Executive Breakfast Roundtable: The Future of Leadership, AI & Workforce Transformation (Corporate members exclusive & Invite-only)
| Date | Times | Event | Venue | Address |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-25 | Start: 07:30 End: 10:30 | Executive Breakfast Roundtable: The Future of Leadership, AI & Workforce Transformation (Corporate members exclusive & Invite-only) | Adecco Canada | 20 Bay Street, Suite 800 Toronto, Ontario M5J 2N8 |
On June 25, 2026, the Swiss Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomed corporate members to an exclusive Executive Breakfast Roundtable hosted in partnership with Adecco Canada at their Toronto headquarters.
The morning began with an exceptional networking breakfast accompanied by premium coffee, generously sponsored by our Corporate Member FAEMA - Jura. A special thank you to Chris Papastathopoulos and the entire FAEMA team for delivering such outstanding coffee and helping create the perfect atmosphere for meaningful conversations before the morning's discussion.
The featured presentation was delivered by Britta Kroupa, Country Head of Adecco Canada, who shared key findings from The Adecco Group Business Leaders 2026 Report. We were also delighted to welcome Christophe Catoir, President of Adecco, and Geno Cutolo, Head of Adecco North America, providing our members with the opportunity to connect with Adecco's global leadership team.
Drawing on the report's research, Britta emphasized that successful AI adoption is fundamentally a people challenge rather than a technology challenge. The discussion explored how organizations can build trust through transparent communication, human oversight, and practical, relatable AI applications that support employees in their day-to-day work. Participants also discussed the value of AI ambassadors, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and creating space for experimentation as organizations continue their AI journey. The conversation concluded with thoughtful reflections on one of today's biggest leadership challenges: balancing the recruitment of AI-ready talent while investing in the development of existing teams, and ensuring leaders themselves are equipped to lead through rapid technological change.
Key takeaways from the discussion:
- AI adoption is fundamentally a people challenge rather than a technology challenge. Organizations that prioritize communication, trust, and capability-building will be better positioned to successfully integrate AI into the workplace.
- Transparency is essential to reducing uncertainty. Employees are far more likely to embrace AI when leaders clearly communicate why it is being introduced and how it is intended to support, rather than replace, their work.
- AI ambassadors and peer champions can play an important role in accelerating adoption by making AI more approachable, sharing practical knowledge, and building confidence across teams.
- Keeping humans in the loop remains critical for responsible AI implementation, ensuring greater accountability, stronger decision-making, and increased trust in AI-assisted processes.
- Practical, relatable use cases are key to driving engagement. Employees connect more readily with AI when they can see how it applies to their own day-to-day responsibilities.
- Organizations should foster a culture of continuous learning by encouraging curiosity, experimentation, and collaboration, while making AI learning a natural part of everyday work rather than an additional task.
- The discussion also explored the ongoing challenge of balancing the recruitment of AI-ready talent with investing in the development and upskilling of existing employees.
- As AI continues to evolve at a rapid pace, leadership capability has become just as important as employee readiness. Developing leaders who can confidently guide teams through technological change will be essential for long-term success.
