UC Business School's Thought Leadership Series | Left Behind Is a Sales Technique: How fear-based AI urgency is selling you a future you didn’t choose

“Adapt or die” sounds like strategy, but in today’s AI market it is often just a sales line. Fear and urgency are being used to push AI into organisations as a foregone conclusion, turning complex decisions into snap reactions. In this keynote, Julia Pahina and Eteroa Lafaele of Fibre Fale AI unpack who profits from you moving quickly, what happens to your people when change lands before consultation, and how “left behind” is being weaponised against leaders. You will leave with sharper language, better questions, and the confidence to decide, on your own terms, whether AI deserves a seat at your table – or doesn’t.

About the speakers:

Julia Pahina (Co-Founder and Director, Chief Executive Officer)

Julia is an award-winning trailblazer and thought-leader who has worked in tech all over the world—Australia, the UK and the USA—before she returned home to Aotearoa in 2020 with a mission to serve Pasifika communities. She’s passionate about digital equity, representation and creating opportunities, which led her to co-found Fibre Fale in 2022. As a CEO, Social Entrepreneur and Board Member, she’s driven by her core values: justice, people and the future. 

Eteroa Lafaele (Co-Founder and Director, Head of AI and Culture)

Eteroa is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree, Young New Zealander of the Year 2025, NZ Hi-Tech Young Achiever 2024 and proud Sāmoan Software Engineer from Cannon’s Creek, Porirua. As the Founder of DigiTautua and Co-Founder of Fibre Fale, she's passionate about breaking barriers and has dedicated her career to ensuring that Pacific peoples have access to the technology, skills and opportunities needed to prosper in an increasingly digital world. 

UC photographers will be present on the day. These images may be used by the University of Canterbury in the future for online or print publications and may be placed on official UC social media channels. The event will also be recorded, and attendees may be visible. If you have any questions or concerns regarding photography, please email communications@canterbury.ac.nz.