The creative spark in human difference. In my work across cultures, I’ve noticed something simple and astonishing: every genuine encounter reveals a new way of seeing the world; a different rhythm of thought, a surprising humour, a tone of meaning we hadn’t known before. When we stay curious rather than certain, our thinking begins to shift shape. Leadership today isn’t only about analysis or efficiency; it’s about imagination. And imagination grows in the space between us.

AI shows us what we’ve neglected: closeness, listening, and humanity itself. Let’s stop making AI the scapegoat for what is missing in us. We are not losing ourselves to artificial intelligence, but we are losing ourselves to artificial connection and most people don’t even notice it happening. We scroll, we click, we respond, we 'connect', yet we feel increasingly alone, unseen, and disconnected. This is not a technological crisis. This is a human crisis of connection and le