AI is eroding leadership pipelines, warns Talogy study

The shift toward AI-driven workflows has created a vacuum in early-career development, according to research from global talent management firm Talogy. By surveying 207 industry experts, the firm identified a growing risk: if junior employees are no longer performing foundational tasks due to automation, they will fail to acquire the complex decision-making and interpersonal abilities required for senior roles later in their careers.

To counter this, Talogy’s Director of Science Strategy, Ali Shalfrooshan, advocates for an "intentional development" model. This approach moves beyond simple technical training, focusing instead on the RISE framework: Responsiveness, Insight, Sustainability, and Effectiveness. These core human capabilities—ranging from critical thinking to emotional resilience—are designed to be anchored in psychometric and behavioral assessments rather than organic experience alone. Shalfrooshan argues that organizations must stop assuming leadership skills will develop naturally, urging firms to map hidden talent and initiate structured development programs from the earliest stages of an employee’s journey.