A DeVry University CEO Roundtable Recap

CEO Roundtable - Powering Workforce Strategies with AI

By Elise Awwad

May 1, 2024
12 min read

Powering Workforce Strategies with AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform today’s business environment, savvy talent leaders are embracing AI in business, adapting processes and taking proactive, thoughtful approaches as they fine-tune recruiting efforts and upskill employees to utilize AI as an essential tool.

In the latest in our series of CEO Roundtables, I spoke with three talent leaders to gain their insights on a trio of crucial topics related to the integration of AI applications in business practices and workforce development strategies. My co-host for the discussion was our Chief Administrative Officer here at DeVry, Dave Barnett.

It's clear that AI is a future that is actively shaping our present, influencing the way business leaders and organizations approach everything from operational efficiencies to strategic innovation. This transformation demands more than our attention. It demands action towards embracing change, fostering a culture of learning, and preparing our teams for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

HR Strategies for the AI Era

What challenges do HR leaders face when trying to build adaptability within their teams in the context of AI integration? Vik Shah, Senior Vice President of Talent at HUB International, a leading full-service insurance brokerage, believes it starts with an understanding of the intersection of AI and HR. Shah said, “AI is a logic-based system. It doesn't have judgment. That challenges us to examine how we are collecting, organizing and distributing our data. If our data is clean and organized, we find a path of logic and judgment actually being correct. If it's just logic based, without judgment, then AI is just a tool to summarize information. But if logic and judgment actually hit properly, it's a really powerful tool.”

Delivering transparency and understanding

Andrea Shiah, Head of Talent Strategy and Transformation for Eightfold AI, believes AI has the potential to bring transparency to the talent development table, so leaders can understand what skills their people have, and internals as well as external candidates can find the right roles for their career aspirations. Shiah added, “The challenge HR faces is the technology, the infrastructure, the processes and the culture. In terms of how to do things with transparency and better data, we are probably underinvested.”

Future-Proofing Your Workforce

What skills are critical as our workforce moves into a future powered by AI in the workplace? According to research by Eightfold AI, Deloitte and McKinsey, the level of skills readiness in four key emerging technologies: AI and big data, cloud computing, IoT and cyber security, is severely inadequate. As employers are being purposeful about acquiring skilled talent, they should be thoughtful in identifying the skills needed to drive business priorities across different functions.

Mike Anderson, Chief Digital and Information Officer at cybersecurity leader Netskope, noted how the benefits of AI in business are linked to using AI as a tool and not the end all solution, saying, “Let’s think of generative AI as a tool in our tool belt. We’re not going to try to solve every problem with the same tool. There are other tools we can use and other skills we need to have. And if we take our teams on a journey and tell them that we're willing to invest in them to learn these skills, I think that helps disarm that ‘how is this going to impact me’ mindset.” 

“Everyone's been waiting for that magic pixie dust you can sprinkle on data to turn bad data into good [clean] data. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist.”


Mike Anderson
Chief Digital and Information Officer
Netskope

Understanding your most critical needs

“Having an understanding of the most critical needs is imperative,” Shah said. “As HR leaders, we shouldn't get stuck in a formal model or do something just because everyone else is doing it. We must do it right, or else we're not quite sure what skills we're trying to build, what type of talent we need to find or what partnerships we need to identify. So, identifying and understanding that business imperative is ‘building block number one’ to this challenge.”

Bridging the Skills Gap: Building Confidence and Competencies

Our own Dave Barnett offered his thoughts on the “build vs. buy” debate in skilled talent development. He said, “As HR professionals think about their strategies, they need to determine where they will develop talent pipelines – internally, building talent from within their own ranks, or externally, recruiting from outside the organization to find critical skills. Building confidence along with competencies should be a priority as employers invest in talent development in creative ways.” As it relates to especially tech careers, and AI falls in there, the panel discussed the need to start preparing younger generations, to the extent of primary and secondary school programs and outreach. At DeVry, one example of this is our SMART Futures program, working with young people in STEM labs with Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Upskilling and reskilling from within

In advocating a strategy that upskills talent from within, Eightfold AI’s Andrea Shiah said, “It can be challenging sometimes to go externally to find the skills you need. Being able to have confidence in your employee base, to see the potential you already have in your organization and build their skills, is important. Our customers are realizing cost efficiencies from that approach as well. They’re using AI to identify employees within large populations who have adjacent skills and may have the potential to learn new skills.” 

“Being able to have the confidence in your employee base, to see the potential you already have in your organization and build their skills, is important.” 

 

Andrea Shiah
Head of Talent Strategy and Transformation
Eightfold AI

About Elise Awwad

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President and Chief Executive Officer, DeVry University

Elise Awwad is president and CEO of DeVry University and considered one of the most innovative leaders in higher education. Known for breaking down barriers and leading cultural transformations, Awwad is passionate about the role education plays in supporting the career advancement of all learner populations. At DeVry, Awwad is committed to fulfilling the University’s mission, vision and values with internal and external stakeholders, as well as supporting and enhancing the institution’s academic mission and overall operations.

Elise Awwad
President and CEO, DeVry University
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Our mission here at DeVry is to close our society's opportunity gap and address emerging talent needs by preparing learners to thrive in career shape by continuous technological change. And we achieve this goal by actively engaging with industry thought leaders and partners.
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Partnerships play a crucial role

Vik Shah commented on the important role played by partnerships between employers and higher education institutions in narrowing the skills gap. He said, “Education partners can provide real value because they can bring real-life problems into the education environment, and that appeals to adult learners who want to be able to work on something that’s tangible and practical, rather than strictly theoretical.”

Acknowledging that people tend to leave organizations that fail to provide a career path1, our panelists agreed on the potential of strong partnerships that provide learning pathways to help motivated team members move up, rather than leaving for a “bigger job” in 18 to 24 months.

Shah added, “Everyone’s going through this AI learning journey, so employers shouldn’t feel like they’re falling behind. You won’t find anyone out there with 10 years of experience with generative AI, but the people who are getting more practical learning are going to get further ahead. That’s where partnerships can really thrive.”

“Everyone’s going through this AI learning journey, so employers shouldn’t feel like they’re falling behind. You won’t find anyone out there with 10 years of experience with generative AI, but the people who are getting more practical learning are going to get further ahead. That’s where partnerships can really thrive.”

 

Vik Shah
Senior VP of Talent
HUB International

As we welcomingly embrace the opportunities AI is providing HR leaders, I have no doubt we will continue working to develop the planning, processes and partnerships required to build a skilled and agile workforce that can meet tomorrow’s demands.

 

Reflecting on the session, Dave and I are confident that the insights shared by Andrea, Mike, and Vik will serve as valuable guideposts to help us in our thinking as we champion the need to respond to the rapid pace of technological advancements. And by doing so we can create actionable strategies to help shape your thinking as we all prepare you for a future enhanced by AI.

 

Watch the 60-minute conversation here or sample the highlights below. 

Elise Awwad
President & CEO
DeVry University

Dave Barnett
Chief Administrative Officer
DeVry University

Mike Anderson
Chief Digital and Information Officer
Netskope

 

Vik Shah
Senior VP of Talent
HUB International

Andrea Shiah
Head of Talent Strategy and Transformation
Eightfold AI