In the ever-evolving landscape of corporate learning, leadership, and people development, the 2023 MERIT Summit, hosted by ESSEC Executive Education on November 6th and 7th, brought together luminaries from international Business Schools and Human Resources Directors from diverse industries. This unique gathering aimed to share insights, challenges, and success stories, and it did so with a singular mission – to empower individuals and organizations to develop, innovate, and achieve their strategic objectives. At the heart of the discussions was the pivotal theme, "AI is on the Team. New Skills Wanted," as participants explored the impact of artificial intelligence on human capital management.
Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders: Insights from the 2023 MERIT Summit
8.11.2023
AI in Human Capital Management:
Jérôme Barthélemy, Professor of Management & Strategy and Head of Executive Education at ESSEC Business School, set the stage with a compelling session on addressing the impacts of AI on human capital management. Drawing from recent research findings, he highlighted how AI has the potential to increase performance while minimizing the gap between A-level workers and those with less qualification. In a fascinating revelation, AI was shown to reduce the divide between less-skilled and more skilled workers by allowing the less skilled to learn from their more experienced counterparts in real-time scenarios.
Key speakers:
The summit featured other keynote speakers such as Smaranda Gosa-Mensing, Senior Talent Counselor at McKinsey Digital & Analytics, Peter Zemsky, Eli Lilly Chaired Professor of Strategy and Innovation at INSEAD, and Tiffany Poeppelman, Director of Career Development at LinkedIn. These experts shared key findings from various research papers, shedding light on the rapid changes happening in the world of corporate learning and leadership.
Panel Discussions and Workshops:
The two-day summit also included thought-provoking panel discussions, such as "New Skills Wanted: What’s in for Education and Corporate Learning" led by Brian Murphy, Senior Director of Skilling at Microsoft. Workshops like "New AI Skills Implementation for HR and Education Leaders" by Jeroen Rombouts, Director of Accenture Strategic Business Analytics Chair at ESSEC, further enriched the program. These discussions and workshops ignited dialogues on the transformative potential of AI in reshaping the workforce and the skills required for the future.
Impactful Initiatives:
The MERIT Summit featured the prestigious MERIT Awards, recognizing and celebrating impactful transformational initiatives. ESSEC Executive Education, with the Custom program team, proudly showcased their project, "Designing and Delivering a Large-Scale Program." Providing context for this achievement, the Ministry of Tourism launched the visionary "Tourism Pioneers" program, aimed at nurturing the capabilities of 100,000 young Saudi men and women in the domains of hospitality leadership, tourism, and travel.
Selected among the highest-rated institutes and educational institutions by the Ministry of Tourism, ESSEC Business School stood as a proud partner. ESSEC took on the responsibility of training 1600 talents over the course of nine weeks. The Custom team presented a comprehensive overview of how they meticulously designed and executed this large-scale program with a talented pool of 13 ESSEC faculty members and the valuable insights of 12 guest speakers.
This project left an indelible impact on the entire audience and exemplifies the commitment to excellence in education and corporate development, underlining ESSEC's dedication to shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
With remarkable insights, distinguished speakers, and engaging discussions, it provided valuable perspectives on the ever-evolving landscape of AI in human capital management. The summit's impact goes beyond these two days, inspiring individuals and organizations to adapt, innovate, and set new standards in the corporate world. As we embrace the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, the MERIT Summit remains a beacon for shaping a future where AI and new skills coexist harmoniously, empowering us all to achieve our strategic objectives and lead the way forward.
