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We Need to Align Gen AI Learning With Company Strategy

We Need to Align Gen AI Learning With Company Strategy

Last updated on: May 6, 2025 at 11:08 am by Gleb Tsipursky

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We Need to Align Gen AI Learning With Company Strategy 2025-05-06T11:08:47-04:00 Gleb Tsipursky

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Generative AI in learning and development

The rapid rise of generative AI (Gen AI) is reshaping industries, and learning and development (L&D) professionals are at the center of this evolution. Simon Brown, Global Learning and Development Leader at EY, discussed this transformation in my recent interview with him. His insights shed light on how companies can integrate Gen AI into their L&D strategies while ensuring alignment with broader organizational goals. Brown’s experience offers valuable lessons on the dual role of Gen AI in both skill development and business strategy execution.

Bridging Learning and Strategy through Gen AI

According to Brown, it is crucial to align Gen AI skill-building with a company’s overarching strategy. Companies that see Gen AI as a core part of their future strategy must embed it in their L&D efforts from the outset. “If it’s already part of the organization’s strategy,” he said, “then it flows through as one of the key skills that need to be built.” This means L&D teams need to operate with greater agility than ever before, adapting quickly to the rapid pace of change.

Traditional learning frameworks often operate in fixed cycles, but with Gen AI technology evolving weekly, companies need a more responsive approach. “It’s about ensuring that learning teams can act faster than they have in the past,” Brown emphasized. Agility is no longer optional—it’s a necessity to keep pace with market demands and the expectations of employees.

At EY, the strategy has involved developing specific AI badges and training programs across the organization, equipping employees with Gen AI skills aligned with their business roles. This alignment ensures that employees understand not only what they need to learn but also why it matters in the context of the company’s goals.

Overcoming the Learning Curve for L&D Teams

Integrating Gen AI into L&D is complex because it requires both trainers and learners to navigate unfamiliar territory. Unlike more traditional skills that have well-defined training pathways, Gen AI is new, and expertise is still emerging. As Brown pointed out, “Learning leaders are learning themselves. It’s not a traditional skill where you can just convey knowledge easily.”

This challenge is compounded by the fact that Gen AI touches multiple functions—ranging from IT and customer service to finance and HR—meaning that even experts in these areas may not have complete fluency with the technology. Brown stressed the importance of cultivating curiosity within learning teams: “It starts with being curious and scanning the horizon for what’s coming.”

Rather than waiting to master the technology fully, L&D professionals need to dive in, experimenting with tools like ChatGPT to grasp their potential. Brown’s own journey began with hands-on experimentation, and he encouraged L&D leaders to embrace similar explorations. Early familiarity can help trainers develop foundational knowledge, which can then be scaled across the organization through structured programs.

Addressing Employee Anxiety About Gen AI

One of the most significant hurdles companies face in adopting Gen AI is managing employee anxiety about potential job displacement. Workers—especially those in older age groups—often question whether investing time in learning new AI tools will pay off. Meanwhile, younger employees may experience anxiety, fearing that Gen AI will reduce job stability.

To overcome this resistance, companies must create safe learning environments. EY’s strategy involves proactive communication and hands-on access to AI tools through their proprietary platform, EYQ, which uses internal data to deliver AI-powered assistance in a secure setting. This approach allows employees to explore AI technologies without fear, fostering a deeper understanding of their benefits.

Additionally, EY rolled out company-wide training initiatives on AI, with more than 325,000 employees participating. These efforts not only demystify the technology but also help employees see it as an enabler rather than a threat. The training programs emphasize ethical AI practices, ensuring that employees understand critical considerations like data privacy and security. According to Brown, this transparency helps employees feel more comfortable engaging with Gen AI, reducing apprehension.

Developing Targeted Skill Pathways with AI Badges

Another pillar of EY’s Gen AI strategy involves personalized learning paths through their AI badge system. These badges function as both a learning framework and a motivational tool, encouraging employees to apply their newfound skills in practical settings.

The badges are divided into three levels—bronze, silver, and gold—within three categories: applied AI, AI engineering, and responsible AI. Brown explained that obtaining a badge requires more than passive learning; employees must demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. This combination of theory and practice ensures that employees not only retain the information but can also use it effectively in their roles.

EY’s approach reflects a shift in how companies structure learning programs—moving beyond static training to focus on ongoing development. The system encourages employees to continuously upskill, enabling them to remain relevant as Gen AI technology evolves. This model offers a scalable solution for businesses looking to build AI proficiency across large workforces while fostering a culture of lifelong learning.

