As artificial intelligence continues to automate analytical and routine tasks, human skills such as emotional intelligence, cross-communication, and trust-building are becoming increasingly vital for team success. Yet most organizations lack a structured approach to developing these skills. 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 for learning and development, HR, and team leaders from September 29 through October 2, 2026. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central Time each day.
The premise of the summit is supported by data from the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, which found that employers anticipate 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 to develop these skills. "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 will feature 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, TEDx speaker, and author; 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, will center 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 Jones. "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 will address staying emotionally grounded while working alongside AI tools. Speakers that day include Zena Collins, consultant at Grand Strategy Consulting, a MSCEIT 2 emotional intelligence practitioner and author of Stop Wasting Time With AI.
Registration for the summit 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. Registered attendees will receive recordings of every session. For more information and to register, visit the-emotional-skill-gap-summit.heysummit.com.
This summit is important because as AI reshapes the workplace, the ability to connect, communicate, and lead with emotional intelligence will be a key differentiator for individuals and organizations. By providing accessible training and insights from experts, the Emotional Skill Gap Summit aims to help teams thrive in an AI-driven future.
