3 Leadership Change You Need to Make (Now!)

What does it take to be seen as a strategic leader in a world where change is happening at lightning speed?

I’ve been thinking about this after watching Amy Webb’s SXSW 2025 Emerging Tech Trend Report. And let me tell you, the future is arriving faster than most leaders are prepared for.

Amy, who is a futurist, CEO of the Future Today Institute, and NYU professor, laid out a vision of AI, biotech, and automation converging in ways that will reshape industries, careers, and leadership itself.

Her message was clear: the future won’t wait for us to catch up.

And here’s the thing: While AI can process data faster than humans ever will …

It can’t build trust in organizations. It can’t influence people and drive real change. It can’t create a strategic vision that inspires teams.

Those skills? They’re what define high-impact, purpose-driven leaders.

So the question is:

How do you ensure you’re the kind of leader who thrives in this transformation era?

3 Shifts Purpose-Driven Leaders Need to Make Now

To lead effectively in this rapidly changing world, it’s not enough to be knowledgeable. You have to be strategic, adaptable, and ready to experiment.

Here are three key takeaways from Amy’s SXSW talk, and how they apply to how we lead today:

1. The Best Leaders Are Translators, Not Just Experts

Amy spoke about Living Intelligence (LI) - an emerging system where AI, machines, and biological data work together in ways we’ve never seen before.

Technology is becoming more advanced, but people still need guidance to understand it.

Why this matters for leaders: Purpose-driven leaders sometimes struggle to get buy-in because they stay in technical mode. The leaders who drive change? They know how to translate complexity into clear, compelling insights.

Where are you still speaking in “expert” language instead of leading with clarity and influence?

2. The Future Belongs to Those Who Experiment

Amy introduced a concept called “The Stone in Your Shoe Effect” where leaders get so focused on immediate problems that they ignore bigger opportunities.

This is why so many professionals stay stuck.

Why this matters for leaders: Too many leaders stay caught up in day-to-day tasks and never get time to focus on career growth and influence. If you want to be seen as a strategic leader, you can’t wait for the perfect moment. You need to start taking action, even when it feels uncertain.

What’s one area where you could be testing, experimenting, or taking a strategic risk instead of waiting for clarity?

3. AI Will Replace Tasks: But Not Leadership

Amy showed how AI is evolving to work in multi-agent teams, meaning machines can now collaborate, plan, and problem-solve without human input.

This means tasks that once made professionals indispensable, like analyzing data, writing reports, or structuring workflows, will become increasingly automated.

Why this matters for leaders: If your career is built on execution, you risk being replaced. The way to stay relevant? Shift from doing the work to driving the vision.

How can you position yourself as someone who shapes strategy, rather than someone who just executes it?

What’s Next?

If the past year has felt like weeks where decades happen, imagine what’s coming next.

This week, I challenge you to:

• Explore one emerging trend in your industry (even if it feels out of your comfort zone)/
• Ask yourself: How can I experiment with new ideas instead of waiting for change to force my hand?
• Start a conversation about the future. Where do you see opportunity?

Until next week, have a good one.

Best wishes, Megan.

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