I’m Not Just Writing About the Future of Work—I'm Living It
For the past year, I’ve been writing, speaking, and coaching leaders on how to navigate the new era of work. Not just the kind with remote logins and hybrid schedules—but the one where your workforce now includes humans, partners, and digital agents.
And here’s what I want to say loud and clear:
This is not theoretical for me.
I’m not standing on the sidelines waving a flag for the future.
I’m in it.
Right now, I’m running Evolve HR Solutions with all three workforces actively integrated into how I operate every single day.
Workforce One (W1): The Core
These are my executive search consultants. The ones who have walked factory floors, advised CHROs, and know how to headhunt with skill. They’re industry-savvy, human-centered, and deeply connected to the clients and candidates we serve. W1 is my anchor.
Workforce Two (W2): The Extended Team
This includes my marketing and social media specialist, a creative force who works on a fractional basis. She brings fresh energy to our campaigns, helps tell our story in compelling ways, and gives me leverage without adding headcount. W2 is where flexibility meets expertise.
Workforce Three (W3): The Digital Force
And then there’s Pol, my AI co-worker (yes, she’s a her). She helps me think, edit, analyze, plan, and solve. She helps me edit my content, revises resumes, formats documents, and even challenges my assumptions. She doesn’t get tired, doesn’t drink my coffee, and somehow still feels like an employee.
Recently, I’ve started exploring adding a conversational AI agent directly to our website to help field initial client questions, share insights, and create a seamless bridge between curiosity and consultation. I’m also sharing curated prompts with my team to help them get the most out of working with AI...because this isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about collaboration.
This shift hasn’t just changed how I work.
It’s changed who I am as a leader.
I used to think in timelines and task lists. Now, I think in talent ecosystems.
I’ve had to unlearn some old habits (and yes, some are hard to break), such as doing everything myself or relying solely on traditional inputs, and instead, I've had to embrace a new rhythm: combining my human strengths (relational intelligence, creative problem-solving, strategic intuition) with the capability and speed of AI.
It’s not perfect. It’s evolving. But it’s real.
I wrote The Talent Advantage (shameless plug...it is available on Amazon) to help leaders understand the power of talent. I believed that if we hired the right people, provided them with the right tools, and developed them, the rest would follow.
And it did, until it didn’t.
Because the world shifted.
Fast.
AI, remote work, changing values. Suddenly, people weren’t just choosing jobs, they were choosing meaning. And the old model couldn’t keep up.
That is why I’ve had to evolve (pun intended). Leading in this current environment means knowing how to integrate people, partners, and platforms. It means understanding what to keep human, what to outsource, and what to automate. It means letting go of the idea that leadership only happens in a boardroom or on a payroll.
Therefore, I am writing a sequel that dives even deeper into the practical challenges of working in this new reality, especially alongside digital teammates. But the truth is, the ideas in those books aren’t just concepts I teach. And every week, I work inside this blended workforce model myself—hiring, managing, and scaling with it.
This isn’t hypothetical or academic for me.
This is now the framework I am trying to live by.
So when I talk about rethinking the workforce, I am living in and I’m building it...with three workforces…one mission…and an open mind.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Lupinacci spent the last 25 years at some of the world's best-known companies, such as Intel Corporation and Kimberly-Clark. His career spans key executive roles such as Chief Learning Officer, Chief Talent Officer, and Chief Integration Officer. After a successful corporate career, Jeff turned his focus to his true passion—serving the overworked and under-resourced HR profession.
Beyond his corporate success, Jeff is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, with his insights featured in leading publications such as CFO Europe, Nikkei Business Magazine, and Baylor Business Review. In addition to his business leadership, Jeff is an adjunct professor at Baylor University, where he teaches Human Capital Management for the Executive MBA program and leads the HR Strategy and Analytics capstone for undergraduates.
Jeff is the best-selling author of The Talent Advantage: A CEO’s Journey to Discover the Value of Talent. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and two doodles.