Copyright International Business Times
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how work is carried out and how decisions are shaped, offering new ways to synthesize information and reveal patterns that once took longer to see. The pivotal question is how people and organizations choose to work with this technology in ways that preserve judgment, meaning, and humane practice amid accelerating automation. For Francesca Birks, founder of Aretee Consulting, this transformation signifies an evolution in leadership and learning. A design strategist by training, she sees the shift as a move away from an era defined by control and knowledge accumulation toward one that values creativity and human-centered design. "The leaders who may be best equipped for the age of AI," she says, "will be those who know how to fuse strategy with design, building systems that adapt, making sure ethics stay front and center, and helping teams work together smoothly as the landscape keeps changing." This philosophy has been shaped by the space in which Birks operates, where technological capability advances alongside social, political, and environmental complexity. Her work treats foresight and strategic design as interdependent parts of a single inquiry into what might be both desirable and feasible. "For me, technology isn't the endpoint," she states. "The more important questions are what problems an organization is trying to solve and which approaches might produce resilient, humane outcomes." That line of thinking has guided Aretee Consulting's work with mission-oriented clients who seek futures grounded in community insight and practical roadmaps rather than abstract vision statements. This perspective takes form through three complementary practices. The first is strategic foresight and planning, where scenario work and sense-making exercises help leaders widen their view of possible paths forward and identify actions that remain relevant as conditions shift. Next, design strategy and user experience research turn vision into reality, helping ensure that systems and environments support the behaviors and values they're meant to uphold. Last but not least, workshop facilitation brings diverse voices into the room, fostering shared purpose and translating ambition into actionable steps. Together, these practices empower leaders, educators, and engineers to craft intentional human experiences, whether they're reimagining learning journeys or shaping programs built to last. Underlying all three practices is design literacy, a foundational skill set that enables this work to be both strategic and deeply human. "I view design literacy as being comfortable with uncertainty, knowing how to ask the right questions, and seeing the bigger picture, particularly how one decision can ripple across an entire system," Birks explains. It also draws on emotional intelligence and facilitation skills, along with the foresight to understand how decisions will impact communities over time. Essentially, for Birks, design literacy is about turning strategy into lived experiences that resonate with the people they're meant to serve. Leaders who cultivate this capacity, she believes, move beyond static plans and toward dynamic practices that shape everyday life. Birks' approach to AI reflects the same human-centered stance. She views the technology as a valuable tool for synthesis and pattern recognition, which can accelerate research and broaden perspective, especially in structured tasks. "But when nuance and long-term impact are involved, human oversight and ethical thinking become essential," she states. "The aim is to strengthen judgment, not diminish it." That mindset informs how Aretee Consulting engages clients. Projects begin with a seemingly simple question: "What problem are you trying to solve?" From there, Birks develops educational frameworks and strategic experiences that connect directly to client goals and the human experiences at stake. Through interviews, observation, and synthesis, she identifies tensions and opportunities that may be hidden early in the process, helping ensure that strategy remains anchored in lived realities. Aretee Consulting's clients are typically academic institutions reimagining learning environments, civic organizations coordinating complex systems, and construction or design teams balancing diverse stakeholder needs. In each engagement, the goal is to nurture a sense of purpose and build a roadmap that can evolve as new information emerges. The deeper thread running through all of this is stewardship. "Design helps us explore what the future could look like by making intentional choices today," she explains. "When we approach design with openness and a willingness to learn, we create environments where people can experiment, share ideas, and make decisions before they become fixed."
