NTU HIGHLIGHTS

As AI tools become increasingly widespread in the workplace, the ability to collaborate effectively with others has emerged as a critical human skill. Abby Hsieh, Former Managing Director of Ogilvy PR Taiwan and Ogilvy Group Taiwan, emphasized that while AI can support how we work, “working with people still relies on CI—Communication Intelligence. The key is doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way.”

On October 29, 2025, the NTU Leadership Program hosted a talk in its Leadership Dialogue lecture series, inviting Hsieh to share communication insights drawn from her more than 30 years of professional experience. From her early days as an intern to becoming a managing director, Hsieh reflected candidly on her career journey, noting that even today she still encounters communication missteps. For her, these moments reinforce the importance of continuously activating and refining one’s communication intelligence through practice.

During the lecture, Hsieh introduced three key steps to what she described as “reading the room.” The first is understanding people—developing insight into the motivations and perspectives of one’s communication partners. The second is learning to manage attention and energy by focusing on conversations and outcomes that truly matter. The third step involves recognizing one’s own communication style. Hsieh categorized these styles into four types: conceptual, relational, structural, and analytical, stressing that successful teams rely on complementary strengths and thoughtful role alignment.

The lecture received enthusiastic feedback from participants. Through interactive assessments, attendees gained deeper awareness of their own thinking and communication patterns, helping them reflect on challenges in teamwork and practice more intentional listening and more precise, meaningful questioning in future collaborations.