The Future of Learning in the Age of Gen AI

Looking ahead, Brown sees Gen AI becoming even more deeply integrated into corporate learning environments. “We’re already starting to use Gen AI within the content itself, not just to produce content but to deliver dynamic, live experiences,” he said. EY is exploring AI-generated role plays and personalized coaching tools, allowing employees to receive real-time feedback and guidance tailored to their individual needs.

These innovations mark a shift from static, one-size-fits-all learning models to adaptive, AI-powered solutions. As Brown highlighted, “We’ll need to continue building Gen AI skills rapidly as things evolve to stay at the cutting edge.” This evolution not only enhances individual learning experiences but also ensures that organizations remain competitive in fast-changing markets.

In the future, learning programs will likely involve AI systems that act as personal coaches, providing continuous support and feedback. Such systems can adapt content based on individual learning styles and performance, enabling employees to progress more effectively. These developments promise a future where learning becomes more interactive, personalized, and aligned with business needs.

Conclusion

Integrating Gen AI into corporate learning is no longer optional—it’s essential for organizations aiming to thrive in the digital era, as I tell client organizations whose leaders express resistance around Gen AI integration. As Brown’s experience at EY demonstrates, the key lies in aligning learning strategies with company objectives, fostering curiosity within L&D teams, and creating supportive environments for employees.

The road ahead will require continuous experimentation, adaptability, and strategic thinking. Companies that successfully embed Gen AI into their L&D frameworks will not only empower their employees but also position themselves for long-term success in an AI-driven world. By building agile learning systems, addressing employee concerns, and promoting hands-on engagement with AI tools, organizations can unlock the full potential of Gen AI and ensure their workforce is ready for the future.

Key Take-Away

Generative AI is revolutionizing learning and development, urging companies to align training with business goals, foster curiosity, and address employee concerns for long-term success…>Click to tweet

Image credit: ThisIsEngineering/pexels

Dr. Gleb Tsipursky was lauded as “Office Whisperer” and “Hybrid Expert” by The New York Times for helping leaders use hybrid work to improve retention and productivity while cutting costs. He serves as the CEO of the boutique future-of-work consultancy Disaster Avoidance Experts. Dr. Gleb wrote the first book on returning to the office and leading hybrid teams after the pandemic, his best-seller Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams: A Manual on Benchmarking to Best Practices for Competitive Advantage (Intentional Insights, 2021). He authored seven books in total, and is best know for his global bestseller, Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters (Career Press, 2019). His cutting-edge thought leadership was featured in over 650 articles and 550 interviews in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, USA Today, CBS News, Fox News, Time, Business Insider, Fortune, and elsewhere. His writing was translated into Chinese, Korean, German, Russian, Polish, Spanish, French, and other languages. His expertise comes from over 20 years of consulting, coaching, and speaking and training for Fortune 500 companies from Aflac to Xerox. It also comes from over 15 years in academia as a behavioral scientist, with 8 years as a lecturer at UNC-Chapel Hill and 7 years as a professor at Ohio State. A proud Ukrainian American, Dr. Gleb lives in Columbus, Ohio. In his free time, he makes sure to spend abundant quality time with his wife to avoid his personal life turning into a disaster. Contact him at Gleb[at]DisasterAvoidanceExperts[dot]com, follow him on LinkedIn @dr-gleb-tsipursky, Twitter @gleb_tsipursky, Instagram @dr_gleb_tsipursky, Facebook @DrGlebTsipursky, Medium @dr_gleb_tsipursky, YouTube, and RSS, and get a free copy of the Assessment on Dangerous Judgment Errors in the Workplace by signing up for the free Wise Decision Maker Course at https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/newsletter/.

