Name: Geoffrey Klein

Title: AI Speaker & Consultant | Content Producer 🎬 (Video/Animation) TEDx 💬 Educator. 🗣️

Organisation: nine dots AI

Geoffrey Klein, aka Mr. Purple, is a dynamic AI keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, MIT AI-certified consultant, and best-selling author of THE CONTENT BEAST. As well as a video and animation producer, he teaches business communication at the Wharton School of Business and social media marketing at Temple University. Geoffrey specializes in helping organizations navigate and overcome AI overwhelm through easy-to-understand and implemented concepts for impact in business. His engaging presentations are tailored to event planners seeking to captivate audiences with innovative strategies for connecting through compelling narratives and cutting-edge technology.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

We’ve gone through the interviews and asked the best of the best to come back and answer 7 MORE Questions on Leadership.

I hope Geoffrey's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. As a leader, how do you build trust with employees, customers and other stakeholders?

In an era where AI transforms industries and workflows, trust and the human element have never been more critical. For employees, leaders must foster trust through transparency, consistent actions, and support for skill development, particularly in navigating AI tools. Open communication and a psychologically safe environment encourage collaboration and innovation, leveraging both human and AI strengths to achieve collective intelligence. With customers, trust is built by delivering on promises and adhering to ethical practices, including data privacy and fairness in AI implementations. Engaging with customer feedback and using storytelling to connect emotionally strengthens relationships and demonstrates authenticity. For stakeholders, aligning shared goals, maintaining transparency, and showcasing value through human-AI collaboration are key. Prioritizing sustainability and ethical considerations further solidifies trust, ensuring long-term success and alignment with societal values. In AI-driven processes, the human role as a "bookend" is essential—from setting objectives to verifying outcomes. By blending human insight with AI's capabilities, organizations can achieve trustworthy, impactful results that resonate with all stakeholders.

2. What do 'VISION' and 'MISSION' mean to you? And what does it actually look like to use them in real-world business?

Vision and mission are essential to any organization. A vision defines long-term aspirations—“Where do we want to go?”—while a mission describes purpose and value—“What do we do and why?” Together, they guide decisions, align efforts, and inspire action. In practice, vision motivates teams and stakeholders, while mission grounds operations in core objectives. For example, as an AI leader addressing overwhelm and promoting business success through education could translate to a vision to "empower transformative innovation through AI" and a mission to "simplify AI adoption for professionals." The aim is to provide clarity and trust. This approach fosters actionable strategies, tailored training, and a deeper understanding of AI’s role. By embedding vision and mission into one’s work, leaders and businesses ensure every effort is impactful, purposeful, and aligned with greater goals.

3. How can a leader empower the people they're leading?

Empowering others is central to leadership. Leaders build trust by granting autonomy, encouraging risk-taking, and ensuring a safe space for learning from mistakes. Clear goals, expectations, and the right resources equip teams for success. For example, as an AI leader, offering tailored learning opportunities and AI-related challenges helps clients build skills, confidence, and effective AI strategies. Celebrating successes, no matter the size, connects tasks to broader goals and purpose. Leading by example sets the tone. Integrity, accountability, and resilience inspire others while fostering confidence and collaboration. Empowerment drives engagement, innovation, and shared ownership of success.

4. Who are some of the coaches or mentors in your life who have had a positive influence on your leadership? Can you please tell a meaningful story about one of them?

One of the most impactful mentors in my life was Dave Mallery. Dave was a member of the American Film Institute Board, as well as someone who ran seminars for independent school teachers. A teacher’s teacher. Dave and I bonded on our love of movies. I was lucky enough to watch some old classics with Dave in his “screening room” in the basement of his house. He would order the films on reels and run them through his projector. One particular screening was Frank Capra’s Lost Horizon from m1937. It features a diplomat whose plane crashes, and he is taken to Shangri-la. While I adore the sentiment of the film and its secret to life: be kind, I have to admit that knowing Dave screened the film for Frank Capra himself in the same “theater” gave it extra special meaning. Dave and I had many conversations on the deck, adjacent to the screening room, overlooking a beautiful landscape of the surrounding woods and gardens. Our conversations covered every topic from film to career, to love, to friendship. Dave had a profound impact on how I view the world. Dave was the ultimate optimist, whose cheery disposition was matched by his thoughtful contemplation, generosity, empathy, and encouragement. His example is something I aspire to model myself – be positive, be kind, be helpful. Leaders could all use a bit more Dave Mallery in them.

5. Leadership is often more about what you DON'T do. How do you maintain focus in your role?

Effective leadership requires balancing curiosity with organization. While it’s natural to be drawn to shiny new ideas, it’s important not to make distraction a habit. Embrace occasional diversions to spark creativity, but stay rooted in focusing on what you do best. Double down on your strengths and seek help, whether from a team member or AI tools, for tasks that fall outside your expertise. Setting priorities and maintaining structure enables you to explore new opportunities without losing sight of key objectives. Leveraging tools and delegation allows leaders to stay organized while pursuing innovative ideas, ensuring both curiosity and discipline drive meaningful outcomes.

6. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Everyone plans differently. How do you plan for the week, month and years ahead in your role?

Planning is crucial for achieving success, and it’s equally important to find a balance between structure and flexibility. Effective planning starts with understanding the difference between being busy and being productive. Productivity comes from focusing on what truly drives progress, rather than just filling your schedule with tasks. One proven method is setting SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. These goals help create clarity and direction, ensuring that your efforts lead to meaningful outcomes. By creating short, medium, and long-term goals, you can build a comprehensive roadmap that provides both immediate focus and long-term vision. AI tools can play a pivotal role in streamlining this process. They assist in setting and tracking SMART goals, analyzing progress, and identifying patterns that may not be immediately obvious. With features like automated reminders, AI ensures you stay on top of reviews and adjustments to your plans. Furthermore, AI-driven insights help prioritize tasks, optimize schedules, and provide recommendations that align with your long-term vision. Having a system to regularly review your goals is key to maintaining alignment with your overarching objectives. This allows for adjustments when priorities shift, ensuring flexibility without losing sight of your ultimate aims. A well-structured yet adaptable approach enables you to navigate weekly, monthly, and yearly planning with confidence and clarity, setting the stage for sustained success.

7. What advice would you give to a young leader who is struggling to delegate effectively?

Delegation is a crucial skill for effective leadership, enabling leaders to focus on higher-priority responsibilities while empowering their teams to grow and take ownership. Many young leaders struggle with delegation due to a desire for control or fear that tasks won’t be done correctly. However, learning to delegate effectively is not about losing control but multiplying your impact through others. Start small by delegating smaller, low-risk tasks to build trust and confidence in your team’s abilities. Matching tasks to team members’ skills and strengths ensures better outcomes and boosts engagement. Provide clear instructions, including context, goals, and necessary resources, to set your team up for success. While it’s essential to communicate expectations, avoid micromanaging—trusting your team fosters their confidence and accountability. AI tools can be a powerful ally in supporting delegation. These tools help track progress, automate updates, and provide insights into team performance. For instance, AI can monitor project timelines, alert you to bottlenecks, and even suggest optimal task assignments based on individual strengths. By using AI to manage some aspects of delegation, you can ensure transparency and efficiency while maintaining a clear overview of your team’s progress. Finally, reflect on the delegation process once tasks are completed. Celebrate successes, address challenges, and use feedback to refine your approach. Effective delegation is more than a leadership tactic—it’s a way to build a stronger, more empowered team while freeing yourself to focus on strategic priorities.