‘Generative AI is not going to take your job. People who know how to use generative AI are going to take your job.’

A conversation with Debbie Compeau, interim dean, Washington State University’s Carson College of Business

February 27, 2024

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In this episode of Work in Progress, I’m joined by Debbie Compeau, Washington State University’s Carson College of Business interim dean. A.I. I’m not sure if there are any other two letters in the English language right now that have evoked such anticipation, discussion, debate, or concern.

A new report released by the Carson College of Business finds that people are generally excited about the possibilities of new generative AI tools in the workplace. But, more than half of professionals surveyed for the report (56%) are concerned they are going to be “left behind” unless they have the opportunity to learn how to leverage the newest iterations of the artificial intelligence.

“Overall, people are seeing things in a positive light, but their approach is measured because they see the positives but they see the negatives,” says Compeau. She adds that the workers expressed personal concerns about the speedy adaptation of new AI applications. “‘I don’t know how to do this. And if I don’t know how to do this, I might lose my job’ is very much on people’s minds.”

Compeau says employees want more information from their employers on what to expect.

“Only 32% of our professionals have received general news and resources on AI. Only 31% have received specific training on how they would use AI tools in their job, and 26% have received information on risks. One in four say that their organization hasn’t provided any resources to them to learn how to use this. I think in that kind of an environment, people are feeling a little bit lost,” she tells me.

But, says Compeau, employers themselves are still trying to figure out the use cases for generative AI in the workforce. “When we think about generative AI, if we’re all still trying to figure out where do we want to use it, I think the challenge today specifically around training is what would you train people to do?”

Ultimately, it will be important for employers and higher education to step up and help prepare the workforce of today and tomorrow for the AI skills needed in the workforce in order for workers to thrive with the technology. She puts it this way: “Generative AI is not going to take your job. People who know how to use generative AI are going to take your job.”

Compeau and I go on to discuss the critical role higher education must play in preparing the next generation of workers, as well as preparing them for the potential risks that come with the technology.

You can listen to my full conversation with Compeau here, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find this conversation and other recent podcasts on our Work in Progress YouTube channel.

You can read the full AI and Business Readiness report here.

Episode 307: Debbie Compeau, Washington State University’s Carson College of Business
Host & Executive Producer: Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNation
Producer: Larry Buhl
Theme Music: Composed by Lee Rosevere and licensed under CC by 4
Transcript: Download the transcript for this episode here
Work in Progress Podcast: Catch up on previous episodes here

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Dana Beth Ardi

Executive Committee

Dana Beth Ardi, PhD, Executive Committee, is a thought leader and expert in the fields of executive search, talent management, organizational design, assessment, leadership and coaching. As an innovator in the human capital movement, Ardi creates enhanced value in companies by matching the most sought after talent with the best opportunities. Ardi coaches boards and investors on the art and science of building high caliber management teams. She provides them with the necessary skills to seek out and attract top-level management, to design the ideal organizational architectures and to deploy people against strategy. Ardi unearths the way a business works and the most effective way for people to work in them.

Ardi is an experienced business executive and senior consultant who leverages business organizational transformation through talent strategies. She uses her knowledge and experience to develop talent strategies to enhance revenue and profit contributions. She has a deep expertise in change management and organizational effectiveness and has designed and built high performance cultures. Ardi has significant experience in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, IPO’s and turnarounds.

Ardi is an expert on the multi-generational workforce. She understands the four intersecting generations of workers coming together in contemporary companies, each with their own mindsets, leadership and communications styles, values and motivations. Ardi is sought after to assist companies manage and thrive by bringing the generations together. Her book, Fall of the Alphas: How Beta Leaders Win Through Connection, Collaboration and Influence, will be published by St. Martin’s Press. The book reflects Ardi’s deep expertise in understanding organizations and our changing society. It focuses on building a winning culture, how companies must grow and evolve, and how talent influences and shapes communities of work. This is what she has coined “Corporate Anthropology.” It is a playbook on how modern companies must meet challenges – culturally, globally, digitally, across genders and generations.

Ardi is currently the Managing Director and Founder of Corporate Anthropology Advisors, LLC, a consulting company that provides human capital advisory and innovative solutions to companies building value through people. Corporate Anthropology works with organizations, their cultures, the way they grow and develop, and the people who are responsible for forming their communities of work.

Prior to her position at Corporate Anthropology Advisors, Ardi served as a Partner/Managing Director at the private equity firms CCMP Capital and JPMorgan Partners. She was a partner at Flatiron Partners, a venture capital firm working with early state companies where she pioneered the human capital role within an investment portfolio.

Ardi holds a BS from the State University of New York at Buffalo as well as a Masters degree and PhD from Boston College. She started her career as professor at the Graduate Center at Fordham University in New York.