In this episode of The Optimist, Dale Rickard speaks with Jan Brorhilker, Managing Partner Assurance at EY Germany, about how AI is reshaping leadership, careers, and the role of human skills in the workplace.

They explore why knowledge is becoming commoditized, how leadership is evolving, and why adaptability, communication, and trust are becoming the most valuable skills in an AI-driven world. The conversation also touches on broader challenges — from talent shortages to bureaucracy — and what it will take for Europe to stay competitive in times of uncertainty.

The Optimist is presented by TECH by Handelsblatt Media Group and independent from the Handelsblatt editorial team. With the Technology Experience Convention Heilbronn (TECH), Handelsblatt Media Group, Handelsblatt and Schwarz Digits are creating a strategic platform to strengthen the European tech ecosystem. TECH‘s mission is to establish a „cluster of optimism“, connecting Europe’s most influential leaders across technology, industry, politics, and academia. More at tech-europe.org