Navigating AI Impact on Career Growth

Amid the talk of an AI agent-induced "bloodbath" for entry-level jobs after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's comments at the Code With Claude conference last week, I get it - the fear is real and it's valid. When you're already struggling to get that first break, hearing that machines might eliminate the very jobs you're targeting feels like the ground shifting beneath your feet. After two decades in this space, my strong belief is that AI is accelerating a shift that makes the old career ladder not just outdated, but dangerous to rely on. Your parents climbed rungs. You need to build a web. The old linear path—Associate to Senior Associate to Manager—is becoming a liability when entire job categories can shift overnight. The people thriving now are jumping from marketing to product management, consulting to startups, engineering to sales leadership. We're headed toward a world where a "one-person, billion dollar company" isn't a pipe dream. AI is forcing the new career map to look like this: 🔄 Lateral moves that double your skill set 🚀 Industry jumps that compound your perspective 🔗 Skills you gain through AI that unlock doors in completely different fields At Lensa, the most successful job seekers we're seeing are connecting and up/reskilling vs. climbing. They're treating their career like a portfolio, not a promotion schedule. And they're staying WAY ahead of the AI curve by learning to zoom out and strategize workflows where they used to focus on tactics. The old ladder rewarded patience and politics. The new web rewards adaptability, multiple capabilities, and generalist thinking. Your career isn't a ladder anymore. It's a choose-your-own-adventure story— AI is just raising the stakes. #AI #workforce #AIAgents

𝟵𝟳 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗜 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝟲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 AI is transforming industries faster than we imagined. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025, 85 million jobs will be displaced, but 97 million new ones will be created. The real question is: Will your career adapt to this shift, or risk being left behind? Back in 2018, I decided to pivot into AI. Here’s exactly what I did to make the shift, and how you can do it too: 1 - Learn the Fundamentals: Don’t wait for your company to train you. Back then, I joined one of the first executive AI courses at Stanford University. ↳Today, platforms like LinkedIn Learning ( 1 click away ) and Coursera make it easier than ever to start. ↳Own your learning—curiosity is your greatest advantage. Follow people like Andrew Ng who is always sharing great content and free here. 2. Integrate AI Into Your Current Role: I started small by incorporating AI into strategy discussions, product improvements, and productivity initiatives. ↳Whether it’s better forecasting, writing, smarter customer engagement, or automating workflows, go find a way for AI to add value in your role right now. 3. Play to Your Strengths: Pivoting doesn’t mean starting from scratch. ↳I didn’t try to become a data scientist—I focused on using AI to innovate and reinvent businesses, which was my core strength. Find a niche within AI that fits your expertise, and build from there. 4. Rebrand Yourself: Update your job title to reflect your focus on AI. ↳Add “+ AI” and show your commitment by writing, speaking, or even teaching about how AI impacts your field. ↳Thought leadership is built by taking action, not waiting for permission. 5. Be Relentless About ROI: AI is powerful, but it’s not cheap. ↳Avoid the hype by always tying AI initiatives to measurable outcomes. ↳Knowing exactly how AI creates value will set you apart as a strategic thinker. 6. Build Your Career Path Around AI: Once I integrated AI into my work, I expanded further—joining AI companies, advising startups, and eventually writing a book (coming soon) about the field. ↳These moves weren’t without risk, but they aligned with my vision for the future. AI has become central to everything I do, and it’s been worth every step. For additional inspiration, follow Allie K. Miller—a top AI influencer whose career pivot from an employee in AI to an entrepreneur and evangelist in the field has inspired many people, including myself. Let me know the steps you are taking to make AI part of your career. If you like this post share it to network ♻ #AI #JobsOnTheRise #GetHired2025 #career

So, I recently had a very important conversation about AI.✨ And why mid-career and seasoned leaders in what I call the "magical middle" must not shy away from artificial intelligence, but strategically leverage it to amplify their story and unique value. Check out this special clip from my podcast conversation with Editor-in-Chief and business journalist Ebony Flake, about how AI can be used as an asset, especially during career inflection points in this new era of disruption and uncertainty. Ebony emphasized that AI isn’t about replacement... 👉🏾 It’s about augmentation and amplification. As she stated: "It has made my work, and the work of so many people that I know, so much better. It's not as if it's replacing me. But what it is doing is taking some of the grunt work off of my plate. It’s giving me a personal assistant." This also aligns directly with the recent LinkedIn Workforce Confidence survey, which revealed that 52% of job seekers already anticipate AI will handle more of their manual, mundane tasks—freeing up space for more impactful work. Below are a few tips on how you can leverage AI to enhance your career journey at any age or stage—particularly using my transformation framework: 📌 Reframe Your Mindset: Embrace AI with curiosity, not fear. The leaders who thrive in this new era will see AI as a partner, not a competitor. 📌 Define Your Unique Value and Purpose: AI can never replicate your creativity, empathy, or personal story. It can clarify and amplify your unique strengths. 📌 Set Micro-Milestones for Macro Growth: Use AI strategically to accomplish small, actionable goals that build toward significant career transformations. 📌 Leverage AI to Amplify Your Influence: Pair artificial intelligence with your relational intelligence to maximize your impact—making AI your strategic thought partner. The reality is clear: AI doesn't diminish your wisdom, your experiences, or your unique value—it elevates them. Thank you once again, Ebony for the amazing conversation. 🙏🏾 #FutureOfWork #AI #careers #transformation #MidCareerMastery