Innovation Demands Human-Centric Leadership
Part of a series | Women@Work Series
As artificial intelligence (AI) sparks innovation, leaders must prioritize the success of their people through trust-building, human connection, collaboration and skills development.
In a world of AI, where people influence machines to produce optimal business results, the concept of human-centric leadership has received, at most, moderate strategic attention. As organizational trend-setters and change-makers, leaders are uniquely positioned to set a human-centric tone for the workplace, nurturing trust and connection as they implement AI to compete. Establishing this symbiotic relationship — this even trade between person and intelligence — can help solidify the value of AI as a business tool, empowering the very population it was designed to benefit.
At Women@Work 2025, the relationship between human-centric leadership and technological innovation was the core focus of the opening session, a conversation between ADP President and CEO Maria Black and American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown. Both leaders emphasized the importance of a human approach, highlighting the collective responsibility of leadership in fostering a people-centric workplace.
Combining innovation with the human experience
The resurgence of AI has influenced various fields. In health care, AI applications are emerging that aim to support medical professionals by enhancing decision-making and encouraging adherence to best practices. In HR, AI is being used in recruitment, payroll and people analytics to achieve greater efficiency, accuracy and personalization. But successful AI implementation hinges on its ethical application, ensuring it complements human efforts rather than disrupting them.
"When I think about it, it's this balance," says ADP President and CEO Maria Black. "It's about humanity and innovation continuing to come together at work."
To support ethical action, human-centric leadership must balance the objectives of AI advancement with a safe and healthy organizational culture. Every day, leaders can choose to prioritize the wants and needs of their people, fostering an environment where innovation thrives alongside trust and connection. This practice involves actively listening, understanding motivations and expectations and designing ways to enhance work experiences. By making the wants and needs of people central to the innovation process, leaders can develop relevant, informed solutions and build thoughtful, collaborative and engaged workplaces.
Skills development: People's journey through innovation
The integration of AI into the workplace presents a fresh opportunity for continuous learning. As businesses introduce new tools and systems, teams need new knowledge, proficiencies and guidance to flourish. Skills development initiatives help empower people to adapt to organizational and market shifts by teaching them to apply novel concepts and technologies to their daily work.
"This is an incredible time and opportunity for training and upskilling," Black says. "What this innovation cycle is affording us is a tremendous challenge, of course, but it's also a tremendous opportunity for people to upskill and level up, as they have to learn new tasks, and they certainly have to learn how to work in this new world with new technologies and new opportunities."
Companies providing educational attainment opportunities through skills development programs are choosing to invest in the success of their workforce and consistently deliver a clear message to the market: "We're ready for the next anything."
What this innovation cycle is affording us is a tremendous challenge, of course, but it's also a tremendous opportunity for people to upskill and level up, as they have to learn new tasks, and they certainly have to learn how to work in this new world with new technologies and new opportunities.
Maria Black, President and CEO, ADP
Amplifying human centricity during times of change
To prove their commitment to human-centric leadership, leaders must collaborate with teams during times of change, using patience, kindness, clear and transparent communication and fair and ethical practices. Expressing genuine concern for human well-being and involving people in the innovation process can encourage trust, empathy and informed achievement. At the same time, consistency, dependability and accountability help demonstrate confidence and stability, especially during times of uncertainty. Leaders can nurture these qualities and skills to become truly human-centric professionals, collaborating across functions with honor, integrity and a commitment to people's best interests.
At the American Heart Association (AHA), collaboration is culturally ingrained. Professionals work together toward a shared vision and support each other in achieving collective success, similar to how ADP and the AHA have collaborated to support the Nation of Lifesavers.
"I can hardly think of one thing we do that's just one team doing it," Brown says.
Other core values, such as meeting people where they are, help the AHA ensure all team members understand and align with project outcomes in a human-centric way. Celebrating wins, nurturing empathy and gratitude and providing honest communication and feedback helps the AHA encourage teams to stay on track and bring their best.
"Meeting people where they are and knowing and understanding the desired outcomes for any of the teams that might be working together is a powerful thing," Brown says. "When we start projects or initiatives, we get it out on the table: What does success look like for all of us?"
The future prioritizes human moments
The future workplace embraces technology while being mindful of its target audience. When technology changes how we work, human connection must take precedence. The ideal tomorrow preserves meaningful interactions with people, using technology to enhance these experiences. It protects and elevates humanity's unique potential, complementing rather than substituting the human element. It leads with trust, empathy, collaboration and support, facilitated by intelligent tools that optimize work processes behind the scenes.
Watch Maria Black and Nancy Brown's Women@Work session for more on creating a human-centric workplace.
