Latest news with #TheSystemsLeader
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Nikhil Kamath's ‘lifelong learning' advice is only step one: Stanford expert shares the key skills needed to survive the AI takeover
As the dust of industrial-age careers begins to settle, a new reality is emerging—one shaped by artificial intelligence , dynamic ecosystems, and a relentless pace of change. Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath recently lit a spark with a provocative statement: 'The days of four-year college courses are over. Lifelong learning is the new norm—for everyone.' But according to Stanford expert Robert E. Siegel , as reported by CNBC Make It , that's merely step one in preparing for the storm AI is bringing to the workforce. Drawing from the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 , Kamath's post quickly gained traction online, highlighting the rise of automation, the decline of traditional jobs, and the urgent need for reskilling . The numbers are stark: by 2030, 92 million jobs are expected to disappear—even as 170 million new ones are created. Yet Kamath warns: only the adaptable will benefit. You can't rely on what you learned a decade ago, he cautions. But what does adaptability actually look like? Siegel, a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and author of The Systems Leader , believes the answer lies in five deeply human habits. After studying over 400 global leaders, he offers a more nuanced blueprint to not just survive—but lead—in the AI age. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo Lifelong Learning Is the Entry Point, Not the Destination Kamath's call to end our overreliance on outdated degrees resonates with Siegel's first principle: the best performers actively seek new knowledge beyond formal education. They don't shy away from emerging technologies like AI—they engage with them, even if it's uncomfortable. Siegel stresses the need to break out of intellectual echo chambers and connect with diverse peers, especially younger, tech-savvy professionals who often act as a compass for what's next. — nikhilkamathcio (@nikhilkamathcio) Pair Iron with Empathy If machines dominate logic, humans must dominate emotional intelligence. One standout leader from Siegel's research, Kathy Mazzarella of Graybar, demonstrates this balance. She is described as leading with an 'iron fist in a soft glove.' Mazzarella starts tough conversations with empathy—proving that accountability and kindness aren't mutually exclusive. In a world where AI can do tasks but not feel, emotional intelligence becomes a powerful career differentiator. You Might Also Like: Forget BTech. Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath says only one skill will matter to stay relevant in job market in 10 years Think Like an Ecosystem As Kamath calls for reinvention, Siegel urges professionals to expand their lens. The most resilient people, he says, understand their place in broader systems. Seth Bodnar, President of the University of Montana, exemplifies this by managing diverse stakeholder interests—from alumni and administrators to city officials and employers. Recognizing these interdependencies not only prevents conflict but also breeds innovation. Siegel advises organizations to visualize their operational ecosystems through influence maps—tools that help identify who depends on whom, and where power and pressure points lie. In an AI-driven world, where silos are crumbling, systemic thinking is essential. Relationships Trump Algorithms While technology automates processes, it cannot replicate the depth of human relationships. Siegel believes those who foster strong internal and external networks gain sharper insights and more resilient support systems. Whether it's a frontline employee offering operational wisdom or a peer outside your industry identifying blind spots, the relational edge is invaluable. Kamath, too, alludes to this when he suggests that trust and meaning will remain irreplaceable—even as machines become more intelligent. In workplaces increasingly ruled by data, it is human connection that will offer the most unexpected leverage. iStock While technology automates processes, it cannot replicate the depth of human relationships. (Image: iStock) Fall Out of Love with the Status Quo In 2021, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry shared a piercing insight in Siegel's class: 'You can't fall in love with how you do business today.' That statement underlines Siegel's final rule—embrace change before it's forced upon you. Comfort with constant evolution is the hallmark of those who thrive. AI disruption is not a future possibility; it is a current condition. Siegel believes that fear of change is a bigger threat than change itself. Professionals must not only tolerate transformation—they must lead it. Beyond the Degree: A New Learning Ethic While Kamath's remarks about the redundancy of four-year college courses sparked debate, they also tapped into a growing awareness: formal education no longer guarantees job security. WEF estimates show that 39% of current core skills will be obsolete by decade's end. Even as companies pledge to retrain workers, 11% of employees are expected to miss out on reskilling altogether. The bigger message, echoed by both Kamath and Siegel, is that survival in the AI age demands more than credentials. It requires mindset shifts, systems thinking, and emotional nuance. The Human Advantage The AI age is not a battle between humans and machines—it's a test of how humans evolve alongside them. While machines take over tasks, it is values, adaptability, and human connection that will determine who stays relevant. Kamath's call for lifelong learning is no doubt critical—but, as Siegel's research shows, it is only the tip of the iceberg. The future belongs to those who not only learn but listen, adapt, empathize, connect, and lead. In the age of AI, being irreplaceably human might just be your greatest advantage.
CNBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
I studied 400 highly successful leaders—5 skills you need to sharpen in the age of AI: Stanford business lecturer
The rapid advancement of AI is reshaping industries, redefining job roles, and making adaptability more critical than ever. The question isn't whether it will impact your career, but how you can prepare yourself to thrive in this evolving landscape. As a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the author of "The Systems Leader," I've spent 23 years studying how professionals can navigate disruptive changes. Resilience in the AI era requires a combination of continuous learning, adaptability and relationship-building. After studying over 400 leaders from around the world, here are the five best habits I've seen for future success: The most successful people, the ones who build thriving careers amid uncertainty, actively seek out new knowledge and skillsets. They understand that ignoring changes you don't like, especially when it comes to technology, is a dangerous trap that can lead to obsolescence. Break out of your usual information bubbles. Resist the urge to stick exclusively with people from the same background who all see the world the same way. Take a class on AI or connect with colleagues who are in different stages of their careers, especially younger folks who are immersed in technology. AI is good at logic and data analysis, but it doesn't have the capacity for genuine emotional understanding. One of the leaders I spoke to for my research was Kathy Mazzarella, the CEO of Graybar, a company that specializes in supply chain management. She has been described as leading with an "iron fist in a soft glove." Mazzarella told me that while it's important to hold people accountable, when she sees someone struggling at work, she'll start with an open conversation before making any big staffing decisions. Deciding between ambition and kindness is a false choice; successful people find a way to do both. Whether it's a skills gap, a job mismatch, or someone going through a personal challenge, how you handle each of those scenarios will not be the same. Being able to understand your place in a broader ecosystem is an increasingly critical skill. For example, Seth Bodnar, the President of the University of Montana, needs to balance a variety of constituents, from students to alumni to faculty to administrators to the government to employers and even the cities in which his campuses reside. How to balance the needs of each party, and how each interacts with others, helps ensure that friction between key parties can be reduced if it flares up. Success comes from recognizing how different sectors influence one another, and how innovation often comes from outside traditional silos. One thing I encourage companies to do is draw an influence map of their ecosystem, and look for where key constituents both influence others, and are also dependent upon others. This can help visualize very complex dynamics in their ecosystem. The most effective professionals build strong relationships inside and outside their organization to gain critical insights that they might otherwise miss. Internally, colleagues across departments provide key insights that challenge assumptions and reveal inefficiencies. An engineer may see customer obstacles differently than a marketer, and frontline employees often identify operational gaps that executives might overlook. Seeking input from people at all levels sharpens decision-making and helps prevent costly oversights. Externally, industry peers, mentors, and customers offer outside perspectives that can be just as valuable. Because they aren't embedded in your company's culture, they're more likely to ask tough questions, point out emerging trends, or challenge conventional thinking. The AI revolution is real, and rather than fearing this, we should see it as a chance to evolve and grow. During a visit to my class in 2021, Corie Barry, the CEO of Best Buy, offered some valuable advice: "You can't fall in love with how you do business today." The only employees who thrive over time are the ones who are willing to do things completely different from the past. By cultivating human skills, understanding industry ecosystems, embracing change, and focusing on internal and external relationships, you can build a career that not only survives but thrives in the age of AI.
