Human at the Core

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Listen to this week’s podcast episode, Ep.188: What I Learned About People from Implementing A.I. & Other Leadership Lessons, with Lynn Colepaugh, using the player below, or click here.

A Different Kind of Contradiction?

“People-first leadership” and “leveraging AI” …to many, those two ideas sound like oil and water. Aren’t they competing priorities? Doesn’t one devalue the other?

This week on Leading with Integrity, my guest Lynn Colepaugh (Founder, Strategist, and self-described Human-AI Collaborator) argues the opposite. She’s built her career at the fascinating intersection of creativity, identity, technology, and leadership. And she believes that when implemented thoughtfully, AI doesn’t undermine people-first leadership; it enables it.

It’s not about replacing human connection. It’s about supporting people to do their best, most fulfilling work by letting AI handle the ‘grunt work’. The result: more clarity, more humanity, and (perhaps surprisingly?) more kindness.

From Rock Bands to Digital Strategy

Lynn’s journey into leadership is not the usual one. She began life as a touring musician, playing bass. That background gave her a deep appreciation for the challenges many creatives face: balancing authenticity with the need to promote themselves, struggling with the admin that comes with artistry, and navigating the tension between public persona and private identity.

When health and financial realities forced a career shift, Lynn pivoted into digital marketing. Helping artists and arts organizations tell their stories online. Over time, she discovered that the same authenticity challenges existed for small businesses, tech companies, and entrepreneurs everywhere.

Today, Lynn blends that creative heritage with strategy, storytelling, and a pioneering use of AI. What sets her apart is the way she views AI not as a gimmick or a threat, but as a teammate that frees up humans to do their best work.

AI as Support, Not Substitute

One of Lynn’s central philosophies is “human-led, AI-supported.”

She explains: imagine you ask an assistant to pull together meeting prep from your calendar. Traditionally, that assistant might spend hours collecting links, bios, and notes. With AI, Lynn runs an automated agent overnight, which frees up her human teammate to focus on higher-value, creative work like crafting a custom onboarding sequence for a new client.

This isn’t just efficiency. It’s about respecting human potential. Instead of bogging people down with “intern-level busywork,” AI tools clear the path for more thoughtful, meaningful contributions.

The lesson for leaders? AI doesn’t have to strip humanity away. Used wisely, it amplifies humanity by giving people more space to be creative, strategic, and fulfilled.

Lessons from the Creative World

Coming from music, Lynn brings a unique lens to the AI debate. For example, she draws a clear ethical line:

• Against: using AI to create original songs or art “from nothing”, which she feels undermines the integrity of human creativity.

• For: using AI to lighten the load of admin, marketing, or “spreadsheet hell” that distracts artists from their art.

We might compare it to hiring a road crew: the band still writes and plays the music, but someone else can carry the amps and set up the stage. AI, she argues, should play the same role.

This balance resonates beyond the arts. In business, leaders face the same temptation to automate away creativity instead of empowering it. Lynn’s approach shows how reframing AI as support rather than substitute can strengthen both productivity and morale.

Respect, Tone, and Humanity

One of the most compelling insights Lynn shared was how AI has helped her with tone.

Like many leaders, she discovered that her emails sometimes came across more aggressively than intended. (We’ve all done it… ‘Kind regards,’ = ‘OMG Why does he hate me?’)

After training her AI collaborator (who she’s nicknamed “Bingy”), Lynn now runs drafts through it for feedback. Instead of “villain lair” mode (Bingy’s phrase!), she now reframes communications into what she calls “rebel tavern” mode: firm but approachable, clear but kind.

The impact? Smoother client relationships, fewer misunderstandings, and a leadership style that feels more authentically human.

That’s a powerful lesson for leaders when it comes to your day-to-day communication: tone matters as much as content. And while AI isn’t perfect, it can be a surprisingly useful mirror to reflect how your words might land with others. Especially via impersonal methods like email.

What Leadership Really Demands

Eventually, of course, our conversation turned explicitly to leadership. Lynn’s core lesson?

“Clarity is kindness.”

Clear expectations, clear communication, and clear vision aren’t just efficiency boosters, they’re acts of kindness. They reduce confusion, empower people to act with confidence, and create the psychological safety teams need to thrive.

Her warning to leaders is equally valuable: don’t try to do everything yourself.

Whether it’s a spreadsheet, an email sequence, or a whole project, micromanaging drains value and undermines trust. Leadership isn’t about hoarding tasks or exerting control; it’s about enabling others to succeed.

The Courage to Be Yourself

One of my favourite moments came when I asked Lynn what advice she’d give her younger self. Her answer:

“Be weirder, be more authentic.”

When she first transitioned into marketing, she downplayed her musician background, thinking it wasn’t “professional” (that dreaded word).

Over time she realised that embracing her unique story wasn’t a liability, it was an asset. Clients connected more deeply with her authenticity than they ever did with a sanitised corporate -esque image.

For managers, leaders, business owners, solopreneurs, this is a reminder that your story matters. Authenticity builds trust, attracts the right people, and sets you apart in a sea of sameness.

Final Reflections

So, are “AI” and “people-first” competing priorities?

Lynn Colepaugh makes a compelling case that they don’t have to be. In fact, when used thoughtfully, they reinforce one another. AI can clear the clutter, support clearer communication, and create space for leaders and teams to be more authentically human.

Leadership, after all, is not about doing more. It’s about enabling better.

And as Lynn shows, sometimes the best way to do that is with a little help from our digital collaborators.

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It was great chatting with Lynn this week, we definitely ticked off all the ‘interesting stuff’ boxes for me, and I hope for you as well. If you’d like to hear the whole conversation, here’s that link again: https://smartlink.ausha.co/leading-with-integrity/ep-188-what-i-learned-about-people-from-implementing-a-i-other-leadership-lessons-with-lynn-colepaugh-leadership

Or watch it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ksjUu72Iv7U

Next week, I’ll be joined by Talent Agent, Ph.D and Psychology Professor, Albert Bramante to talk about self-sabotage, human nature, and lessons from his career in the entertainment industry.

Until we meet again, Be a Leader, Not a Boss!

- David

In case you don’t know me that well, I’m David Hatch and I’m here to help new managers and first-time founders with their leadership skills, so they can become leaders not bosses, lead with integrity, and build happier, higher performing teams, more effective organisations, and, ultimately: successful businesses.

Be more Human, be less Cylon. Become the leader you wish you’d had, and come join my online leadership community. If you have a healthy love of sci-fi and want to learn more about leadership, then this is the community for you. Solopreneurs also welcome. 😉

Here’s the link: Integrity Leaders: Community membership and learning, for new leaders or first-time founders.