The Executive Study Group (ESG) webinar named “Future-Proof Your Career:
Strategies to Stay Irreplaceable in the Age of AI” was held by Asia Pacific
Institute for Strategy Limited (APIFS) on 25th Jun 2025. There are two parts. The 1st part
discussed AI’s Impact on the companies your career depends on and the 2nd
part mentioned AI’s impact on managers beyond front-line staff.
Firstly, Dr. Mark Lee discussed that it is an Era of Abundant Expertise.
In the past, knowledge is expensive and domain-specific. But now, it can be obtained
instantly, customizable and scalable that challenged us to reshaping our
business.
Then he surveyed us about career interruption by AI and most of
participant voted AI would affect all levels in the organization. The second
and third were voted middle management and entry-level roles, respectively.
Dr. Lee also quoted Prof. Richard P. Rumelt (UCLA) that “A business is a
system of capabilities – specialized knowledge, processes, and skills
(expertise) – geared toward solving particular problem”. Business exists
because of applying their expertise efficiently at scale. He also quoted Shein
as example that Shein redefined fast fashion using AI, turning speed and data
into its competitive edge.
And then Dr. Mark Lee quoted Prof. Ronald Coase (Nobel Memorial Prize in
Economic Sciences 1991) that Firms expand when internal coordination is more
efficient than market contracting. But using AI caused that external solution
became faster, better and cheaper! The new game rules depended to reconfigure
expertise into value.
After that he asked three questions for establishing firms related to AI
for ending the 1st part of discussion.
The 2nd part of webinar related to AI’s impact on managers
and redefining managerial value. Middle level and frontline managers had domain
expertise and operational execution skill but the importance level decrease
because of AI.
One of key impact is flattening hierarchies in the organization. No long
multi-layer reporting paths. Expertise is less valuable in the AI age and
managers roles still value included “Navigating ambiguity”, “Managing politics”,
“Exercising judgement”, “Shaping culture” and “Building trust”.
And then a poll about learning AI to safeguard our career was performed.
Most of participants agreed that AI literacy is becoming a hygiene factor and
it is only starting point.
Finally, he proposed five irreplaceable leadership capabilities under AI.
However, there were some limits of AI such as psychological safety and
team alignment. Thus, managers should enhance this kind of skills.
In poll 3, it surveyed which irreplaceable leadership capacities the
most difficult and the easiest to be strengthened. The most difficult item was
building team alignment.
Ethics is significant for leadership in AI age.
Lastly, Dr. Lee surveyed us which insight to be the most important for
our career moving forward. Most participant selected that “Leadership still
matters most in the gray zones”. But I selected career paths are being redefined.
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