Exploring Leadership, Curiosity & Ai: An Interview with Zoryna O'Donnell

Zoryna O’Donnell is an experienced coach, mentor, trainer, public speaker and author, with 30 years of experience of strategic and operational leadership in public, voluntary and private sector organisations in different countries.?

Zoryna offers Community First her time as a trainer, recently, Morya from our Learning and Development Team discussed with Zoryna the evolving landscape of leadership, the importance of fostering curiosity in the workplace, and how AI changes everything.

Morya: Zoryna, leadership has changed significantly in recent years. What do you think are the biggest challenges leaders face today??

Zoryna O'Donnell: Leadership has certainly evolved. One of the biggest challenges is that many leaders still hold on to the traditional “hero leader” model, where authority and control dominate. But there’s been a clear shift toward inclusive, servant-oriented leadership—leaders who coach and empower rather than dictate. This transition can be difficult because it requires understanding human nature, and many leaders underestimate how critical that is.?

Morya: You mention the shift from "hero leaders" to more servant-oriented leadership. How important is coaching in this new style of leadership??

Zoryna O'Donnell: Coaching is absolutely essential. The role of a leader today is less about having all the answers and more about asking the right questions. Leaders need to help their teams unlock their potential. It’s not always easy, though—leaders often feel pressure to be the smartest person in the room. But true leadership is about developing others and fostering collaboration. Coaching helps build this culture and gives leaders the tools to guide their teams effectively.?

Morya: That brings up an interesting point about creating space for ideas. How do you keep suggestion boxes and idea banks from becoming ineffective over time??

Zoryna O'Donnell: That’s a real challenge. Without regular feedback and action, suggestion boxes can lose their value. A few years ago, when I introduces an idea bank in the department which I led at the time, at first, it was hard to keep up with the influx of ideas. But being honest with the team and explaining why certain ideas couldn’t be implemented right away built trust. Over time, this transparency led to a wave of new, more practical ideas. It’s crucial to maintain that openness and curiosity, even when the ideas aren’t immediately actionable.?

Morya: That’s great. Speaking of curiosity, you’ve mentioned how you use curiosity to foster a culture of learning. How does that work??

Zoryna O'Donnell: Curiosity helps individuals and teams focus on important questions—both personally and professionally. It encourages people to explore areas they may not have considered before, which can lead to innovative thinking. By constantly asking questions, seeking new knowledge and putting it into practice, employees stay engaged and feel empowered to contribute to the growth of the organization. But it’s not just techniques and tools—it’s about creating an environment where curiosity is valued.?

Morya: I imagine employee development plays a big role in fostering that kind of environment. How do you balance the need for training with the demands of the workplace??

Zoryna O'Donnell: Investing in training and development is key, even if it takes time and resources. When employees know they have the opportunity to grow and implement in the workplace what they have learned through training, they’re more likely to contribute valuable insights. However, if they don’t feel supported, they may withhold their ideas out of fear or frustration. It’s about creating a culture where learning is continuous, and where employees feel brave enough to speak up. In other words, we are talking about leaders fostering psychological safety in the workplace.???

Morya: That’s such an important point. You’ve also mentioned how AI can help foster this kind of growth. How do you see AI fitting into the workplace in a way that supports employee engagement??

Zoryna O'Donnell: AI has the potential to revolutionize how we work, not by replacing people but by enhancing their roles. It can handle routine, time-consuming tasks, freeing employees to focus on more engaging, creative work. In my view, AI creates time and space for curiosity and innovation. It also helps speed up processes, giving teams the flexibility to experiment and try new things without the pressure of manual tasks weighing them down. To achieve this though, we have to reimagine both, the future of the world of work and the role of leaders in it. We have to adopt a futuristic mindset and AI can certainly help us with this.?

Morya: It sounds like AI can play a powerful role in creating a more dynamic workplace. As we wrap up, what are the next steps in your journey toward fostering curiosity and leadership development??

Zoryna O'Donnell: We’re working on developing and testing a series of questionnaires that focus on leadership challenges and fostering curiosity. I’ll also be sharing resources, like free assessments, that can help leaders better understand how to cultivate an innovative, growth-oriented environment. This collaboration is part of a larger effort to create a culture where continuous learning and curiosity drive success.?

Through this conversation, Zoryna O'Donnell highlights the critical role of coaching, curiosity, and AI in modern leadership. Her insights demonstrate how embracing vulnerability and fostering a supportive environment can unlock the potential of teams, driving innovation and long-term success.?

If you would like to join one of Zoryna’s learning labs or short courses on a variety of leadership skills you can find information here:?

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