Future-ready teams: finding talent with the skills to unlock data and emerging tech

Across industries, executives are asking the same question: How do we prepare for AI? 

The answer isn’t hidden in an algorithm or a new platform. Preparation starts with the right people. 

We’ve seen firsthand that even the most advanced systems depend on the teams behind them. Technology may change how work gets done, but people still determine whether transformation succeeds. 

The shift beneath the surface 

The speed of change in the workforce is staggering. Among our Vaco by Highspring clients, 46.43% indicated that their team or organization has a digital transformation initiative planned within the next 6–12 months. That momentum reflects a broader trend: entire functions are being redefined—some disappearing, others being reborn with new blends of technical and human capability. 

But this isn’t just a story about automation. It’s about agility. 

Companies that thrive in this environment are the ones that treat learning as a constant, not a crisis response. They understand that data readiness and talent readiness have to evolve together. 

That perspective drives how we think about building the next generation of teams—people who can lead change, not just react to it. 

Building alignment at the top 

AI strategy begins with technology but succeeds through alignment, leadership, and culture. 

Many leadership teams focus on the tools first and the people second. That’s backward. True readiness happens when the data strategy and the talent strategy are designed in tandem, with shared goals and clear accountability. 

When CIOs and CHROs work from a unified plan, transformation stops feeling like a series of disconnected projects and starts becoming a repeatable capability. It’s the difference between chasing innovation and sustaining it. 

Leadership teams that get this right don’t just modernize their systems; they modernize how their people work, learn, and grow. 

Rethinking what it means to hire for impact 

The definition of “qualified” is complex. 

Technical fluency matters, but so do communication, creativity, and the ability to bring others along. The most valuable hires now are often teachers as much as technicians—people who can deliver results while helping teams develop the skills to sustain them. 

Demand is rising for hybrid professionals who can connect dots across functions: 

• A data engineer who can explain insights to the business team. 

• A finance leader who can translate analytics into strategy. 

• A designer who understands how to collaborate with AI tools, not compete with them. 

Building your talent strategy with this mindset helps organizations stay agile even as technology shifts rapidly under their feet. 

Managing change like it’s a skill—because it is 

Change management used to occur after a new system went live. 

Today, it’s ongoing. Every upgrade, every integration, every automation introduces uncertainty. The organizations that navigate it best don’t just communicate more—they are highly agile and lead with empathy, purpose, and transparency. 

The most effective leaders: 

• Explain why change is happening, not just what’s changing. 

• Involve teams early, so they can shape solutions instead of resisting them. 

• Build feedback loops that show progress and celebrate small wins. 

As Mitch Gartner, Executive Vice President of Vaco by Highspring, likes to remind our teams, “Technology success is 20% tech and 80% people and process.” Getting the human side right isn’t soft—it’s strategic. 

Where the future of work begins 

The real story of transformation lies in how people rise to meet it. Every organization will have access to similar tools and technologies. What will set leaders apart is how they cultivate adaptability, empathy, and shared purpose across their teams. How agile their organization is. 

The companies that treat readiness as a human journey—one that blends data fluency with curiosity and courage—will be the ones that turn technology into sustained progress. 

Because the future of work doesn’t just depend on machines that learn. 

It depends on people who do. 

Ready to strengthen your team for what’s next? 

Let’s talk about how we can help you align your talent and data strategies for the future.