Two Experts. Same Warning: HR Needs a System Upgrade

Over the past two Skills Connect episodes, I’ve had two incredibly sharp conversations—with Trish Steed, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of H3 HR Advisors and Dennis Di Lorenzo, Director of Skilling Strategy at Micron—that hit the same nerve, from two very different angles.

Trish comes from years of research, HR tech strategy, and advising global CHROs. Dennis brings decades in higher ed and now leads skilling strategy for one of the most AI-forward companies in the world.

And yet, without planning it, they both said the same thing:

⚡ HR is stuck in outdated structures. And unless we rebuild the infrastructure of work itself, no amount of upskilling will help.

From broken job architectures to the misuse of AI, from L&D programs that lag behind business needs to the total mismatch between HR priorities and CEO pressure—this was the week we connected the dots.

Here’s what I heard from both of them—and why I think these two episodes are essential listening for anyone building an AI-ready workforce:

🔁 Common Threads Between Trish & Dennis

1. HR Needs to Shift from Support to Strategy

Trish:

“HR needs to stop seeing itself as a service provider and start thinking like a strategic operator.”

Dennis:

“We designed HR systems for talent processes—not for the business.”

Takeaway: Both warned that unless HR reframes its purpose, it risks becoming irrelevant in the AI-powered enterprise.

2. Job Architectures Are Broken

Trish: Called out the limitations of static role structures and legacy systems that get in the way of agility.

Dennis:

“Job architectures are a 1980s framework… built for compensation, not for work.”

Takeaway: You can’t transform work or implement AI meaningfully without rethinking the foundational structure of jobs, roles, and tasks.

3. Skills Alone Aren’t Enough

Trish:

Emphasized that skills-based models are no longer enough—what matters is aligning capability to business need.

Dennis:

“Skills are just a placeholder for capability.”

Takeaway: Skills are only useful when you know what work needs to be done and whether your people can do it now.

4. AI Isn’t the Future—It’s Now

Trish: Warned that HR is underestimating how fast AI is reshaping work.

Dennis:

“AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a business engine. If you don’t adapt, you’ll be obsolete.”

Takeaway: AI is already changing how work gets done. Leaders need to be redesigning now—not waiting 3 years.

5. The Importance of Data & Infrastructure

Trish: Talked about the need for stronger workforce intelligence and usable data.

Dennis:

“You can’t reengineer your workforce without data on what people actually do.”

Takeaway: Transformation without a task-level data layer is just guesswork. You need real-time visibility into work to make strategic decisions.

🎧 Catch up on both episodes:

▶️Dennis Di Lorenzo on How Outdated Job Architectures Are Holding Back Workforce Reinvention

▶️5 Bold Takes from Trish Steed, Co-Founder of H3HR Advisory, on Leading AI Transformation

Let’s be honest—HR doesn’t need more programs. It needs a system upgrade. If you’re ready to stop talking skills and start reengineering work, let’s chat. We’re running personalised Skills Masterclasses to help teams move from theory to strategy, fast.

🔗 Book your session here