At the first dinner for the year, CHROs gathered to discuss how rapidly developing technologies can enhance workforce capabilities, rather than simply replacing jobs, and how HR leaders should guide this transformation.
At a fine dining event hosted at the Saxon Hotel and Villas on 25 September, in partnership with CHRO South Africa and Workday, HR executives discussed the significant role that AI and robotics are playing in shaping the future of HR.
A key theme of the evening was the importance of reskilling and repurposing employees to work alongside AI.
One HR executive emphasised, “Rather than instilling fear in the masses, we should be focusing on how AI can help people work on higher-value tasks. It’s about moving away from the mundane and using AI to provide deeper insights. Look at the banking sector – how it’s evolved and how people, even in rural areas, have adapted to using cellphones and digital services. The workforce can adapt if we support them.”
However, the pace of technological change was acknowledged as a significant challenge.
“The speed at which AI and robotics are being integrated into the workplace is a major hurdle,” noted one HR executive. “Many of our organisations are struggling to keep up, and we have to ask ourselves: how do we develop a change-fit workforce fast enough?”
This concern sparked a discussion on the need for HR leaders to rethink traditional approaches to skills development and talent management.
“We, as leaders, need to change the mindset and reaffirm that the non-traditional route is what is needed – ignite passion in our workforce to move towards something that will be more meaningful to them, something that speaks to empowering our people.”
Another HR executive noted the difficulty of developing a workforce that is truly change-fit. “It’s a skills issue. We need to focus on creating opportunities for upskilling and ‘double-hatting’, where employees can expand their talents into new areas. The question is, how do we develop a workforce that can keep pace with the rapid changes we’re seeing?”
There was a consensus that HR, as a traditionally transactional business, must evolve to play a more proactive role. “We are the ones who drive these narratives,” said another. “HR should not just be reactive. We, as part of the executive committee, need to lead with a better narrative and help shape the future of work.”
As the discussion continued, the group emphasised the importance of embedding technology into the fabric of the workplace. “Forget about having super processes as part of company culture,” one attendee said. “We need to bring the technology into the buildings and let people naturally gravitate to it. It’s all about mindset change – we need to create a non-permission culture where people feel empowered to use new tools and develop bespoke training.”
The discussion concluded with the need to embrace the inevitable and fast-paced shift toward AI. “AI is not an episodic feature – it’s happening fast, and what matters most is how we change our mindsets,” one executive remarked. “We need to make the pie a little bigger by spreading the benefits of AI further, not just within the organisation, but across the workforce. This shift isn’t about replacing people; it’s about enhancing their abilities and growing toward something bigger.”
The evening ended on a note of optimism, with a shared belief that, if handled correctly, AI can be a tool for empowerment and innovation. The passion to embrace a future that leverages AI and robotics to build a more dynamic, engaged and capable workforce was palpable among the attendees.
Those who attended:
Mark Odendaal, Account Director, Workday
Anusuya Govender, CHRO, Old Mutual
Diana Forsyth Pegg, Customer Base Account Executive, Workday
Heidi Ogle, Account Director, Workday
Kgaogelo Letsebe, Managing Editor, CHRO South Africa
S'ne Magagula, CHRO, Tiger Brands
Sharon Taylor, Chief People & Culture Officer, Standard Bank
Sungula Nkabinde, Community Manager, CHRO South Africa
Thembi Mbengashe-Mazibuko, Chief People Officer, Pick n Pay
Tswelo Kodisang, CHRO, First Rand
Vinolia Singh, Chief People Officer, Adcorp
