Just Great People
Barry Eustance talks to ordinary people who've done extraordinary things that will engage and inspire you.
Entrepreneurs, business leaders, musicians, thought leaders, actors, developers, pilots, - anyone who's gone out and "done it".
Why they've done it, how they've done it, and how you can do it too.
Sometimes instructional, sometimes emotional, always fascinating, and endlessly inspiring.
Just Great People
AI, Leadership and the Human Element – A Strategic Conversation with Adrian Stratta
AI, Leadership and the Human Element – A Strategic Conversation with Adrian Stratta
In this extended conversation, Barry Eustance of The Sixsess Consultancy speaks with Adrian Stratta – experienced interim director, leadership advisor, and author of Dusty Boots to Boardroom – to explore the rapidly shifting landscape of leadership, organisational change, and the rise of AI.
Together, they unpack the real tensions between machine capability and human responsibility.
They ask: What can AI not do? What role will humans still play in leadership, decision making, and ethical governance?
And how do we keep people at the centre of business and strategy?
This episode is for leaders navigating uncertainty, adapting to new technology, and balancing performance with purpose.
Key Themes
• Strategy, AI and the limits of automation
• Human judgment in high-risk and complex systems
• Cultural impact of tech-driven change
• Why human connection still defines great organisations
• Tools for ethical decision-making in fast-changing environments
Listen to the full conversation and explore the balance between technology, risk and humanity.
Further resources:
Business Growth Masterclass for Professional Consultants
https://sixsess.org/training/business-growth-masterclass-for-enterprise-organisations/
Training and development with The Sixsess Consultancy
https://sixsess.org/training/
The Sixsess Consultancy main site
https://sixsess.org/
Dusty Boots to Boardroom – Follow Your Dreams by Adrian Stratta
https://dustyboots.co.uk/
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction: Leadership, Change and AI
01:14 – People Still Lead People
03:11 – Would You Fly in a Pilotless Plane?
05:17 – Strategy, Change and Human Oversight
08:08 – Human Risk vs AI Hallucinations
09:42 – Business Decisions and AI Responsibility
11:10 – Communication, Distraction and the Emotional Human
12:41 – The End User is Still Human
15:02 – AI and Humanity: A Partnership, Not a Replacement
17:14 – The Balance of Ethical Leadership
18:28 – The Market Test: Would You Be in the Drone?
21:02 – Human Error vs Machine Learning Error
23:27 – Strategy, Profit and Long-Term Stakeholder Risk
26:19 – Culture, Outcomes and Strategic Thinking
28:35 – Long-Term Perspective and the Buffett View
30:14 – The Arms Race of AI
31:00 – What Happens When Work is No Longer Fulfilling?
32:05 – Cultural Risk and the Overuse of AI
33:27 – The SPACES Model: Human Needs in Change
34:27 – Final Thought: Tools Don’t Lead, People Do
Keywords
AI in leadership
human-centred strategy
organisational change with AI
leadership in the digital age
AI hallucination risk
pilotless flight analogy business
cultural impact of AI
strategic planning with AI tools
The Sixsess Consultancy
Adrian Stratta Dusty Boots
Barry Eustance podcast
Just Great People leadership series
StratNavApp AI tools
how to lead with AI
neuroscience of organisational change
SPACES model Hilary Scarlett
I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.
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I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.
Many thanks
Kindest regards
Barry