The Round Table Revolution: How GenX Leaders Naturally Build Inclusive AI-Ready Teams

By Che’ Blackmon, CEO of Che’ Blackmon Consulting

Remember King Arthur’s Round Table? No head, no foot—just equals gathered to solve kingdom-sized problems. Today’s GenX leaders are creating their own round table revolution, but instead of knights, they’re assembling diverse teams ready to tackle AI transformation. And they’re doing it with a secret weapon most organizations overlook: decades of experience building inclusive coalitions from the margins.

Here’s what makes this revolutionary: While companies spend millions on diversity initiatives and AI readiness programs that often fail, GenX leaders—particularly Black women—have been naturally building inclusive, adaptable teams their entire careers. They learned collaboration before it was a buzzword. They built networks when hierarchy was law. They created psychological safety before we had a term for it.

Now, as AI reshapes everything, these round table builders hold the key to creating teams that can actually leverage artificial intelligence while maintaining human connection. They understand something crucial: AI amplifies existing team dynamics. Exclusive teams become more exclusive with AI. But inclusive teams? They become exponentially more powerful.

The GenX Round Table Advantage

In “Mastering a High-Value Company Culture,” I discussed how employee round tables can transform organizational dynamics when led with genuine commitment to inclusion. GenX leaders perfected this art out of necessity. They entered corporate America when command-and-control was gospel, yet they instinctively knew collaboration would be the future.

GenX leaders developed what I call “Circular Leadership”—the ability to lead from any seat at the table. Unlike hierarchical leadership (lead from the top) or flat leadership (no one leads), circular leadership recognizes that different people lead different moments based on expertise, not position.

This approach creates several advantages for AI readiness:

Distributed Intelligence: Just as AI distributes computing power, round table teams distribute human intelligence. Everyone contributes their unique perspective.

Adaptive Leadership: Leadership shifts based on the challenge, mirroring how AI systems adapt to different problems.

Inclusive Innovation: Diverse voices at the table prevent the blind spots that plague AI development.

Trust Networks: Deep relationships enable the vulnerability required for AI experimentation.

For Black women GenX leaders, this round table approach isn’t theoretical—it’s survival strategy turned superpower. We’ve always had to build coalitions across difference, create our own tables when excluded from others, and ensure everyone has a voice because we know the cost of silence.

The Research: Why Round Tables Win in the AI Era

MIT’s recent study on team performance in AI implementation revealed something striking: Teams with rotating leadership and high psychological safety outperformed traditional hierarchical teams by 73% in AI adoption success. The key factor? What researchers called “cognitive diversity activation”—getting different perspectives actively engaged.

Dave Ulrich’s updated HR Business Partner model emphasizes creating “stakeholder value” through human capability. His research shows that organizations combining diverse human intelligence with AI capabilities see:

• 4.3x higher innovation rates
• 67% better problem-solving outcomes
• 52% faster adaptation to market changes
• 81% higher employee engagement

Stanford’s research on team dynamics adds another layer: Teams that practice “perspective-taking”—actively considering different viewpoints—are 3x more likely to successfully integrate AI without displacing human value.

Dr. Amy Edmondson’s work on psychological safety becomes even more critical in AI contexts. Teams need to feel safe to:

• Admit they don’t understand AI concepts
• Experiment without fear of failure
• Challenge AI recommendations
• Maintain human judgment alongside machine intelligence

GenX leaders, having navigated multiple technological disruptions, naturally create these conditions.

Case Study: The Round Table That Revolutionized Regional Banking

Let me share a powerful example. Marcus (name changed), a 48-year-old Black man and Chief Innovation Officer at a regional bank, faced a mandate: Implement AI-driven customer service within 12 months or lose market share to fintech competitors.

Instead of hiring consultants or buying off-the-shelf solutions, Marcus did something revolutionary. He created what he called the “Innovation Round Table”:

The Composition:

• A 58-year-old white woman from customer service who knew every pain point
• A 26-year-old Latino data scientist passionate about ethical AI
• A 45-year-old Black woman from compliance who understood regulatory requirements
• A 33-year-old Asian man from IT who could build anything
• A 52-year-old white man from sales who knew what customers actually wanted
• A 29-year-old Black woman from marketing who understood digital natives

The Rules:

1. No permanent chair—leadership rotated based on the discussion topic
2. Every voice had equal weight regardless of title
3. “Bad ideas” were celebrated as learning opportunities
4. Technical jargon required translation into plain language
5. Human impact was considered before technical capability

The Process: Marcus structured meetings using what I call in “High-Value Leadership: Transforming Organizations Through Purposeful Culture” the principle of “rotating expertise.” When discussing customer needs, the customer service veteran led. For technical architecture, the IT specialist took charge. For regulatory concerns, compliance guided the conversation.

