Recently, thousands of professionals gathered in London for the 2024 Women of Silicon Roundabout, the premier event spotlighting women driving innovation in tech. With a rich mix of keynotes, panels, and interactive sessions, the event tackled topics such as leadership, diversity, and the evolving landscape of the tech industry. Among the standout moments was a thought-provoking session by General Assembly’s own Emily Nguema, who took the stage to present her session, titled: Future-Proof Your Skills: Upskilling for the AI-Powered Workforce.
Emily, a Senior Client Success Manager at General Assembly, brought her wealth of experience to a dynamic session that underscored a critical reality: as artificial intelligence and automation continue to reshape industries, upskilling is not just an advantage—it’s a necessity.
Upskilling for an AI-driven future
In her session, Emily addressed a topic that’s top-of-mind for both business leaders and professionals—how to stay ahead in a world where technology is rapidly transforming the way we work. With statistics projecting that 85 million jobs may be displaced by 2025, alongside the creation of 97 million new, tech-adapted roles, the call to action is clear—reskilling and upskilling efforts must scale to meet the challenge.
Key highlights from Emily’s session
- Reskilling and upskilling: A dual priority
Emily emphasised that the responsibility to adapt lies with both businesses and individuals. Companies must prioritise internal reskilling and upskilling programmes to retain and develop their existing workforce, while professionals need to proactively seek out new skills to remain relevant in the job market. - Integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion
DEI principles can be embedded into reskilling and upskilling initiatives. Emily shared insights on how organisations can ensure that upskilling efforts are inclusive, enabling talent from underrepresented groups to thrive in the AI-driven workplace. - Collaborative strategies for success
Emily highlighted the value of collaboration between businesses, education providers, industry experts, and government initiatives to close the digital skills gap. She also shared examples of how General Assembly partners with organisations to deliver tailored, impactful reskilling and upskilling programmes. - Actionable advice for organisations
The session provided concrete strategies for business leaders looking to future-proof their teams. From investing in targeted tech training to fostering a culture of continuous learning, Emily’s recommendations focused on practical and impactful application in the ever-evolving world of tech.
Diverse perspectives from a diverse audience
Emily’s session drew a diverse audience, reflecting the broad applicability of the reskilling and upskilling conversation. Attendees ranged from HR professionals designing inclusive learning programmes to tech leaders keen to stay competitive in an evolving landscape. Career changers and aspiring technologists also found value in her advice on navigating the digital skills gap.
As one attendee put it:
Emily’s session was a wake-up call for organisations to take reskilling and upskilling seriously—not just as a business strategy but as a responsibility to their workforce.
Why upskilling matters for enterprises
Emily’s insights resonate deeply with the work we do to support businesses of all sizes and across all industries. In today’s digitally charged economy, organisations that fail to prioritise workforce development risk falling behind. AI and automation are creating new opportunities—but only for those prepared to seize them.
At General Assembly, we believe in empowering businesses to build resilient, tech-savvy teams through comprehensive tech training and talent solutions. By partnering with General Assembly, organisations can equip their leaders and employees with the tools they need to thrive in a tech-first future.
A collective call to action
The Women of Silicon Roundabout serves as a powerful reminder that the future of work is being shaped now. Emily’s session underscored the urgency of preparing for this future through inclusive, strategic reskilling and upskilling efforts in the AI era. Whether you’re a business leader looking to retain top talent or a professional ready to adapt to the changing workforce, the time to act is today.
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