Workforce Readiness in the Era of AI: Toronto CHRO Forum Webinar

In this timely session, Dr. Katheryn Brekken, at i4cp, delivered fresh insights from global research on how HR leaders can navigate the complexities of AI adoption and workforce readiness. Drawing from surveys, interviews, and real-world case studies, Brekken emphasized the urgent need for organizations to move beyond experimentation with generative AI and begin operating it for real workforce impact.

Cohosted by Ellie Judd, Senior Director, Member Development, at i4cp, and Greg Vertelman, Senior Partner, Career Solutions, at The Talent Company, the discussion outlined practical, research-backed strategies for equipping employees, scaling responsibly, and building future-ready cultures. The conversation spotlighted standout case studies from companies like Moderna, Manulife, and Zillow, and ended with a compelling call to action for HR leaders to lead their organizations through this next wave of disruption with confidence, care, and clarity.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Scaling AI from Pilot to Practice:
  Most companies are still in the experimental stage. Brekken shared how high-performing organizations are moving toward operationalization with clear policies, training, and cross-functional enablement.
• Agentic AI is the Next Frontier:
  Autonomous AI agents are gaining traction. Brekken explained how organizations are using platforms like Microsoft Copilot and Glean to develop customs, and no-code AI agents that automate complex workflows.
• New Roles, Not Just Fewer Roles:
  While some HR functions will shrink (e.g., tier-one shared services), new roles are emerging in AI training, oversight, and ethical governance—reshaping HR’s value to the business.
• Future-Ready Culture Drives Market Performance:
  Organizations that are both AI-ready and culturally future-ready significantly outperform their peers. This means building change-resilient teams, fostering psychological safety, and enabling leaders to model tech fluency.

To dive deeper into i4cp’s research, Workforce Readiness in the Era of AI, download the executive brief today and discover strategies for preparing your workforce for the AI-driven future.

Already an i4cp member? Access the full report here.