Let’s start with the argument every aspiring leader loves to have, even if they don’t say it out loud:  Specialist or generalist?  Depth or breadth?  That’s the fork in the road every ambitious leader eventually hits. And the farther up the ladder you go, the more that question lingers.

You’ve been sold the idea that depth is everything—that if you dig deep enough into your domain, you’ll strike oil. That expertise will keep you safe. That mastery will make you essential. 

But here’s the quiet truth that emerges in the leadership trenches: The higher you rise, the less people hire you for what you know, and the more they trust you for how you see.

Specialists understand how the parts work. Generalists understand how the whole thing moves.

In a world being reshaped daily by AI and automation, the hardest leader to replace isn’t the deepest expert; it’s the one who navigates ambiguity, connects dots across silos, and holds a steady course when the map runs out.

So, stop asking, “Will AI replace me?” Start asking yourself the six questions only generalists can honestly answer. 

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