Tara Chklovski, former aerospace engineer and CEO of Technovation, breaks down what it takes to thrive in a future shaped by rapid AI growth. From “durable human skills” to managing cognitive load, she shares how to stay relevant, confident, and creative as technology accelerates.
Gain practical insights on building technical confidence, navigating uncertainty, and preparing yourself—and the next generation—for a world where anyone can create, lead, and solve meaningful problems. Connect with Tara at Technovation.org or on LinkedIn @TaraChklovski.
Show Notes:
[00:12] Introducing Tara Chklovski
Tara Chklovski, former aerospace engineer and CEO of Technovation, leads the world’s largest AI accelerator. She reflects on the rapid pace of change as we look 17 years ahead.
[00:57] Rethinking How We Predict the Future
Tara shares why predicting 2042 is difficult, noting how unpredictable the past 17 years have been. She recalls Technovation’s early innovations—from mobile app education shortly after the iPhone’s release to publishing curriculum on MOOCs—reminding us that the lead time for staying ahead keeps shrinking.
[02:10] Humans and AI: A Growing Collaboration
Tara sees human–AI collaboration accelerating, sharing an example of a pastor in Kenya using ChatGPT for weekly sermons. It’s one sign of how quickly AI is integrating into everyday life.
[02:40] Beyond Prompt Engineering: Building Durable Human Skills
She highlights the “durable human skills” needed in an AI-driven world—creativity, empathy, and problem-solving—and previews an upcoming Oxford workshop focused on these capabilities.
[03:00] Solving the Hard Problems Together
As simpler issues get solved, Tara notes we’re left with complex, human-centered challenges like inequality and suffering. AI can help address them, but only if people shift toward purpose-driven, collective problem-solving.
[04:00] Skills for 2042: Data, Design, and Decision-Making
Tara points to rapid prototyping, data science, and analytical thinking as core future skills. With abundant knowledge at our fingertips, people can create and lead more than ever—if they’re ready to make bold decisions.
[05:18] Empowering the Next Generation
She believes technology and entrepreneurship will remain essential. Future teams will operate faster, smaller, and globally, achieving impact with fewer resources.
[05:39] The Bottleneck of Cognitive Load
Tara warns that while tech accelerates, human cognitive limits don’t. Managing cognitive load will be a major challenge as problems and workdays grow more complex.
[06:09] Resilience as a Core Skill
She emphasizes resilience and cognitive load management as key leadership skills. Tara urges integrating coping strategies into education to prepare future leaders.
[07:10] Why Technical Learning and Self-Efficacy Matter Most Now
Tara stresses cognitive problem-solving and self-efficacy as essential. Staying relevant means embracing discomfort, learning new skills, and practicing technical problem-solving daily. She encourages everyone—even beginners—to build simple coding projects to expand their confidence and adaptability.
[09:45] Blurring Work-Life Boundaries for Growth
She challenges traditional work-life balance, suggesting deeper integration helps individuals continue learning while tackling big problems.
[10:10] From Passive Consumption to Active Creation
Tara notes how much time is spent on passive consumption and urges shifting toward making and building instead.
[10:50] Making Small, Intentional Shifts
Even replacing a small portion of passive habits with simple technical projects can improve problem-solving and confidence.
[11:12] Where to Find Tara’s Work and Wisdom
Tara invites listeners to explore Technovation.org , where her organization empowers girls globally to solve real-world problems with technology. She also encourages people to volunteer or judge student submissions, and to follow her on LinkedIn for practical insights and learning tips.
