Neuroscience, AI & Attention Management: Susan Pearse on Rewiring Leadership

Mindful leadership is not a wellness trend, it is an attention skill, and in this episode I sit down with Susan Pearse to talk about what that really means in modern work and life. Susan and I have known each other for 30 years, and this conversation is both personal and practical, tracing how she stepped away from the corporate path early and went on to build some of Australia’s first mindfulness based leadership programs, long before smartphones and constant notifications became the norm. Susan and I discuss what mindfulness in leadership looks like day to day, including attention management, presence, and the hidden cost of busyness as a badge of honour. Susan shares why training the mind is not about escaping pressure, but learning to meet it with more clarity, better decision-making, and stronger relationships. If you are searching for mindful leadership strategies, attention management for leaders or how to stay focused at work, this episode will give you a grounded framework. We also explore how AI affects focus and creativity, and why convenience can quietly erode the deeper thinking leaders rely on. Susan reflects on her work Winning the Second Half and the bigger question behind it: what does “winning” look like in the second act of life, when you stop chasing other people’s definitions of success. This is a conversation about leadership, meaning and choosing what you pay attention to before your attention is chosen for you. ### **CHAPTER MARKERS** 00:00 Neuroscience, AI and Attention Management 05:17 Mindfulness as Attention Training for Leaders 06:55 Mental Capacity vs Skill at Work 08:59 Busyness Culture and Burnout Risk 14:27 Psychosocial Safety and Duty of Care 17:16 AI, Neuroplasticity and Use It or Lose It 21:31 Authentic Thinking in an AI World 23:38 Winning the Second Half of Life 29:36 Final Advice and Key Takeaways **Guest link** **Susan**: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-pearse-022b0311/ https://www.susanpearse.com/ **More From Damien:** Website | LinkedIn | YouTube **WORK WITH ME:** Book a Mediation or a 15-minute Discovery call with Damien: https://www.evolveresolve.com/booking Website: https://www.evolveresolve.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/damien-van-brunschot YouTube: @evolveresolve Email: [damien@evolveresolve.com](mailto:damien@evolveresolve.com)