Leading in Uncertain Times with Marianne Bachynski

On this week's Experience by Design podcast, we explore a parallel between leadership in professional sports and business, highlighting how distraction and uncertainty can undermine focus and performance. Our guest Marianne Bachynski has a career as a CIO who focuses on strategic decision making, especially when it comes to implementing new technology. She emphasizes that while AI can learn (and unlearn) quickly, it still lacks human empathy and requires oversight. She also underscores the importance of culture, curiosity, and clear communication in navigating technological change. A key distinction is made between companies that thoughtfully adopt AI as a tool and those that become overly dependent on it, sometimes at significant cost. Ultimately, the conversation reinforces that effective leadership—grounded in humility, adaptability, and human insight—is essential in times of uncertainty.