Episode 280: Leadership in the Age of AI with Molly Rosen

What does leadership look like when the world is changing faster than ever before?In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Molly Rosen, Co-CEO of ProjectNext Leadership, for a powerful conversation about leadership transitions, succession development, organizational agility, and the growing impact of AI on leadership and workplace culture.Molly works with leaders across industries including tech, biotech, and entertainment, helping organizations prepare leaders for critical next-level roles. Together, Darrin and Molly explore why the skills that make someone successful in one role often do not transfer automatically into leadership — and why emotional intelligence, communication, humility, and adaptability matter now more than ever.The conversation dives into:The transition from “player” to “coach” leadershipWhy many leaders struggle to let go of their previous roleThe dangers of over-relying on technical expertiseSuccession development and building leadership pipelinesHow AI is reshaping organizations and leadership expectationsThe importance of organizational agilityWhy leaders must communicate vision without pretending to have all the answers“Sketch-based advocacy” and collaborative leadershipThe role of empathy and emotional intelligence during uncertainty and changeWhy leadership today is more about building teams than directing themMolly also shares her own leadership growth journey and the importance of prioritization and sequencing ideas as a leader.This episode is a must-listen for school leaders, organizational leaders, and anyone navigating leadership in rapidly changing environments.About Molly RosenMolly Rosen is Co-CEO of ProjectNext Leadership. She has worked with leaders in tech, entertainment, and biotech for over 20 years as an executive coach, facilitator, and consultant developing innovative talent systems.Her clients have included organizations such as Pixar, Airbnb, DocuSign, and Samsung, where she has helped leaders prepare for critical transitions and organizational change.Molly previously held leadership roles with BlessingWhite and Ninth House Network and holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and a BA from UC Berkeley.Connect with Molly RosenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollyrosen/Website: https://www.projectnextleadership.com/Sponsor Spotlight:This episode is sponsored by HeyTutor.HeyTutor partners with schools and districts nationwide to provide evidence-based high-dosage tutoring support in Math and ELA while helping schools remain intentional about staff capacity and student support systems.Learn more here: HeyTutor.com