Building Human-Centered Workplaces in the Age of AI
Release Date: 06/13/2025
Building Emotional Intelligence in an Age of AI
On the Brink with Andi Simon
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On the Brink with Andi Simon
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info_outlineAs our workplaces grow more complex and technology accelerates, one skill set is becoming more essential than ever: emotional intelligence. In this compelling episode of On the Brink, I spoke with Jeremy Williams, an emotional intelligence coach and consultant based in Paris, whose journey from sailing instructor to sales professional to global coach reveals how transformative emotional awareness can be—especially in our rapidly digitizing world.
Jeremy’s mission is simple yet profound: help individuals and teams enhance their self-awareness, empathy, and influence to become better collaborators and leaders. His work focuses on helping fast-growth companies develop cultures where people can thrive—and it starts with how we manage emotions, especially the tough ones.
Jeremy’s Journey: From the Sea to the C-Suite
Jeremy began his career as a sailing instructor, where he discovered his passion for sharing knowledge. That passion carried him through various industries—from luxury motorcycles to real estate—before he transitioned into teaching business English in France. Eventually, he found his way into consulting with startups and tech companies. As these teams grew from five to fifty employees, Jeremy noticed a recurring issue: "soft skills"—now rightly called emotional intelligence—were the glue (or the gap) in how teams succeeded.
It became clear: technical skills could only take a company so far. People needed to better understand themselves and each other.
What Is Emotional Intelligence?
As Jeremy explained, emotional intelligence isn’t a single trait. It’s a set of competencies that determine how well we relate to ourselves and others—especially when emotions run high. Drawing from the Genos model (based on Daniel Goleman’s pioneering work), Jeremy outlined six key competencies:
- Self-Awareness – Recognizing your own emotional state and its impact.
- Awareness of Others – Showing empathy and tuning into how others feel.
- Authenticity – Acting with integrity and consistency; “standing in your own truth.”
- Emotional Reasoning – Blending logic and emotion to make sound decisions.
- Self-Management – Managing your reactions, especially in challenging moments.
- Positive Influence – Inspiring others with your emotional tone and leadership.
In practice, this means pausing before reacting, being present during meetings (no multitasking!), and responding constructively to tension.
As Jeremy put it: “It’s how we positively deal with negative emotions.”
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Peer Coaching for 60: A Simple but Powerful Model
To foster these emotional competencies, Jeremy created the Peer Coaching for 60 program. It brings together four peers from different parts of an organization—or even different companies—for four one-hour sessions over four weeks.
Each session gives one participant the “hot seat” to share a challenge, while peers actively listen, ask clarifying questions, and offer insights. Importantly, the participant steps away for part of the session to hear their peers discuss their issue candidly. It’s powerful, humbling, and affirming.
The outcome? Better problem-solving, stronger connections, and a growing global network of emotionally intelligent professionals.
How Emotional Intelligence Drives Engagement
Jeremy’s work touches on a problem plaguing many companies today: low employee engagement. His prescription? Presence and intention.
Leaders must “walk the talk”—not just display company values, but live them. Meetings should have purpose, with multitasking discouraged. He introduced the P.I.E.O. model to guide communication:
- Proof: What evidence supports taking action?
- Impact: What are the consequences of action or inaction?
- Energy: What resources are needed?
- Objective: How does this support company goals?
Training employees to think and speak this way improves collaboration, productivity, and focus.
AI and EQ: A Necessary Balance
As we explored, AI is transforming business. But what it offers in speed, it lacks in humanity. AI pulls from averages and past data—but human insight, creativity, and relationships come from lived experience and emotion.
Jeremy emphasized that the rise of AI only amplifies the importance of emotional intelligence. Roles focused on repetitive tasks will evolve. What will remain critical is how we build trust, nurture teams, and connect across cultures and experiences.
Key Takeaways
- Emotional intelligence is your superpower in a world dominated by algorithms.
- Leaders must cultivate presence, empathy, and reflective decision-making.
- Peer coaching builds trust, insight, and leadership capacity in a scalable way.
- To improve engagement, simplify meetings, foster focused dialogue, and model authenticity.
- AI isn’t replacing us—it’s augmenting us. But what makes us human matters more than ever.
Final Thoughts
Jeremy’s parting message was one of optimism: Embrace this technological era. Be curious. Stay connected. Lead with empathy. And above all, invest in building emotionally intelligent cultures where people can grow and thrive.
To learn more about Jeremy’s work, visit or find him on LinkedIn. And if this podcast inspired you, please share it—and let’s keep learning from each other.
Where to learn more about Jeremy and his work:
Jeremy’s Profile
Website
- immutableadventures.carrd.co/ (Personal)
Listen to these other podcasts or read the blogs about them:
435: Navigating the Management Maze: Tips for New Leaders
433: Organizations Must Embrace Human-Centric Design
430: How Does Dr. Chris Fuzie Create Great Leaders?
Connect with me:
- Website: www.simonassociates.net
- Email: info@simonassociates.net
- Books: Learn more about these books here:
- Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business
- Women Mean Business
- On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights
Listen + Subscribe:
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Reach out and contact us if you want to see how a little anthropology can help your business grow. Let's Talk!
From Observation to Innovation,
Andi Simon, PhD
CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author
Simonassociates.net
Info@simonassociates.net
@simonandi
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