S8 E8: Curiosity Over Fear: Leading in the Age of AI with Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau from The Inspire Podcast

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S8 E8: Curiosity Over Fear: Leading in the Age of AI with Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau

34 minutes Posted Jun 30, 2026 at 10:00 am.

Introducing Stéphanie

Talk about what IA is and what they do

A bit about her bio and early years

Her comfort with and enjoyment of change

Junior Achievement

Recipe card holder example

Radio show

Becoming an accountant?

Switched to finance and international business

Her career start

What led her into HR?

Getting the job at IA

What is the IA way of managing people?

Being a learning organization

Creating conditions where employees can be their best

Bart asks for an example of the learning culture

The VP summit at IA

AI and its implications

Started off thinking of it as an operational efficiency thing

Allowing people to focus on where they can add the most value

How has AI affected Stephanie's work?

Changing the way she works — example: preparing presentations

It's about "unlearning" our ways of working

Using AI as a chief of staff

Copilot helps organize her day and key tasks

Copilot as a personal assistant

The anxieties associated with the introduction of AI in the organization

Choose curiosity over fear

Quote: AI won't replace humans, just humans who don't use AI

What advice would you give to people about AI?

It's all about mindset

How do you demonstrate the learning mindset?

What's next after adopting the mindset?

Practice using the tools

Bart talks about the Anthropic models

Advice #3

AI ambassador network

Hackathons

Creating the muscle around learning

Learning is not just an HR thing

Where will the adoption of AI go in the years to come?

What are your personal hopes for the future?

Thank yous and Bart sums up the takeaways

Outro

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Show notes

In this episode of the Inspire Podcast, Bart Egnal sits down with Stéphanie Butt Thibodeau, EVP Talent and Corporate Affairs at iA Financial Group, to explore how leaders and organizations can embrace artificial intelligence while keeping people at the center of transformation.

She begins by sharing how AI has fundamentally reshaped her own work, helping her rethink long-established habits and increase productivity. She goes on to discuss how iA Financial Group is helping employees navigate the uncertainty surrounding AI by fostering curiosity, experimentation, and a culture of learning. Stéphanie offers practical advice for leaders and professionals at all levels on overcoming anxiety around AI, and embracing the opportunities and excitement it can bring to their work.

Through practical examples, personal vulnerability, and insights into iA's organization-wide approach to learning, Stéphanie offers an honest and practical look at what it takes to lead through one of the biggest workplace transformations of our time. A must-listen for anyone navigating the opportunities and challenges of AI.

Show Notes:

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