Generative AI is reshaping how leaders think, decide, and communicate. Used thoughtfully, it can sharpen strategic thinking and accelerate decision-making. But when GenAI output replaces genuine insight, it can expose leaders who can't defend their thinking under pressure.

In this episode of Leadership Lounge, Emma Combe sits down with Amy Scissons, Sean Dineen, and Fawad Bajwa to explore how senior leaders can harness GenAI's potential while avoiding its pitfalls.

They discuss:

How C-suite leaders are using GenAI in their work
The growing concern about "workslop"—GenAI-generated output that lacks real insight
The critical skills needed to pressure-test GenAI output and avoid shallow thinking
Why transparency and accountability matter more as GenAI becomes embedded in workflows

“Leaders carry a lot of wisdom. They need to feed that wisdom into AI and educate it. Context is king.”

Sean Dineen, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates

Four things you'll learn from this episode:

1. GenAI can elevate strategic thinking: senior leaders are using GenAI as a sparring partner to pressure-test decisions, create board personas, and refine their perspectives before high-stakes moments.

2. Polish doesn't equal depth: GenAI-generated output can look impressive, but it can also lack substance. Leaders who can't defend their thinking under scrutiny will be exposed.

3. Critical thinking is your competitive advantage: the ability to interrogate GenAI output, provide context, and apply wisdom separates leaders who use GenAI effectively from those who outsource their judgment.

4. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable: leaders must own their outputs, regardless of how much GenAI contributed to the process.

In this episode, we will cover:

(02:00) Using GenAI as a sparring partner and creating board personas to pressure-test strategic thinking.

(04:39) Why senior leaders should experiment with GenAI tools to build confidence before trusting them with critical decisions.

(09:05) The personal risk for leaders who rely on seemingly polished GenAI output without developing their own point of view.

(09:50) How GenAI can create false flattery and why leaders need to ask it to be critical.

(10:50) Why credibility is a leader's currency—and how shallow GenAI-generated thinking can erode trust.

(13.13) Why critical thinking—built through struggle and learning from mistakes—is the most essential leadership skill in a GenAI world.

(16:20) The importance of transparency and accountability when using GenAI tools.

(17:45) How GenAI output reflects your approach: clear and thoughtful inputs amplify clarity; rushed inputs amplify shallowness.

A closer look at the research from this episode:

Boston Consulting Group, AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, but Gaps Remain | BCG

Russell Reynolds Associates, Season 5 - Ep. 2 | AI or Die: A Conversation with Coveo Chairman and CEO Louis Têtu | Redefiners - Podcast Series | Russell Reynolds Associates

Harvard Business Review, AI-Generated “Workslop” Is Destroying Productivity

Russell Reynolds Associates, Global Leadership Monitor | Russell Reynolds Associates

Russell Reynolds Associates, Season 3 - Ep. 18 | A Front Row Seat to the AI Revolution with Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith – Part 2 | Redefiners - Podcast Series | Russell Reynolds Associates

Leadership Lounge: How GenAI Can Elevate—And Expose—Today’s Leaders

Redefiners

Leadership Lounge: How GenAI Can Elevate—And Expose—Today’s Leaders