Three leaders gather in New York

David Griffiths of Citi, Selena Deckelmann of Wikimedia Foundation, and Gary Brantley of the NFL gave toasts at TIME's Executives of the Year Impact Dinner on Tuesday evening.

Griffiths warns of quiet choices ahead

Griffiths, group head of artificial intelligence at Citi, said human decision-making will determine technology's impact.Most choices about the future will be quiet: who we listen to, what we fund, when we wait, when we act.

“Most of the choices about what comes next won't feel historic when we make them. They'll be quiet: who we listen to, what we fund, when we decide to wait, and when we decide to act.”

Deckelmann emphasizes human connection

Deckelmann, chief technology and product officer at Wikimedia Foundation, said technology cannot decide how to live a good life.

“Technology can't decide how to live a good life or give our lives meaning. Our people and communities do.”

Brantley credits parents for leadership lessons

Brantley, senior vice president and chief information officer at the NFL, spoke about his parents' influence on his leadership approach. They taught him to show up every day even when tired, discouraged, or unmotivated.

“You show up each and every day even when you are tired, even when you are discouraged, and especially when you do not feel like it.”