IKNS Seminar - Leading Through the AI Wave: Emotional Intelligence in an Age of Acceleration

In a moment of AI hype and fatigue, the real differentiator is not technical capability but human leadership. In this IKNS Seminar, Salesforce CIO Chris Peña will explore how emotional intelligence, intellectual honesty, and principled decision-making will define the next generation of tech leaders.

Artificial intelligence is advancing at extraordinary speed. Boards are demanding strategies, investors want road maps, and most professionals are quietly wondering what it means for them. Join Columbia’s M.S. in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) program and Salesforce CIO Chris Peña for our next IKNS Seminar. Chris will reframe the AI conversation away from tools and toward leadership. Drawing from his experience leading enterprise technology at scale, along with themes from his book Déjà Boom: Hype, Hope, and Human Intelligence in the AI Era, Chris will explore the human side of technological transformation as well as the career challenges facing the next generation of professionals in an AI-driven world.

The seminar will discuss why emotional intelligence matters more than technical fluency in moments of disruption, how leaders can guide teams without overhyping or underestimating AI, and why curiosity, courage, and intellectual honesty remain the foundation of durable careers. The central question is not whether AI will change everything, but who we must become as leaders in order to guide that change responsibly. (Open to the public. RSVP to secure a spot. Available in person or via live stream; a networking reception will follow the in-person event.)

For all other questions, please contact Michael Karbowiak (mk3866 [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu).

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To obtain additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at inquire [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu.

If you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation, or any other disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services, disability [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu, at least 10 days in advance. Services requested less than 10 days in advance cannot be guaranteed.

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This event is open to individuals irrespective of identity and sex.