08-27-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

Advice for succeeding in the AI era

While technology tools are gaining steam, this leader shares human skills to get ahead.

[Photo: Getty Images]

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of top leaders and experts who pay dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership, and more.

Over more than three decades, I have worked across industries, countries, and cultures. I’ve led large global organizations, managed through periods of growth and disruption, and hired, promoted, and mentored people at every stage of their careers.

Today, as president and CEO of Project Management Institute, I am often asked questions every mentor knows well: Which field should I pursue? What should I study? Which industries offer the greatest opportunities?

The answers seemed clearer just a few years ago. AI is reshaping how work gets done. It’s changing the value of certain skills and challenging traditional career paths. Many professionals, from recent graduates to experienced executives, are trying to determine what this means for them.

Here are five pieces of advice I offer for succeeding in the AI era.

1. BECOME A MASTER OF GETTING THINGS DONE

However quickly technology evolves, and however many tasks it can perform, someone still needs to drive momentum and manage the work. Someone must assume accountability for getting the team across the finish line.

AI can already produce analysis, documentation, schedules, options, code, and content. But producing things is not the same as delivering outcomes. Someone must still ensure that projects lead to real progress—and be accountable for the result.

I have seen throughout my career that strategies........

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