As artificial intelligence automates analytical and routine tasks, human skills like emotional intelligence, cross-communication, and trust-building are becoming critical for team success. Yet most organizations lack a structured approach to developing these skills. The Emotional Skill Gap Summit, a four-day virtual event co-hosted by FeelWise, Minds of Light, and Strike Marketing Institute, will address this gap for learning and development, HR, and team leaders from September 29 through October 2, 2026. Sessions run 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central Time each day.
According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, employers anticipate that 39% of core skills will evolve by 2030, with leadership and social influence showing the greatest increase in importance, rising by 22 percentage points since 2023. Despite this, few companies have a plan for developing the skills AI doesn't replace. "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, 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 cover emotional regulation, resilience, human-centered leadership, and workplace culture. Minds of Light Day, led by Executive Director Alison Jones, centers 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 Alison Jones, founder and executive director of Minds of Light. "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, October 2, is sponsored by Grand Strategy Consulting and addresses 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 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 receive recordings of every session. For more information and to register, visit the-emotional-skill-gap-summit.heysummit.com.
The summit comes at a pivotal time as AI reshapes job roles and skill demands. By focusing on emotional intelligence and inclusive communication, it aims to equip leaders with tools to foster resilient, high-performing teams in an AI-driven workplace. The event underscores the growing recognition that technical skills alone are insufficient; emotional skills are essential for navigating the complexities of modern work.
