How to Build a Skills Strategy That Survives the AI Era

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Ciara Harrington (Barry), Chief People Officer at Skillsoft, to unpack why the shift from jobs to skills is finally becoming real.

Ciara explains why HR can no longer rely only on job architecture, job descriptions, and traditional role design. As AI agents enter the workforce, leaders need to think differently about the unit of work, what skills are needed, and whether that work should be done by a human, an agent, or a combination of both.

Most importantly, Ciara shares how Skillsoft is making skills practical inside the business, from leadership skills and hiring decisions, to nine-box talent reviews, performance conversations, AI adoption, and helping leaders move faster without waiting for the perfect system.

🎓 In this episode, Ciara discusses:

1. How to think about the unit of work, not just the job title
2. The five leadership skills Skillsoft is prioritizing during transformation
3. Why skills are becoming the foundation for human and AI work design
4. Why leaders need to stop waiting for the perfect skills model before starting
5. How Skillsoft is embedding skills into hiring, talent reviews, and leadership decisions

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, 365 Talents

Download the free toolkit and get your 2026 skills strategy moving faster → https://365talents.com/en/lp/hr-skills-strategy-toolkit/?utm_source=hr_leaders&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=july_2026

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