Episode Highlights

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• How a LinkedIn Cold Message Sparked a Movement: What began as a LinkedIn message became a collaboration across coasts. Dan Jenkins (University of Southern Maine) and Gaurav Khanna (Cisco / Stanford Continuing Studies) met while organizing a global summit on AI and leadership for the International Leadership Association—drawing 400 attendees from 30 countries and revealing a shared mission: to build AI literacy for leaders.

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• AI for Leadership and Leadership for AI: Their partnership grew from two questions: How can leaders use AI ethically and effectively? And how can AI help leaders learn and lead better? Dan brings expertise in leadership education and learning design; Gaurav translates data science into accessible language for non-technical audiences. Together, they bridge research and practice to equip a new generation of “AI-ready” leaders.

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• Teaching the AI Revolution: Dan describes using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Notebook LM to co-design curricula and foster ethical AI literacy. Gaurav shares his Stanford course series on “AI and Leadership,” built around an outside-in approach: start with real-world cases, then introduce algorithmic intuition and math. “We need leaders who understand AI conceptually—even if they never,” he notes.

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• Generative AI as Co-Teacher, Co-Author, and Collaborator: Both hosts use generative AI to amplify their own work and creativity—helping draft emails with empathy, summarize research, and produce teaching materials faster and better. Dan calls AI his “co-teacher and co-writer.” Gaurav calls it his “lifelong learning partner.”

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• Ethics Woven In, Not Tacked On: Instead of a one-off lecture, Gaurav weaves ethical reflection throughout every module. Dan connects this to the “alignment problem” between machine learning and human values, reminding listeners that “the human must remain in the loop.”

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• Inflection Point: There’s No Going Back: Both agree AI represents a true inflection point: it’s permanently changing how we teach, learn, and lead. As Gaurav puts it, “Inflection points mark moments where there is no going back.” Leaders must adapt—or be left behind.

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• Coming Next: The hosts tease their next episode, diving into their co-authored journal article AI-Enhanced Training, Education, and Development: Insights into Generative AI’s Role in Leadership Learning—exploring how AI is already reshaping leadership education and organizational development.