For more than 30 years, I've watched organizations invest in technologies designed to help people communicate faster. Yet one collaboration problem remains remarkably stubborn: people don't share critical information with people they don't trust.

AI is making information move faster than ever. But it doesn't eliminate the human barriers that determine where that information actually goes—across departments, cultures, hierarchies, languages, and the invisible lines between “us” and “them.”

I first encountered this problem inside Honda's headquarters in Japan, where I became the first American woman to work there. Since then, I've worked with thousands of professionals across four continents while pursuing the same fundamental question: What causes people who see themselves as “us” and “them” to start behaving like “WE”?

In this interactive session, we'll explore why AI can accelerate work without necessarily strengthening collaboration—and what research tells us about creating the conditions human cooperation requires.

Drawing on social psychology, my Harvard Business Review collaboration work, and three decades of real-world experience, participants will examine the behaviors that determine whether people speak up, exchange information across boundaries, challenge assumptions, and build relationships outside their familiar circles.

Participants will leave with practical, research-backed actions they can immediately use to strengthen trust and collaboration in an increasingly AI-driven workplace.

Target audience: Leaders, managers, HR and People & Culture professionals, and anyone responsible for building effective teams in an AI-driven workplace.

Format: Interactive keynote or conference session; adaptable to 30–60 minutes. No technical or AI expertise required.