The Future of Work - The Human Side of AI - Portugal Tech Week 2026
The Human Side of AI: Emotional Intelligence and the Future of Work
What happens when we give people faster tools, but they still struggle to work together?
Two product managers in the same company hadn’t spoken to each other in two and a half years. They wouldn’t even attend their team meetings together.
Imagine giving both of them powerful AI tools. They could analyse information and develop proposals faster. But eventually, they would still need to speak to each other and agree on a decision.
For Vincent Azé, this experience raises a question about the future of work: as technology expands what we can do, how do we develop our ability to do it together?
Drawing on ten years as an executive coach and an earlier international career in finance, Vincent explores the human capabilities that help teams move forward: taking responsibility, listening with curiosity, expressing concerns and working through disagreement.
He describes this work as the oil in the engine. Teams need different perspectives and healthy debate. They also need ways to handle the friction before it turns into resentment, avoidance or years of silence.
As artificial intelligence changes how we work, could emotional intelligence be what helps us make that transition successfully?
What we’ll explore:
How unresolved tension affects decisions, coordination and the everyday experience of work.
Why greater individual capability does not automatically translate into better teamwork.
What it means to manage ourselves and support others through change.
How to approach a difficult conversation that could help your team move forward.
Who this is for:
Founders, leaders, managers and anyone working in a team navigating growth or technological change.
The session:
A personal talk grounded in real experiences, followed by questions and an open discussion. Bring your perspective and a challenge you are thinking through.
About Vincent:
Vincent Azé is a founding partner of Kuma Partners. Following an international career in fintech in London and Hong Kong, he has spent the past ten years helping leaders and teams improve how they work with their teams, work through growth, high velocity, frictions and conflicts.
Kuma Partners works with founders and leadership teams to strengthen alignment, resolve friction and turn decisions into action.
Event details:
Wednesday 11 November 2026
14:30 to 15:30, Lisbon time
PTW Palace - Rua Gomes Freire, 98. Lisbon
Room 2, Garden Room
Capacity: 60 people
Language: English
Part of Portugal Tech Week 2026.
By registering for this event, you agree to the PTW Palace Visitor Terms & Conditions. Your registration data will be processed and shared between Portugal Tech Week and its partners under GDPR for event coordination and community updates.