SPOS #956 – Ravin Jesuthasan On The Future Of Work

Welcome to episode #956 of Six Pixels of Separation – The ThinkersOne Podcast.

Ravin Jesuthasan is a global thought leader, futurist, and bestselling author who has dedicated his career to exploring the future of work, AI, and workforce transformation. As the Senior Partner and Global Leader for Transformation Services at Mercer, he has collaborated with some of the world’s most influential organizations to help them navigate the rapidly changing landscape of work. Ravin has led significant research projects for the World Economic Forum, focusing on topics like digital media’s impact on society, talent strategies in the fourth industrial revolution, and redefining the value of human capital in the new world of work. In this conversation, Ravin delves into his latest book, The Skills-Powered Organization – The Journey To The Next Generation Enterprise that he co-authord with Tanuj Kapilashrami (check out his other five books). He emphasizes that as AI, climate change, and geopolitical conflicts reshape our world, there’s an urgent need for organizations to transition from traditional job-based structures to skills-based models. This shift isn’t just a minor adjustment – it requires rethinking how work is organized and how talent connects to it. By focusing on skills as the new currency of work, organizations can become more agile, resilient, and adaptable. Ravin shares compelling examples of how AI is already transforming industries like healthcare and financial services. As AI takes over more technical tasks, transferable skills – like empathy, creativity, and critical thinking become increasingly important. The Skills-Powered Organization serves as a practical guide for leaders looking to navigate this transition. Ravin provides a step-by-step roadmap, discussing critical organizational capabilities, the transformative changes required, and the role of AI in accelerating this journey. He also examines how this shift enables a more seamless talent ecosystem, blending various types of employee and non-employee labor. Whether you’re a leader seeking to future-proof your organization or an individual aiming to stay relevant in a rapidly changing job market, Ravin’s insights offer valuable guidance on embracing the next generation of work. Enjoy the conversation…

• Running time: 51:59.
• Hello from beautiful Montreal.
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• Here is my conversation with Ravin Jesuthasan.
• The Skills-Powered Organization – The Journey To The Next Generation Enterprise.
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• This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Chapters:

• (00:00) – Introduction and Background.
• (02:53) – AI’s Impact on Work Processes in Healthcare.
• (06:11) – AI’s Impact on Work Processes in Financial Services.
• (10:08) – The Challenges of Rapid Change and Upskilling.
• (15:09) – The Potential Distribution of Value in the Age of AI.
• (18:55) – Identifying and Developing Transferable Skills.
• (27:58) – The Impact of AI and Automation on Work.
• (30:10) – The Importance of Continuous Learning.
• (33:04) – Challenges of Reskilling.
• (39:21) – Creating a Skills-Powered Organization.