We’re living through one of the biggest shifts in how people learn. Across Asia Pacific, professionals are hitting play on courses about everything from AI and communication to creativity and leadership. But what’s really driving this learning boom?
In this episode, Richard Farmer sits down with Georgina O B’rien, Head of LinkedIn Learning Sales for APAC, to explore what people are actually learning right now, and what those choices reveal about the skills that will matter most in the next few years.
They discuss why non-technical professionals are embracing AI, how leaders can create real learning cultures, and why curiosity is fast becoming the most valuable skill at work.
🔑 Key takeaways
• AI is driving a massive learning shift. There’s 5,000% increase in people adding AI-related skills to their profiles (LinkedIn).
• It’s not just tech roles: non-technical professionals are leading AI upskilling across HR, sales, and marketing.
• Prompting is the new literacy. Learning how to ask AI the right questions is now a core skill for everyone.
• Short-form, bite-sized learning is winning. People are learning in minutes, not hours.
• Leaders must model learning behaviour, not just promote it. If you learn, your team will follow.
• Reverse mentoring between Gen Z and older generations helps bridge AI understanding.
• AI amplifies, not replaces, human skills like communication, creativity, and agility.
• The best leaders are prescriptive about learning, guiding their teams toward what truly moves the business forward.
• Personal learning fuels productivity: people who learn outside work perform better inside it.
• Staying curious and giving yourself space to think is the real edge in the AI era.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro: How AI is changing not just work, but learning
02:00 – Meet Georgina: From PR to recruitment to leading LinkedIn Learning APAC
04:00 – What’s trending: AI, GenAI, and the rise of prompt literacy
06:00 – The non-tech upskilling boom: Why everyone wants to learn AI
08:00 – Reverse mentoring: How Gen Z is teaching older generations
10:00 – Learning styles: Finding what works for you — bite-sized, audio, or in motion
12:00 – Building a learning culture: Why activation and engagement matter
15:00 – Mandating curiosity: How companies create space and structure for learning
18:00 – Leading by example: How leaders can make learning visible and valuable
21:00 – New tools: Inside LinkedIn’s Career Hub and AI learning pathways
24:00 – Creativity unlocked: How Georgina uses AI for writing and inspiration
28:00 – Human skills that still matter: Communication, leadership, agility
32:00 – The evolving recruiter: AI automates admin so humans can connect
35:00 – Learning how to learn: Why clarity and structure beat information overload
38:00 – The future of learning: 70% of job skills will change by 2030
41:00 – Curiosity and silence: Why thinking time might be the next superpower
42:00 – Final thoughts: Embrace AI, keep learning, and stay human
