Skip to content
March 18th '26 / 2:00 PM to 2:25 PM PDT

What Does It Take to Lead Workforce Transformation in the Age of AI? Ask First What Must Be Human

Case Study
Stage 2 | Room 102-104
Speaker
Chief Human Resources Officer
Western Digital Corporation

With more than 55 years of innovation and leadership, Western Digital has seen firsthand that long-term success comes from investing in people and leading with purpose. CHRO Katie Watson shares a practical, people-first approach to AI grounded in reality: jobs will change, tools will evolve, and uncertainty is inevitable. She offers leaders clear ways to guide transformation and turn AI disruption into lasting advantage—because in the age of AI, the organizations that prioritize people will be the ones that endure.

Key Takeaways:

  • How to shift AI conversations from tools and automation to outcomes and human judgment
  • Why resilience, adaptability, and comfort with change matter more than any single technical skill
  • A practical framework for deciding what must stay human as work evolves
  • How leaders can help people navigate uncertainty instead of shielding them from it
  • Clear steps to design work where AI supports progress—and people retain purpose, ownership, and accountability
Speaker
Chief Human Resources Officer
Western Digital Corporation