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Listen "Future-Proof or Fall Behind: AI Leadership Lessons with Microsoft’s Armanda Mealha {Ep.72}"
Episode Synopsis
AI isn’t just coming.
It’s already reshaping the workplace.
The question isn’t “if,” but how fast you’re adapting — and whether your leadership is evolving with it.
In this episode of Talent Talk, leadership coach and corporate trainer Andrea Ross sits down with Armanda Mealha — Executive Director and Specialist Team Unit Lead at Microsoft Portugal — to unpack what AI-ready leadership really looks like, and what separates the future-proofed from the left-behind.
With nearly a decade at Microsoft — and earlier experience at Oracle — Armanda shares hard-won insights on what AI means for people, performance, and progress.
What You’ll Learn:
→ How AI is rewiring leadership — and why mindsets matter more than tools
→ The first 3 steps every organisation should take to integrate AI ethically and effectively
→ What most leaders miss when they try to “implement AI” (and how to avoid the trap)
→ The human side of AI: Empathy, curiosity, and how to lead with both
Questions We Answer:
✅How do you balance long-term AI investment with short-term ROI demands?
✅What does responsible AI adoption actually look like on the ground?
✅How can leaders create a culture that accelerates AI learning and experimentation?
Bonus Resource:
Get the latest insights from Microsoft’s 2024 survey on AI in leadership — and why top-performing teams are using AI to boost innovation and culture: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NFWReport2024_1.27.2025.pdf
🎧 Highlights:
→Armanda’s career journey from Oracle to Microsoft — and the leadership lessons along the way
→Real-world strategies for building AI fluency within your teams
→What’s coming next in AI + leadership, and how to stay ahead of the curve
Connect with Armanda:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armandamealha/
→ Microsoft Portugal: https://msaitour.microsoft.com/en-us/lisbon
Are you a leader wondering how healthy your team really is?
Uncover the hidden dynamics holding your team back — in just a few clicks.
High-performing teams aren’t built on skill alone. They thrive on trust, clarity, and alignment.
Take the free Team Health Check — it’s fast, insightful, and gives you a clear starting point for better leadership.
🔍 Start the free assessment now
https://www.thecareerestablishment.com/team-health-check-assessment
Follow Andrea Ross:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrearosscoachtrainer/
→ The Career Establishment: https://www.thecareerestablishment.com/
Want More Like This?
Join our newsletter for fresh leadership insights, tools, and behind-the-scenes content:
thecareerestablishment.com/newsletter
It’s already reshaping the workplace.
The question isn’t “if,” but how fast you’re adapting — and whether your leadership is evolving with it.
In this episode of Talent Talk, leadership coach and corporate trainer Andrea Ross sits down with Armanda Mealha — Executive Director and Specialist Team Unit Lead at Microsoft Portugal — to unpack what AI-ready leadership really looks like, and what separates the future-proofed from the left-behind.
With nearly a decade at Microsoft — and earlier experience at Oracle — Armanda shares hard-won insights on what AI means for people, performance, and progress.
What You’ll Learn:
→ How AI is rewiring leadership — and why mindsets matter more than tools
→ The first 3 steps every organisation should take to integrate AI ethically and effectively
→ What most leaders miss when they try to “implement AI” (and how to avoid the trap)
→ The human side of AI: Empathy, curiosity, and how to lead with both
Questions We Answer:
✅How do you balance long-term AI investment with short-term ROI demands?
✅What does responsible AI adoption actually look like on the ground?
✅How can leaders create a culture that accelerates AI learning and experimentation?
Bonus Resource:
Get the latest insights from Microsoft’s 2024 survey on AI in leadership — and why top-performing teams are using AI to boost innovation and culture: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NFWReport2024_1.27.2025.pdf
🎧 Highlights:
→Armanda’s career journey from Oracle to Microsoft — and the leadership lessons along the way
→Real-world strategies for building AI fluency within your teams
→What’s coming next in AI + leadership, and how to stay ahead of the curve
Connect with Armanda:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/armandamealha/
→ Microsoft Portugal: https://msaitour.microsoft.com/en-us/lisbon
Are you a leader wondering how healthy your team really is?
Uncover the hidden dynamics holding your team back — in just a few clicks.
High-performing teams aren’t built on skill alone. They thrive on trust, clarity, and alignment.
Take the free Team Health Check — it’s fast, insightful, and gives you a clear starting point for better leadership.
🔍 Start the free assessment now
https://www.thecareerestablishment.com/team-health-check-assessment
Follow Andrea Ross:
→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrearosscoachtrainer/
→ The Career Establishment: https://www.thecareerestablishment.com/
Want More Like This?
Join our newsletter for fresh leadership insights, tools, and behind-the-scenes content:
thecareerestablishment.com/newsletter
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