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About Dr. Gleb Tsipursky

Known as the Disaster Avoidance Expert, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky is on a mission to protect leaders from dangerous judgment errors known as cognitive biases, which devastate bottom lines and bring down high-flying careers. His expertise and passion is developing the most effective and profitable decision-making strategies, based on pragmatic business experience and cutting-edge behavioral economics and cognitive neuroscience, to empower leaders to avoid business disasters and maximize their bottom lines. You can learn more here https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/glebtsipursky/ The bestselling author of several books, Dr. Tsipursky is best known for his national bestseller on avoiding disasters and achieving success in business and other life areas, The Truth Seeker’s Handbook: A Science-Based Guide. His next book, Never Go With Your Gut: How Pioneering Leaders Make the Best Decisions and Avoid Business Disasters, is forthcoming with Career Press in November 2019. It’s the first book to focus on cognitive biases in business leadership and reveal how leaders can overcome these dangerous judgment errors effectively. After that he’s publishing The Blindspots Between Us: How to Overcome Unconscious Cognitive Bias and Build Better Relationships with New Harbinger in April 2020, the first book to focus on cognitive biases in professional and personal relationships and illustrate how we can defeat these dangerous judgment errors in our relationships. See more information here https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/author-page/ Dr. Tsipursky’s cutting-edge thought leadership was featured in over 400 articles he published and over 350 interviews he gave to popular venues that include Fast Company, CBS News, Time, Scientific American, Psychology Today, The Conversation, Business Insider, Government Executive, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Inc. Magazine, and many others, as you can see here https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/media/ Dr. Tsipursky's expertise comes from over 20 years of consulting, coaching, speaking, and training for businesses and nonprofits. He serves as the CEO of the boutique consulting, coaching, and training firm Disaster Avoidance Experts, which uses a proprietary methodology based on groundbreaking research to help leaders and organizations maximize their bottom lines by addressing potential threats, seizing unexpected opportunities, and resolving persistent personnel problems. His clients include Aflac, Balance Employment Assistance Provider, Edison Welding Institute, Fifth Third Bank, Honda, IBM, International Coaches Federation, Ohio Hospitals Association, National Association of Women Business Owners, Sentinel Real Estate, The Society for Human Resource Management, RealManage, The Columbus Foundation, Vistage, Wells Fargo, the World Wildlife Fund, and over a hundred others who achieve outstanding client results. You can learn more about that here: https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/about Dr. Tsipursky also has a strong research and teaching background in behavioral economics and cognitive neuroscience with over 15 years in academia, including 7 years as a professor at the Ohio State University and before that a Fellow at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. His dozens of peer-reviewed academic publications include journals such as Behavior and Social Issues, Journal of Social and Political Psychology, and International Journal of Existential Psychology and Psychotherapy. His civic service includes over 4 years as the Chair of the Board of Directors of Intentional Insights, an educational nonprofit advocating for research-based decision-making in all life areas. He also co-founded the Pro-Truth Pledge, a civic project to promote truthfulness and integrity for individual professionals and leaders in the same way that the Better Business Bureau serves as a commitment for businesses. He serves on the Advisory Board of Canonical Debate Lab and Planet Purpose, and is on the Editorial Board of the peer-reviewed journal Behavior and Social Issues. A highly in-demand international speaker, Dr. Tsipursky has over two decades of professional speaking experience across North America, Europe, and Australia. He gets top marks from audiences for his highly facilitative, interactive, and humor-filled speaking style and the way he thoroughly customizes speeches for diverse audiences. Meeting planners describe Dr. Tsipursky as "very relatable," as "a snap to work with," and as someone who "does everything that you would want a speaker to do." Drawing on best practices in adult learning, his programs address the wide spectrum of diverse learning styles, as attested by enthusiastic client testimonials and references. He regularly shares the stage with prominent leaders, for example recently speaking on a roundtable panel with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Elhadj As Sy, Chancellor of Austria Brigitte Bierlein, CEO of Penguin Random House Markus Dohle, and billionaire philanthropist and Chair of the Bertelsmann Management Company Liz Mohn. You can learn more about his speaking and see videos here: https://disasteravoidanceexperts.com/speaking/ Dr. Tsipursky earned his PhD in the History of Behavioral Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2011, his M.A. at Harvard University in 2004, and his B.A. at New York University in 2002. He lives in and travels from Columbus, OH. In his free time, he enjoys tennis, hiking, and playing with his two cats, and most importantly, he makes sure to spend abundant quality time with his wife to avoid disasters in his personal life. Learn more about him at https://DisasterAvoidanceExperts.com/GlebTsipursky, contact him at Gleb[at]DisasterAvoidanceExperts[dot]com, follow him on Instagram @dr_gleb_tsipursky and Twitter @gleb_tsipursky. Most importantly, help yourself avoid disasters and maximize success, and get a free copy of the “Assessment on Dangerous Judgment Errors in the Workplace,” by signing up for his free Wise Decision Maker Course at https:// DisasterAvoidanceExperts.com/Subscribe You can read more about the author here.

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