The Results: Within 9 months, they launched an AI system that:

• Reduced customer service time by 43%
• Increased customer satisfaction by 31%
• Maintained all jobs (redeploying staff to higher-value work)
• Passed all regulatory requirements on first review
• Generated $3.2M in new revenue from previously unidentified customer needs

The secret? The round table approach ensured AI served human needs rather than replacing human value.

The Black Woman’s Round Table Advantage

As explored in “Rise & Thrive: A Black Woman’s Blueprint for Leadership Excellence,” Black women have unique advantages in building inclusive teams. We’ve been creating round tables our entire careers—not from positions of power but from positions of purpose.

Consider these capabilities:

Coalition Building from the Margins: We’ve learned to build influence without authority, creating informal networks that get things done despite formal exclusion.

Cultural Translation: We naturally translate between different groups, making us ideal facilitators for diverse AI teams.

Inclusive Innovation: Having been excluded from many tables, we instinctively ensure everyone has a seat when we build our own.

Both/And Thinking: We reject false binaries (human OR machine) and create syntheses (human AND machine).

A McKinsey study found that companies with Black women in leadership positions during AI transformations showed:

• 45% higher success rates in AI adoption
• 38% better employee retention during transition
• 62% more innovative AI applications
• 71% higher scores on ethical AI implementation

Why? Because Black women GenX leaders don’t just build teams—they build communities. And communities adapt to change far better than hierarchies.

The Round Table Framework for AI-Ready Teams

Through my consulting work, I’ve developed the Round Table Framework specifically for building inclusive AI-ready teams:

Phase 1: Table Setting (Foundation)

Identify Your Knights:

• Map expertise needed (technical, cultural, operational, strategic)
• Seek cognitive diversity, not just demographic diversity
• Include both AI enthusiasts and AI skeptics
• Balance experience with fresh perspectives

Establish the Charter:

• Define the mission beyond “implement AI”
• Create shared values for human-AI collaboration
• Establish psychological safety protocols
• Set rotation principles for leadership

Phase 2: Circle Formation (Structure)

Design Inclusive Processes:

• Rotate meeting leadership based on expertise
• Create multiple communication channels (verbal, written, visual)
• Build in translation time for technical concepts
• Establish “naive question” periods where basics are explained

Build Trust Foundations:

• Share vulnerability about AI knowledge gaps
• Celebrate learning over knowing
• Create peer mentoring pairs
• Establish conflict resolution protocols

Phase 3: Quest Definition (Purpose)

Frame AI as Enhancement, Not Replacement:

• Define how AI amplifies human capabilities
• Identify uniquely human contributions
• Create metrics for human + AI success
• Design role evolution paths

Create Shared Vision:

• Develop future scenarios together
• Include all stakeholder perspectives
• Address fears explicitly
• Paint pictures of collective success

Phase 4: Battle Rhythms (Operations)

Establish Collaborative Cadences:

• Weekly round table gatherings
• Rotating deep-dive sessions
• Cross-functional workshops
• Celebration rituals for milestones

Create Feedback Loops:

• Real-time adjustment mechanisms
• Multiple feedback channels
• Anonymous concern raising
• Public win sharing

Practical Strategies for Building Your Round Table

If you’re ready to create your own round table revolution, here’s how:

1. Audit Your Current Table

Ask yourself:

• Who’s missing from AI discussions?
• Whose expertise is undervalued?
• What perspectives would prevent blind spots?
• Which voices could bridge divides?

Look especially for:

• GenX women who’ve been building bridges for decades
• Black women who understand inclusive innovation
• Technical experts who can teach without condescending
• Operational experts who know what actually works

2. Redesign Your Meeting Structure

Traditional Meeting Format:

• Boss presents agenda
• Hierarchy determines speaking order
• Decisions flow top-down
• Same people dominate discussion

Round Table Format:

• Agenda created collaboratively
• Expertise determines leadership
• Decisions emerge from synthesis
• All voices actively solicited

3. Create Psychological Safety for AI Learning

The Learning Contract:

• “Not knowing” is acceptable
• Questions are gifts
• Failure teaches
• Everyone is both teacher and student

The Translation Protocol:

• Technical concepts get plain language explanations
• Business needs get technical translation
• Cultural implications get explicit attention
• Ethical concerns get immediate airtime

4. Build Bridging Mechanisms

Cross-Generational Pairs:

• GenX leaders with Millennial technologists
• Boomer wisdom keepers with GenZ innovators
• Create mutual mentoring expectations

Cross-Functional Rotations:

• Technical people spend time in operations
• Business people learn basic AI concepts
• Everyone understands customer impact

5. Measure Inclusive Innovation

Track metrics that matter:

• Participation rates in AI initiatives
• Diversity of ideas generated
• Speed of problem resolution
• Employee confidence with AI
• Innovation adoption rates
• Retention during transformation

