Work is changing faster than the way we develop people. AI is accelerating change in the workplace. Human skills are differentiators.
Taproot’s new study, conducted with support from PwC, examines how organizations can build the human skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven, gig-shaped hybrid workplace.
In today’s world of work, human skills—problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, relationship building, and collaboration—are essential. Organizations recognize the importance of these capabilities, yet many still rely on traditional learning methods that professionals say are less effective at developing crucial human skills.
According to Taproot’s new Human Skills at Work report, pro bono service has the power to enhance both talent development and nonprofit capacity. These experiences place professionals in real world situations characterized by ambiguity, limited resources, diverse stakeholder needs, where they apply their expertise to strengthen nonprofits while building applied human skills.
Whether you lead learning and development, oversee CSR strategy, manage nonprofit teams, support workforce initiatives, or are working to strengthen how expertise is applied for social good, this conversation will challenge how you think about skill development in an AI-enabled world.
Join Elaine Mason, Taproot’s Chief Strategy Officer, and Meryl Friedman, Taproot’s Strategic Projects Senior Manager for a free webinar on Monday, April 13 at 1 pm ET to dive deep into what our research uncovered and how to build human skills in an AI era. Hear directly from practitioners in L&D and CSR who are putting these insights into action—Jonathan Amy (Learning COO at PwC), Carolina Forsyth (L&D Program Manager at Prudential), Katie Merkel (Senior Manager of Global Health and Pro Bono Programs at Pfizer), and Marci Paino (Chief Learning Officer at Cisco).
Register me for this webinar!
You will leave with:
- A clearer understanding of which learning approaches most effectively build human skills
- Concrete examples of how leading organizations are redefining which human skills matter most as AI accelerates
- Firsthand accounts of how experiential learning builds capabilities that traditional training cannot simulate
- Ways to integrate pro bono service into learning and development strategies
Register now to explore why this moment calls for rethinking human skill development and how pro bono service can strategically bridge workforce development and community impact.
Meet the Speakers:
- Elaine Mason is a strategy and HR executive focused on the intersection of workforce transformation and purpose. As Chief Strategy Officer at Taproot Foundation, she is helping shape the future of pro bono and advancing research on human skills in the AI-enabled workplace. Elaine previously held senior leadership roles at Cisco, American Express, and Paramount Global and is a frequent speaker on the future of work and people analytics.
- Jonathan Amy is the Chief Operating Officer for Learning at PwC. In this capacity, he is responsible for the day-to-day enablement of PwC’s Learning Collective — which equips PwC’s people to learn at scale, grow at speed and act with impact. Jonathan provides the forward-looking vision to drive a client-centric, tech-enabled focus on skill development. And as co-sponsor of a global initiative to transform PwC into a world-class, skills-powered organization, Jonathan is at the forefront of a strategy designed to integrate skills intelligence across the entire people ecosystem, empowering PwC’s people to grow faster and take their clients to the leading edge.
- Carolina Forsyth is a Manager at Prudential’s Learning & Development organization, where she designs and leads enterprise leadership development experiences to strengthen the capabilities of top talent and aspiring leaders. She strives to design opportunities for leaders to explore their strengths, stretch their comfort zones, and apply what they learn in meaningful ways. Earlier roles in public relations, non-profit service and financial coaching shaped her holistic approach to leadership development and reinforced her belief in the power of human connection and growth.
- Katie Merkel is a Senior Manager on Pfizer’s Global Health Investments team, based at Pfizer’s headquarters in New York City. She leads Pfizer’s skills-based volunteering program, Global Health Fellows (GHF), which has deployed nearly 1,000 colleagues over more than 20 years to support 110+ global health organizations across 54 countries, strengthening health systems and advancing health equity. She also supports select programs of The Pfizer Foundation* that engage colleagues and partners worldwide to enhance community impact.*The Pfizer Foundation is a separate legal entity from Pfizer Inc. with distinct legal restrictions.
- Marci Paino, Chief Learning Officer at Cisco, is at the forefront of integrating learning into the company’s culture, fostering growth and workforce readiness in the age of AI for the company’s 86,000+ global employees. With 20 years of experience at Fortune 500 companies like American Express and Accenture, Marci has a proven track record of creating award-winning talent development strategies and leading digital transformation initiatives.
Taproot Foundation is a nonprofit organization that connects social change organizations with passionate, skilled volunteers who share their expertise pro bono and designs possibilities to expand the reach of skilled service. Taproot’s programs help organizations overcome their most pressing challenges and create lasting impact in their communities.
