Being relevant in the age of GenAI

Every leader, regardless of their experience or achievements, encounters challenges that can momentarily shake their confidence. This session is designed to empower leaders by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to navigate these moments with resilience, transforming them into opportunities for growth rather than struggles. Instead of focusing on perceived limitations, we will explore how understanding imposter syndrome can serve as a powerful catalyst for self-awareness and personal development. Attendees will leave with practical, actionable strategies that not only strengthen their leadership capabilities but also reframe challenges as opportunities for innovation and success. This session is not about admitting weakness; it’s about embracing a mindset of continuous improvement, enabling leaders to steer their teams and themselves with greater clarity, confidence, and power.

Times are a-changin' for the modern job seekers, people managers, and leaders across all industries and stages of their careers, where confronting the storms of change and complexity are now a regular occurrence rather than the rare occasion and exception. Those who can embody and embrace their inner "chaos pilots" will be the ones who can navigate their way through the waves of uncertainty and unclarity--not just for themselves in their own careers, but also to help shape the work and professional growth of others as people managers, mentors, and leaders to help them thrive even in the midst of challenges. From Kim's early career experiences pivoting from legal and corporate affairs to PR SaaS/tech and marketing consulting; to building and launching multimillion-dollar, go-to-market strategies in new territories and expansion markets for highly-regulated organizations and entities across the U.S. and globally, Kim will share real-life career and leadership stories "from the trenches" that anyone can apply regardless of industry, job title, or level. As a former psychology major, Kim is also passionate about tapping into the human potential through the science of neuropsychological behaviors and mindsets from a multi-disciplinary perspective, especially in the age of AI and automation--including applying the business theory of Blue Ocean strategy in a tough job market, unstable economic conditions, and a turbulent election year that seems to be increasingly at odds against our individual and collective successes, as well as leveraging philosophical, cultural concepts such as kintsugi for career satisfaction, leadership innovation, and deep personal/professional transformation.

Many designers aspire to be strong generalists or full-stack designers. They may have this goal because they enjoy all aspects of the design process, they believe it will increase their chance of landing a job, or because they come from an engineering background and want to retain coding skills. All of these are solid reasons. However, some of our closest cross-functional partners are encroaching into the design lane via AI capabilities and collaborative design tools. And who can blame them? But, are you doing all you can to stay relevant, compete, and expand your capabilities for the rapidly evolving landscape? Some of the recommendations here are not new, but worthy of revisiting with a fresh lens.

Reflecting on moments in my life and design career, I realised how it has made me more resilient as an entrepreneur. Here I share my lessons to help other designers create their own ventures. You don’t need funding, an MBA, or infinite resources.