At the 31st Human Resources Conference, held on March 19 at the Oriente Museum in Lisbon, under the theme “The end of the world of work… as we know it,” national and international experts from various sectors of the business landscape took the stage to reflect on the challenges and transformations shaping the future of work.
In a context where artificial intelligence is rapidly redefining how we work, Oliver Perez, Professor at Católica-Lisbon SBE | Executive Education, offered a clear and thought-provoking perspective: rather than replacing people, technology reinforces the importance of bringing the human element back into focus.
The differentiating factor of organizations continues to be, and will increasingly be, human. In this sense, artificial intelligence emerges as an ally. “We need to automate everything that can be automated so that we can focus on humanizing and creating what will be the true differentiator of companies: culture, how they behave, how they attract talent, and how people grow,” highlights Oliver Perez.
The professor emphasized that behaviors, leadership and culture are what truly drive organizations. However, despite being widely recognized as essential, organizational culture remains underdeveloped, often under the pretext of lack of time, which ends up masking barriers such as fear or discomfort.
To counter this scenario, Oliver Perez identified five key practices: values, purpose, innovation, empowerment and trust. Although well known, these practices are still not consistently applied. Trust, in particular, stands out as a fundamental pillar and, at the same time, one of the greatest challenges, especially in hybrid work environments.
Resistance to change, especially in the transition from technical to human skills, continues to be an obstacle. Even so, it is precisely in this shift that the future of leadership lies.
Rather than replacing humans, artificial intelligence frees up space for what is truly essential: relationships, culture, and the development of people. Oliver Perez challenges us to focus less on “doing” and more on “being, connecting, and feeling,” because ultimately, it is in the quality of human interactions that the true value of organizations is built.
The message is simple and powerful: it is not only in the age of artificial intelligence that humanity wins. It always does.