Need of the AI Hour: Leading Voices to Carve a Path
AI isn’t just changing the game—it’s burning the old rulebook while the stadium lights flicker.
In this Techronicler special, CEOs, strategists, and founders who’ve already felt the heat reveal the one non-negotiable weapon left for any leader who refuses to become obsolete: a thought-leadership voice so unmistakably human, so relentlessly useful, that no algorithm can clone it.
They don’t mince words. Show up weekly, not quarterly.
Own a narrow lane so hard you become the only name people mention.
Trade polished perfection for raw stories and real-time takes.
Prove you’re the guide, not the guru.
The verdict is unanimous: in the age of AI noise, the loudest megaphone loses.
The clearest, most consistent, most human signal wins.
Here’s exactly how the sharpest minds are future-proofing their authority.
Read on!
Weekly Signal Beats Quarterly Noise
The AI disruption demands a fundamental shift from reactive to proactive thought leadership.
Leaders can’t wait for quarterly reports or product launches to share their perspectives, the conversation is happening daily.
My recommendation: Build what I call “signal strength” through consistent, authentic engagement.
This means executives should be addressing AI’s real-world implications for their industry every week, not just during major announcements.
Share specific use cases, acknowledge challenges honestly, and provide actionable frameworks that others can implement.
The leaders who will thrive aren’t those with the loudest voices, but those who consistently demonstrate how they’re navigating AI’s impact while helping others do the same.
Thought leadership today requires being a guide, not just a guru, showing the path forward through sustained, strategic communication that builds trust over time.
Carmen Angela Harris
Chief Strategist, Signal&Noise
Own Your Voice Before AI Steals It
Even the most human of posts are being met with skepticism these days, as we all question what was written by a person vs a machine.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to define your personal brand strategy with intention.
Start by identifying the type of content that feels natural for you to speak on or lead.
This gives you something tangible to stand on.
Be confident that your point of view is valid and necessary, even if not everyone agrees with it.
Don’t overthink your presentation.
Show up on the platforms that feel most authentic to you, whether that’s writing, video, podcasts, or otherwise.
Tell more stories, share more photos, and let go of the idea that every thought needs a fully baked-out beginning, middle, and end.
The more you own your unique voice, the more you stand out in a sea of derivative, generated content.
Lexie Smith
Growth Mode PR & Thought Leadership Agency, Growthmodeon
Unified Voice Trumps AI Spam
With the surge in AI-generated content, authentic thought leadership is more important than ever.
This means creating a specific brand or leader “voice” that represents and differentiates your organization.
This goes beyond a narrative and represents both your brand’s communication style, message set and language.
It’s critical to amplify this voice, whether you are promoting your brand through earned media, paid, owned channels, social, digital marketing or other tactics, having a unified communications strategy that pushes your voice out across multiple channels is key, both broadly and targeted to your buyer personas.
Remember that thought leadership is not about promoting a brand’s products, services or solutions, so content should be geared toward the market and customer, designed to address existing business challenges and written in a way that educates customers on how different approaches can solve these problems to drive success.
Amy Fisher
Senior Vice President, Padilla
Authenticity Is the New Authority
As AI reshapes how industries operate and how people consume information, one thing becomes crystal clear.
Authenticity will matter more than ever.
Thought leadership is not about noise; it is about trust.
The individuals and organizations that rise above the churn will be those who consistently show up, share insights grounded in real expertise and communicate with genuine purpose.
It is not enough to be visible, you have to be believable.
That means telling your story with clarity, backing it with data and ensuring it reflects who you truly are.
In this new landscape, relevance is earned, not assumed.
Jo Trizila
Founder & CEO, TrizCom PR
Beat AI by Being Interesting First
The professional services industry is particularly vulnerable to AI diluting people’s share of voice.
Some people will inevitably be left behind.
My hope is that the people who rise above the AI wave are those with a strong perspective that serves their customers.
Perhaps AI will drown out the middle-of-the-pack and create space for stronger innovators.
I see too many people handing their entire thought process over to AI, which dulls the senses.
In an age of short attention spans, I shudder at how many people will publish thought leadership content under their own name that they haven’t even read.
If you want to be a thought leader, first things first: Have an interesting idea.
This has been the most important step since well before everyone downloaded ChatGPT.
I see too many executives fretting over AI even though they haven’t honed their own ideas yet. Be better than AI to beat AI.
Deborah Keltner
Branding & Communications Consultant, B2B professional services
Show Your Face, Prove You’re Real
As someone who regularly interviews people — and constantly receives AI-generated submissions from “experts” — authenticity is going to be more important than ever.
Readers and followers want to know that thought leaders are real people, and AI tools make it incredibly easy to fake expertise, or even entire personas.
To that end, thought leaders need to be more active outside their own platforms in different ways and through different modalities.
If you typically offer quotes to the media, start dabbling in video.
If you often post on LinkedIn, start jumping into the comments on other posts.
These different ways of sharing your thought leadership not only get you in front of new audiences, but help establish you as a real, authentic thought leader.
It’s also more important than ever to establish your own point of view.
The more interesting and unique your takes, the more attention they’ll attract.
Try to avoid repeating what others say and develop your point of view as best as you can.
Stella Morrison
Founder, The Stellastra Effect
Own a Niche AI Can’t Clone
In the age of AI, thought leadership isn’t just about visibility; it’s about memorability.
The most effective way to strengthen your voice is to become a niche expert in your domain.
When you own a narrow, clearly defined space, whether it’s ethical sourcing in jewelry, AI ethics in design, or sustainable fashion innovation, you become the voice people want in the room.
Instead of trying to speak to everyone, speak deeply to the communities that matter most.
Show up consistently where your audience gathers, offer insight grounded in lived experience, and don’t be afraid to challenge assumptions.
The human perspective (laced with values, context, and emotion) is where AI still falters.
If your thought leadership reflects a point of view only you can offer, your voice becomes irreplaceable.
Olga Gonzalez
CEO, Gemologist, Pietra Communications
Lead AI or Get Left Behind
The biggest risk in AI isn’t moving too fast. It’s not taking enough risks.
I see CEOs everywhere developing guardrails, slowing down adoption, creating approved application processes. But while you’re mitigating risks, where are the opportunities going?
The CEO can’t be afraid. This has to come from the top down.
Your visible commitment sets the tone for your entire organization.
When I rebranded myself as “the Gen AI CEO,” it signaled that this wasn’t just another initiative but our strategic direction.
Stop outsourcing AI decisions to your CTO or waiting for perfect policies.
You need to understand the technology, ask the informed questions and lead with conviction.
I put time on my calendar every day to learn about AI developments because staying current isn’t optional anymore.
AI Augments, Humans Authenticat
In the age of AI, effective thought leadership requires a strategic approach to content creation and audience engagement.
At Man of Many, we focus on delivering high-quality, engaging content that resonates with our core audience of 25–44-year-old professionals.
This involves adopting innovative strategies such as leveraging AI for content personalization while ensuring authenticity through human oversight.
The key is to harness AI to augment creativity, not replace it, thus maintaining a personal touch that our audience values.
Scott Purcell
Co-Founder, Man of Many
On behalf of the Techronicler community of readers, we thank these leaders and experts for taking the time to share valuable insights that stem from years of experience and in-depth expertise in their respective niches.
If you wish to showcase your experience and expertise, participate in industry-leading discussions, and add visibility and impact to your personal brand and business, get in touch with the Techronicler team to feature in our fast-growing publication.
