HiBob VP Urges AI-Era Careers to Grow Sideways Before Moving Up 1 Ladder

1 articles · Updated · Fast Company · Jul 28

Macaire Montini, HiBob’s VP of People and Culture, says companies should let careers “wildflower” as AI reshapes jobs faster than employers can redesign traditional paths.
Instead of pushing workers up a rigid ladder, she argues for “career mushrooms” — lateral moves across projects and skills that later support promotion.
Human strengths become the key differentiator in that model, with employers matching people to roles that fit their gifts rather than standardizing development.
The pitch comes as AI erodes some entry-level work and flatter organizations leave middle managers with larger teams and fewer promotion openings.