AI and Career Development: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Learning and the Future of Work | Waypoint 33

Lately I’ve been travelling a lot and getting to attend some remarkable conferences focused on the telecommunications industry at large. Whether it’s while on a plane preparing for the event, listening to the plenary speaker or one of many other sessions, or walking through the exhibit halls, I’ve sensed a common thread.  Now, the thread I'm hyper-focused on these days isn’t anything new, it’s one that is age old but more important than ever, “People need to do more, with the same amount of resources, faster than ever before”.  I know anyone else serving customers in some way has also been obsessed with this need for decades.

Right now, we are right in the middle of what the World Economic Forum, calls the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As we are in this revolution, now entering our lives at an incredible pace is the newest, greatest, rapidly evolving, and charismatic champion of the modern era: Artificial Intelligence. As a workforce and society, we have an incredible new capability that needs to be learned, promoted ethically, used properly, and talked about by everyone.  It’s on everyone’s mind, present in most conference sessions, and is rapidly transforming how we work, live, play, and even exist. So, as I think about how I can best perform my role while also coaching and inspiring others in theirs, I’ve realized an important fact. What I did to get where I am today is not what younger generations need to do. In fact, I believe their path will be much faster, a bit more fun, and the opportunities for growth are larger than I ever had before me.

Looking back, most of my life I followed what many would consider a traditional career path. I started working young doing things like picking strawberries, working at grocery stores, serving food, and eventually I joined the military. From there, I tried my hand in sales, security, telecom, management and leadership, and more. Ultimately, each job added a layer of experience that helped me get to where I am today. It took years, sometimes decades, to build the skills I now use daily.

So, while thinking about AI in its many forms, I had a thought. What if I were starting fresh in today's world?  That thought got me excited, because I know the journey would look very different! Let’s take a little look at my experiences, and then talk about how technology of today is rapidly evolving and redefining learning, development, and career growth.

The Old Way: Learning Through Experience

Back then, building a career meant learning through hands-on experience, moving from one position to the next, and gaining knowledge piece by piece. Every role—whether it was working in a fast-food restaurant or managing a telecom project—taught me something valuable:

• Work Ethic & Discipline: My first jobs in grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants taught me responsibility, reliability, and the importance of showing up ready to work.

• Customer Service & Sales Skills: Working retail and serving tables at restaurants gave me first-hand experience in handling customers, understanding their needs, and resolving conflicts.

• Leadership & Strategic Thinking: My time in the military reinforced discipline, problem-solving, and teamwork. All skills that would later translate into management and leadership roles.

• Technical Expertise: Working in telecom and infrastructure helped me develop a deep understanding of complex systems and problem-solving at an operational level.

• Business Development & Innovation: As I moved into leadership roles, I learned to think strategically, embrace innovation, and guide teams toward success.

  
  

Each step took time. There were no shortcuts. If I wanted to learn something new, I had to do it the hard way: live, in-person, and unplugged. Ultimately, I had to work through trial and error, seek out mentorship, and some of it took years of practice and even more patience. But today, the professional landscape is evolving at an extraordinary pace.

The New Way: Learning at Lightning Speed

Today, technology has changed everything. AI, online learning, and instant access to a world of information means that people can develop skills in a fraction of the time it once took. Want to learn how to code? Platforms like GPT and AI-assisted courses can teach you in weeks. Need leadership insights? AI-powered mentorship programs provide guidance instantly. Interested in sales? You can analyze data and refine strategies faster than ever before with AI-driven analytics.

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AI and Digital Learning Platforms

According to a report by the World Economic Forum, 50% of employees will need reskilling by 2025 due to automation and AI advancements. Luckily, to aid in this space, platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning allow anyone to acquire new skills in weeks or months rather than years. In my own coursework and mentorship through Big Brothers Big Sisters, I’ve found AI-driven education tools such as Duolingo for languages or Khan Academy for general education helpful in demonstrating how technology can accelerate learning and make knowledge more accessible than ever before.

Real-Time Problem Solving with AI

Here’s a great example of AI in action today. In the past, if my manager wanted to analyze sales or customer satisfaction trends, they would need the combined years of experience provided in a team, stacks of spreadsheets, and countless of analysts to work together in a conference room in order to look at the problem and compile a report.

Today this problem can be a thing of the past, with AI and Machine Learning driven tools like Esri’s ArcGIS, or similar tools and resource purpose built to provide instant insights, businesses are empowered to make data-driven decisions in real time. So, instead of learning through years of trial and error, employees can leverage AI to identify patterns and make strategic decisions immediately and organizations can deliver better than ever before.

What This Means for You

I think the traditional path, a.k.a. starting from the bottom and working your way up, is still valuable. However, we need to realize it’s no longer the only way. Today, if you want to build a career you don’t have to spend decades acquiring knowledge the way I did. Instead, you have the opportunity to:

• Leverage AI to accelerate learning: Use tools like GPTs to gain insights and develop new skills quickly.

