The language of business today is being rewritten, not by the latest technology alone, but by a shift in how we create value. The rise of AI has rightly dominated headlines, but what is often overlooked is the parallel shift inside our organisations: the increasing importance of the human experience as a driver of sustainable growth.
The Human Experience Economy
We are now operating within the human experience economy. This is a context where success depends not only on deploying the best tools, but on building workplaces that are empathetic, adaptive, and designed around people. Culture, clarity, and continuous learning are no longer considered add-ons. They are central to how we attract and retain the talent needed to move forward in an accelerating world.
AI is already reshaping industries at a rapid pace. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, AI and automation will create 170 million new jobs by 2030, while displacing 92 million. This leads to a net gain in employment, provided individuals have access to the right capabilities and opportunities.
AI fluency is quickly becoming a basic requirement in the same way that email or internet navigation became fundamental to modern work. This means technical ability alone will not distinguish one person from the next. The truly valuable skills are those that cannot be automated, such as good judgement, creativity, the ability to listen, and the capacity to adapt to change that has no precedent.
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Building for Potential, Not Pedigree
Take for instance, the AI Champion Programme at Beyond ONE. We have the same foundation, which gives teams across all markets access to peer-led guidance and real-time learning. These champions work within their own business units to identify meaningful use cases, test ideas, and share what works. The aim is not to implement new technology in every department, but to enhance the way people work and solve challenges.
There is a need to emphasise potential over pedigree. When hiring, we focus on slope rather than static achievements. We want to understand not just what someone has done, but how they think, how they learn, and how they respond when the environment shifts. These attributes tell us far more about how they will grow within our organisation.
As AI automation reduces the need for manual or repetitive work, traditional ways of starting a career may become less relevant. This demands a more thoughtful approach to career entry points, ones that reflect the complex skill set required to thrive today, including adaptability, communication, and digital literacy.
AI as Cultural Transformation
Within our teams, we must treat AI not only as a system upgrade but as a cultural transformation. When applied effectively, AI removes friction from everyday work, reduces cognitive overload, and frees time for deeper, more strategic contributions. That space is essential for driving innovation and maintaining wellbeing, particularly in a world where burnout and distraction have become chronic workplace issues.
The focus must be expanded beyond the technology itself. It is the human context around that technology that determines impact. Are teams empowered to make decisions? Do they feel safe enough to learn publicly and fail quickly? Are we building operations that support rather than restrict?
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What People Want From Work Now
These are the questions that companies serious about long-term performance must answer. People want more from work than stability or salary. They are choosing employers based on culture, purpose, and the opportunity to grow. This requires organisations to embed learning into every layer of the business and to treat development as a shared responsibility, not an individual burden.
The true differentiator for companies will be how they lead, how they design environments for growth, and how they recognise that talent is never fixed.
What This Means for Individuals
For individuals, the best path forward is to stay engaged. Stay alert to your industry’s evolution. Invest time learning how AI tools influence your role. But more importantly, cultivate the traits that remain outside the reach of automation: critical thinking, communication, and human empathy.
We cannot delay the conversation about the future of work. It is already underway. Those who lead with learning mindsets and build environments rooted in purpose, clarity, and trust will be the ones who move the world forward.
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