A reflection on talent, trust, and what machines can never replace
The Paradox We Can No Longer Ignore
We live in a remarkable era. A report can be written in seconds. A proposal structured in moments. A marketing campaign drafted before your coffee cools.
Artificial intelligence brings astonishing speed and capability. For many, this feels like progress. But for those of us who have walked alongside people, led teams, and carried the weight of stewardship, a deeper question arises.
What does it mean to be human in an age where machines do our work faster than we can think?
If output becomes instant, what becomes of effort? If every answer is available, what becomes of curiosity? If skill can be copied, what still sets us apart?
Over two decades of leadership, I have encountered many forms of talent. Some individuals execute without hesitation. Others complete a task and then ask how they can contribute further. And some pause to reflect, asking whether there might be a better way. Each of these reveals a layer of human capability: action, initiative, and thoughtful reflection. But in today’s climate, we must look deeper than productivity. We must learn to seek soul.
When the Proposal Was Perfect, but It Wasn’t Enough
One of our new business development executives recently entered a client meeting with an impressive AI-generated pitch. It had all the elements of professionalism,clear structure, persuasive language, and robust data. On paper, it was flawless.
Yet, the client remained unmoved. They listened with polite attention and acknowledged the presentation, but it did not resonate on a deeper level.
Near the end of the meeting, the executive set aside the script and asked a simple, unscripted question.
“What are you most worried about?”
That question shifted the tone.
The client paused and considered. Then they shared concerns that had not surfaced before,concerns tied not to figures or projections, but to trust, timing, and unseen risks.
That was the real beginning of the conversation.
While the AI provided clarity, it was the executive’s presence and sincerity that made the difference. In the end, it was not the information that opened the door, but the human connection that followed.
True Stories from Stellar: Soul at Work
The HR Team Member Who Rewrote the Policy
The AI-generated draft of the new leave policy was polished and complete. The language was clear, the formatting precise, and the coverage comprehensive.
But as one team member reviewed it, something felt absent.
While the content was efficient, it lacked empathy. It failed to reflect the everyday realities faced by many in our community.
It did not consider the challenges of a single mother without childcare support. It overlooked the quiet burden carried by a father caring for an elderly parent. And it did not embody the values we hold,compassion, flexibility, and the ability to see the individual behind the job title.
So she chose to rewrite key sections.
She adjusted the tone, included space for life’s unpredictability, and restored a sense of warmth.
There was no announcement about the revision. But one mother, reading the updated version, was moved to tears.
She later shared, “This feels like someone thought of me.” It reminded us that even as we standardise our processes, we must still make room to customise,especially for those whose lives sit quietly between the lines.
That is what it means to write with soul.
The Teacher Who Didn’t Have the Answer
During a class discussion, a student asked, “Why do we need to learn this if AI already knows everything?”
It was a fair and thoughtful question,one that reflects the doubts many learners carry today.
The teacher did not reach for a textbook response. Instead, she paused, reflected, and offered this reply:
“Maybe learning is not just about acquiring knowledge. Maybe it is about becoming someone others can trust when answers are hard to find.”
That moment shifted the atmosphere in the room. It reminded everyone that education is not merely about storing information,it is about becoming.
She may not have had the perfect answer, but she had presence. And that will stay with the student far longer than any lesson.
Science and Soul: What the Data Still Cannot Teach
Science can observe many things, but not all can be fully explained.
Artificial intelligence cannot replicate the human body’s design. It does not have mirror neurons, the parts of our brain that allow us to feel another person’s pain or joy. It cannot experience the subtle synchrony of heartbeats when two people are deeply connected. Nor can it wrestle with the discomfort of cognitive dissonance,the internal tension that often precedes growth.
Even the corporate world is beginning to understand this.
A recent LinkedIn Talent Report showed that the top three skills in demand today are not technical at all. They are:
- Adaptability
- Emotional Intelligence
- Critical Thinking
The world is starting to rediscover something we may have overlooked: that the most valuable qualities in a person are not speed or automation, but depth and soul.
The MEN Formula: A Better Way to Spot Talent
If AI can produce flawless resumes, generate convincing interview answers, and create attractive portfolios, how do we truly discern what makes someone valuable?
The answer lies not in what they can do, but in how they choose to do it.
This is why I often turn to three traits: morality, empathy, and network.
- Morality provides the inner compass that keeps decisions grounded in integrity.
- Empathy allows a person to ask meaningful questions and understand perspectives beyond their own.
- Network speaks to the ability to build trust, nurture relationships, and extend impact through collaboration.
When any of these are missing, performance might remain, but something essential is lost. Trust weakens without morality. Leadership loses its warmth without empathy. And even the best ideas remain isolated without relationships to carry them forward.
These are not skills that can be programmed. They are lived truths, formed over time.
The Reverse That Redefines It All
In a world rushing toward seamless execution, perhaps our greatest act of leadership is to slow down and ask:
“Are we producing workers, or are we forming souls?”
The irony of this moment in history is clear. The faster our tools become, the more we need humans who can pause. Who can feel deeply. Who can listen closely. Who can ask questions that matter.
We do not need more output. We need more wisdom. We do not need louder voices. We need deeper roots.
So the next time you meet someone new, resist the urge to ask what they can do. Instead, observe how they listen. Consider what they choose to ask. And notice how they decide.
Because in this age of automation:
The opposite of talent is not slowness. It is soullessness.
And in the end, it is soul, that will lead us forward, not speed.
