As artificial intelligence automates analytical and routine tasks, human skills such as emotional intelligence, cross-communication, and trust-building are becoming essential for team success. Yet most organizations lack a structured approach to developing these capabilities. To address this gap, FeelWise, Minds of Light, and Strike Marketing Institute will co-host the Emotional Skill Gap Summit, a four-day virtual event from September 29 to October 2, 2026, running daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central Time.
The urgency is underscored by the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, which projects that 39% of core skills will evolve by 2030. Leadership and social influence are expected to show the greatest increase in importance, rising by 22 percentage points since 2023. Despite this, few companies have a plan for developing the skills AI doesn't replace. "Companies have a plan for AI adoption. Few have a plan for the skills AI doesn't replace," said Tina Schweiger, founder of FeelWise. "Those skills can be taught and practiced like any other, and these four days show how."
The summit features more than 25 speakers, including Russell Scherwin, leadership professor at the University of Georgia and former CMO of IBM Watson Commerce; Dr. Justin James Kennedy, professor of behavioral neuroscience and TEDx speaker; Stephen Busette of Siemens; Robert Gramillano, executive coach and clinical professor at DePaul University; Dr. Charmain Jackman, CEO of InnoPsych; and Drs. Judith and Bob Wright of LiveWright. Two days will cover emotional regulation, resilience, human-centered leadership, and workplace culture. Minds of Light Day, led by Executive Director Alison Jones, focuses on neurodivergent perspectives and communication between neurodivergent and neurotypical colleagues. "Neurodivergent people are a growing part of the workforce, and the unwritten emotional rules of most workplaces were not designed for how they communicate," said Alison Jones, founder and executive director of Minds of Light. "Many spend energy every day decoding tone, masking, and translating between communication styles, on top of the job itself. Rapid change in how work gets done adds to that load. Emotional skills training has to work for every kind of mind."
Emotionally Intelligent AI Day, on October 2, is sponsored by Grand Strategy Consulting and addresses staying emotionally grounded while working alongside AI tools. Speakers include Zena Collins, consultant at Grand Strategy Consulting, an MSCEIT 2 emotional intelligence practitioner, and author of Stop Wasting Time With AI.
Registration is $29, priced to allow individuals to attend without a budget approval process, and closes September 29. Attendees can add a donation to Minds of Light or bundle registration with the FeelWise emotional intelligence card deck. Recordings of every session are included. For more information and to register, visit the-emotional-skill-gap-summit.heysummit.com.
This event matters because it directly confronts the emotional skills gap that threatens workplace cohesion as AI adoption accelerates. By providing accessible, research-based training, it empowers individuals and organizations to cultivate the human skills that drive collaboration and innovation, ensuring that the workforce is prepared for the future.
