What looks like a tech reversal is often a leadership reckoning. Klarna made global headlines when it slashed human support jobs in favor of AI—only to later rehire. But this isn’t a story of retreat. It’s a mirror for every leader chasing efficiency. When fast isn't enough, when empathy can’t be faked, when trust starts slipping… how do you steer? Klarna’s pivot reveals something deeper about what it really means to lead customer-first in an AI age.