393 Unlocking AI’s Power: Practical Strategies for Leaders with Candice DeVille
Release Date: 03/09/2025
415 Moral Courage in Leadership: Lessons from Dag Hammarskjöld with Sara Causey
The Future of Leadership
Leadership futurist and author Sara Causey joins Zoë to explore the moral courage and leadership legacy of Dag Hammarskjöld, the second Secretary-General of the United Nations. Drawing from her books Decoding the Unicorn and the forthcoming Simply Dag, Sara unpacks why Hammarskjöld’s leadership during the Cold War remains deeply relevant today. The conversation explores ethical leadership in complex systems, quiet diplomacy, psychological safety, and the tension between service-driven leadership and power structures. Zoë and Sara discuss Hammarskjöld’s role during the Congo...
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414: Living the Good Life: Meaning, Community, and Flourishing in Late Career
The Future of Leadership
In this solo episode, Zoë Routh explores a timeless question: what does it mean to live a good life? Drawing on Dan Coyle’s Flourish, she describes flourishing as “joyful, meaningful growth shared with others,” built on two foundations: meaning-making and community. Through stories like the Chilean miners who survived 69 days underground and her own experience navigating IVF after cancer, Zoë reflects on how humans create meaning even in life’s hardest moments. Bringing together ideas from Aristotle, Martin Seligman, Dan Pink, and Hugh Mackay, she introduces her three pillars of...
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413: Stepping Back, Stepping Into: Identity Recalibration in Late Career
The Future of Leadership
In this solo reflection, Zoë Routh explores the tender, unsettling terrain of midlife and late-career transitions, a season where identity fractures, ambition recalibrates, and something new begins to form. Drawing on her own move to Newcastle, scaled-back alpine hiking plans due to injury, and the creative emergence of her new Chrysalis program, Zoë names what many leaders are feeling: exhaustion, grief, restlessness, and the quiet question, who am I now? She introduces four types of transitions, anticipated, unanticipated, non-events (fizzers), and sleepers, alongside three spheres of...
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Mattering in Midlife: Finding Significance Through Life’s Transitions
The Future of Leadership
In this solo reflection, Zoë Routh explores what it means to matter in midlife and late career, sparked by transitions, reinvention, and Jennifer Breheny Wallace’s book, Mattering. Against the backdrop of career shifts, empty nests, relocation, illness, and unrealised dreams, Zoe reflects on how our sense of significance can wobble and how it can be rebuilt. Drawing on ennifer Breheny Wallace’s five core elements of mattering, recognition, reliance, importance, ego extension, and attunement, she invites listeners to tune inward and reach outward through small, meaningful acts of...
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411: The Quiet Crisis Facing Today’s Leaders with Digby Scott
The Future of Leadership
Leadership thinker and author Digby Scott joins Zoë Routh for a deep, reflective conversation on leadership transitions, success, and what it truly means to matter. As leaders move into later stages of their careers, familiar formulas begin to lose their power. Hustle becomes exhausting. Achievement feels hollow. The question shifts from What more can I do? to How do I contribute differently now? Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Digby explores the shift from ego to eco, from hero leadership to host leadership, and from achievement to contentment. Together, Zoë and Digby unpack...
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410: One Wild and Precious Life: Leadership Reflections in Uncertain Times
The Future of Leadership
In this solo reflection, Zoë Routh explores leadership and what it means to live a life well lived, inspired by This One Wild and Precious Life by Sarah Wilson and Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day. Against a backdrop of ecological, political, and personal uncertainty, Zoe reflects on languishing, disconnection, and the chrysalis moments of change. Drawing on minimalist living, nature, art, spirituality, and everyday activism, she invites leaders to slow down, pay attention, and ask what truly enlarges their lives. Ultimately, this episode asks a simple but profound question: What will you do...
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409: The Leadership Blind Spot No One Is Talking About with Dan Pontefract
The Future of Leadership
Leadership thinker and author Dan Pontefract joins Zoë to explore the demographic forces reshaping the future of work. With ageing populations and declining birth rates, the question is simple: are organisations ready? Drawing on The Future of Work Is Gray, Dan reframes ageing as a strategic advantage, not a liability. The conversation explores ageism, longevity, and outdated career ladders, offering practical alternatives like phased retirement, career “canvases,” and new ways to value experience at work. Kickstarter link: Key Quotes “Demographics isn’t ideology, it’s just...
