CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Saqib Khan, Vice President, Global Talent Engine, Talent Acquisition, Ascendion
How essential is digital proficiency as a core skill in today’s rapidly evolving world?
The world is rushing towards a future sculpted by technology. Lines between the physical and virtual worlds are blurring, data has become the new currency, and digital fluency is no longer a luxury but a need of the hour. In this hyper-connected landscape, skills, not degrees, are the actual passport to success. According to LinkedIn’s recent Workplace Learning Report, upskilling and reskilling have become the foremost focus of Learning and Development (L&D) programs worldwide, as 59% of L&D professionals consider it their topmost priority.
At Ascendion, we believe exceptional engineering takes craftsmanship. CIRCLES, our unique model fostering world-class talent. Built on mentorship, collaboration, and celebration, CIRCLES cultivates expertise across communities (AI, QC, etc.) through projects, upskilling, and shared success. But technical prowess alone isn’t enough. We invest in “people skills,” like adaptability and emotional intelligence, empowering engineers to excel and build strong professional bonds.
How does Ascendion work towards maintaining the synergy between soft skills and technical expertise in the ascent towards professional success?
To truly excel and thrive, employees must also develop “soft skills.” Unlike technical skills, soft skills are rooted in one’s personality and must be cultivated. Soft skills like conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, etc., help in career advancement and build healthy professional relationships. As Generative AI takes over routine tasks, there’s a growing demand for higher-order skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and emotional intelligence.
Ascendion Learning Lab offers a plethora of learning modules, from coding boot camps to soft skills programs like culture, sustainability, and diversity workshops. A snapshot of our L&D initiatives at Ascendion:
- Ascendion Learning Lab & LITMOS: ALL –Ascendion Learning Lab is a personalized launchpad for mastering the latest tech skills. From cybersecurity to machine learning, employees can choose the path that ignites their passion
- Instructor-led Programs: Our dedicated trainers guide employees through interactive workshops, igniting lively discussions and personalized feedback to ensure they master the skills
- Peer-to-Peer Learning with Circles, employees share their expertise, learn from peers, and benefit from knowledge exchange
- Mentorship Programs: We invite notable external speakers to share their expertise and cultivate a culture of support and learning
What are the ways in which improving technological expertise facilitate enhanced collaboration in remote work scenarios, particularly within the work environment of Ascendion?
According to a research conducted by Unleash AI, 24% employers foresee challenges in finding the right skills in the next five years, and 50% of employees may need reskilling.
Enhancing technological expertise is the key to seamless collaboration in remote work settings. Our in-house platforms, like AVA Studios and Digital Ascender, empower teams with a unified coding toolkit, fostering efficient solutions. We also use other project management platforms like ADO, GitLab, AVA Oneview, digital.ai, asana, Monday.com., Hubspot to work on projects in real-time, irrespective of the location.
How does Ascendion enable the development of cutting-edge tech skills to foster a culture of innovation within an organization?
Ascendion has always been a “learning-first” organization on a mission to ensure that our people have the tools and resources to excel in their roles and beyond. Our objective is clear- to empower our teams and foster a culture of continuous learning. We have already trained more than 1,500 Ascenders on generative AI, which includes not only our engineers but also our finance, HR, marketing, and talent experts, which has been acknowledged by HFS Research.
Prioritizing continuous learning keeps us at the forefront of innovation ensuring individual growth and adaptation to industry changes. Access to Udemy’s diverse platform, spanning 7 categories and 492 topics, has further empowered our team’s expertise. Hackathons and Codeathons foster cross-pollination of ideas uniting diverse minds to power groundbreaking tech solutions.
What ethical considerations should be addressed regarding the utilization of Generation AI in skill development?
While Generative AI promises to revolutionize skill development, its vast potential is accompanied by numerous ethical concerns. Generative AI poses challenges like bias amplification, data privacy concerns, black-box algorithms that make it difficult to understand how AI recommends learning paths or assesses skills and potential gaps in practical application and critical thinking.
To navigate such challenges organizations should-
- Prioritize diversity in training data and employ bias detection and mitigation techniques for fair and inclusive learning experiences.
- Implement data anonymization, encryption, and user control mechanisms to protect learner privacy.
- Integrate assessments into practical tasks and contextualized learning to bridge the gap between AI-generated skills and job preparedness.
- Regularly evaluate and update AI models for fairness and implement feedback mechanisms for ethical performance.
The ethical use of Generative AI in skill development demands a proactive approach. By implementing strong safeguards, prioritizing transparency, and focusing on real-world applications, we can harness the power of AI to democratize learning while navigating the ethical labyrinth with responsibility.
