In today's Career Pulse, gain insight into how:

• Leaders can thrive in the AI era by mastering five essential skill sets, including emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility, to stay competitive.

• "Cosmetic AI" is creating investor-friendly features that fail real users, highlighting the risks of prioritizing hype over meaningful innovation.

• AI is redefining professional credibility, rewarding visible expertise on platforms like LinkedIn over traditional credentials and networks.

These articles are penned by members of Forbes Coaches Council, leading business, career, and professional coaches shaping the future of this field.

Let’s dive in!

Thriving In The AI Era: 5 Leadership Skills You Need Now

AI is reshaping industries, leaving leaders feeling unsettled. But the key to thriving isn’t competing with AI, it’s doubling down on uniquely human strengths. Leaders with the right skill sets can harness AI’s power while staying adaptable to change.

Here are five must-develop capabilities for leaders in this new era:

🧠 Cognitive Flexibility: Quickly adapt to new challenges by unlearning outdated strategies. Use "strategic discomfort" to stretch your thinking and question assumptions.

💬 Emotional Intelligence At Scale: As AI handles analytics, EQ becomes vital. Build cultures rooted in empathy, adaptability, and resilience. Emotionally intelligent teams are a competitive advantage.

🤖 Human-AI Collaboration Design: Lead the integration of humans and AI by mastering when to trust AI and when to rely on human judgment. Hands-on AI fluency is key.

🌐 Strategic Sensemaking: Anticipate how decisions ripple across interconnected systems. Seek diverse perspectives to uncover blind spots.

🚀 Exponential Thinking: Move beyond incremental progress to recognize inflection points and unlock game-changing opportunities.

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Cosmetic AI: When Features Serve Investors, Not Users

AI is booming, with startups raising over $100 billion in 2024. But behind the buzz lies a troubling trend: "cosmetic AI." These features are created for pitch decks and press releases—not real users. While genuine AI innovations exist, many are superficial, designed to meet investor expectations rather than solve meaningful problems.

Here’s how cosmetic AI manifests:

📊 Slideware AI: Glitzy presentations with no real technical foundation. The goal? Impress investors and secure funding.

🤖 Checkbox AI: Generic tools slapped with “AI-powered” claims but offering no measurable impact.

🎩 Vanity AI: Internal pilots and flashy demos that never scale, aiming for media attention over real productivity.

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AI Is Reshaping How Professional Credibility Works

AI is transforming workplace dynamics not just through automation but also by redefining how professional expertise is recognized. Increasingly, AI determines who gets noticed, elevating visibility over traditional credentials.

Here’s what’s driving this trend:

📡 AI Sees Signals, Not Resumes: AI tools prioritize consistent, visible contributions—like LinkedIn posts and public commentary—over isolated achievements.

💡 Knowledge Over Networks: AI democratizes opportunity, allowing professionals without elite connections to compete by regularly contributing valuable insights.

🌐 Visibility Shapes Credibility: LinkedIn is no longer optional—it’s essential infrastructure. What you publish informs how systems and people categorize your expertise.

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Wrapping Up

If these articles sparked your interest, we have a network that you will love: Forbes Coaches Council.

This exclusive, vetted community brings together respected business, career, and professional coaches across all industries.

Put yourself at the forefront of innovation with access to publishing opportunities on Forbes.com, a personalized, SEO-friendly Executive Profile, and the chance to network with other respected leaders in the field.

Join Forbes Coaches Council today and become part of a group driving meaningful innovation in coaching.