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408: Leadership at the Edge of Humanity: AI, Mars, and Moral Choice
The Future of Leadership
In this episode of The Future of Leadership, host Zoë Routh reflects on the idea of place, how where we are shapes who we become, prompted by Australia Day and the launch of Olympus Dawn, the final book in her Gaia series. Go to the Kickstarter campaign here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zoerouth/olympus-dawn-the-complete-gaia-series-finale Zoë is joined by Richard Anderson, a microbiologist and science-fiction author whose work sits at the intersection of evolution, ethics, and humanity’s future beyond Earth. Richard shares his journey from writing about the origins of life...
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407: Leadership Transitions: When Success, Identity & Purpose Begin to Shift
The Future of Leadership
Leadership change isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s quiet, disorienting, and deeply personal. In this episode, Zoë Routh returns to the podcast after a six-month break to explore what she calls The Chrysalis Concept, a leadership transition phase where old identities dissolve before new ones take shape. This conversation is for leaders navigating: -career transitions later in life -burnout after success -identity shifts beyond titles and roles -uncertainty about “what’s next” -redefining retirement, contribution, and purpose Zoë reflects on stepping back from work that no longer...
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406 How to make and use of your end of year reflection
The Future of Leadership
I'm back! After a crazy half year of transition, adventure, and being in the murky mess of a 'chrysalis' experience, I've surfaced for some insights for you to wrap up 2025. Here's what's up for you: A process for reflection that uses visual representation of your last twelve months A reflective practice that will surface insights for next year How to make use of these insights in a practical way. My own updates: Travel, adventure, heartbreak, moving house: it's the bitter sweetnes of not yet and not anymore. Enjoy! Zoë
info_outlineZoë Routh welcomes Candice DeVille, co-founder and CEO of AI CoPilot, to discuss the impact and practical applications of AI tools in personal and professional settings. They explore how AI can enhance efficiency, improve decision-making, and create opportunities for business leaders. Candice shares insights into AI’s geopolitical landscape, the importance of diverse perspectives in AI development, and how leaders can implement AI to streamline business operations.
The conversation also covers the ethical considerations of AI, its evolving capabilities, and how businesses can develop a strategic AI roadmap. Additionally, Zoë recommends Tough Broad by Caroline Paul, an inspiring read on outdoor adventure for women.
https://www.zoerouth.com/podcast/ai-power-practical-strategies-for-leaders
Key Quotes
“The challenge for leaders isn’t just keeping up with AI—it’s making smart, strategic choices about where to use it." – Zoë Routh
"The best use of AI is not to replace people, but to augment what they’re already doing." – Candice DeVille
"We have the opportunity to shape AI by how we use it, what we teach it, and how we engage with it." – Candice DeVille
"When using AI, start small. Automate the tasks that are repetitive, prone to human error, and the ones that people complain about the most." – Candice DeVille
Questions Asked
1. How can AI be used to expand our perspectives?
2. What is the role of AI in creating meaningful connections rather than just generating content?
3. How can leaders implement AI in a structured way without overwhelming their teams?
4. What are the key geopolitical considerations shaping AI development?
5. How do open-source AI models like DeepSeek compare to proprietary models?
6. What are the most effective ways for SMEs to start leveraging AI?
7. How can business leaders ensure AI adoption is ethical and effective?
Take Action
1. Identify repetitive tasks in your business – Make a list of time-consuming, error-prone processes that could be automated.
2. Ask AI how it can help – Use tools like ChatGPT to explore automation options tailored to your needs.
3. Develop an AI roadmap – Start with a small, low-risk AI project to test the benefits before scaling up.
4. Encourage AI education in your team – Provide training so employees can leverage AI effectively.
5. Set clear AI guardrails – Ensure AI tools align with ethical considerations and business values.
6. Explore free AI learning resources – Check out Candice DeVille’s AI CoPilot courses for business leaders.
Tip of the Week
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Key Moments
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:18 Exploring AI Tools: Bordi on LinkedIn
01:59 Power Games and Upcoming Book Launch
02:54 Using AI to Expand Perspectives
04:53 Interview with Candice DeVille: AI CoPilot
06:00 Candice DeVille's Journey in Tech
08:04 AI's Impact and Future Directions
19:44 Practical AI Applications for Businesses
28:48 Candice DeVille's Free AI Program for Leaders
33:39 Book Recommendation: Tough Broad
35:15 Conclusion and Call to Action
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