There’s no escaping the impact of technology in today’s world of work. AI is automating admin. Dashboards are getting slicker. Finance functions are trialling touchless invoicing, HR teams are exploring predictive retention tools, and marketing teams are tapping into real-time audience data like never before.
But when we bring senior leaders together across our Macildowie Connect sessions, one message keeps rising to the top:
People still matter more than tech.
Let’s be clear – this isn’t anti-technology. In fact, most of the businesses represented at our Connect sessions are making smart, strategic investments in automation, systems, and data. But the leaders who are making real progress understand something fundamental: technology enables, but people deliver.
Tech doesn't drive trust – people do
In our Marketing Connect session, one Director nailed it: "AI can help me optimise spend and surface trends, but trust in our brand comes from human stories, human values, and human behaviour."
Whether you're trying to influence customers, stakeholders, or internal teams, the ability to connect on a human level is still what builds loyalty and credibility. It's your people who shape that.
Automation can’t replace influence
At our most recent CFO Connect, the discussion turned to leadership under pressure – tighter margins, leaner teams, higher expectations. The temptation to automate everything is real. But as one attendee put it:
"You can automate reporting. You can’t automate influence. You still need leaders who can read the room, bring people with them, and land a message when the stakes are high."
That’s not a job for ChatGPT.
The best ideas still come from conversation
Across all of our Connect groups – finance, marketing, HR – the highest-impact ideas are rarely sparked by a slide deck or a workflow. They come from people sharing what’s worked, what’s failed, and what they’re trying next.
And that’s why Connect exists. To bring ambitious leaders together in a way that’s real, honest, and useful. No fluff. No posturing. Just shared insight.
What’s the takeaway?
Tech is part of the solution. But if you're serious about performance, retention, attraction, and innovation, your focus has to be on your people first.
That means:
- Investing in leaders who can lead through uncertainty.
- Creating environments where ideas are shared, not hoarded.
- Treating connection as a strategic advantage, not a social nicety.
