Job Advice from AI Execs
What do AI executives tell their own children about jobs in the future? A Wall Street Journal reporter interviewed current AI leaders about the advice they offer their own kids. Here’s what they said.
Manny Medina, co-founder of Paid.AI: Pick something “you enjoy, you’re good at, and that’s useful to someone else,” writes Medina. “There are two areas that I think will be vibrant in the short to medium term. One is energy. The other is healthcare.
“Outside of the sun, the most powerful source of energy is the atom. I’ve been telling my kids, you should really figure out how to get into nuclear.”
AI will certainly leave some behind, Medina says, but people, the earth, and animals will still need human assistance, so jobs in those fields will remain.
Caroline Hanke, Global Head of Organizational Growth and Health, SAP Software Solutions: “I truly believe agility and openness to change… will be the central skills I want my teenager to have. The technical skills relevant for today are not going to be relevant even two years from now. It really is more soft skills—critical thinking, adaptability. Also ethics—where human judgment comes into play,” Hanke advises. “Study a broad spectrum of areas in college, but if possible, dive into math,” she concludes.
Ethan Mollick, Professor, Wharton School at UPenn: Mollick says that careers are long and change frequently. He thinks “generalist jobs, where many skills are bundled together, are good jobs in the AI world. Take an insurance policy by being broadly educated, being deeply educated, being flexible in the face of change,” he advises.
Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist, Microsoft: “Metacognitive skills will be very important—flexibility, adaptability, experimentation, thinking critically, being able to challenge things. Developing critical-thinking skills requires friction, doing things that are hard, doing deep thinking,” he says.
Weber, L. (2026, February 26). What AI executives tell their own kids about the jobs of the future. The Wall Street Journal. https://wsj.com
Oral Exams Subvert AI
Frustrated by perfectly written assignments (a surefire tell that a student has relied too heavily on AI) and blank stares when they ask students to explain their work, some instructors have returned to old pedagogy: They are bringing back oral exams.
Professors say the reason they are digging up Socrates’ time-honored method is not to prevent cheating, says Dr. Emily Hammer of UPenn. Instructors are more worried that students are not learning when they use AI. However, oral exams can propel students to be more active in their learning, Hammer explains.
Oral assessments can be conducted in several ways. One professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business turns the tables and has AI conduct tests. Using a clone of the professor’s voice, the chatbot asks about details from a group assignment that cannot be generated by AI. Other instructors have replaced finals with one-on-one discussion sessions, (though this option may not be realistic for many instructors.)
Gecker, J. (2026, March 24). Perfect homework, blank stares: Why colleges are turning to oral exams to combat AI. Associated Press. https://apnews.com
Tips for Nervous Networkers
Networking is the best defense against a tough job market. The statistics speak for themselves: 54 percent of candidates who report landing a job say they got it through a connection. But many job seekers avoid this critical step due to insecurities. Forbes contributor Tracy Bower, PhD, offers these tips for nervous networkers:
- Gather your courage. Over one-third of job seekers avoid networking due to a lack of confidence. That’s why experts advise job hunters to remind themselves of their capabilities, skills, and motivation.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for favors. Be forthright and ask your connections for advice and whether they know of job openings. Request introductions to hiring managers. And don’t forget to solicit referrals. That’s what networking is all about.
- Working at an organization as a volunteer is a great way to make new connections and build skills.
While it may sound intimidating, networking remains the single best way to get your foot in the door.
Brower, T. (2026, March 24). How to build a network that moves your career forward. Careers Newsletter. Forbes. https://forbes.com
