The Human-Centered Pivot: Leaders Bet on People, Not Just AI, for Growth

DEER VALLEY, Utah – July 15, 2026 – This October, while headlines continue to fixate on the jobs artificial intelligence will eliminate, 300 leaders from America's top companies, nonprofits, and educational institutions will gather in the mountains of Park City with a different agenda. The third annual Human Potential Summit isn't about bracing for an automated future; it's about actively building a human-centric one.

Organized by the Human Potential Network, the summit poses a critical choice facing every boardroom: use technology simply to cut costs and automate jobs, or use it to expand human capability and create more meaningful work. The network is betting firmly on the latter, assembling a coalition of leaders who believe that in an age of intelligent machines, their people remain their single greatest competitive advantage.

AI's Crossroads: Augmentation Over Automation

The current narrative around AI often feels like a countdown to obsolescence. Market data suggests that up to 30% of current work hours in the U.S. could be automated by 2030. But the leaders convening in Utah are pushing back against this deterministic view. They champion a model of augmentation, where AI acts as a collaborative partner, freeing up employees from mundane tasks to focus on work that requires creativity, critical thinking, and empathy.

"The organizations that use technology to elevate individual contribution — not replace it — are building more resilient teams, stronger cultures, and better outcomes," said Ryan Stowers, Senior Vice President at Stand Together, a key supporter of the network. "This year's Summit is about accelerating that progress."

This perspective is backed by a seismic shift happening in the labor market. The pace of change is staggering; research shows that between 2021 and 2024, one in three required job skills changed—a rate of disruption that previously took five years. As AI fluency becomes a baseline requirement across sectors, the most valuable skills are becoming distinctly human. Adaptability, communication, and leadership are now the currencies of a future-proof career.

The summit's agenda directly addresses this new reality. With a core theme of "AI Readiness," the goal is to equip organizations to increase productivity while simultaneously making work more economically sustaining and purposeful for employees. It's a direct response to the emerging risk of "AI lock-in," a phenomenon where over-reliance on automation can cause a workforce to lose foundational expertise, leaving companies vulnerable and unable to innovate beyond the algorithm.

A New Blueprint for Collaboration

Perhaps the most telling detail about the Human Potential Summit is what it lacks: there are no sprawling expo halls, no generic panel discussions, and no sponsored sessions designed to fill time. This is not a conference; it's a working session. The event's architecture is a story in itself, revealing a deep commitment to practical, collaborative problem-solving.

Attendees are not a passive audience but active contributors, broken into curated cohorts to tackle shared challenges. The format is built around employer-led problem-solving sessions, peer networking, and even site visits to local organizations putting innovative workforce strategies into practice. It’s an immersive model designed to move beyond theory and generate actionable strategies that leaders can implement back at their own companies.

The summit serves as the anchor event for the Human Potential Network, a year-round community of employers that includes giants like McDonald's and TEKsystems. This continuous engagement is key to its mission. "The Human Potential Network exists because no single organization or industry can transform the future of work alone," Stowers explained.

This collaborative ethos is what attracted founding partners like Western Governors University (WGU), an institution built around competency-based education. "As AI transforms how we live and work, our greatest opportunity is to unlock human potential," said Scott Pulsipher, President of WGU. "The Human Potential Summit brings together leaders from industry and education to reimagine those systems together."

From Theory to Practice: Building New Career Ladders

The network’s focus isn’t purely philosophical. Two other key summit priorities—"Internal Mobility and Upskilling" and "New Pathways to High-Growth Careers"—are aimed at solving urgent, real-world problems. As AI changes the nature of entry-level work, traditional career ladders are breaking down, and companies are grappling with critical talent shortages in sectors like healthcare and the skilled trades.

This is where the network's collaborative model shows its power. Past participants highlight the tangible benefits of sharing strategies. Lisa Schumacher, Director of Education Strategies at McDonald's Corp., noted the network provided a "unique platform to showcase 10 years of our Archways to Opportunity program." By sharing the success of restaurant employees who developed their careers through the program, McDonald's could demonstrate a clear business case for investing in its people.

This kind of peer-to-peer validation is crucial for derisking change. John Lullen, Director of Marketplace Inclusion at TEKsystems, called a previous summit "extremely impactful," emphasizing that "investing in human potential and creating opportunities for people across the broadest range of backgrounds and experiences is essential in this age of disruption."

By examining case studies and research with proven business impact, the summit provides a roadmap for companies to identify, develop, and advance talent from within. It’s about building a more resilient and inclusive talent pipeline that benefits both the business and society.

The Architects of a Human-Centered Future

The driving force behind the Human Potential Network is a coalition of organizations that see workforce development as a critical lever for societal progress. Stand Together, a philanthropic community focused on tackling major social barriers, provides foundational support. Its involvement underscores a belief that employers, both large and small, have a decisive role and responsibility in shaping the future of work.

Western Governors University brings deep expertise in making education more accessible and relevant to workforce needs. President Scott Pulsipher's vision for the network is to help society shift its view of talent "from proxies and pedigrees, to potential and purpose." This reflects a move toward skills-based hiring and a recognition that talent exists everywhere.

The summit is produced in partnership with Common Group, a consulting firm focused on economic mobility, with guidance from an advisory council of top talent development leaders. Together, these partners are building more than just an annual event; they are fostering a movement dedicated to proving that investing in people is the most durable strategy for navigating the profound economic and technological transformations ahead.