About this episode

Karen Gombault discusses the evolving challenges for CEOs in 2026 with guest Nick Herinckx, focusing on AI, strategy, and leadership dynamics.

The operating environment for CEOs and senior leaders has shifted materially over the past five years. Artificial intelligence is accelerating, funding cycles are volatile, remote work is embedded, and expectations around leadership have changed. In this episode of Grounded and Aligned™, Karen speaks with Nick Herinckx, founder and CEO of Oxygen, about what is structurally different for CEOs in 2026. Drawing on his work coaching more than 100 CEOs, Nick outlines two persistent tensions: staying focused on strategy while technology evolves rapidly, and building toward a future that current tools cannot yet fully support. The discussion also addresses a dynamic many senior leaders are now experiencing directly: AI adoption moving bottom-up, with employees experimenting faster than executives. For VPs and SVPs operating between executive decision-making and frontline execution, this creates both risk and opportunity. Beyond AI, the conversation examines management capability, remote leadership strain, and the cumulative impact of social media and constant comparison on executive mental health. Key takeaways Why CEOs are repeatedly revisiting strategy in response to AI pressure, and…

People in this episode

Host: Karen Gombault

Guest: Nick Herinckx

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oxygen

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