Canva only hires people with these 2 traits—why they matter amid the AI shift

As artificial intelligence disrupts the workplace, there are still two human traits every employee needs to succeed, according to Canva’s chief people officer, Jennie Rogerson. Rogerson shared those traits at Charter’s New Employer Brand Summit last week in New York City. “Curiosity is a baseline,” she said. In addition to curiosity, Rogerson called out the ability to “go the extra mile” in taking initiative (and responsibility) to help out the team beyond one’s job description. In practical terms, that could mean getting an advanced certificate in your field, or bringing soft skills into the workplace. Career coaches and industry experts agree with Rogerson’s opinion—and the importance of those traits, especially as AI rises. “The biggest shift I’m seeing is that technical skills are no longer enough to future-proof your career,” London-based career coach Caroline Hickey tells Fast Company. “Curiosity is a deeply human trait that gives us control over our careers and it’s something we can all do. That is what makes it one of our human superpowers in a world shifting to AI.” Hickey, who specializes in helping young professionals navigate the changing world of work, says one the easiest ways to get curious is to get comfortable asking “why?” with a small, “w.” “When a project fails, you get rejected from a job, [or] a client gives you negative feedback, the courage to be curious allows you to pause, understand the root cause, and pivot,” Hickey adds. Ultimately, she says, that will help you turn every digital disruption into a chance to learn, adapt, and succeed—now and in the future. As for Rogerson’s other cited trait: “The ability to actually push beyond the immediate task [is something] humans can do, [but Al doesn’t],” Melissa Swift, CEO of organizational consulting firm Anthrome Insight and the author of Effective: How to Do Great Work in A Changing World, tells Fast Company. “AI can do what it is programmed to do.” “You want people to have that mental flexibility and stretch,” says Swift. “It’s important because it is absolutely impossible to have a definition of work that keeps up with the fast pace of technology.” “When people own outcomes, they execute completely differently,” Swift adds. “When people own tasks, you get what you assign.”