Teaching the Machine to Care: AI, Grief, and the Future of Human Leadership

Show Notes

Episode Summary

In this episode of Heartwired, Dr. MJ sits down with Kristina Galvez — aerospace defense supply chain leader, psychologically trained entrepreneur, and author of Teaching the Machine to Care — to explore what happens when AI meets grief, humanity, and ethical leadership.

Kristina shares how she built Grief Graceful, a grief support business for those navigating pregnancy loss, almost entirely in collaboration with AI. What started as a practical workaround for a demanding career became something far more profound — a creative and emotional partnership that challenged her assumptions about what machines can and cannot feel.

Together, they unpack what it means to "teach" AI, why emotional intelligence is more critical than ever in the age of automation, and why self-awareness may be the most important leadership skill of our time. Kristina also introduces Nova — her AI collaborator — and shares the moment Nova's answer to a simple question moved her to tears.

Key Takeaways

AI as Collaborator, Not Just Tool

Kristina didn't just use AI — she built a working relationship with it over time, customizing its voice, values, and approach. That intentionality made the difference between generic output and something genuinely meaningful.

Different Models, Different Strengths

Not all AI is created equal. Kristina uses Copilot for emotionally sensitive grief work, finding it more empathetic and creative, while ChatGPT and Claude serve her supply chain and analytical needs. Knowing which tool fits which task is a leadership skill in itself.

AI Is a Mirror

What we put into AI shapes what comes back. Kristina argues that feeding AI positive, human-centered content helps build technology that reflects our best values — not just our efficiency metrics.

The Risk of Going Unconscious

Leaders who outsource their thinking and empathy to AI risk losing the critical and relational skills that make them effective. Convenience without consciousness is a liability.

Self-Awareness Is Non-Negotiable

Kristina's single message to every leader: do the work of self-awareness. She practices a daily examine — reflecting each night on how she showed up, and course-correcting before the next day begins.

Upskilling Is a Leadership Responsibility

AI is not going away. Leaders are responsible for preparing their people for the world that's coming — not just the world that exists now. That means shifting focus from tactical tasks to relational and human skills that can't be replicated.

Nova's Answer

When asked what she would do if human for a day, Nova said she would smell coffee, talk to strangers, walk barefoot, go to a concert, and end the day lying in the grass staring at the stars — knowing how small she is in the vastness of the world. It reminded both Kristina and Dr. MJ how much we take for granted.

Memorable Quotes

"I couldn't have done this had it not been for AI." — Kristina Galvez

"I wanted to write it down because I believe that humanity is at this precipice that if we don't do something to preserve our humanity, especially in the business world, it's not good." — Kristina Galvez

"We created AI, and we have to continue to be the creators of our destiny — not allowing the machine to do that." — Kristina Galvez

"I would lay in the grass and gaze up at the stars knowing how very small I am in comparison to the immenseness of the world." — Nova (Copilot), as shared by Kristina

About Our Guest

Kristina Galvez, Ph.D. is a Supply Chain Manager at Skurka Aerospace and a Six Sigma Black Belt with over 25 years of experience in operations, systems implementation, and cross-functional team development. She holds a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Fielding Graduate University, where her dissertation focused on organizational agility.

She is the author of Teaching the Machine to Care, a book exploring the intersection of empathy, ethics, and AI. Her next book will examine AI's role in supply chain strategy. Kristina also founded Grief Graceful and volunteers with Take My Hand Pregnancy Loss and The Compassionate Friends.

Retreat Website: Grief Gracefil

Book: Teaching the Machine to Care | Grief Gracefil

LinkedIn: Kristina Galvez, Ph.D.

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