How automation can undermine feedback, trust, and growth.

Caption: We're excited to welcome Maria Verbitskaya as a speaker at Techheads 2026. Maria is an Engineering Manager at Instabee, leading software engineers working on consumer-facing products. With several years of experience leading teams in Stockholm tech, she has a particular interest in leadership, team dynamics, feedback, and creating environments where people can grow and do their best work. Maria is also an active supporter and volunteer with Women in Tech Sweden.

In this session, Maria will explore what happens when AI-generated content enters the processes meant to build trust and support development, like performance reviews and feedback. When AI can write self-evaluations, summarize feedback, and suggest what to say, what happens to the value of those conversations? You'll leave with a deeper understanding of what's worth keeping human, and why honest feedback and real conversations may become even more valuable as AI becomes part of how we work.