We speak with Kate O’Neill, CEO of KO Insights and author of the award-winning book “What Matters Next,” about being a “Tech Humanist,” and the challenges of making human-friendly tech decisions in the face of complexity and uncertainty. We also discuss why the opportunity for human betterment should be at the center of tech-driven business decisions.

As you’re considering your business strategy for 2026 and beyond, you and your team may be considering how AI can accelerate growth now and into what’s next. What’s clear is that within the past year, AI’s capabilities have dramatically increased, and will continue to evolve. This means there will be many more opportunities for humans and various technologies to complement each other and ignite game-changing business growth. But at the same time, here’s a critical consideration: how can you make “human-friendly tech decisions” in a way that’s ethical and benefits those stakeholders who both impact it and are impacted by it? This is the focus of our conversation with our guest, Kate O’Neill, widely known as the “Tech Humanist.”

Kate is a digital innovator, author, and global speaker. As CEO of KO Insights, Kate advises on data-driven, human-centered strategy. A former early Netflix employee, she’s worked with top organizations including Google, IBM, and the UN. Her insights appear in major media, and her books guide leaders on solving human problems at scale. Her latest book is “What Matters Next: A Leader’s Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That’s Moving Too Fast.” It’s an International Book Awards finalist. Thinkers50 also named it “One of the top 10 best new management books of 2025.”

This is Part I of our conversation with Kate. We discuss  her perspective on what it means to be a “Tech Humanist.” We speak about the leadership challenges of making complex technology decisions in uncertain, accelerated environments. Kate also shares her “Now–Next Continuum.” She provides a practical framework for integrating lessons from the past, clarity from the present, and foresight into the future.  We also discuss how focusing on “what could go right” can amplify human potential while managing risks. We conclude Part 1 by discussing why the opportunity for human betterment should be at the center of tech-driven business decisions.

Note: Be sure to join us next week for Episode 378, Part 2 of our conversation with Kate O’Neill.

We’ll dig deeper into making human-friendly tech decisions through a story from Kate’s early years as one of the first 100 employees of Netflix. We also discuss three immediately useful ideas for making human-friendly tech decisions for your company.

Being a ‘tech humanist’ centers on making sure that business objectives and human outcomes are aligned before technology is used to amplify them. — Kate O’Neill

This week on Growth Igniters® Radio:



* Kate’s perspective on what it means to be a “Tech Humanist,” and why she wrote her latest book “What Matters Next“

* The leadership challenges of making complex technology decisions in uncertain, accelerated environments

* How Kate’s  “Now–Next Continuum,” can provide a practical framework for integrating lessons from the past, clarity from the present, and foresight into the future

* Why the opportunity for human betterment should be at the center of tech-driven business decisions



Resources for This Episode:



* Read more about Kate O’Neill and connect with her on  “LinkedIn“