The Strategic Implementation Guide

Here’s your 90-day plan for building your round table:

Days 1-30: Foundation Building

Week 1: Assessment

• Map current AI team composition
• Identify missing perspectives
• Assess psychological safety levels
• Document existing barriers to inclusion

Week 2: Recruitment

• Identify round table members
• Focus on cognitive diversity
• Ensure generational representation
• Prioritize overlooked experts

Week 3: Charter Creation

• Develop round table principles
• Establish rotation protocols
• Create safety agreements
• Define success metrics

Week 4: Launch Preparation

• Design first gathering
• Prepare materials in multiple formats
• Set up communication channels
• Create feedback mechanisms

Days 31-60: Circle Formation

Month 2 Focus:

• Hold weekly round tables
• Rotate leadership each session
• Build relationships across difference
• Address conflicts directly
• Celebrate early wins
• Document lessons learned

Days 61-90: Quest Acceleration

Month 3 Objectives:

• Launch pilot AI initiative
• Apply round table principles
• Measure inclusive innovation
• Adjust based on feedback
• Scale successful practices
• Share stories of success

Overcoming Common Obstacles

Challenge: “We don’t have time for all this inclusion stuff.”

Reality Check: You don’t have time NOT to be inclusive. Failed AI initiatives cost millions. Inclusive teams succeed 73% more often.

Solution: Start small. One diverse round table, one pilot project. Let results speak.

Challenge: “Senior leadership wants traditional hierarchy.”

Reality Check: Show them the ROI. Round table teams deliver 4.3x higher innovation rates.

Solution: Frame it as “agile leadership” or “innovation acceleration.” Use their language.

Challenge: “Technical people don’t want to explain everything.”

Reality Check: Unexplained AI creates fear, resistance, and failure.

Solution: Make translation a valued skill. Recognize and reward great teachers.

Challenge: “We can’t find diverse talent.”

Reality Check: You’re not looking in the right places or valuing the right things.

Solution: Look for bridge-builders, translators, and connectors. They exist in every organization.

The Compound Effect of Round Table Leadership

When GenX leaders, particularly Black women, build round tables for AI transformation, something magical happens. The effects compound:

• Inclusion breeds innovation: Diverse perspectives generate novel solutions
• Safety enables speed: Teams that trust move faster
• Rotation builds capability: Everyone develops leadership skills
• Translation creates clarity: Understanding accelerates adoption
• Community ensures sustainability: People protect what they build together

This isn’t just about implementing AI successfully. It’s about creating organizational cultures that can adapt to whatever comes next.

Your Round Table Revolution Starts Now

The future belongs to organizations that can combine human wisdom with artificial intelligence. GenX leaders—especially those who’ve been building inclusive tables from the margins—hold the keys to this combination.

Discussion Questions for Your Organization:

1. Who would you invite to your AI round table that isn’t currently involved in technology decisions?
2. What expertise exists in your organization that’s being overlooked because of title or position?
3. How could rotating leadership based on expertise rather than hierarchy improve your team’s performance?
4. What would change if your Black women leaders were positioned as lead architects of AI transformation?
5. How might round table principles transform not just AI adoption but your entire organizational culture?

Your Personal Reflection:

1. What tables have you built in your career? What made them successful?
2. Who helped you when you were excluded from important discussions? How can you pay that forward?
3. What unique perspective do you bring to AI discussions that others might miss?
4. Where could you start building a round table tomorrow?

Ready to Start Your Round Table Revolution?

At Che’ Blackmon Consulting, we specialize in helping organizations build inclusive, high-performing teams that thrive in technological transformation. Our approach leverages the overlooked expertise of GenX leaders, particularly Black women, to create sustainable competitive advantage.

We offer:

• Round Table Team Assessments to identify your hidden inclusion champions
• AI-Ready Culture Workshops that build psychological safety and innovation
• Inclusive Leadership Development that prepares all leaders for the AI era
• Fractional CHRO Services to implement sustainable transformation

If you’re ready to:

• Build truly inclusive AI-ready teams
• Leverage your GenX leaders’ collaboration expertise
• Create round tables that revolutionize your culture
• Transform AI from threat to opportunity

Let’s build your round table together.

Contact us at admin@cheblackmon.com or visit https://cheblackmon.com to discover how round table leadership can transform your AI journey.

Remember: The most powerful AI implementations aren’t built by hierarchies or flat structures—they’re built by round tables where every voice matters, expertise leads, and innovation thrives.

What round table will you build today? Who will you invite to sit as equals in solving your organization’s greatest challenges?

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Che’ Blackmon is CEO of Che’ Blackmon Consulting, author of three books on leadership and culture transformation, and a champion for inclusive innovation. With over 20 years of experience transforming organizations, she helps companies build round tables where everyone has a seat and every voice creates value.

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