Leading through AI: How modern managers can empower teams in the age of AI and automation

As AI transforms the workplace, today's leaders must not just adopt new tools and support people through change.

In this Propel25 session, "AI-First Leadership," three dynamic leaders shared their playbooks for leveraging AI to drive empowerment. Mariah Bayne (Founder, AYC Consulting), Kaivona Parker (Founder, Known as the Unboring Sales Specialist), and Shanae Brown (Executive Coach and Founder, NoCreamInThisCoffee) offered a human take on helping teams thrive in an AI-powered era.

Their insights painted a clear picture: The future of leadership is empathetic, AI-literate, and focused on people.

From productivity tool to thought partner: A new AI perspective

The panelists debunked the idea of AI as a time-saving tool. They advocated for seeing it as a thought partner that enhances strategic thinking, communication, and creativity.

Shanae shared how discovering Copy.ai transformed her L&D business marketing approach. Without a formal background, she used AI tools to write emails and social media posts in her brand voice and quickly received feedback on her content’s value and quality.

"I'm not a trained marketer, but AI helped me appear like one. It filled in the skill gaps and helped my business grow."

Kaivona emphasized how AI allows her to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams, especially in enablement work spanning sales, marketing, and operations. She uses it to translate ideas into the language of each stakeholder group.

"Enablement folks must speak many languages—marketing, sales, ops. AI helps me tailor my messaging and align with each team."

Mariah described using AI as a strategic sounding board. She inputs raw thoughts, then asks it to shape them into messaging that resonates with CEOs, engineers, or finance leaders. It bridges the gap between her excitement and the stakeholders' understanding.

"When my brain is racing, I use AI to organize and clarify my thoughts for my audience."

Shifting from AI-as-tool to AI-as-collaborator is crucial for teams to innovate and adapt. The focus moves from automation to augmentation, enhancing individual capability and team output.

Elevating leadership through empathy and feedback

Leadership in an AI-first world isn't just about being tech-savvy. It's about using AI to enhance human connection and deliver feedback with empathy and precision.

Mariah revealed how she uses AI to practice delivering feedback. She speaks into ChatGPT, describes the situation, and asks it to draft a version that balances directness with care. Then, she asks AI, "What will the recipient take away from this message?" This helps ensure her intent aligns with the actual impact.

"Intent and action must align. AI helps me validate that my message lands as intended."

Shanae noted that many managers struggle with giving feedback. They often default to vague praise like "great job." She encourages leaders to be specific and actionable. AI can coach them to improve their communication and model better feedback.

"AI helps you be precise, so your team knows what to keep doing."

Mariah encouraged leaders to use AI to help team members self-coach. Employees can receive instant, low-pressure feedback and coaching by prompting AI with their challenges or draft ideas.

"We need to help our teams stretch themselves. AI helps them train and grow, beyond just completing tasks."

The message was clear: AI can train us to lead better, but it doesn't replace the responsibility to lead with intention.

Balancing AI and human connection

Can AI be emotionally intelligent?

Shanae noted that companionship and therapy are now top use cases for AI, indicating that trust and connection with machines are being established.

"If people trust AI for therapy, it can simulate empathy. Leaders should take note."

The human element matters. Kaivona emphasized the power of co-creating with AI. Her team uses it to brainstorm ideas, draft materials, and free up time for meaningful interactions.

She stressed that leaders must set the tone for AI use, creating psychological safety around experimentation and helping people find the fun in using these tools.

They agreed that AI should enhance human relationships, not replace them. It can boost productivity and morale.

Embracing change management: Guiding teams into AI adoption

Introducing AI into a team or workflow isn't just about flipping a switch. It's about change management.

Shanae likened AI adoption to the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Leaders must recognize that not everyone will move at the same pace or enthusiasm.

"This is grief work. People worry about what they're gaining, but also about what they're losing."

She advised creating communication plans, partnering with internal communications, and working with cybersecurity teams to ensure data privacy. She emphasized the importance of training on what information to share with AI tools.

Kaivona encouraged leaders to start small. They should leverage existing tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Gong. Then, they should identify one task to streamline, a sales email template, and pilot it.

"It's not about teaching your team ChatGPT overnight. It's about finding micro-wins in their existing tools."

The panelists emphasized building company-wide guidelines, especially for handling confidential or customer data. They highlighted partnering with cybersecurity and legal teams as essential.

Scaling the right way: With people, not just tools

One of the session's most powerful messages: True scale happens when people grow.

Mariah shared a personal story of being promoted three times in under three years by proactively solving business problems, including building training programs for teams with no background. The lesson: Run your desk like it's your own business.

"I asked myself: What am I not considering? What could I do to make my manager's job easier? That mindset, plus today's AI, is a game-changer."

She discussed decision fatigue and how AI can reduce cognitive overload. AI can be a quiet partner that creates headspace for better work, whether generating a RACI chart to divide responsibilities or helping a new hire learn jargon.

Kaivona shared how she uses AI to create scalable enablement programs tailored to different personas: a college grad, a four-year AE, or a new CSM. By maintaining organized folders and prompts, she can rapidly spin up personalized and repeatable onboarding programs.

"Scaling is about eliminating redundancy. AI lets me build once and adapt endlessly."

Shanae added a simple but powerful tip: use AI to identify what's noise versus what truly moves the business forward. That clarity can help teams prioritize strategically.

"Sometimes you need AI to say: Girl, this ain't it. Focus here instead."

Actionable insights for professional services and onboarding leaders

1. Redefine AI as a strategic partner: Encourage teams to use AI for brainstorming, insight synthesis, and scenario planning, not just automation.
2. Coach with clarity: Use AI to rehearse and refine feedback delivery. Check intent matches impact.
3. Manage change with empathy: Build change management plans that account for emotional responses, not just technical onboarding.
4. Start with embedded AI: Before launching new tools, maximize the AI features in your CRM, LMS, or communications stack.
5. Measure growth in people, not just metrics: Scale happens when teams are empowered to think, act, and lead. Use AI to clear roadblocks and enable creative work.

Rocketlane's platform enables customer onboarding, implementation, and professional services teams to scale smartly while maintaining the human touch.

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