AI may be changing how businesses work, but strong leadership, clear thinking and a distinctly human touch remain as important as ever – as unLTD discovered during its latest Working Lunch at Kenwood Hall.
Set within 12 acres of picturesque grounds, Kenwood Hall provided an impressive backdrop for the latest unLTD Working Lunch on Wednesday 9 September.
The historic hotel has become a regular host of unLTD events, and this latest session was another insightful and delicious lunchtime. Following half an hour of networking, guests settled in for an hour-long panel discussion, hosted by unLTD’s Phil Turner, before enjoying a two-course lunch and continuing conversations into the afternoon.
The theme was AI and Leadership: Revolution or Overreliance?, with David Wing of Indicium, Leeroy Powell of MarGen and Gary Neville of Startwell Ventures exploring how artificial intelligence is changing leadership, decision-making and the day-to-day running of businesses.
The conversation began with a question many organisations are currently wrestling with – are they adopting AI strategically or simply acting through FOMO?
David, who works with large enterprise organisations, said plenty had rushed into significant investments before properly establishing what they wanted to achieve.
“We’re definitely seeing a bit of a ‘fools rush in’ mentality,” he said. “Organisations are spending this money and then stopping and saying, ‘How are we going to use this? How are we going to really deliver value from it?’”
The message from the panel was clear – start with the problem rather than the technology.
For Gary, that means identifying repetitive, tedious or mentally draining tasks that take people away from more valuable work. He shared the example of a plant manager spending three-quarters of her day forwarding emails – a relatively straightforward process to automate, but one that could make a material difference to her working life.
“The question most people should be asking is: what’s the tedious, repetitive or mentally dangerous task within my business that I can replace tomorrow?” he said.
David added that AI will not always be the simplest, cheapest or most effective answer.
“As leaders, we need to be conscious of not directing everybody to use AI for everything,” he said. “You have a toolbox as a leader – pick the right tool for the right job.”
While much of the public conversation around AI has focused on job losses, the panel suggested the more immediate change could be the broadening of existing roles, with communication, creativity and empathy becoming increasingly valuable as routine tasks are automated.
“I don’t think AI can replace the human mind, the way we communicate, the way we empathise or the way we can be creative around problems,” said Gary. “If anything, I think it’s going to enhance that.”
For leaders, introducing new technology also means taking responsibility for the people using it. Employees are already experimenting with AI, whether their organisations have formally embraced it or not, making clear policies and sensible guardrails increasingly important.
David described the challenge as cultural rather than purely technical, recalling a recent conversation with the chief of staff at Octopus Energy, where the introduction of AI across thousands of employees was viewed as “90 per cent a change management challenge and 10 per cent a technology one”.
Leeroy agreed that the businesses most likely to benefit will be those that already manage, train and support their teams effectively.
“AI is basically an extension of someone’s ability,” he said. “From a leadership point of view, it’s going to be a reflection of how well you manage your teams overall. The ones giving people the tools and resources to do their jobs better are the ones that are going to excel.”
The discussion was lively, honest and, crucially, accessible, with audience questions bringing new perspectives into the room. Its relaxed format also allowed conversations to continue over lunch and into the networking that followed.
That combination of expert insight, good food and space to make useful connections is exactly what the unLTD Working Lunch series is intended to provide. It also offered a fitting showcase for Kenwood Hall’s corporate events offering.
Once the home of Sheffield’s Chief Cutler, George Wostenholm, the 19th-century property combines period features with the facilities required for a modern business event. It has nine conference suites, 114 bedrooms, complimentary on-site parking and spaces capable of accommodating everything from a small board meeting to an away day for 200 people.
Kenwood Hall’s corporate offering includes Day Delegate and 24-hour residential packages, alongside bespoke options for team-building days, private dinners, drinks receptions, product launches, awards ceremonies, networking events and Christmas parties. Its extensive grounds also provide space for outdoor events and activities, with team-building experiences tailored to individual groups.
Catering can be adapted to suit the occasion, from formal seated dinners to buffets, canapés and drinks receptions. Our own menu featured a pork dish or mushroom risotto, but it was an unplanned moment that perhaps demonstrated the venue’s hospitality best.
I had only been confirmed to attend the previous day, so no meal had been ordered for me. As a vegan, I was perfectly happy to sit to one side and catch up on work while everyone else ate. However, the Kenwood Hall team noticed, checked my dietary requirements and made sure I was looked after, preparing a vegan risotto and even providing a vegan cheesecake especially.
It was a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes. From the setting and facilities to the food and attentive service, Kenwood Hall ensured both the event and its guests were in very good hands.
To find out more about hosting your next meeting, conference or corporate event at Kenwood Hall, visit kenwoodhall.co.uk.
