Emotional Intelligence as Enacted Employability in AI-Mediated Intercultural Consulting Workplaces

In AI-mediated intercultural consulting workplaces, professionals collaborate across cultural and functional boundaries while navigating complex interpersonal demands. In such environments, employability, particularly for early-career professionals, depends on emotional intelligence as a workplace competence enabling constructive cross-functional and cross-cultural collaboration. Despite its recognised importance, empirical research examining emotional intelligence as an enacted employability capability in consulting contexts remains limited. This mixed-methods study investigates the association between self-reported emotionally intelligent behaviour and cross-functional collaboration within a multinational professional services workplace characterised by international teams. The sample comprised 37 professionals across analytical, consulting, and managerial roles. Correlation and regression analyses examined whether self-reported emotional intelligence relates to reported collaboration. Results indicate a statistically significant positive association (r = .38, p = .022), with emotional intelligence explaining 14% of the variance in collaboration. Given the single organisational context and sample size, findings are interpreted as exploratory and context-specific rather than generalisable. Semi-structured interviews explored how professionals enact emotional intelligence in everyday workplace interaction and AI-mediated communication. Participants highlighted emotional self-regulation, empathy, and adaptive communication as supporting intercultural understanding and willingness to speak up. AI-assisted tools were experienced as supportive preparation mechanisms rather than substitutes for relational competence. The findings suggest that emotionally intelligent behaviour may function as an enacted employability capability, particularly relevant for early-career development, supporting psychologically safe collaboration in AI-mediated intercultural consulting workplaces.