Emotion AI, Culture-Driven Leadership, and Digital Trust | DisrupTV Ep. 188

Episode 188 of DisrupTV brought together three visionary leaders: Rana el Kaliouby (Deputy CEO at Smart Eye, author of Girl Decoded), Jason Korman (CEO at Gapingvoid Culture Design Group), and Dr. David Bray (Distinguished Fellow, Stimson Center & Atlantic Council).

Together with hosts R "Ray" Wang and Vala Afshar, the guests explored how AI, culture, and trust intersect to transform organizations, leadership, and society at large.

Key Takeaways

1. Emotion AI and the Human Connection – Rana el Kaliouby

AI must move beyond efficiency and intelligence into emotional intelligence—helping humans feel seen, understood, and supported.

“The future of AI isn’t just about smarter machines, it’s about humanizing technology to serve empathy and trust.”

Ethical design and transparency are critical to prevent bias and misuse.

2. Culture as a Driver of Innovation – Jason Korman

Culture isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s a business accelerator.

Leaders who embed values into daily work see stronger engagement and resilience.

“Great cultures don’t happen by accident—they’re designed with intention.”

3. Digital Trust and Leadership in Uncertain Times – Dr. David Bray

Trust is the currency of the digital age. Without it, innovation stalls.

Leaders must balance speed with responsibility in adopting new tech.

“In a world of exponential change, leaders must champion resilience, transparency, and public good.”

Why It Matters

This episode underscores that technology and leadership can’t be separated from culture and values. As organizations embrace AI and navigate rapid change, leaders must build environments rooted in empathy, trust, and purpose.

Final Thoughts

  • Rana el Kaliouby reminded us that empathy-driven AI is the key to ethical innovation.
  • Jason Korman emphasized that culture must be intentionally designed for long-term success.
  • Dr. David Bray challenged leaders to uphold trust and transparency as guiding principles in a rapidly changing world.

Together, they highlight a blueprint for human-centered innovation—where AI, leadership, and culture intersect to drive meaningful impact.

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Business Research Themes

Data to Decisions, Digital Safety, Privacy, and Cybersecurity, Future of Work, New C-Suite, Tech Optimization

Roles

Chief Analytics Officer, Chief Data Officer, Chief Digital Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief People Officer, Chief Privacy Officer