Talent X Tech

Episode #1 – Future-Proofing Careers in the AI Era with Annella Heytens (Microsoft)


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Worried about how AI will impact jobs, careers, or leadership?

Then this episode is a must-listen.

I’m Sital Ruparelia, your host. With 25+ years in leadership, recruitment and talent management — including a decade at Microsoft leading Executive Talent Acquisition across Asia — I now speak weekly with business leaders, HR heads, and subject matter experts at the intersection of talent, tech, and transformation.

In this first episode of Talent X Tech, I sit down with Annella Heytens — a global HR leader with experience at Microsoft, AWS, and Coca-Cola — to talk about career growth in an AI-enabled world.


In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why career paths will be non-linear in the AI age.
  • What skills matter most as the world of work evolves.
  • Why learning agility is your future-ready superpower.
  • How to take ownership of your growth (and help others do the same).
  • What it means to disrupt yourself before the world does.
  • Career advice for early professionals — and their parents.


Be sure to subscribe, follow, and share.


0:00 Highlights reel of the interview

0:45 Introduction

1:41 Favorite Asian food

2:24 Annella’s big career leap that shaped her style and mindset

10:33 Lessons from taking career risks

12:26 AI’s impact on jobs

14:48 AI: Types of new jobs/skills

15:57 Continual learning of technology skills

20:08 Human-centric skills needed in the New World of Work

22:32 Career management in the AI-enabled workplace

26:58 Self-driven careers & risk-taking

28:20 Leadership & succession in a tech-enabled workplace

32:33 How HR policies need to evolve for the New World of Work

35:50 How companies should reward for innovation and risk-taking

39:39 Asia: How to lead and manage talent in Asia

41:26 Career advice for graduates today

44:26 Advice for parents

46:12 Advice Annella would give to her younger self


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🌍 My website - www.TalentXTech.com

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