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Glass Ladder Group-- 2015 Was Amazing... But Watch Out 2016
Last year was a monumental year for me and my company (Glass Ladder Group). I am often in disbelief and awe at the amount of change, transition and success that I have seen in this short amount of time.
A year ago, I lived in Washington, D.C. and was working for an organization as the Acting Director. My work environment was miserable. Each week I put in way more work than my fair share and each week I was told that my consistent 13 hour work days did not matter. My life's work, intercultural relations, was not important. It did not bring in enough money and it was a waste of the institutions resources. For me this was devastating.
The rise of artificial intelligence isn’t just changing tools, it’s reshaping the workforce. We’re entering the age of agentrification, a term used to describe the replacement of human workers with AI agents across knowledge-based and managerial roles. This shift is faster and deeper than previous automation waves, and it’s already impacting global employment systems.
According to the World Economic Forum, an estimated 92 million existing roles will disappear over the next five years. While 170 million new roles are projected to emerge, this disruption doesn’t come with a built-in safety net. In fact, 41% of employers globally report plans to reduce their workforce as AI automates key tasks.
For leaders, this isn’t just a technical challenge, it’s a cultural reckoning.
At Glass Ladder Group, we’re helping institutions confront this moment with clarity and compassion. Because how you integrate AI, who is trained, who is displaced, and how you communicate it, will shape your legacy and your workforce for decades to come.