In a recent episode of the L&D Transformation Podcast, Jack Gottlieb had the pleasure of speaking with Susan Youngblood, a seasoned Chief People Officer, board member, and HR consultant. Susan, who has led technology divisions at IBM and Bank of New York Mellon, shared her insights on the challenges and opportunities within the learning and development (L&D) landscape, especially in the context of rapid technological advancements.
Susan discussed the massive impact of new technologies on the job market, citing predictions from the World Economic Forum that forecast the disruption of 85 million jobs globally by 2025, with the creation of 97 million new roles. She emphasized that while these numbers can be daunting, they present a significant opportunity for L&D teams to lead the charge in preparing the workforce for these changes. The need for reskilling and upskilling is critical, particularly as AI and automation continue to evolve and integrate into various industries.
Highlighting her own experiences, Susan mentioned her role in rapidly upskilling 13,000 employees at Bank of New York Mellon and implementing AI-driven robotic process automation at Refinitiv. These examples underscore the expectation that L&D can perform comprehensive skills gap analyses and deliver timely, effective training despite the challenges posed by the fast-paced advancements in AI.
Susan also pointed out the importance of involving HR and L&D in early discussions about new technology implementations. By being part of these conversations, L&D professionals can build compelling business cases for the necessary investments in tools, resources, and training programs. She stressed the need for empathy and open-mindedness, encouraging L&D teams to listen to feedback and be flexible in their approach.
To address the fear and resistance that often accompany technological changes, Susan recommended educating leaders and employees about the benefits and realities of AI and new technologies. She also advocated for leveraging new tools and partnerships to enhance L&D efforts, recognizing that innovative solutions can significantly support the upskilling and reskilling process.
In closing, Susan and Jack discussed the importance of using technology to amplify human value, emphasizing that AI and automation should be seen as tools to bring out the best in people. They encouraged L&D professionals to embrace new technologies, experiment with available tools, and focus on creating a human-centric approach to learning and development.
