foHRsight: HR, Leadership & the Future of Work

Why Starting with AI Is the Wrong Strategy with Kelly Monahan

• Mark Edgar and Naomi Titleman • Episode 172

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0:00 | 31:38

What if the problem isn’t that your people aren’t performing… but that your system is broken?

Right now, many organizations are rushing to adopt AI, cutting entry-level roles, and asking more from leaders who are already at capacity. It feels efficient. It looks strategic. But it’s quietly eroding the very foundation of future performance.

In this episode, host Mark Edgar sits down with Kelly Monahan to challenge the way we’re thinking about work, leadership, and AI. They explore why starting with technology is the wrong move, how outdated systems are limiting human potential, and what leaders need to rebuild if they want sustainable performance.

This is a conversation about getting the moment right. Not just implementing AI, but redefining how value is created, how people are developed, and what leadership actually requires now.

If you’re feeling the pressure to “move faster” while sensing something deeper is off, this episode will help you step back and rethink where to start.

About Our Guest

Kelly Monahan is a future of work advisor, researcher, and bestselling author focused on the intersection of human behavior, leadership, and technology. With a background in HR and a PhD in organizational research, she works closely with executives to help them navigate AI-driven transformation while keeping human performance at the center.

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