How do we prepare future leaders for a world whose direction we cannot yet predict?
This question took center stage in a thought-provoking dialogue between Prof. Frederik ANSEEL, Dean of HKUST Business School, and Richard Locke, John C. Head III Dean of MIT Sloan School of Management, on “Rethinking Leadership, Careers, and Management Education in an AI-driven World.”
Moderated by Teresa KO, HKUST Business School Advisory Council Member, the conversation explored how leadership, careers and management education must evolve as AI transforms the way we work and learn.
Dean Anseel described today’s uncertainty as “running in the fog”: we do not know exactly where AI is taking us, yet standing still is not an option. Leaders and institutions must continue to experiment and adapt. Dean Locke emphasized AI’s potential to augment human capabilities and open up new avenues for growth, rather than viewing it simply through the lens of automation.
This raised a compelling challenge: if AI takes on tasks traditionally performed by junior employees, how will young people gain the experience needed to develop sound judgment? In response, both deans emphasized the importance of real-world experience in developing future leaders. Dean Locke highlighted opportunities for students to tackle real problems, while Dean Anseel noted that judgment is built through navigating difficult situations, decisions, failure and feedback.
In her closing remarks, Bonnie CHAN, CEO of HKEX, brought an industry perspective, asking what organizations truly need the “human in the loop” for, from taste and empathy to accountability and judgment.
Despite the uncertainty, the evening carried a strong sense of realistic optimism. Our future is not predetermined by technology alone. It will also be shaped by how we choose to learn, lead and create value.
