Lightning Lessons

How Savvy Managers Are Using AI to Unlock Hard Conversations

Hosted by Dave Kline and Marsden Kline

Tue, Sep 30, 2025

3:00 PM UTC (45 minutes)

Virtual (Zoom)

Free to join

105 students

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MGMT Fundamentals
Dave Kline and Marsden Kline
View syllabus

What you'll learn

Conversation 1: Your Employee is Underperforming

AI: Prompts to review their work and provide feedback with objective coaching.

Conversation 2: Your Leadership is Unclear

AI: Turn ChatGPT into your free "McKinsey" consultant and have it sharpen your questions.

Conversation 3: Your Peer is Unhelpful

AI: Create a filter that transforms your frustration into actionable steps to build trust.

Why this topic matters

The ability to successfully lead hard conversations is what separate impactful leaders from mediocre managers. But how can managers learn to get them right when there is no practice? The answer used to be training or hiring an expensive coach. Now simple prompts in AI let you access on-demand guidance. Let us show you the right questions to ask for the most common conversations.

You'll learn from

Dave Kline

Co-founder MGMT Accelerator (fmr COO @ Bridgewater)

Dave is an advisor, writer, and co-founder of the MGMT Accelerator, a system-focused leadership development program. Previously, Dave was the COO of multiple divisions during his decade at Bridgewater Associates, the world's largest hedge fund. He also spent ten years at Moody's Analytics, where he was a managing director focused on growth. Dave has a BSEE from Bucknell University and an MBA from NYU Stern. He began his career as a consultant for PwC.


Dave: Twitter or LinkedIn

Our weekly MGMT Playbook.

Marsden Kline

Co-founder MGMT Accelerator (fmr Sales Manager @ Google)

Marsden co-founded the MGMT Accelerator with Dave. After decades of daydreaming about what owning their own company would look like, the answer was teaching something we naturally enjoy. Marsden studied engineering at UVa but always volunteered to present (instead of code). Her love for people and problem-solving has led to a range of experiences: from Goldman Sachs to sales at Google to real estate at Compass. The common thread? A commitment to understanding the people at the table to more efficiently solve for yes.


Mar: LinkedIn

Our weekly MGMT Playbook.

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