Leaders in the Loop – Episode 02 -- How AI Is Shaping Leadership Learning

Welcome back to Leaders in the Loop! In this episode, Dan Jenkins and Gaurav Khanna pull back the curtain on their recent article published in the Journal of Leadership Studies. The discussion dives deep into how generative AI is reshaping leadership education, training, and development across sectors.

Join us as we explore the intersections of leadership, learning theory, and cutting-edge AI tools—showcasing real-world applications, wins, and the ongoing challenges of bringing AI into the heart of leadership development.

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In This Episode

AI and Leadership: From Fringe to Forefront

• The evolution of AI from a fringe topic to a central focus in leadership education and development.
• Insights drawn from the International Leadership Association's (ILA) AI Leadership Summit and the ILA's expanded focus on AI.
• The launch of the Journal of Leadership Studies special issue on AI and leadership.

Key Takeaways from the Article

• Generative AI is not replacing leadership development, but rewiring and enhancing it.
• The human element remains irreplaceable—empathy, trust, and nuance are fundamentally human and essential to cultivating leaders.
• Scaling content vs. scaling trust: AI can spread knowledge, but human mentoring and coaching create the spaces where transformational leadership development happens.

Foundational Theories & Influences

• John Dewey’s and David Kolb’s work on experiential learning and how it informs leadership education today.
• The Four-Phase Model of Interest Development by Hidi & Renninger—exploring how interest evolves from fleeting curiosity to deep engagement.
• Rev Canning and Horakowitz’s research on personalized learning, scaffolding, and context matching in AI-facilitated education.
• Fink’s Taxonomy of Significant Learning, focusing on intrinsic motivation and lifelong learning skills.

Practical Applications of Generative AI

• The “TED” framework: Training, Education, and Development in leadership learning.
  • Training: Using AI for scenario-based practice & skill building.
  • Education: Leveraging AI to generate discussion prompts, explain concepts, and scaffold theory.
  • Development: Using AI as a reflective coach, journaling partner, and feedback provider.
• Practitioner-focused tools and platforms mentioned:
  • ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other large language models.
  • Custom GPTs, NotebookLM, Packback, Perplexity, and LeadershipSkillsLab.AI.
  • Khan Academy’s work integrating AI tutors.
• The concept of agentic flows: Advancements in how AI agents autonomously plan, reflect, and perform tasks—paralleling human learning and problem-solving processes.

The Human in the Loop

• The enduring necessity of human facilitation, especially in safe and brave spaces for leadership growth.
• Seminal theories on psychological safety: Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development and Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of Flow.
• The difference between “safe spaces” and “brave spaces” in leadership training.
• Personal stories about memorable moments and how human-led environments foster vulnerability and transformation.

Looking Ahead

• The future of AI in leadership learning: keeping human co-intelligence at the center.
• Current technical limitations of AI in encoding empathy and other uniquely human skills.
• How the “human in the loop” philosophy will persist as AI tools become even more advanced.

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Resources & References Mentioned

• Journal of Leadership Studies special issue on AI and leadership development
• John Dewey 
• David Kolb
• Hidi & Renninger’s Four-Phase Model 
• Rev Canning & Horakowitz’s work on scaffolding/personalization
• Fink’s Taxonomy 
• Salman Khan, Brave New Words 
• LeadershipSkillsLab.AI by Gary Lloyd 
• Khan Academy & AI 
• NotebookLM 
• Packback 
• Perplexity 
• ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google)

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We’d love to hear from you:

• What AI and leadership learning intersections are you seeing in your own work?
• What challenges and wins have you experienced with generative AI?

Share your thoughts and join our ongoing conversation on building the AI literacy leaders and educators need.

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Stay curious. Stay human. Stay in the loop!