Career Switcher to AI? My colleague from 10 years ago informed me that she is changing to a role in the exciting world of AI in a new domain (she had not dabbled into this earlier) as a project lead. She mentioned to me that she doesn't have AI-specific knowledge but hopes to learn on the go. She is going to be responsible for a key project for her organization and has approval to hire a team. Her new organization has recognized AI as their enabler to stay competitive and is keen on AI-enablement for their business processes and has. She has been contemplating PMP certification for a long, but that has not happened as yet.
What advice would you give someone looking to make this transition? Saving Changes...
Given your ex-colleague's lack of domain & AI knowledge, I'd suggest she identify an appropriate individual to act as her domain knowledge/AI SME and involve that person in the staffing aspects as well as other planning aspects of the work. She should also focus on rapid self-learning using whatever resources are available for her new domain. Finally, she should line up a mentor from outside her company who has the domain & AI experience she is lacking.
Kiron
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1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Apr 16, 2024 7:41 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Kiron Bondale , thanks. Those are valuable actions for her or someone like her to take. Since she comes from healthcare, nuances of the new domain are critical to understand regardless of AI. As a generic skill, I agree that PMP will be benefit her.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Deepa, I do support Kiron's suggestions. In AI, domain knowledge and some expertise is important in order to be able to manage related projects especially that the organization is just starting to adopt it. She can also start doing professional development (PMI has two free AI related courses that can give your ex-colleague a head start) and I do recommend she considers earning her PMP.
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1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Apr 16, 2024 7:43 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Rami Kaibni thank you for your comment and suggestion. I did show her the courses and introduced her to PMI. She is keen on getting domain knowledge as her first step.
I also think her learning attitude is infectious. That in my opinion, along with risk taking attitude is good to make forward progress in your career.
Deepa, is your friend on the tech field already? Just curios about it.
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1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Apr 16, 2024 7:44 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Hello Mayte, she isnt in the tech field but wishes to learn the AI technology.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
AI is a boarder term. Today, most of the initiatives, are related to generative AI. Just to comment, I am leading programs to create AI based solutions from long time ago. For example, to automate manufacturing environments. So, nothing new below the sun about things specific to the role. But, as in other type of initiatives, to understand the environment a previous research to get knowledge has to be done, In this case, AI is basically about to create software based on mathematics and statistics.
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1 reply by Dr. Deepa Bhide
Apr 16, 2024 7:47 AM
Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Sergio, absolutely true. My colleague comes from deep research background and wants to get to the basics of her new domain and then the technology part of it. While this is a good move, I do think she may not have sufficient time to do this homework and then get on to lead the project. I think all learnings will have to be done simultaneously and not sequentially.
Given your ex-colleague's lack of domain & AI knowledge, I'd suggest she identify an appropriate individual to act as her domain knowledge/AI SME and involve that person in the staffing aspects as well as other planning aspects of the work. She should also focus on rapid self-learning using whatever resources are available for her new domain. Finally, she should line up a mentor from outside her company who has the domain & AI experience she is lacking.
Kiron
Kiron Bondale , thanks. Those are valuable actions for her or someone like her to take. Since she comes from healthcare, nuances of the new domain are critical to understand regardless of AI. As a generic skill, I agree that PMP will be benefit her. Saving Changes...
Deepa, I do support Kiron's suggestions. In AI, domain knowledge and some expertise is important in order to be able to manage related projects especially that the organization is just starting to adopt it. She can also start doing professional development (PMI has two free AI related courses that can give your ex-colleague a head start) and I do recommend she considers earning her PMP.
Rami Kaibni thank you for your comment and suggestion. I did show her the courses and introduced her to PMI. She is keen on getting domain knowledge as her first step.
I also think her learning attitude is infectious. That in my opinion, along with risk taking attitude is good to make forward progress in your career. Saving Changes...
AI is a boarder term. Today, most of the initiatives, are related to generative AI. Just to comment, I am leading programs to create AI based solutions from long time ago. For example, to automate manufacturing environments. So, nothing new below the sun about things specific to the role. But, as in other type of initiatives, to understand the environment a previous research to get knowledge has to be done, In this case, AI is basically about to create software based on mathematics and statistics.
Sergio, absolutely true. My colleague comes from deep research background and wants to get to the basics of her new domain and then the technology part of it. While this is a good move, I do think she may not have sufficient time to do this homework and then get on to lead the project. I think all learnings will have to be done simultaneously and not sequentially.
Thanks for your note
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1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Apr 16, 2024 5:13 PM
Sergio Luis Conte
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You are welcome. Regards
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Apr 16, 2024 7:47 AM
Replying to Dr. Deepa Bhide
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Sergio, absolutely true. My colleague comes from deep research background and wants to get to the basics of her new domain and then the technology part of it. While this is a good move, I do think she may not have sufficient time to do this homework and then get on to lead the project. I think all learnings will have to be done simultaneously and not sequentially.
Thanks for your note
You are welcome. Regards Saving Changes...
Omar JabbarProject Management and Digital Transformation Consultant| OGreen IT Service Inc.Ontario, Canada
I like the question and I was reading the comments and found them interesting. I agree with all the answers.
As they said before, "If you want to be successful, you must step out of your comfort zone." However, it's also important to have a mindset that builds a strong foundation, accepting change and paving the way for growth. Saving Changes...
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