DisruptHR at KLU explores how AI and changing values reshape the future of work
DisruptHR came for the first time to Hamburg on January 30th in a breakfast event that combined informal networking with short, high-impact talks. About 100 people made their way in the snowy Hamburg morning to get their first coffee (and a crepe) at KLU Campus in the HafenCity. From there, 8 talks by KLU professors and esteemed professionals from different sectors, and 3 deep-dive workshops, structured the program through the early afternoon, gathering insights from very diverse participants: from students to HR representatives to high-level managers. The topics included, of course, AI in the workplace, but also opened conversations about ambition, side gigs, experimentation, continuous change, learning processes, and even supply chains.
In a fast-paced set-up, this edition of the worldwide extended series DisruptHR brought together participants of different ages, industries, and professional backgrounds, connecting generations around a shared question: how is the future of the workplace evolving? The speaker list included four KLU professors – Prisca Brosi, Kai Hoberg, Niels van Quaquebeke, and initiator and co-organizer Brooke Gazdag – and four external professionals from different backgrounds – Dirk Finning (Kühne+Nagel), Jörn Fleger (Netlight), Ruchi Kaushal (Castrol), and Anna Kollenbrandt (Inverto). In a challenging format of 5-minute presentations with timed slides, the speakers took the stage one after another to pose critical questions to the audience and invite them to reflect, exchange, and reimagine the HR industry and the entire working spectrum. KLU student Ksenia Ramaj, co-organizer of the event, guided the public through the talks with confidence and clarity, keeping the attendants engaged at all times.
A central question: How do we integrate AI in the workplace?
Throughout different talks, on and out of the stage, one topic stayed highly present: AI as the ultimate disruptor of the status quo and the workplace dynamics as we know it. From potential AI supervisors to every human managing AI, changes in collaborative settings due to the use of AI, and long chains of AI analysis leading to no action due to lack of ownership, the challenges arising with the rapidly expanding and still loosely regulated use of AI bring up questions that call for deep, ethical analysis and the need for practical development. “The event underscored the profound change AI will bring to work in the future”, said KLU Professor Kai Hoberg, “We now finally start to grasp how this will shape everything”.
New era, new skillsets, new aspirations: changing the corporate playbook
Beyond the fast technological changes, the speeches also tapped on how the job market is changing from industrial times' outdated models to new work-life setups, pushed by the transformation of the market and the generational change. The career ambitions have shifted, the corporate ladder is fading, and the younger generation, the Gen Z, is choosing purpose over stability. “They are demanding ability and authenticity”, mentioned Ruchi Kaushal in her talk. In a world where the side gig can become the next career path to follow, the lines between the main job and the hobbies or hustles are blurring, bringing a very different kind of profile to the market, but also a more diverse, agile one that thrives in continuous learning and brings curiosity as a strong skill.
However, this heterogeneity of competences creates as well a complex situation for those recently entering the job market. “Beyond learning the language [German], the scope of skillsets is quite diverse, so knowing what set of skills to learn for which company is always a struggle”, commented KLU master’s student Omar Khateeb.
Workshops and exchange beyond the main stage
After the inspiring talks, the attendees had the opportunity to join one of the three simultaneous in-depth workshops led by Prof. Brosi, Prof. van Quaquebeke, and Prof. Gazdag with Ruchi Kaushal, followed by networking time for informal yet meaningful conversations. “This was the highlight of my day! We had an amazing and open discussion around fear, hope, and confidence!”, concluded Prof. Brosi after the event, thanking all the contributing participants. The different workshops allowed for a multigenerational conversation with open questions to the panelists, but also interactions with HR experts attending the event, from whose professional experience students gained practical insights. “I’m going to learn to accept ‘No’ and ask how can I make it happen”, said TUHH master’s student Rupal Somani, when asked about the one thing she could apply immediately in her life.
KLU as host and facilitator
By hosting DisruptHR Hamburg, KLU continues to position itself as a platform for dialogue between research, practice, and the next generation of leaders. The event reflected KLU’s commitment to exploring how organizations, leadership, and work are evolving, and how these changes can be shaped responsibly through education, research, and exchange.
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