Embracing AI, Hybrid Work, and Skills Development With Peter Brown

Welcome to another exciting episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, where we are exploring the future of work, the role of leadership in navigating these changes, and how to seize future opportunities instead of fearing them. Our guest this week is PwC's Global Workforce Leader, Peter Brown. Pete leads a team of over 10,000 professionals supporting businesses with their workforce challenges. He has over 25 years of global experience advising clients around a number of workforce disciplines. He also sponsors PwC’s Global Centre for Transformative Leadership. Andy revisits his podcast episode with Peter, and they consider how the pace of change in our workplace is accelerating, shaped by phenomena such as social media and AI’s rapid evolution. Peter shares how platforms like TikTok and Gen AI amassed an unprecedented number of users within months of launching, pointing to a speedier, high-tech future. Andy also explores with Peter the impact of global macro trends like climate change and disruptive technologies as well as the importance of human capacity to adapt and learn. Pete stresses the need for urgency to deal with pressing issues such as the climate crisis. He suggests that technology is not an enemy but a powerful tool that can be harnessed for efficiency and productivity and highlights the necessity to protect people, not jobs, since the workforce must adapt and evolve as technology does. This episode provides foresight into the acceleration of existing work trends and emerging ones to anticipate in the global workplace environment. Key Takeaways: Embrace Technology but Focus on Human Skills : While AI and technology are advancing rapidly, they cannot replace innate human skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration.  Hybrid Work is Here to Stay: Organisations need to find the right balance between in-office and remote work that suits their business needs and employee preferences. Skills Development is Critical: There is a growing emphasis on reskilling and upskilling to meet the demands of an ever-changing work environment. Trust and Flexibility Drive Productivity: Instead of focusing on presenteeism or rigid schedules, leaders should prioritise results-based performance and empower employees to work in ways that suit them best. Alignment of Values Matters: Creating an environment that respects individual needs and fosters meaningful engagement is crucial for retaining talent in today's competitive market. Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with Peter Brown LinkedIn Twitter