivation, Behavioral Anchors, Values-Based Leadership, Organizational Trust, Accountability, Purpose and Values Integration, Lived Values, CEO Success

In this episode of our 3-part series exploring the foundations of positive leadership, I speak with Kevin Ford, the award-winning, past CEO of Calian Group, about how to effectively connect with others.

In a world grappling with AI, remote work, and breakneck change, we examine explore what meaningful connection looks like in practice. Starting with candor and transparency, our discussion explores why authentic openness isn’t just a nice-to-have, but a business essential. Kevin shares some real-life examples from leading a global, publicly traded company to amplify the conversation from theory to tangible action.

Our journey continues with a deep dive into respect, which is not a formality rooted in title, but rather the lived foundation of innovative, resilient culture. Empathy emerges as our final, essential ingredient, with stories illustrating how courageous listening and presence lead organizations through uncertainty and drive sustainable results.

Key moments include revealing the inner workings of boardroom transparency, the contagious effects of a leader’s sincerity, and the simple yet radical act of asking, “How are you really doing?” Insights on how accountability and compassion coexist provide leaders with a nuanced blueprint for addressing hard truths without losing humanity.

Listeners will come away with a wealth of practical strategies, from how to tune into team energy, to acting on feedback with genuine care. For anyone looking to elevate their leadership and transform team dynamics, this episode delivers both the why and the how.

What You’ll Learn

- The Importance of Candor and Transparency in Leadership.

- How Transparency Builds Trust and Followership.

- Cultivating a Culture of Respect.

- Navigating Difficult Conversations With Respect.

- Demonstrating and Developing Empathy: A Leadership Superpower.

- Positive energy matters, especially in tough times.

- Balancing Empathy, Accountability, and Performance.

Podcast Timestamps

(00:00) - Introduction to Part 2: Connecting with Others

(01:59) - The Challenge of Connection in a Tech-Driven World

(02:36) - Candor and Transparency in Leadership

(07:36) - Transparency Across Stakeholders

(13:09) - The Foundation of Respect

(19:59) - (25:03) - Respect in Difficult Conversations and Layoffs

(29:01) - Empathy as a Leadership Imperative

(36:29) - Empathy in Action and Leading Through Crisis

(47:03) - The Courage to Embrace Raw Emotions

(55:07) - Reflecting on the Leadership Journey

KEYWORDS

Positive Leadership, Candor, Transparency, Authenticity, Self-Leadership, Respect, Empathy, Leadership Culture, Company Values, Accountability, Performance Management, Giving Feedback, Employee Engagement, Emotional Intelligence, Human-Centered Leadership, Difficult Conversations, Building Trust, Stakeholder Communication, Navigating Change, Remote Work, CEO Success