S8 E5: Why Building Tech Skills Unlock Human Potential (with Brooke Weddle and Heather Stefanski)

In this episode, we’re joined by Brooke Weddle and Heather Stefanski from McKinsey to unpack why building tech skills is about unlocking human potential — not replacing it. We explore real client success stories and challenges with AI upskilling, the danger of ignoring human skills, why technology can’t fix broken work processes, and whether embedding AI into daily work actually improves apprenticeship and learning.

00:00 Cold open & banter

02:15 Introducing Brooke & Heather

04:26 What Tech Upskilling Really Means

07:13 Human Advantage vs. Machine Capability

14:52 Leadership, Storytelling & Positive Energy

17:29 Creating Space to Practice Tech Skills

18:26 Case Example: AI Transformation in Manufacturing

22:13 The Evolving Role of the CLO

26:09 Building a Developmental Ecosystem

31:27 AI as an Apprenticeship Engine

36:03 Final takeaways

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READ MORE FROM BROOKE AND HEATHER

We’re all techies now: Digital skill building for the future: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/we-are-all-techies-now-digital-skill-building-for-the-future

The future of the CLO: Leading in a world of merged work and learning

https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-future-of-the-clo-leading-in-a-world-of-merged-work-and-learning

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DISCLAIMER

All thoughts and views are of our own.