Corporate Culture Disruption in the AI Era - with Pinaki Kathiari

Take a look at any job description today--either in your organization or posted to a job board--and you might notice that it's not entirely accurate, especially for communications and marketing roles. It's almost as if they're created to fit into a system of some kind....oh wait, they are. Job descriptions, from the simple to the complex, are often nothing more than checklists designed for ease of processing and evaluation. They're meant to be a set of shaped holes; our experiences are the pegs that must fit. But what happens when AI fills some of those holes? Or when AI-enabled employees expand their roles and contributions in new, innovative directions, and their pegs no longer fit? What happens to employee engagement and corporate culture as disruption becomes the norm? In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with tech entrepreneur-turned-communicator Pinaki Kathiari, CEO of digital communications agency Local Wisdom, to explore the evolving landscape of work in the digital age. As AI continues to revolutionize industries, Dan and Pinaki discuss the obsolescence of conventional job descriptions and the potential for AI to serve as a co-creator in our professional lives. Pinaki shares his unique journey from a UX and web design specialist to a leader in digital transformation, emphasizing the intersection of technology, employee experience, and corporate culture. He and Dan examine how AI can empower individuals to transcend traditional roles, fostering creativity and innovation in unexpected ways. Together, they explore the potential effects of AI on recruitment, performance reviews, and organizational structures, questioning how companies can adapt to a future where roles are fluid and dynamic. Pinaki also highlights the importance of internal communications and employee engagement in building a resilient corporate culture that thrives amidst change. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a communications professional, or simply curious about the future of work, this episode offers valuable insights into how AI is reshaping our professional landscape. Tune in to learn how you can harness these changes to enhance your career and contribute to a more human-centric workplace.   Listen in and hear about... The evolving nature of job descriptions and roles in the age of AI, challenging traditional career paths. How AI serves as a co-creator and innovation engine, reshaping work efficiency and creativity. The critical role of internal communications in boosting employee engagement and creating a thriving corporate culture in the age of AI. The impact of AI on intellectual workers and the potential for redefining roles and responsibilities. Challenges and opportunities in adapting corporate structures to accommodate new technologies and employee-driven innovation. The importance of mindfulness and proactive communication in leadership to prevent burnout and foster a supportive work environment.   Notable Quotes On Job Descriptions and AI: "Job descriptions and roles as we know them are obsolete. That's right, I said it. They're obsolete. I'm talking about comms and marketing roles. But I think the same thing can be said for most of the so-called knowledge workers today." — Dan Nestle [00:00 - 00:20] On AI's Role in Work: "AI is an innovation engine. It should enable us to not only be more efficient, it should and will increasingly be a co-creator and co-explorer, helping us to change the way we work and what we produce and even the nature of what we can contribute." — Dan Nestle [00:28 - 00:45] On the Transition to Internal Comms: "We saw that they're just not getting the same amount of love from a resourcing perspective as external communications and marketing." — Pinaki Kathiari [08:17 - 08:27] On the Impact of AI: "The amount of power that we've had before AI in our back pockets was astounding compared to like 10 years ago, 20 years ago. Now with the advent of AI on top of that stuff, it's, it's. We could code on the fly, we could design on the fly, we could write on the fly, we could ask questions and learn on the fly without having to do much." — Pinaki Kathiari [20:07 - 20:30] On the Future of Work: "I think it's going to get much, much more messier before it gets better. And you got to kind of like learn things. And it's going to take some people, you know, some companies who are like leading to kind of push through and test things out." — Pinaki Kathiari [35:50 - 36:02] On Being Human at Work: "I hope having a machine intellect might help us be more human and treat each other more like humans and not machines, which we've been doing all this time." — Pinaki Kathiari [39:25 - 39:45] On Corporate Culture: "I think we have to be careful of just how we treat people. So I think if I kind of go with it as, like, whether you're performing high or performing low, we want to work with you to get to where we think you should be or you think you should be." — Pinaki Kathiari [50:14 - 50:36]   Resources & Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Dan Nestle | Twitter Pinaki Kathiari Pinaki Kathiari | LinkedIn Local Wisdom | Website Resource Hero | Website Pinaki Kathiari | Twitter   Timestamped key moments from this episode (as generated by Fireflies.ai) 🎙️ Job Descriptions and Roles (00:13 - 01:14) Daniel Nestle asserts that traditional job descriptions in communications and marketing are becoming obsolete. Emphasizes that AI acts as an innovation engine, enabling new ways of working beyond fixed job roles. 🤝 Employee Engagement and Culture Change (01:43 - 04:01) Pinaki Kathiari, CEO of Local Wisdom, discusses his background in UX and how it led him to focus on employee experience and internal communications. Highlights the importance of connecting employee experience with brand outcomes. 💡 Transformation of Internal Communications (08:08 - 10:01) Pinaki Kathiari explains the evolution of internal communications roles and the need for better resource allocation compared to external communications. Discusses his personal experience in implementing culture change within Local Wisdom. 🔄 Changing Nature of Work and AI's Role (19:16 - 22:15) Daniel Nestle discusses how AI can handle baseline tasks, allowing employees to focus on more creative and strategic work. Stresses the importance of adapting corporate structures to accommodate these changes. 📊 Performance Reviews and Accountability (44:15 - 46:10) Daniel Nestle critiques traditional performance reviews and the challenges of holding employees accountable in a rapidly changing work environment. Suggests that organizations need to rethink how they measure success and contributions. 🌱 Future of Corporate Culture (56:57 - 59:53) Pinaki Kathiari emphasizes the need for organizations to support employees' passions and interests rather than confining them to rigid job descriptions. Advocates for a more flexible approach to career development, allowing employees to explore various roles and responsibilities. 🔍 Mindfulness in Leadership (1:05:00 - 1:07:21) Pinaki Kathiari highlights the importance of mindfulness for leaders to ensure they are not overwhelming employees with new initiatives. Encourages leaders to check in with their teams before implementing changes to avoid burnout. 📅 Planning for Change (1:03:20 - 1:04:22) Daniel Nestle suggests that organizations should shift from annual planning to shorter, more agile planning cycles to adapt to rapid changes in the workplace. Emphasizes the need for flexibility in goals and accountability as technology evolves.   Timestamps for your convenience (as generated by Flowsend.ai) 0:00 Intro 5:12 Early Career Insights 7:39 Career Path 12:45 Transition Challenges 18:16 Job Descriptions 23:30 Evolving Roles 27:10 AI's Impact 33:47 Creativity and Technology 39:25 Human Experience 45:08 Workplace Culture 50:13 Team Dynamics 56:22 Leadership Styles 1:02:01 Mindfulness in Leadership 1:07:30 Future Outlook 1:11:55 Conclusion   (Notes co-created by Human Dan and a variety of AI helpers, including Fireflies.ai and Flowsend.ai)