Leading in the age of AI: Practical steps for PH executives

By Ting Carbonell

Leading in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) means living in the tension of trade offs — should companies move fast to stay competitive, or should they slow down to safeguard themselves against hallucinations and errors? How much efficiency should they gain before their integrity is compromised? And most importantly, where should human judgment step in to balance machine output?

Executives today are constantly weighing data access against privacy and innovation against inclusion. These aren’t abstract dilemmas, but everyday equations that must be solved as AI continues to reshape the workforce. In boardrooms and team huddles, leaders are being asked not only what AI can do, but how it should be used responsibly. This is the leadership test of our time, and it sets the stage for practical steps executives can take to guide their people through AI transformation.

What does this mean in practice? Leaders everywhere have expressed excitement and anxiety at the prospect of integrating AI in the professional setting. Many feel the pressure to know everything about it, and the role of humans in this new world of work.

As a response, Deloitte has identified five things that executives can do to rise to this challenge — taking into consideration not just the adoption of the technology’s tools but also having the know-how on AI’s role in building and making an organization’s future thrive.
 

Lead with AI credibility

Leaders don’t need to pretend they have all the answers. Humility and transparency build trust. They should be honest about the status of their AI journey and show commitment to continuous learning.

Some steps to take to acquire further knowledge include participating in free online trainings, following tech news, or partnering with colleagues who are more fluent with the technology. Even a simple conversation with their organizations’ chief technology officer can help leaders build credibility as the “human in the loop,” guiding their people through AI adoption.
 

Upskill for tomorrow’s workforce

AI is only as powerful as the people who use it, meaning, investing in skills is non-negotiable. The management should sponsor short AI learning sessions, encourage teams to explore offloading the right tasks to AI, and start conversations about which skills remain uniquely human. This builds technical fluency while also strengthening creativity, empathy, and judgment — skills that machines cannot replace.
 

Redesign people strategies for AI

Artificial Intelligence will reshape roles and workflows. Some even predict futures where human resources and tech functions co-own the workforce. For now, decision-makers can start small: identify bottlenecks in current processes and explore where AI can help or make a big difference in productivity and overall impact. This lays the groundwork for bigger redesigns in hiring, training, and organizational strategy.
 

Embed ethics and responsibility

AI brings risks: data security, job displacement, and ethical dilemmas. One everyday risk is simply taking AI outputs as absolute truth. Leaders must encourage fact-checking and install checks and balances in workflows. Create simple rules for AI use, and make sure teams know when to pause and verify, as responsible AI practices protect both the business and its people.
 

Build an AI-ready culture

Culture is key to unlocking AI adoption. Organizations that thrive in the age of AI foster trust, agility, curiosity, safe experimentation, and data fluency. Leaders must model these values and behaviors daily. That could mean ending each management meeting with open-ended questions like, “What surprised you in the data this week?” or “What’s one small task this week where we could try using AI — just as an experiment — and see what we learn from it?” These small acts build a culture of learning and innovation that all add up and lead to business outcomes.

AI is not just a technology shift — it’s a leadership challenge. Philippine executives who embrace humility, invest in skills, rethink people strategies, embed responsibility, and model curiosity will not only keep pace with change, but will also set the tone for organizations ready to thrive in the future. The question is no longer if AI will reshape our work, but how leaders will shape the way humans and AI succeed together.