“Athena offers a timely and honest take on why a more robust kind of leadership is needed to unlock value from the very technology that is challenging the core of human intelligence.
AI-Q is how leaders take charge of building their organisation’s future collective intelligence.”
Dr. Vedrana Savic, A/Professor at Deakin Business School, and Managing Director, Taurus Strategic Advisory
“AI capability is doubling every seven months. The leaders who read the signals accurately, upskill and act now to reposition themselves for the new era will be the ones that capture the opportunities AI will bring.
AI-Q helps to guide them through that change so that they remain relevant for the future.”
Richard Chiumento, Director, Rialto Consultancy
“Executives and senior decisionmakers 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”
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. She reframes leadership for an era where human and artificial intelligence intersect, championing experimentation, curiosity and reflection as essential skills.
Ceri Hughes, former Director of Operations, KPMG UK
“On a topic often dominated by hype and sweeping predictions, AI-Q brings a welcome sense of clarity and purpose. It develops a refreshing angle on AI, shifting the focus from what AI can do, to leaders’ agency to shape its place in organizations. For anyone seeking to implement AI not just ‘out of FOMO’, but with a critical and strategic intent, AI-Q offers valuable guidance with a thoughtful and pragmatic approach.”
Agathe Acchiardo, Foresight expert, CEO & Founder, Think Next
“If you only have time to read one business book this year, this is the book. If you and your team are focused on maximising value from your investment in AI, put a copy of this book on everyone’s desk.
It’s a book to read yourself – don’t let AI summarise it for you, because this book has useful insights on every single page. It’s well written, easy to read, full of real examples – and it will change your view of what needs to be done to lead well in our new AI-enabled world.”
Kathryn Bishop, NED and Chairwoman
“Over the past year, I have seen first-hand that successful AI adoption is not primarily a technology challenge. It is a leadership challenge. Organisations that achieve lasting value from AI focus on people, culture, governance, learning, and readiness alongside the technology itself.
That is why I was pleased to contribute to this book. Athena brings together research, practical frameworks, and insights from experts across different industries to help leaders navigate the opportunities and challenges of the Human+AI era.
If you are interested in AI, leadership, organisational readiness, or how to turn AI investments into meaningful outcomes, this book is well worth adding to your reading list.”
Thomas Baumgartner, Chief Finance Officer, voestalpine Metsec plc
“A distinctive perspective on leadership in the age of AI. It rightly emphasizes that AI agents are not employees: accountability remains firmly with leaders, making governance and deployment choices critical. A standout theme is the widening gap between access to AI tools and true understanding of those tool among senior leaders, who must nonetheless oversee their use. I found especially valuable its call to treat scepticism as a strength rather than resistance, encouraging leaders to rigorously test vendor claims against real business needs.
The idea that many leaders depend on others to interpret AI outputs exposes a subtle but critical governance risk. Overall, it is a book that urges leaders to slow down, think critically, and take responsibility in a space too often driven by hype. It made me think, and is this not the main purpose of a good book?”
Oxana Kozliouk, Chief Risk Officer, United Bank of Africa (UK) Ltd.
