How to grow your career in an AI-driven world

Rather than resisting its rise, experts at enterprise cloud platform Workday recommend that professionals strengthen their expertise in irreplaceable soft skills, positioning themselves as leaders in areas that AI can’t substitute.

The University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Innovation Hub is constantly on the lookout for leading innovation and business trends. Here are key findings from Workday’s 2025 report “Elevating Human Potential: The AI Skills Revolution“ on skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven work environment.

Workday, a cloud-based software provider that specializes in human capital management, polled 2,500 employees of various companies, job titles and departments about their thoughts on today’s most valuable human abilities. Respondents agreed that the following human-centric soft skills, which artificial intelligence can’t replicate, are most critical for businesses to function properly:

The study also asked respondents about their experiences with AI in the marketplace. Answers from U.S. employees were largely positive, with a few caveats. Below are a few statements Workday asked for workers’ thoughts on, plus the responses it received:

• “AI is changing the skills needed to succeed in the workplace” – 76% agree
• “AI tools support my ability to develop new skills in my role” – 75% agree
• “AI will enhance human creativity and lead to new forms of economic value” – 78% agree
• “Employees will crave more human connections as AI usage grows” – 66% agree
• “The growing use of AI will make human skills more vital” – 79% agree
• “Using AI has allowed me to focus more on higher-level responsibilities” – 88% agree

Overall, those surveyed feel that AI benefits efficiency and creativity, allowing workers to focus on human-centric skills. Those traits, which aren’t replicable by artificial intelligence, will be highly demanded in workplaces that value automation.

Workday’s report focused on ways AI can be used to elevate creativity, leadership, learning, trust and collaboration. The study is notably optimistic about AI’s potential in the workforce, stating that, “AI isn’t the new face of work. It’s what allows our human talent to shine brighter.”

Whether you’re mid-career or one of our students at the University of Cincinnati, the following steps will showcase your value alongside AI:

• Creativity: AI can serve as your creative assistant, allowing you to spend less time on tedious tasks and more on ideation. Avoid this common mistake: using AI as a substitute for your own creativity – instead, supplement your work with it.
• Leadership: Data-driven decision-making could become simpler as AI automates manual tasks. This automation allows workers – managers and nonmanagers alike – to focus on more important assignments. A critical part of leading during the AI revolution is prioritizing worker upskilling and reskilling, so clearly explain how employees can use the tech to meet organizational goals.
• Learning: Focus on developing soft skills – adaptability, empathy, creativity, resilience, moral judgment and cultural understanding. Automation also unlocks a chance to understand your business more deeply. According to Workday’s report, “AI supports human learning and development in part by processing massive datasets … to deliver previously impossible trend analysis, rapid insights and decision guidance.”
• Trust: AI faces a massive confidence deficit in the U.S., where a 2025 KPMG study found that 59% of respondents don’t trust it. Businesses face a major hurdle here – but it’s also an opportunity for your company to stand out. Employees may reward you for implementing AI ethically, being receptive to their concerns and appreciating their unique work outputs.
• Collaboration: Partnering with employees may get easier due to AI’s data-driven insights and automation. Rather than working in silos on team-specific tasks, you’ll gain time to focus on broader, cross-functional goals. “AI removes barriers to collaboration,” the report says, “some of which you might not have even known were there.”

Make no mistake – AI is quickly reshaping the global work landscape. Here are Workday’s tips for successfully navigating this shift if you’re a manager, director or executive:

1. Pursue human-centered leadership
2. Promote team collaboration
3. Focus on building your team’s AI skills
4. Emphasize transparency and accountability

“AI will require a collective effort by forward-thinkers willing to reimagine growth,” Workday says at the end of its report, “not by sacrificing profitability but by achieving it through more human and dependable paths.”

Featured image at top: AI is expected to have profound influences over businesses and workplaces. Photo/Jacob Lund