357: Emotional Team Intelligence Over Star Power: Behavioral Scientist Jon Levy on Culture, AI, and Leadership

AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics

Jon Levy is a behavioral scientist and New York Times bestselling author known for exploring trust, human connection, belonging, and influence. He’s the founder of The Influencers Dinner, a secret dining experience that has grown into a community of thousands of leaders, including Nobel laureates, Olympians, celebrities, executives, artists, and musicians. His book You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Connection, Trust, and Belonging was named a Wall Street Journal “Book of the Month” in 2021. He’s also the author of The 2 AM Principle: Discover the Science of Adventure and the newly released Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Collective Genius.
In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why the smartest teams often fail, and how trust, belonging, and psychological safety drive collective intelligence
• The surprising data behind team performance, including why individual IQ doesn’t predict group success
• What makes a team “brilliant,” and how leaders can design environments that unlock group flow and faster decision-making
• How AI changes team dynamics and why it's urgent to redefine collaboration in a hybrid, tech-driven world
• The four principles of Team Intelligence and how they apply to both startups and global enterprises
• Jon’s personal journey from hosting secret dinners to writing Team Intelligence, and why he believes social bonds are the future of work

Resources:

• Subscribe to the AI & The Future of Work Newsletter
• Learn more of Jon on LinkedIn
• Explore Jon’s published work and speaking events
• AI fun fact article
• On How gen AI startups can beat Big Tech incumbents