Show Notes
In this episode of the LEADing Edge podcast, hosts Allyson Zimmermann and Sarah McGowan explore whether AI can truly be a trusted ally in the CPG and Retail sectors. Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the industry, enhancing everything from customer experience to supply chain management. However, its rapid adoption also raises concerns about job displacement and inherent biases.
The discussion emphasizes the importance of designing AI systems that are transparent, ethical, and inclusive to create better opportunities for everyone in the workplace, especially women and marginalized groups.
If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe to this podcast and leave us as many stars as you like. You can follow us on LinkedIn or become a LEAD Network Member for free! Visit theleadnetwork.net to access the Member Platform.
Episode Guests: AI strategy expert and LEAD Network NextGen Chapter Board member Arta Statovci Founder and CEO of Appoint Group Teuta Sahatqija AI Management Consultant and AI governance officer @ Deeper Insights James Winters
Resources: Top AI Aggregators with over 15k+ AI tools: Toolify: https://www.toolify.ai Futurepedia: https://www.futurepedia.io There’s an AI for That: https://theresanaiforthat.com Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/generative-ai-apps Top online platforms for aggregating AI courses: Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/search?query=artificial%20intelligence edX: https://www.edx.org/learn/artificial-intelligence Udacity: https://www.udacity.com/school/artificial-intelligence
Thanks to Teuta Sahatqija, Arta Statovci, James Winters, and Sam Tunney. Podcast producer: Julien Manuguerra-Patten.
References: AI could replace equivalent of 300 million jobs - report - BBC The Gendered Impacts Of AI On Women’s Careers - Forbes Why there will be plenty of jobs in the future — even with artificial intelligence - World Economic Forum
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The LEADing Edge
Recorded live in front of an audience at the 2026 LEAD Conference in Dublin, Allyson and Sarah throw out the traditional script for an open, unfiltered ‘Ask Me Anything’ session. This episode tackles the friction points that leaders and teams encounter daily across retail, FMCG, and consumer goods.
In this episode, Sarah McGowan and Allyson Zimmermann unpack LEAD Network's new report, Built for All: Rethinking Career Advancement in Retail and CPG, developed in partnership with Shape Talent. The report explores the key barriers to career advancement across the industry, highlighting findings such as women's greater concern about how they are perceived in meetings, the feelings of guilt and fear that can accompany requests for pay increases, and the ongoing tension between career progression and caregiving responsibilities.
Allyson Zimmermann brings you key insights from our 2025 conference in Milan, exploring what inclusive leadership really looks like in today’s environment.
Allyson Zimmermann and Sarah McGowan challenge the common idea that courage in leadership has to be bold and visible. Instead, they argue that real courage is often quiet, relational, and easy to overlook. But crucially, the episode doesn’t just redefine courage; it offers clear, actionable ways to practise it.
In this episode, Sarah McGowan and Allyson Zimmermann sit down for a real, open conversation about menopause at work; a topic that’s still too often left out of DEI discussions. Millions of women in mid to late career face the complex transition of perimenopause and menopause, often dealing with symptoms in silence due to stigma. Allyson and Sarah explore the real impacts of menopause on women's careers and businesses and share their own experiences.