Can You Really Trust What You Read on LinkedIn?

Unmasking Authenticity: How to Lead Beyond the Corporate Persona in the Age of AI

In this world of polished LinkedIn profiles, AI-generated posts, and professionally curated headshots, how do we know if we are listening to a real person?

How many of us, busy, time poor professionals have got into the habit of using ChatGPT or Co Pilot to write emails, posts etc. and inadvertently built a brand/reputation around a mask?

I often refer to today’s team meeting as ‘corporate theatre’ – people all playing roles and many wearing masks. We all want to fit in and belong, so we scan the environment for threat and reward, learn the scripts, wear the costumes, and nail the performance because that’s how we do things around here.

We become known for our personas – ‘the professional’, ‘the expert’, or ‘the high-achiever’, roles designed to protect us, help us to conform to the norm, or simply survive in environments that often reward performance over authenticity and presence.

But what happens when we begin to believe the mask is actually who we are?

What might we lose when we sacrifice authenticity for affiliation?

And what might this mean for trust, creativity, and leadership in a world now flooded with AI-enhanced communication?

The Masks We Wear

We all wear masks; we wear them because, somewhere along the way, this is what we learned. When my parents separated when I was 15, my home went from a very stable and happy place to a place where my parents were not present. Looking back that’s where my persona took shape – if I am perfect and achieve results, I’ll get the love and validation that I need from my parents. Perfectionism and approval strategies are very common, so I know I’m not alone there! Perhaps you were told growing up that you were ‘too emotional’, ‘too direct’, ‘too much’. Or maybe, like many leaders we work with, you simply never had the space to explore who we are without the role. Work defines you.

AI tools add a whole new layer to this. It’s never been easier to outsource our expression. You can now ask ChatGPT to write your bio, your speech, even your apology. And while that can help sharpen our message, it also creates a risk: a disconnect between what’s said and who we are.  Is this my voice or a ‘polished version’ of my voice. Are we speaking truth to each other?

The Role of AI: Partner or Proxy?

Used well, AI can amplify your voice. It can help you clarify, challenge, and co-create, like I do with my clients. But used unconsciously, it becomes a proxy for presence. We let it do the heavy lifting of emotional labour and vulnerability. We polish and automate, but we miss the opportunity to reflect, learn and authentically connect.

The difference lies in whether we use AI to express ourselves—or to hide/protect.

Trust is Built on Truth

When we communicate from behind a mask—whether it’s fear-driven perfectionism, people-pleasing, or strategic branding—we often feel misaligned, even if no one else notices. The cost? Lower trust, strained relationships, and an inner dissonance that can lead to burnout.

People can sense when something’s off.

The opportunity is to be purposeful about connection. Connection to self and connection to each other.

A Call to Unmask

True leadership isn’t about image—it’s about impact. And impact comes from presence. From honesty. From the inside out.

So here’s a challenge for you:
• When was the last time you said something that made you feel a little bit exposed, but deeply true?
• What are you not saying because you’re afraid it won’t sound ‘professional enough’ or ‘sufficiently insightful’?
• Where are you hiding behind a corporate mask that no longer fits?

What’s Next – Are You Curious to Learn More?

At Ethical Quest, we help leaders reconnect with themselves first, because that’s where real transformation begins. We encourage the use of LLMs as a tool rather than a crutch. Our Leading from the Inside Out programme is designed to help you unmask with courage, reconnect with your voice, and lead from truth—not a performance.

Because in the age of AI, authenticity is not a luxury. It’s a differentiator.

Get in touch to explore how we can help your people lead from the inside out.

Written (without AI!) by Vicki Townsley, Professor and Founder of Ethical Quest Ltd.