KEY 6: TALENT
Ready your people to lead AI
AI readiness doesn’t happen through platforms alone.
It’s powered by people; the teams who govern, build, and activate AI across your business. But today’s workforce isn’t fully equipped for what’s next. Talent strategies must evolve in parallel with your data strategy.
According to our candidates, when asked how they see AI impacting their job over the next year, 48.10% of respondents shared that they plan to use AI tools to work more efficiently.
Signs of your experience level
Beginner
There’s no clear ownership of AI-based or data-related roles. Individuals might be experimenting with new tools, but there’s no coordinated strategy. Hiring for technical skills is ad hoc, and most employees don’t understand how AI or data strategy affects their work.
Intermediate
Some teams have AI-focused roles, data engineers, analysts, or prompt experimenters, but the approach is fragmented. Hiring often outpaces internal enablement. Existing employees aren’t given clear pathways to upskill, and talent decisions are disconnected from strategic goals.
Advanced
The organization is building internal capability, and experimenting with hybrid teams. But efforts are siloed, talent and data strategies aren’t aligned, and leadership is still learning how to manage AI-native teams. The talent engine is built, but not yet integrated.
Expert
Talent strategy is embedded within the data strategy and it is continuous; not reactive.Leaders have visibility into current capabilities and a plan for what skills need to scale. Data fluency isn’t just a skill set, it’s a cultural norm across functions.
Pitfalls
- Ignoring the need for AI skill-sets beyond tech or IT teams
- Lack of visibility into existing AI-fluent talent and relying solely on external hiring
- Failing to integrate strategic talent strategy into data and AI strategy
- Inconsistent technical and AI adoption across teams, including executive suites, leading to fragmented expertise
Level requirements
Without the right people, even the most advanced systems fail to deliver. Companies must rethink how they recruit, reskill, and retain teams that can adapt and scale with AI transformation.
- AI and data fluency across leadership, not just technical teams
- Talent strategy tied to long-term AI and digital strategy
- Leadership visibility into skills, capacity, and future workforce needs
- A culture of continuous learning, with incentives to adapt and lead through change
Power up: AI workforce readiness assessment
Level up your people strategy to scale AI with confidence and clarity.
Running an assessment to identify your AI workforce readiness helps organizations align people, skills, and structures for sustainable AI transformation. Vaco by Highspring works with your leadership team to assess current capability, identify skill gaps, and design a talent strategy that supports both near-term innovation and long-term growth. Whether you’re recruiting for AI-specific roles, or building leadership fluency, this accelerator turns talent from a blocker into a force multiplier. It’s not just about hiring the right talent, it’s about creating a culture that’s ready to adapt, learn, and lead.
Capability unlocked. Your people are ready to lead what’s next.