• Why I stopped drinking alcohol, it’s been 9 months now
• How pausing, rest and reflection helped me get
• Five reflection questions to help you ensure your calendar & bank account aligns with your values

Resources Mentioned:

• Follow Elaine on Instagram for Philippines photos + reflections: @elainelou_
• El Nido Resorts

Where We Can Connect:
Schedule a Business & Career Review call with me to see if it’s a good fit to work together: elainelou.com/call
Check out our 300+ reviews on Google | LinkedIn | Youtube | Website
Follow the Podcast on Apple
Follow the Podcast on Spotify
Follow Elaine on Instagram: @elainelou_
Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn: Elaine Lou Cartas
Check out our other podcasts for Women of Color

This episode is the replay of my biggest talk to 10,000+ AI founders and engineers at /function1 Dubai.

I spoke about Emotional Intelligence (EI) at an AI conference, and they listened.

I broke EI down in a way technical audiences understand:

patterns → systems → data → small improvements.

Because no matter how advanced AI becomes, the most complex system I’ll ever work with is a human.

In this conversation, I share how EI shapes leadership, communication, and opportunities — and I also learned so much from my fellow panelists.

• Mohammed Benzakour of LinkedIn: 70% of our job skills will change by 2030.
• AI replaces tasks. Humans win through adaptability + communication.
• Prof. Abhilasha Singh Dean of American University in the Emirates: “The illiterate of the 21st century are those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
• Hemant Pandey CEO of Hustling Engineer and ex-Meta/Tesla/Salesforce): Your real edge? Skill Velocity: how fast you can learn the next thing.
• Ahmed Metwoali (Sphinque): Engineering is a team sport. Communicate → ship fast → become your team’s AI go-to.
• Adil-Ul Islam of Microsoft reminded us AI should augment, but not replace human judgment.
• Me (EI): If you want funding, collaboration, or opportunity, learn to read people as well as you read data.

In a world moving at the speed of algorithms, staying human is your unfair advantage.

Resources

/Function1

Connect with the panelists on LinkedIn:

• Mohammed Benzakour of LinkedIn
• Prof. Abhilasha Singh Dean of American University in the Emirates
• Hemant Pandey CEO of Hustling Engineer and ex-Meta/Tesla/Salesforce)
• Ahmed Metwoali (Sphinque)
• Adil-Ul Islam of Microsoft

My LinkedIn Learning AI Courses:

• The AI Edge for Entrepreneurs
• Using AI to Make a Career Switch

Where We Can Connect:
Schedule a Business & Career Review call with me to see if it’s a good fit to work together: elainelou.com/call

• Addicted to chaos and busyness? Maybe it’s cause your body learned that busyness felt safe. In this episode, we explore how to unlearn that pattern.
• I share the science behind why high achievers struggle to rest including the dopamine loop of achievement, the cortisol trap, and the trauma of chaos.
• You’ll learn why rest is important for your nervous system resetting.
• I’ll share how to replace overwork with presence, peace, and purpose cause you don’t need to EARN rest. You already deserve it.

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• Website: PsychologyToday.com – to find a therapist licensed in your area
  Articles Referenced:
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse – research on the dopamine loop of achievement
  • Harvard Health – research on stress and the cortisol trap
• Travel Recommendation: El Nido Resorts, Palawan, Philippines

Where We Can Connect:
Schedule a Business & Career Review call with me to see if it’s a good fit to work together: elainelou.com/call
Check out our 320+ client reviews on Google and our website
Follow the Podcast on Apple
Follow the Podcast on Spotify
Follow Elaine on Instagram: @elainelou_
Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn: Elaine Lou Cartas
Check out our other podcasts for Women of Color