Talent Crunch: Developing Level-1 Expertise in the GenAI Era

Participants

Hosted by Isaac Sacolick, CEO of StarCIO

Special Guests

• Kevin Wallis-Eade

Digital Trailblazers

• Joanne Friedman
• Liz Martinez
• Joseph Puglisi
• Martin Davis
• John Patrick Luethe
• Heather May
• Derrick Butts

Summary

The episode focused on the impact of AI on Level 1 expertise and entry-level roles in organizations. Isaac, the host, shared statistics on declining employment for early career workers and the need for companies to adapt their hiring and training practices. Participants discussed how AI is being used to automate tasks traditionally performed by entry-level employees, raising concerns about the loss of critical skills and knowledge. The group explored strategies for companies to retain and develop Level 1 expertise, including retraining programs, apprenticeships, and a shift in how roles are defined in an AI-driven world. They emphasized the importance of critical thinking, context awareness, and decision-making skills in the new AI landscape. The conversation also touched on the need for organizations to adapt their change management practices and redefine roles to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing disruptions to the workforce.

See the blog post on 4 Ways to Boost Entry-Level Talent in the Gen AI Era

StarCIO Research Sources

• Constellation Research – A Stanford study using ADP payroll data finds a 13% relative decline in employment for early‑career workers
• CNBC – Postings for entry-level jobs in the U.S. overall have declined about 35% since January 2023
• Institution Labs – AI’s impact on graduate jobs
• ComputerWorld – 77% of early-career and 67% of tenured workers believe AI raises expectations for entry-level roles

Chapters

• (00:00:02) - Talent Crunch and the Impact on Level 1 Expertise
• (00:04:57) - The Need for Level-One Expertise in AI
• (00:07:53) - "What is the most common phrase uttered by recent graduates?"
• (00:10:53) - The Need for More Learning in Software Engineering
• (00:11:49) - Hiring from AI
• (00:13:59) - What Should Security Students Know to Get Ready for the Future?
• (00:16:46) - CIO Network: Process and Operations Skills
• (00:19:59) - Seamanship: The Need for Subject Matter Experts
• (00:21:25) - Six Must-Have Skills in the CIO Skills Inventory
• (00:24:17) - CIO Network: What Skills Do We Need to Protect?
• (00:26:12) - The Need for Human In the Lead
• (00:28:57) - CISO Minute: The Need for Human Intelligence
• (00:31:03) - Coffee With Digital Trailblazers
• (00:33:19) - Fourth Industrial Revolution: What to Do With AI
• (00:36:47) - Mind Shift Around AI
• (00:39:53) - AI Trade Off-Management
• (00:41:15) - Apprenticeships for the AI Generation
• (00:43:09) - Change Management: AI Is Just a Tool
• (00:52:06) - Will IT staff become managers of AIs?
• (00:56:57) - Will AI Redefine Jobs?
• (00:59:40) - Coffee With Digital Trailblazers
• (01:00:29) - Winter Storms Coming to the US