How AI is Reshaping Professional Development with Anna Tavis

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Dr. Anna Tavis is Clinical Professor and Chair of the Human Capital Management Department at NYU’s School of Professional Studies. Recognised on the Thinkers50 Radar (2020) and among the Top 100 Global Influencers in People Analytics (2023, 2024), she co-authored Humans at Work (2022) and The Digital Coaching Revolution (2024).

Table of Contents

1. Staying Relevant

2. Professional Development Isn’t Just Training Anymore

3. AI Can Accelerate — or Undermine — Growth

4. Shift from Frameworks to Relevancy

5. The COO’s Role in Shaping the Future of Work

6. The COO Playbook: How to Put This Into Action

Staying Relevant

In today’s boardrooms and leadership off-sites, one question keeps coming up: how do we help our people stay relevant in a world where technology is moving faster than ever? In this episode, Dr. Anna Tavis joined us to unpack how AI is fundamentally changing the way leaders think about professional development.

Her perspective is invaluable because she sits at the intersection of academia, HR, and practice — guiding future leaders at NYU while also co-authoring Humans at Work, a book that explores how organizations can thrive in this new landscape.

Professional Development Isn’t Just Training Anymore

Anna reframed professional development as an ongoing commitment to skills and well-being — not just courses or PDP frameworks. In her words, it’s about maintaining career relevancy over the long haul.

As a COO, that means the systems you build should support not only technical upskilling but also mental resilience. Think less about annual training days, more about continuous scaffolding of growth.

AI Can Accelerate — or Undermine — Growth

AI is already disrupting career paths. On one hand, it’s making knowledge more accessible and personalized. On the other, it’s automating roles and exposing skills gaps faster than most companies can close them.

The challenge for operators: design talent systems that help employees harness AI as a tool for growth rather than fear it as a replacement.

Shift from Frameworks to Relevancy

Traditional professional development frameworks and PDPs often feel bureaucratic and disconnected from the realities of modern work. Many organizations still rely on rigid templates and annual review cycles that check the box but do little to inspire genuine growth. Instead, the focus needs to shift toward career relevancy — helping employees continuously adapt their skills to match evolving business needs.

This requires a dual approach: on one hand, individuals must take ownership of their learning journey, actively seeking out opportunities to build new capabilities; on the other, organizations must provide the right environment, tools, and culture that make ongoing development possible.

By combining individual accountability with organizational support, companies can create a dynamic learning culture where professional development is not an annual task but an integrated part of daily work. This balance ensures employees remain relevant, resilient, and prepared for the impact of technologies like AI on the future of work.

The COO’s Role in Shaping the Future of Work

COOs are uniquely positioned to bridge this gap. You’re not just managing efficiency; you’re setting the stage for how teams learn, adapt, and thrive. That means:

• Embedding learning into workflows, not as a side project.

• Encouraging experimentation with AI tools.

• Prioritizing well-being alongside skills.

The COO Playbook: How to Put This Into Action

1. Audit Your Development Programs
   Ask: are we teaching relevancy, or are we just ticking boxes?

2. Experiment with AI-Driven Learning
   Pilot tools that personalize learning paths for employees — but tie them to business outcomes, not just “nice to have” content.

3. Balance Skill with Well-Being
   Professional growth isn’t sustainable if people are burning out. Build systems that value both.

💡 For more insights on professional development, tune into the full conversation with Dr Anna Tavis on The Operations Room Podcast.