Emotional Skill Gap Summit to Tackle AI-Driven Workplace Challenges

As artificial intelligence rapidly automates analytical and routine tasks, the skills that make humans uniquely valuable—emotional intelligence, cross-communication, and trust-building—are becoming critical for team success. Yet many organizations lack a structured approach to developing these capabilities. To address this gap, FeelWise, Minds of Light, and Strike Marketing Institute will co-host the Emotional Skill Gap Summit, a four-day virtual event from September 29 to October 2, 2026. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central Time each day.

The urgency is underscored by the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, which found that employers expect 39% of core skills to evolve by 2030. Leadership and social influence are projected to show the greatest increase in importance, rising by 22 percentage points since 2023. Despite this, most companies have no systematic way to cultivate these skills. The summit aims to fill that void by pairing research-based frameworks with practical tools attendees can immediately apply with their teams.

"Companies have a plan for AI adoption. Few have a plan for the skills AI doesn't replace," said Tina Schweiger, founder of FeelWise. "Those skills can be taught and practiced like any other, and these four days show how."

The event features more than 25 speakers, including Russell Scherwin, leadership professor at the University of Georgia and former CMO of IBM Watson Commerce; Dr. Justin James Kennedy, professor of behavioral neuroscience, TEDx speaker, and author; Stephen Busette of Siemens; Robert Gramillano, executive coach and clinical professor at DePaul University; Dr. Charmain Jackman, CEO of InnoPsych; and Drs. Judith and Bob Wright of LiveWright.

Two days of the summit will cover emotional regulation, resilience, human-centered leadership, and workplace culture. Minds of Light Day, led by Executive Director Alison Jones, will focus on neurodivergent perspectives and communication between neurodivergent and neurotypical colleagues. "Neurodivergent people are a growing part of the workforce, and the unwritten emotional rules of most workplaces were not designed for how they communicate," said Jones. "Many spend energy every day decoding tone, masking, and translating between communication styles, on top of the job itself. Rapid change in how work gets done adds to that load. Emotional skills training has to work for every kind of mind."

Emotionally Intelligent AI Day, on October 2, is sponsored by Grand Strategy Consulting and will address staying emotionally grounded while working alongside AI tools. Speakers that day include Zena Collins, consultant at Grand Strategy Consulting, a MSCEIT 2 emotional intelligence practitioner, and author of Stop Wasting Time With AI.

Registration is $29, priced to allow individuals to attend without a budget approval process, and closes September 29. Attendees can add a donation to Minds of Light or bundle registration with the FeelWise emotional intelligence card deck. Registered attendees will receive recordings of every session. For more information and to register, visit the-emotional-skill-gap-summit.heysummit.com.

The summit's focus on emotional skills comes at a pivotal time. As AI takes over more technical tasks, the ability to connect, communicate, and lead with empathy will differentiate successful teams. By providing accessible training, the Emotional Skill Gap Summit aims to equip L&D, HR, and team leaders with the tools to build resilient, emotionally intelligent workplaces that can thrive alongside AI.