Forbes
19-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Future-Proofing Your Job: 5 Steps To Remain Indispensable Amid Layoffs
It's important to know how to remain indispensable in your job amid the tariff war, layoffs and ... More economic downturns. Amid plummeting consumer confidence, massive layoffs and unrelenting trade wars, experts agree that an economic downturn isn't just coming—it's already here. Job security and experience no longer guarantee your job. AI automation, inflation threats and drastic political changes are transforming the workplace. Experts caution that if you want to remain indispensable, you must constantly adapt, remain visible and sometimes go the extra mile, future-proofing your job in the face of the uncertainty. America's workforce is stressed out by current events and global political instability. Increased automation, economic uncertainty and upskilling have spurred a greater need for workers to future-proof their careers and learn new job skills. Robert E. Siegel, lecturer at Standord GSB and author of The Systems Leader, offers five tips on how workers can stay ahead of the seismic shifts and safeguard their future in this rapidly shifting economy. 1. Adopt a learning mindset. The most successful professionals treat education as a lifelong process, according to Siegel, investing time in new skills before they become essential. 'Treat your career as a continuous learning journey,' he suggests. 'Stay ahead by developing new skills before they become essential, ensuring you remain valuable in a rapidly evolving workplace.' 2. Develop cross-functional expertise. Employees who bridge disciplines—such as technology and leadership—become indispensable. 'Traditionally, executives rose to senior management through expertise in a single function—such as operations, sales, engineering or finance.' Siegel believes leaders can no longer afford to operate in silos. He insists that forward-thinking leaders develop the ability to engage with experts across different fields. 3. Leverage internal mobility. Siegel argues that sometimes the best career growth comes from within the company. He urges employees to explore those opportunities instead of only looking outside for growth. Organizations that encourage internal movement, he explains, reward employees who are willing to adapt and take on new challenges. 4. Understand how systems interact. 'The leaders who thrive aren't just domain experts; they grasp how different parts of an organization or industry connect and evolve,' Siegel says. 'The most successful professionals don't just excel in one area—they comprehend how different parts of a business or industry connect and influence each other.' He gives the examples of how incentives offered by a sales team can disrupt production demands. A cost-saving product change might alienate customers or cause product reliability problems. Or a marketing campaign needs both internal data and external customer insights to succeed 5. Stay adaptable, not just skilled. 'The pace of change means skills alone won't be enough—flexibility and a willingness to pivot are critical for long-term career security,' Siegel argues. He recommends that you prioritize adaptability over domain specific skills. 'Some professionals dismiss disruptive trends as temporary fads,' he points out. 'But ignoring shifts—whether AI, clean energy or changing workforce expectations—can be a costly mistake. Siegel is aware that workplace communication evolves. He says assuming younger workers will naturally adopt the habits of their elders is a miscalculation, reminding us that Boomers relied on typed memos and spontaneous calls. Gen X led the email revolution. Millennials embraced texting and smartphone-based messaging. Gen Z prefers Slack and real-time collaboration tools."The reality is, adaptability--not static expertise--is the key to long-term career success," he concludes. Standing out in the workplace, especially when you could be more invisible, is critical for your career advancement. Studies show that employees who feel seen are more likely to perform better. They're also more likely to be satisfied with their productivity, levels of engagement and job security. Being invisible has been shown to be detrimental to overall earning prospects over a person's career. When employees go the extra mile, managers usually notice, respect the extra effort and it bodes well for workers. Managers believe the efforts make employees more motivated, engaged and productive—favorable impressions that translate into action. Employees who go out of their way to be noticed are more likely to receive a promotion and a raise, compared to those who don't. Knowing how to get noticed can promote your career. Although it takes extra time and effort to maintain visibility, the payoff is well worth the effort. Here are steps you can take to make sure your hard work gets noticed: 1. Develop a 'visibility strategy." 2. Make sure all of your projects keep moving. 3. Take care of small details. 4. Offer new ideas. 5. Pitch in and lend a helping hand to overwhelmed co-workers. 6. Volunteer your time. As the workforce attempts to adjust to the economic downturn, visibility isn't always easy to maintain. Yet, it's hugely important for career advancement. If you want to be seen and heard effectively, finding the right role that matches your personal set of skills and a visibility strategy that puts you in the spotlight is the ticket to future-proofing your job.
