AI is everywhere, and many CDOs have jumped on the bandwagon. But all too often, they miss the high-speed train driving real innovation: the human dimension, especially now that Agentic AI propels us forward at breakneck speed. This shift is not only reshaping organisations, it’s redefining society.
This week, two articles caught our attention that support this claim and challenge the traditional role of the CDO. They also raise questions about the future of HR. One example describes how AI agents are taking over the work of hundreds of HR employees within a single company. Another article introduces a new leadership role: People and Digital Technology Officer, a position created to foster collaboration between humans and AI Agents as equal partners.
- In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said that the company has deployed AI agents ‘to replace the work of a few hundred HR employees’. As a result, the tech giant will receive more investment to put into other areas, such as software engineering, sales and marketing, domains in which ‘critical thinking’ is central and where people have to do things that are opposite or face other people, rather than just routine process work.
- The other news is the decision by Moderna to merge its HR and IT departments into a single function and create a new executive position: Chief People and Digital Technology Officer. The CHRO will be appointed to align talent and technology strategies at a structural level.
I’m not saying this transformation will happen everywhere overnight, but the signals coming from countries like the UAE are unmistakable. The person with the most degrees, the longest career, or the largest network is no longer automatically the leader of the future. In fact, they can become a barrier to innovation unless they shift their mindset to match the reality of rapidly advancing Agentic AI.
The new CDO will be a facilitator of meaningful collaboration between people and intelligent systems. This demands a fundamentally different mindset, one grounded in humility, adaptability, and collaboration. It also calls for an understanding of liminal leadership: the capacity to navigate an infinite space between what was and what is continually emerging. In this dynamic context, deeply human competencies matter more than past credentials or networks. Openness, imagination, and empathetic leadership become essential qualities to guide ongoing transformation
In addition to the competencies of Belgian managers, I sometimes notice a lack of courage to move beyond the band-aid solutions that keep outdated ways of working intact. What I see in Belgium, as in many Western countries, is a growing awareness of the fragmentation of work, where roles are increasingly split between tasks performed by people and those managed by AI-driven processes. However, many of today’s use cases remain anchored in traditional AI and automation. I want to highlight the rising importance of Agentic AI as a true game changer. These emerging systems go far beyond automation: they can act autonomously, adapt in real time, and reason through complex tasks. In my view, this represents a fundamental shift that will radically transform leadership and decision-making.
Today’s CDO, who may just as well come from HR as from IT, must approach innovation with an open mindset and move beyond the outdated systems that still dominate Belgian corporate IT. This role is no longer simply about connecting technology platforms; it is about creating infinite learning ecosystems where humans and technology evolve together in symbiosis.
This is not a vision of the future; it is already happening. For Belgian CDOs who want to stay ahead, now is the moment to actively cultivate a learning mindset and reconnect with their uniquely human strengths. This will amplify their ability to thrive in this new symbiosis.
Katja Schipperheijn is an internationally awarded author, strategist, futurist, keynote speaker & entrepreneur. Her books Learning Ecosystems & The Learning Mindset profoundly impacted the way we approach learning, innovation and leadership. She is also member of the jury of the CDO of the Year Awards.
