Be curious and get rid of the fear: Bala Muthiah on AI Leadership

2026-02-05

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AI adoption is not only a technology shift, it is a leadership and culture shift. In this episode, Dietmar Fischer talks with Bala Muthiah about AI leadership, the psychology behind AI resistance in the workplace, and the practical steps leaders can take to turn curiosity into day to day usage.Bala shares why the human aspect still decides outcomes, even when the tools feel magical. You will learn how leaders can reduce fear, build confidence, and guide teams through real AI upskilling strategy instead of one off trainings that never translate into workflows....

Bala shares why the human aspect still decides outcomes, even when the tools feel magical. You will learn how leaders can reduce fear, build confidence, and guide teams through real AI upskilling strategy instead of one off trainings that never translate into workflows. The conversation also touches on industry differences, including why sensitive domains like healthcare raise the bar for responsible AI adoption, and what the rise of agentic workflows means for the future.

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About Dietmar Fischer:

Dietmar is a podcaster and AI marketer from Berlin. If you want to know how to get your AI or your digital marketing going, just contact him at argoberlin.com

🎧 Chapters

00:00 Welcome and why AI is a leadership moment

02:12 AI leadership in 2026: pressure, performance, and opportunity

04:41 The real barrier: fear, skepticism, and AI resistance at work

07:45 Industry realities: healthcare, sensitivity, and responsible adoption

17:50 A practical framework: upskilling people and building confidence

34:49 The next wave: agentic workflows and what leaders should prepare for

41:43 Where to find Bala and closing thoughts

💬 Quotes from the Episode

- “And to me, it’s still human, meaning us, we are still humans, leaders are still humans. The human aspect still stays.”

- “Again, I’m coming back to the people, like, because that’s gonna be the unlock for you. Upskill your people with AI tools.”

- “AI being, like, the car, or being the internet, being the electricity.”