Speaking & events

People don’t resist AI because they don’t understand it.
They resist because their brains are doing exactly what they are designed to do, protecting them from perceived threat.
In many organisations, AI is introduced into environments already shaped by:

• Uncertainty and change fatigue
• Unclear governance and expectations
• Pressure on leaders and middle managers
• Low psychological safety

When these conditions exist, anxiety spreads faster than adoption. This session explores what’s really happening beneath the surface - and what leaders can do about it.

In this practical, evidence-based session, you will learn:

Why AI anxiety spreads through teams (and why it’s predictable)
How leadership behaviour directly shapes adoption outcomes
The organisational systems that unintentionally amplify resistance
How to create psychological safety during AI-led change
Practical actions to move from awareness to behaviour change

Most AI adoption programmes focus on the technology. They train people on features, roll out platforms, and measure usage rates. Then leaders are puzzled when adoption stalls, workarounds emerge, and teams quietly revert to old ways of working.

The problem isn’t technical literacy – it’s behavioural. People don’t resist AI because they don’t understand it. They resist because their brains are doing exactly what brains are designed to do: protecting them from perceived threat. And often, the organisation’s own systems – its governance gaps, trust deficits, and change fatigue – are generating anxiety faster than anyone can metabolise it.

This workshop equips leaders with the neuroscience and behavioural science frameworks to understand why people resist, the organisational systems that amplify or contain that resistance, and practical tools to drive genuine adoption – not performative compliance.

Learn how to reframe self-doubt, tackle imposter syndrome & strengthen resilience. A free 50-min workshop designed for high-performing teams
Our inner dialogue is powerful. It can either hold us back with self-doubt and rumination, or fuel resilience, confidence and performance. This free workshop explores the brain’s Default Mode Network and how it shapes our self-talk - offering practical tools to flip unhelpful thought patterns and strengthen workplace wellbeing.

Join Mark Dean and Helena Kuo for a powerful workshop exploring how neuroscience can help leaders and teams rewire unhelpful thought patterns and build resilience at work.

Together, they’ll unpack the science behind the Default Mode Network, explore ways to manage self-talk to reduce stress on the spot and build resilience, and share practical tools leaders can use to act consciously and thrive under pressure.