Staying relevant in your career is becoming more difficult by the day. But if you want to be in demand and visible to employers, relevancy is essential.
That’s the focus of this week’s PRO VOICE podcast episode—a conversation with three experts who’ve seen firsthand what it takes to stay competitive in an AI-driven economy. Together, they share how professionals can adapt, upskill, and future-proof their careers in a time when standing still means getting left behind.
Change Is Coming for Everyone
“In tech, AI is just the latest of the skills adjustments,” says Ken Evans, a startup advisor and fractional product strategy executive for emerging tech. “There’s a long line of step-up or step-aside career inflections that happen in tech...you have to stay current or get left behind.”
That truth now applies far beyond the tech industry. Whether you’re in finance, education, healthcare, or marketing, AI and automation are shifting how we work, learn, and lead. Staying employable today means being curious, proactive, and willing to experiment with new tools. It means putting time and effort into upskilling. Those qualities are what separate the relevant professionals from the out-of-touch ones.
For Shenoa Simpson, an AI and digital innovation leader, the moment she realized this came with the release of ChatGPT. “My son played with it like it was a game. But then we went on a tour of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and he pointed out [that] they're using it in the class for spaceflight operations, and the penny dropped for me. I was like, I better learn this now because if it's safe enough to use for spaceflight operations, this is going to be big.”
That mindset shift from curiosity to urgency is exactly what’s required to thrive in the workplace today.
And for Lee Roquet, a customer success and revenue operations expert, that meant diving into AI firsthand. “I wanted to learn how to create custom GPTs... I wanted to vibe code. So, I spent about 90 days vibe coding an application and launched just a couple of weeks ago my first solo application by myself because I want to be able to figure out how do I make my day easier, my team's day easier, and my customers' experience even better.”
One of the biggest lessons of the AI era echoed by our PRO VOICE members is that you don’t need to wait for someone to teach you how to use new technology. Things are changing right now. It's up to you to learn new tech and skills so you stay relevant and employable.
A New Learning Curve: Vibe Coding, AI, and Beyond
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For many professionals, “AI” still sounds intimidating. But as our PRO VOICE members point out, the most powerful skills of tomorrow are already within reach if you’re willing to experiment.
“I’ve never been into computer science,” says Shenoa, "I'm not an engineer. But this is a whole new world. I think the next skill to learn is vibe coding.”
Lee agrees, though he has some cautionary advice for professionals. “If you’re vibe coding, please make sure that you're looking at security governance and any issues related to data privacy because sometimes the vibe code systems aren't the best at making sure to cover your back.”
Meanwhile, Ken makes learning a priority by listening to a variety of innovation podcasts. “For me, it's a steady diet of podcasts. I know that sounds kind of old school, but I've got three different areas of podcast that I focus on. And if I miss one of those three, it's like skipping leg day at the gym. I need to have that steady diet of all three of those.”
Staying sharp and up to date with new tech doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming, as our PRO VOICE members detailed above. You just need to make learning a non-negotiable habit.
Specialist vs. Generalist: What the AI Era Really Demands
BigstockThere's another big question emerging in today’s workplace: should you specialize or generalize?
According to Lee, the answer is both. “You kind of need to do both. [Being a] focused generalist is really understanding how do I help the business? How do I help my customer? How do I create a better prompt to solve a problem?”
Shenoa adds that balance is key. “Maybe it's about 60% generalist and then 40% specializing. You still need to kind of double down on what your industry-specific skills are.”
As a leader in tech, Ken believes that whether you should specialize or generalize depends on the role and the stage of the company. “In the beginning, [startup] tech companies want utility players because you're going to wear a lot of hats. Eventually, [they will] be hiring specialists to fill specific roles...so unless you change with that, unless you're flexible enough to use the platforms and adapt to the job that you need to get done at the end of the day, you're going to be pigeonholed.”
No matter your title or industry, it's clear that versatility and flexibility are must-have qualities. The most successful professionals are those who can think strategically, connect dots across disciplines, and pivot when new technologies emerge.
Your Career Visibility Matters More Than Ever
BigstockWhile technical upskilling is critical to stay relevant in your industry, it’s not enough. Visibility has become just as important as ability.
As J.T. O’Donnell, founder and CEO of Work It DAILY, reminds us, “Visibility is everything in today's world, but getting noticed, that's tougher than ever. AI is making it easy for you to apply, to post, to connect, but it's also flooding the market with noise."
This is where tools like McCoy AI come in. It's a new platform designed to help professionals build strong personal brands through quick, authentic video reels that show real expertise in action.
In a crowded, ultra-competitive job market, your visibility—what people see, hear, and feel about your professional brand—can be the deciding factor in whether you get discovered, promoted, or passed over.
Key Takeaways: How to Stay Future-Proof
Our PRO VOICE members have reiterated what Work It DAILY has been saying for years: the rules of professional survival have changed. To sum up everything mentioned on this podcast episode (see video above), here's a quick list of tips that will help you stay relevant in your industry:
- Commit to continuous learning. Upskilling is a mindset, not a phase.
- Adopt a “focused generalist” approach. Know your niche but understand the ecosystem.
- Stay data literate. AI depends on clean, accurate, well-governed information.
- Be agile. The professionals who adapt fastest create the most opportunities.
- Prioritize visibility. If no one can find you, your skills won’t matter.
The future of work doesn’t belong to the smartest or the most experienced. It belongs to those who are visible, versatile, and always evolving. What will you do today to stay employable?
Build Your Career Advantage with PRO VOICE
The insights shared here are just a glimpse of what’s happening inside PRO VOICE—Work It DAILY’s leadership platform for building professional visibility and influence online.
If you’re ready to upskill, elevate your presence, and master the tools that make you in-demand in the AI era, PRO VOICE is your next step.
Join today and start showing up where it matters most—learning faster, leading smarter, and staying ahead of the curve.
