How Leaders are Leveraging AI in The Workplace

Panel Discussion

Great leaders are not the ones who have all the answers. They are the ones who create an environment in which others can rise to the challenge. The most transformative leaders understand the balance between embracing technology and innovation and maintaining the core values that make us human. 

This session will feature an L25 Summit video welcome introduction from Simon Sinek and discussion with Whitnee Hawthorne, former Chief Customer Officer, JetBlue and the Eitan Vesely, CEO of Watercooler.  They will explore one of the most exciting frontiers of our time—AI in the workplace. 

The panelists have a track record of leading and driving culture and customer experience transformations for major global organizations.  Whitnee is a practitioner and a visionary who understands that technology, like AI, is only powerful when used to amplify the human potential within companies.  Eitan, as CEO of Watercooler, steers a company on the forefront of studying and applying AI successfully in organizations.  Panelists will share insights on how leaders can leverage AI to drive growth, innovation, and excellence in our organizations.”

Whitnee Hawthorne

Whitnee Hawthorne is a transformative Chief Customer Officer recognized for her strategic leadership in customer experience and operational efficiency within travel, expense, and technology sectors. Known for building global, multilingual teams and implementing best-in-class processes, she has driven significant growth, customer satisfaction, and revenue increases in roles at American Airlines, oneworld®, JetBlue Airways, and Auriemma Consulting Group. At JetBlue, she led key initiatives to enhance customer support and corporate project prioritization, ultimately shifting customer interactions from voice to chat, improving engagement and efficiency. A keynote speaker, podcast host, and executive coach, Whitnee holds an MBA from Babson College and resides in McDonough, Georgia.

Eitan Vesely

Eitan Vesely started his career as a mechanical engineer at Applied Materials.  He worked there until he burned out, and then found his way to entrepreneurship.

Eitan made his mark in the field of Artificial Intelligence with his first startup in 2014, which was sold to a multinational corporation in 2019 where he worked as a senior director of AI Strategy and Innovation.

For years, Eitan was troubled by how many people are unhappy at work and how many are forced to leave jobs due to work-related stress or to get away from a manager.

In 2022, he founded a People Analytics startup called Watercooler which uses AI to detect employee vulnerabilities and burnout risk.  The company applies recent advancements in the field of Explainable AI to make sure that people are seen, heard and appreciated - and at the correct frequency.