AI-Q: The New Leadership Imperative for the Human + AI Era

Discover how you can boost your own AI-Q

AI-Q: The new leadership imperative for the Human+AI era

High AI-Q leaders were three times as likely to report a quantified business outcome from AI in the last twelve months. This is based on my original research of 200 leaders across industries.

AI-Q is a leader’s capability to create value in a world where human and machine intelligence work together. It reflects the mindsets leaders bring to AI, the abilities they apply to AI work, and the practices they use to deliver sustained impact.

“For some, letting go of control might feel uncomfortable, but AI-Q gives you a real way to build new leadership capability in yourself, and just as importantly, in the people you lead.”

Nikki Humphrey, Chief People Officer, Virgin Group

This book is for you if you want to:

Assess your current leadership capability with AI (AI-Q)
Boost your AI-Q using a personalised plan
Learn from the on-the-ground experience of other leaders
Lead confidently and get better results from your AI investments

Publisher: Practical Inspiration Publishing

Formats available: Hardback, Paperback, Ebook

Publication date: January 12, 2027

Pre-order now

Praise for AI-Q: The new leadership imperative for the Human+AI era

“This is not another book about technology. It is a book about people. Athena provides a humble, timely and thoughtful guide for those of us seeking to navigate new possibilities wisely.”

Dr. Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and CEO, World Energy Council

“Executives and senior decision-makers will sigh with relief from the first page of this much-needed book, which offers actionable insights and practical advice to deliver measurable value across organisations in the age of AI.”

Dr. Stephanie Hare, Host of BBC AI Decoded, Author of “Technology Is Not Neutral: A Short Guide to Technology Ethics”

“A distinctive perspective on leadership in the age of AI. A standout theme is the widening gap between access to AI tools and true understanding of those tools among senior leaders, who must nonetheless oversee their use.”

Oxana Kozliouk, Chief Risk Officer, United Bank for Africa (UK) Ltd.

“Having access to AI is not the same as knowing how to create value from it, and Peppes demystifies this distinction with clarity, drawing on extensive interviews for real-life examples.”

Ceri Hughes, former Director of Operations, KPMG UK

Athena Peppes, AI speaker, adviser and author of AI-Q

Why some leaders get results from AI, and others stall

Why do some leaders seem to get returns from AI, while others, who are often better-resourced, stall?

What is that magic sauce?

This is the question that inspired me to write AI-Q.

What I discovered through my work and extensive research for the book was that it wasn’t technical skill, nor budget. It wasn’t even how early they’d started.

Leaders getting measurable value from AI shared something else: a particular way of thinking, particular human abilities, and a particular set of day-to-day practices, that together shape everything about how they engage with AI. These patterns underpin AI-Q.

High AI-Q leaders were three times as likely to report a quantified business outcome from AI in the last twelve months.

Discover how AI-Q leaders think, prepare and act differently in their AI adoption journey – and learn how to boost your own AI-Q.

Pre-order AI-Q

Frequently asked questions about AI-Q

What is AI-Q?

AI-Q is a measure of a leader’s capability to create value in a world where human and machine intelligence work together. It goes beyond AI literacy or technical skill to focus on the Mindsets leaders bring to AI, the human Abilities they apply, and the day-to-day Practices they use to create and sustain value. Together, these form the MAP framework.

What is a high AI-Q leader?

A high AI-Q leader is not necessarily the person using the most AI tools. It is someone who can identify where AI can create meaningful value, make deliberate choices about what to delegate to machines and what requires human judgement, and measure whether AI is actually improving outcomes. In the research, high AI-Q leaders were three times as likely as their peers to report a quantified business outcome from AI in the previous twelve months.

Is AI-Q the same as AI literacy?

No. AI literacy is about understanding AI: what it can do, how to use it and where its limitations lie. AI-Q is about a leader’s capability to turn that understanding into value. It encompasses the Mindsets, human Abilities and Practices needed to identify the right problems, combine human and machine intelligence effectively and translate AI experimentation into sustained outcomes. A leader can therefore be highly AI literate without having a high AI-Q.

What is the AI-Q MAP framework?

The MAP framework is the model at the heart of AI-Q. It has three components: Mindsets, Abilities and Practices. Together they provide a practical way for leaders to understand their current AI-Q, identify gaps and strengthen the capabilities they need to get more value from AI.

Where does the term AI-Q come from?

Athena Peppes developed AI-Q through her work with clients and her research into why some leaders and organisations turn AI investment into measurable value while others stall. AI-Q, or AI Quotient, describes leadership capability rather than technical skill. AI-Q is a UK registered trade mark of Athena Peppes Consulting Ltd.

Who is AI-Q written for?

AI-Q is written for senior leaders who are accountable for results from AI but are not building the technology themselves. That includes executives, functional leaders and board members across industries. It is particularly relevant for leaders facing a gap between AI investment and measurable business value.

Do I need a technical background to read AI-Q?

No. AI-Q assumes no technical background and does not teach readers to code, prompt or evaluate AI models. Its focus is on the leadership capabilities required to make better decisions about AI and turn investment into results.

What research is AI-Q based on?

The book draws on original research with 200 leaders across industries, alongside 50 extensive one-to-one interviews and client work. One of the central findings was that high AI-Q leaders were three times as likely to report a quantified business outcome from AI in the previous twelve months. Athena publishes further research and insights on AI leadership through her Insights publication.

How is AI-Q different from other books on AI leadership?

Many books about AI explain the technology or predict how it will change business and work. AI-Q focuses instead on the leader: what distinguishes leaders who are translating AI into measurable value from those whose efforts stall. It combines original research with a practical framework leaders can apply to themselves, their teams and their organisations.

Can I measure my own AI-Q?

Yes. The book includes a structured way to assess your current AI-Q across the Mindsets, Abilities and Practices in the MAP framework, identify where you have gaps and build a personalised plan to strengthen them. You can also find out more about AI-Q audits and advisory support, or contact Athena about an AI-Q audit.

How can leaders improve their AI readiness?

AI readiness is not just about adopting more technology. Leaders can strengthen it by developing the right mindsets and human abilities, starting with meaningful business problems, experimenting intentionally, measuring outcomes and helping teams learn from experience. These are the capabilities and practices developed throughout AI-Q.

When is AI-Q published?

AI-Q: The New Leadership Imperative for the Human + AI Era is published on 12 January 2027 by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Pre-orders are open now through Amazon, Foyles and other retailers.

What formats will AI-Q be available in?

AI-Q will be available in hardback, paperback and ebook.

Can I order AI-Q for my team or organisation?

Yes. Bulk orders are available for leadership teams, development programmes and events. Signed copies and an accompanying briefing can also be arranged. Please use the contact page to discuss requirements.

Does Athena Peppes speak on AI-Q and AI leadership?

Yes. Athena Peppes delivers keynotes, leadership briefings and workshops based on the AI-Q research, covering AI leadership, AI readiness and how organisations can create more value from human + AI collaboration. Formats and topics are available on the speaking page.

Pre-order now