Using AI to Communicate More Authentically with Allison Shapira

Leaders today face a critical challenge: how to leverage AI effectively without losing their authentic voice or the trust of their teams. Some are avoiding AI entirely, while others are over-relying on it at the expense of their own critical thinking and expertise.

AI should enhance communication, not replace it. When used strategically, AI can actually help leaders become more authentic.

Gayle Lantz speaks with Allison Shapira, trusted advisor to some of the world’s most influential voices. For over 20 years, Allison has helped senior executives from prime ministers and cabinet members to Fortune 100 leaders communicate with clarity, confidence, and strategic purpose.

Allison is an opera singer turned entrepreneur and Harvard lecturer who brings a rare blend of stage presence, business acumen, and real-world experience to her work. She is the author of three books, including her latest: AI for the Authentic Leader: How to Communicate More Effectively Without Losing Your Humanity.

Allison shares a counterintuitive premise: AI can make leaders more authentic, not less. She warns against turning to AI first when crafting important messages and offers practical guidance on when and how to integrate AI into the communication process.

This episode covers:

• The two major mistakes leaders make with AI are not using it at all or over-relying on it
• How AI can serve as a mirror to reveal corporate jargon and help leaders sound more genuine
• The importance of training AI to learn your authentic voice and communication style
• Why leaders should never let AI write the first draft of important messages
• Practical examples of using AI for difficult conversations, including role-playing with voice features
• The “billboard test” for evaluating AI-generated content
• How intention and effort signal importance in an era of easy AI-generated communication
• Why employees may be using AI more than they’re reporting, and what that means for psychological safety
• Lessons from opera training that apply to leadership communication

This episode challenges you to consider how you use, or don’t use, AI to get your message across, and offers a framework for integrating AI in ways that build trust rather than diminish it.