In an AI-Powered Workplace, Skills Are the New Currency

By George Waggott, founder, and Roberto Fonseca-Velazquez, law student,

George Waggott Law

At the recent “Great Place to Work For All Summit” in Las Vegas, a clear message emerged from leading HR executives: in today’s AI-driven labor market, skills—not connections—are the key to opportunity.

Kimberly Jones, Managing Director of Talent Strategy and People Experience at PwC, captured the shift perfectly. Reflecting on the pre-AI workplace, Jones referred to it as “the olden days,” when project teams were often built based on personal networks. Workers would pull in colleagues they knew and trusted, relying more on relationships than on documented expertise.

Today, however, PwC’s approach has reportedly been transformed. With the help of AI tools that track and highlight employee skills across their global workforce, teams are now assembled based on team member’s competencies, not connections. According to Jones, "skills are currency" in this new environment. It’s a shift that fosters greater transparency and inclusion. “It more transparently allows people to be seen. It’s not about who you know, it’s what skills you have," she emphasized. "It truly is supporting that kind of skills-based economy."

This transformation is not unique to PwC. Across industries, companies are using AI to redefine how employees grow and contribute. At DHL Express, Fadzlun Sapandi, Executive Vice President of Global Human Resources, say she is encouraging frontline workers to embrace AI positively. Her message is proactive: rather than fear change, employees should focus on identifying areas where their skills add unique value, and then invest in upskilling where needed.

The conversation around AI and work isn't just about efficiency—it’s also bout human potential. Penny Pennington, Managing Partner at Edward Jones Investments, captured this idea succinctly: AI, she said, offers a way to "humanize the extraordinary by automating the ordinary." By freeing workers from repetitive tasks, AI allows more space for creativity, collaboration, and leadership—the qualities that truly drive business success.

The excitement around these ideas is growing. Leaders from companies like OpenAI, IBM, Indeed, Salesforce, and Chipotle a reported to be focussing specifically on how AI is reshaping the future of work. The shift is clear: organizations that lean into AI’s potential to democratize opportunity and prioritize skills development will be best positioned for the future.

For workers, this means that continuous learning and skill-building are no longer optional—they are essential. Whether it's mastering new digital tools, developing leadership capabilities, or building expertise in emerging fields, the most successful employees will be those who see their skills as an evolving currency that they must constantly invest in.

In a world where AI is rewriting the rules of how teams are built and how work gets done, the playing field is more open than ever. It's not about who you know anymore—it's about what you know and how you apply it.

At WorldofWork.ca, we’ll continue to track how AI and human ingenuity are shaping the modern workplace. One thing is certain: in the AI economy, skills aren’t just important—they’re everything.

For more information about George Waggott Law, please see: www.georgewaggott.com, or contact: george@georgewaggott.com