As artificial intelligence automates analytical and routine tasks, human skills like emotional intelligence, cross-communication, and trust-building are becoming indispensable 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 backed by data. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, employers expect 39% of core skills to evolve by 2030, with leadership and social influence showing the greatest increase in importance—rising 22 percentage points since 2023. “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 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,” Jones said. “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, sponsored by Grand Strategy Consulting, 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 so individuals can 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. All registered attendees receive recordings of every session. For more information and to register, visit the-emotional-skill-gap-summit.heysummit.com.
The summit arrives as organizations grapple with integrating AI while maintaining a human-centric workplace. By offering actionable frameworks and tools, it aims to help leaders bridge the emotional skills gap—an increasingly critical component of future-proofing teams.
