Latest Industry Insights

Ask any tech leader trying to move beyond AI experiments and into real delivery: finding a good AI engineer is tough. Not because the job title is rare on LinkedIn, but because the mix of skills, experience, and mindset needed is still in short supply.

As someone in HR, I see the same stories everywhere: companies excited about new AI tech, spending big on cloud and software, hoping for a productivity boost. But the real secret to success isn’t just adding tools—it’s about changing how we work.

It’s not every day that I see a stat like this: 38% of employees would actually pick an AI manager over a human one. When I first read it, I had to pause. This isn’t just frontline staff, interest in digital leadership runs even higher among executives.

The data scientist role has always attracted curiosity—and, lately, a lot of anxiety about what AI really means for the future. But SEEK and LinkedIn’s newest salary insights point towards growth, not obsolescence, for professionals who stay curious and keep upskilling.

The question is everywhere right now: is AI really here to stay, or is it just another management fad destined for the buzzword bin? For Sales Directors, there’s an even bigger worry: “If I’m already a leader in my field, does upskilling in AI actually matter for my future?”

AI is shifting the tempo of business, and the way companies lead is changing with it. The rise of fractional leadership isn’t just another trend, it’s a response to the realities teams face today. Instead of locking in high-cost, full-time executives, more organisations are bringing in part-time or project-based leaders who know how to drive results when it counts.​