Angela Earl will address the role of human judgment and critical thinking as AI becomes more embedded in business technology

Map My Customers Senior Vice President of Marketing Angela Earl is set to deliver the opening keynote for the Women in Technology program at Community Summit North America, the independent Microsoft AI & Business Applications user conference.

Earl will deliver the keynote, titled “The Most Valuable Skill in the Age of AI,” on October 12, 2026, launching the event’s “She Builds” program. Her session will examine how technology leaders can combine AI and automation with human judgment, strategic decision-making, and critical thinking.

Human Judgment in an AI-Driven Environment

Earl’s presentation will focus on the idea that effective use of AI depends not only on obtaining faster answers, but also on asking the right questions and evaluating the information produced by AI systems.

She is expected to discuss how leaders can use AI to expand employees’ capabilities while maintaining human oversight in areas that require context, judgment, and trust.

The discussion comes as businesses increasingly incorporate AI and automation into field sales and customer-facing operations, where technology is being used to provide teams with more information and recommendations during customer interactions.

AI as a Support Tool for Field Teams

Map My Customers positions its field sales technology around providing sales representatives with operational context that can support decision-making in the field.

Founder and Chief Product & Strategy Officer Matthew Sniff said AI can process data and generate recommendations, but human understanding remains important when interpreting customer needs and building relationships.

The company sees AI as a tool for helping sales representatives make more informed decisions rather than replacing the human interactions involved in customer relationships.

Focus on Technology Leadership

During the keynote, Earl will share strategies aimed at technology leaders navigating the growing use of AI in business environments.

The session will address the balance between automation and human decision-making, with an emphasis on maintaining critical evaluation of AI-generated information and ensuring technology supports rather than replaces human expertise.

Community Summit North America

Community Summit North America brings together Microsoft business application users, technology partners, and industry leaders to discuss developments across the Microsoft ecosystem, including AI and business applications.

Earl’s keynote will open the event’s Women in Technology program, placing the discussion around human skills and AI adoption within a broader conversation about the changing role of technology in business.