AI and the Art of Leadership

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has been experiencing a mental health crisis of unprecedented scale. Globally, anxiety and depression have increased by an overwhelming 25%. In the United States alone, 23.08% of adults – almost 60 million people – experienced a mental illness in 2024, from anxiety disorders to clinical depression. And business leaders are not immune. In fact, the pressure of leadership has only intensified. According to the 2024 State of Workplace Empathy Study, 55% of business leaders struggled with a mental health issue this past year – a 24-point increase from 2023.

As a result of this mental health crisis, in combination with other factors at play, our healthcare system has been pushed to its limits. Resources are strained, mental health professionals are overwhelmed, and access to timely and affordable care is slipping further and further out of reach for so many. With escalating need and diminishing support, artificial intelligence (AI) has offered a lifeline – not as a replacement for human care, but as a supplement. AI offers the potential to bridge the gap between an overstretched healthcare system and the millions who need help, all in tandem with the irreplaceable human touch.

Take Wysa, for example. This AI-driven chatbot provides personalized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises tailored to a person’s needs. Wysa’s AI engine can identify emotional distress signals and knows when to escalate care to a human therapist. It acts as an accessible first line of support, offering coping strategies while ensuring that serious concerns receive the human attention they deserve.

Another company, Biobeat, is also making strides. This wearable technology tracks sleeping patterns, heart rate, and physical activity to assess users’ mood and cognitive state. It leverages AI to compare an individual’s stats with anonymized data sets, providing predictive insights. If the system detects potential signs of burnout or anxiety, it prompts the user to make behavioral adjustments or seek professional help. These AI tools create opportunities for early intervention, potentially preventing more severe mental health crises.

But AI’s potential extends far beyond individual mental health support. It offers a profound opportunity for leaders, too. At a time when founders and CEOs are drowning in stress, AI can not only help with mental health but also transform how leaders manage their time and energy in general. At CWC Coaching & Therapy, we see this day in and day out as the sole providers of mental health services for Google for Startups. Entrepreneurs face the intense pressures of leadership, from navigating constant decision-making to managing investor expectations.

AI can clear the day-to-day clutter by automating routine tasks from content development to data analysis. This newfound efficiency allows leaders to refocus on what truly matters: cultivating emotional intelligence, fostering human connection, and reinvesting in their people. Instead of simply asking, “What can AI do for productivity?” the real question should be: “How can AI help me create a more empathetic workplace?”

AI may enhance efficiency, but the most successful leaders know that emotional intelligence is what truly drives lasting impact. With more time in their pockets, leaders have the opportunity to deepen their emotional intelligence across four key areas: Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Here’s how you can cultivate each to create a workplace where empathy thrives: