AI is no longer just a productivity tool—it’s becoming an active participant in how teams think, collaborate, and stay engaged. In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola is joined by Daria Rudnik, a team architect and executive coach who has spent more than 15 years helping leaders build high-trust, self-sufficient teams in the midst of constant disruption.
Daria brings a rare perspective at the intersection of people, technology, and leadership. As the award-winning author of Clicking and co-author of The AI Revolution, she explores how human collaboration really works—and how those dynamics change when AI enters the room. Drawing from her experience as a former Chief People Officer and her work with global teams, Daria explains why fear, over-reliance on AI, and lack of clarity can quietly erode engagement if leaders aren’t intentional.
Together, David, Daria, and Zena unpack the big picture: how AI influences trust, decision-making, memory, and identity at work; the difference between healthy cognitive offloading and disengagement; and why transparency, clear norms, and shared purpose matter more than ever. Daria also shares practical frameworks leaders can use today to decide when AI should automate, when humans should stay firmly in the loop, and how teams can evolve without losing their voice.
You’ll also hear about Aidra.AI, Daria’s AI-powered leadership coach, and how she’s experimenting with AI as a thinking partner rather than a replacement for human judgment.
If you care about team engagement, leadership, and what it truly means to collaborate with AI, this conversation offers both realism and hope.
📘 Learn more about Daria’s book Clicking:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FN4S6P37
🌐 Explore her work and resources:
https://dariarudnik.com/
🎧 Listen in—and consider how you’re shaping the relationship between humans, teams, and intelligent machines.
Opening to Conversations with Zena.
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