As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in products and services, it is crucial for leaders to address skills gaps and effectively utilize AI technologies. Rashim, the CEO of eWOW and a prominent influencer, technology and business thought leader, strategist, best-selling author, and speaker, provides insights on how leaders can build a team that can successfully implement AI initiatives.
The first step Rashim suggests is to determine how AI will be leveraged within the organization. It is important to align AI use cases with the business goals and industry requirements in order to understand the skills needed within the team. Once the AI use cases are identified, the next step is to evaluate the skills gap within the organization by creating a list of required skills and mapping them with the current team’s skill set.
Creating an upskilling and reskilling plan is essential to bridge the skills gap. Upskilling involves enhancing existing skills, while reskilling requires learning completely new skills. Rashim emphasizes the importance of considering ramp-up and job readiness metrics when planning for upskilling and reskilling initiatives. It is also important to budget for the time and effort required for training, including costs associated with learning program management, reporting, and employee learning time.
Getting buy-in from key stakeholders, such as HR, learning and development teams, finance, vendor management, and legal teams, is crucial for the success of upskilling initiatives. Stakeholders need to understand how upskilling aligns with the company’s strategy, how impact will be measured and reported, and why their support is important. Launching a training plan that addresses both knowledge and applicability of AI skills is key to closing the skills gap effectively.
Implementing equity in the AI training program is important, as people learn differently. Providing multi-modularity learning options and working with an L&D partner to build equitable criteria will help ensure the success of the training program. Additionally, Rashim recommends some best practices, such as ensuring equitable programs, building reporting mechanisms, being open to hiring if necessary, and leveraging skill sets from other parts of the organization to build the right team.
Ultimately, addressing skills gaps in AI should be a top priority for leaders, as it is crucial for creating powerful solutions with AI. As AI continues to evolve and become a prominent aspect of business operations, having a trained and confident workforce is essential for leveraging AI technologies effectively. Rashim’s insights provide valuable guidance for leaders looking to build a team that can successfully implement AI initiatives and drive innovation within their organizations.