• Explore multiple fields faster: Instead of waiting years to switch careers, online resources allow you to pivot much sooner.

• Make data-driven decisions: With AI, you can analyze trends and strategies in real time, something that used to take years of experience to master.

• Access mentorship at scale: Platforms like Google’s Career Certificates, Harvard Online, and even AI-driven coaching chatbots allow individuals to learn from industry leaders without needing direct one-on-one mentorship.

  
  

In my own education pursuits, I read a study recently that ties to this topic well. According to a study by McKinsey, "companies that embrace AI and automation in workforce training see an average increase in productivity of 30%". To me, this suggests that professionals who actively work with an AI-driven learning and career development plan will have a competitive edge in the job market. Think about it, you can leverage AI training tools to help expose areas of your learning and development that you may not know need help with and then leverage AI to help create a tailored training plan for you.

Embrace the Change

I think the lesson here isn’t that the old way was wrong. Instead, it’s about how a much more analog path built a foundation of skills, relationships, and resilience but it often took a long while and a variety of personal experiences. Now, we can easily talk about how technology has opened doors that didn’t exist before. The key for workers, of any age, is to embrace these tools and use them to your advantage. If you're just starting out or looking to pivot careers, don’t feel like you have to take the long road. Instead, use the incredible capabilities available today to learn from the past, so you can take advantage of the present.

I love something I recently heard a speaker at a conference mention in their session, when speaking about AI them said “The future belongs to those who are willing to adapt. So, go for it.” For me, this was a powerful statement and reminder to remember to evolve and to use the tools available, take risks, and carve your own path. After all, now, more than ever before you have the power to shape your career faster than you ever imagined. With AI and digital learning platforms at your fingertips, the only limit is how quickly you choose to embrace the change.

Final Thought

In my opinion, the most effective way to grow your skills and achieve your career goals is using a hybrid approach. While technology accelerates learning and provides people incredible resources at their fingertips, the fact is that human experience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence remain irreplaceable. The ideal approach is a blend, where you use AI for rapid learning, but still seek mentorship, real-world experience, and human connection to truly master your craft. The best careers will be built by those who can merge technology with the lessons learned from the past.

So, whether you're at the start of your career or thinking about your next move, embrace this exciting evolution. The learning curve has changed, so take control and use it to your advantage.

A Few Resources:

I wanted to put my own tips to work, so leveraged ChatGPT 4.0 to create the following list of resources for you. With a simple prompt, a copy and paste of my article, and a click of the mouse, the following list was produced in less than 10 seconds. Now, Imagine how long it would have taken me to find all of these on my own!

I hope these links can help provide direct pathways for readers to explore learning opportunities, AI-driven career acceleration, industry insights, and ways to get involved.

AI & Digital Learning Platforms

1. Coursera – Offers courses from top universities and industry leaders. https://www.coursera.org

2. Udemy – A vast selection of affordable, skill-based courses. https://www.udemy.com

3. LinkedIn Learning – Courses in business, technology, and creative fields. https://www.linkedin.com/learning

4. Google Career Certificates – Online certifications in tech-focused fields. https://grow.google/certificates

5. Harvard Online Courses – Free and paid courses from Harvard University. https://online-learning.harvard.edu

AI-Powered Career Growth & Skills Development

1. Khan Academy – Free education on a wide range of topics. https://www.khanacademy.org

2. IBM SkillsBuild – Free AI and cloud training programs. https://www.ibm.com/training

3. MIT OpenCourseWare – Free educational resources from MIT. https://ocw.mit.edu

4. Google AI Hub – AI tools and educational materials. https://ai.google

5. Microsoft Learn – AI, cloud computing, and tech certifications. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training

Reports & Research on AI and Workforce Trends

1. World Economic Forum: The Future of Jobs Report 2023 – Insights on AI, automation, and workforce changes. https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2023

2. McKinsey & Company: The State of AI in 2023 – How AI is impacting the workforce. https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-state-of-ai-in-2023

3. Pew Research: AI and the Future of Work – What experts say about AI’s role in employment. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/08/31/how-ai-is-shaping-the-future-of-work-in-the-us

4. MIT Technology Review: How AI is Changing Jobs – Case studies on AI's impact on industries. https://www.technologyreview.com/topic/artificial-intelligence

AI-Powered Productivity & Business Intelligence

1. Esri ArcGIS - Geographic information systems providing insight, analysis, and much more www.esri.com

2. Salesforce Einstein AI – AI-powered CRM and business insights. https://www.salesforce.com/products/einstein-ai

3. Tableau AI – AI-driven business analytics. https://www.tableau.com/solutions/ai-ml

4. Microsoft Power BI – AI-powered data visualization and decision-making tools. https://powerbi.microsoft.com

Call to Action – Waypoint 33

Every journey starts with a conversation. If you’d like to explore how these ideas could fit your strategy, I’d love to connect. You can reach me directly at randall@waypoint33.com.

— Randall RenéFounder & Principal Advisor, Waypoint 33