After 2 days at the International Coaching Summit 2026, I am still digesting what I learned.
If I had to choose one key takeaway, it would be:
“Coaching should not be merely transactional. It should be a process that supports sustainable transformation.”
We are living in a world where AI can perform better than humans in many areas.
So the question is no longer: How can we compete with AI?
Perhaps the important question is: What makes us uniquely human?
AI can analyse patterns across big amounts of data, understand different perspectives and demonstrate cognitive empathy really well.
However, emotional empathy may be something on a different level.
AI may pretend with responses as if it understands how someone feels. But being genuinely present with another person and sharing in their emotions is something only humans can truly experience.
Emotional empathy is our ability to be fully present with another person. It is about noticing what has not been expressed in words, and recognising the emotions and meaning behind what someone says.
As Marcia Reynolds, PsyD, MCC said during her session,
“Our role is not to help people feel better. Our role is to help them see better.”
Perhaps transformation begins when we see ourselves from a new perspective and become aware of something we had not noticed before.
Through this new awareness, we can make more intentional choices.
We can reflect not only on “what we want to do next”, but also on “who we want to become.”
The world is becoming more uncertain and increasingly influenced by AI.
So perhaps our challenge is to embrace our unique strengths, connect with others through emotional empathy, and grow into more authentic versions of ourselves.
❓What do you believe makes us uniquely human in the age of AI?