AI will never replace humanity, says intern-turned-CEO

Migs Flores urges leaders to bring back humanity at work

Migs Flores says leadership begins with bringing humanity back to work. The Filipino coach and entrepreneur has built a career on that belief, summed up in the line he often repeats: “To make dreams happen by inspiring possibilities.”

A graduate of De La Salle University with executive training at INSEAD Business School, Flores is president of I AM + Coaching and Training Corp., chief strategy officer at Gencys Ecommerce Solutions and founder of Prime Stellar Consultancy Corp.

Flores says companies thrive when they treat people as partners, not subordinates. He stresses that employees should be seen as collaborators who contribute value, not as mere labor.

"In my company, there’s no biometrics. You can come in when you want to. Take a vacation when you need to. What matters is the work gets done," Flores said. Accountability, he added, remains essential. "Give me your content calendar. Show me the screenshots of scheduled posts. Give me the data. I only inspect what people can control."

For him, creative work depends on freedom. "The more you pressure people, the harder it is for them to think," he said. "People are creative when they’re happy. People stay in a company not because it pays the most, but because they feel they belong and enjoy the environment."

Remote work, he notes, has made the talent market global. Flores points out that skilled professionals can easily take high-paying international clients rather than stay in restrictive local roles.

"The competition now is global," he said. "Freelancers, social media managers – they can get clients in the U.S. who pay P100,000. Why would they settle for P20,000 and be treated poorly?"

Generational differences, Flores believes, can work to a company’s advantage if both sides share common values. Younger workers respect the wisdom of older colleagues, but they bring new ways of doing things.

Flores prefers honesty and authenticity when conflicts arise. He tells leaders to clearly explain their vision and avoid compromise on core values.

He designs programs for people who choose growth, not those who join out of obligation. For Flores, impact matters more than numbers. "When we went to Dubai, the effect was huge," he said, recalling a program for overseas Filipino workers. "Many were homesick, some burnt out. The impact was different – it was heartwarming."

Flores dismisses the idea that credibility comes with age. "I’d rather be 30 with results than 55 with none," he said.

He also prioritizes creating a safe, judgment-free environment in his company, saying Filipinos often hesitate to seek personal development. "In the Filipino market, the challenge is that nobody admits they need help. When you say ‘discover yourself,’ the reaction is, ‘Why, what’s wrong with me?’"

To Flores, coaching is about asking the right questions rather than giving advice. "Real coaches don’t give advice. They ask deeper questions so people can figure out what’s really going on inside themselves," he said. "The only person I can give advice to is myself."

He admits this philosophy made him speak up when coaching was misunderstood. "Why did people think coaching was a scam? Because real coaches stayed silent. I decided to speak up."

Flores shares that his journey started with self-doubt. "I kept trying to prove to everybody that I was okay. The harder I tried, the less it worked," he said. "Until I attended personal mastery. I thought it was just motivational. It’s not. It digs deep."

That moment shaped his mission: helping Filipinos see their potential. "Someone believed in my potential when I was 21. I’m 30 now. I’m just paying it forward," he said.

On technology, Flores added: "AI will never replace humanity. But AI will replace people who choose not to think." He warns that repetitive roles face the highest risk: "If it’s a repetitive, basic, routine task, you can be replaced anytime."

He predicts that raw, authentic content will dominate the future. "The most competitive content will be raw videos – no heavy edits, just shoot and post. That’s something AI can’t replicate."

Flores wants leaders to move beyond measuring success by money alone. For him, freedom includes emotional and physical well-being.

"We started to redefine what freedom and success really are – being the most loving, the happiest, the healthiest, and financially free," he said. True financial freedom, he added, is simple: "It’s when the bills come, and they get paid, without me even looking at the statement."

He advised: "If you are a forward-thinking leader and you want to take your company to the next level where you don’t have to push your people and monitor constantly, then this is for you."