Will AI Take Your Job? How to Thrive in the Age of Automation | The Mid-Career Makeover Show

About the Episode:

Join LaVonne James as she dives deep into the real impact of AI on the modern workforce. Drawing on insights from the World Economic Forum and real-world examples, LaVonne explains why your job isn’t disappearing—it’s evolving. You’ll hear the story of a marketing director who went from fearing AI to getting a promotion by using it to her advantage. This episode is packed with practical advice on how to upskill, adapt, and build a personal brand that attracts opportunity in the age of AI.

Whether you’re feeling anxious about the future or excited about the possibilities, this episode will provide you with the mindset and strategies you need to not just survive, but thrive. It’s time to stop worrying about being replaced and start learning how to be amplified.

Are you a mid-career professional worried that AI will make your job obsolete? In this episode of The Mid-Career Makeover Show, host LaVonne James dismantles the fear and reveals how you can leverage AI to become an indispensable asset in your industry.

In a world buzzing with headlines about artificial intelligence, it’s easy to feel a sense of anxiety about your career. You’ve spent years building your expertise, and now it seems like an algorithm could threaten it all. But what if we told you that AI isn’t your replacement, but your amplifier? This episode is your guide to navigating the AI revolution with confidence, turning a potential threat into your greatest opportunity for career growth.

What You'll Learn:

• The Truth About AI and Job Security: Discover why the rise of AI is a period of transformation, not termination, and how it’s creating more jobs than it’s displacing.

• The 5-Step AI Thrival Strategy: A clear, actionable plan for mid-career professionals to become AI-literate, double down on human skills, and position themselves as AI integrators.

• Your Unbreakable Advantage: Learn how to leverage your years of experience, emotional intelligence, and strategic foresight—skills that AI can’t replicate.

• How to Build an AI-Era Personal Brand: Practical tips for showcasing your value and becoming a sought-after leader in the new world of work.

• Overcoming the Fear of the Unknown: A motivational boost to help you embrace change, get curious, and take control of your career narrative.

About The Mid-Career Makeover Show:

The Mid-Career Makeover Show, hosted by 20+ year PR, personal branding expert and career coach LaVonne James, is the ultimate resource for seasoned professionals looking to turn their experience into a competitive advantage. Each episode provides actionable advice and inspiration to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities of the modern workplace. If you’re ready to dream big, take bold action, and own your success, this is the podcast for you.

Subscribe to The Mid-Career Makeover Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t forget to leave a review and share this episode with a colleague who needs to hear it!

Keywords: AI and jobs, artificial intelligence, career change, mid-career professional, job security, career growth, upskilling, personal branding, future of work, automation, career advice, leadership, emotional intelligence, The Mid-Career Makeover Show, LaVonne James.

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Thank you for listening! For more information on mid-career transformation, visit AI4CareerSuccess.com. Connect with me on LinkedIn.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Welcome to the Mid-Career Makeover Show, the
place where we turn experienceinto your ultimate competitive
advantage.
I'm your host, LeVon James, andtoday we are tackling the
biggest question looming overthe professional world.
A question that might be keepingyou up at night.
It's a whisper in the back ofyour mind during team meetings,
a headline that catches your eyeand sends a chill down your

(00:22):
spine.
The question is, will AI take myjob?
Let's be honest, you've seen thearticles, you've heard the news
reports, maybe your company justannounced a new AI initiative
and the uncertainty is palpable.
You're a seasoned professional,you've paid your dues, you've
built a career, you have awealth of knowledge.
And now this new invisible forcecalled artificial intelligence

(00:44):
feels like a threat toeverything you've worked for.
You might be wondering if youryears of experience are about to
be rendered obsolete by analgorithm.
If you're feeling that anxiety,that uncertainty, I want you to
take a deep breath because todaywe are going to dismantle that
fear.
We're going to replace it withfacts, with strategy, and with a

(01:04):
new sense of power.
The truth about AI and yourcareer is far more nuanced and
frankly far more exciting thanthe doom and gloom headlines
would have you believe.
The future of work in the AI eraisn't about being replaced, it's
about being amplified.
And for mid-career professionalslike you, this is not a threat.
It is the single greatestopportunity to solidify your
value and accelerate your careergrowth for years to come.

SPEAKER_02 (01:27):
Are you a mid-career professional who feels invisible
despite your years ofexperience?
It's time to stop beingoverlooked and start being
recognized.
At AI for Career Success,LeVonne James combines her
20-plus years of PR expertisewith cutting-edge AI to help you
build a personal brand that getsyou promoted and paid what
you're worth.

(01:47):
Through her proven brandbreakthrough system, you'll
learn to amplify yourexperience, accelerate your
visibility, and become anirresistible asset to any
organization.
Don't let your career stall.
Visit AI4Career Success.com tolearn how to go from invisible
to irresistible.
That's AI, the number four,career success.com.

SPEAKER_01 (02:10):
Welcome back to the Mid-Career Makeover Show where
we're discussing if AI will takeyour job.
So let's get into it.
A recent CNBC survey revealed astaggering statistic.
89% of jobs will be impacted byAI in the next year.
Now, the key word there isimpacted, not eliminated.
This isn't the first time we'vefaced a technological
revolution.

(02:30):
Think about the rise of theinternet.
It didn't eliminate the need formarketers.
It created an entirely new fieldcalled digital marketing.
It didn't get rid ofsalespeople, it gave them
powerful new tools to connectwith customers globally.
When spreadsheets were invented,people worried that accountants
would become obsolete.
Instead, accountants becamestrategic financial advisors who

(02:52):
could analyze data faster andprovide deeper insights than
ever before.
AI is no different.
It is a tool, a powerful one,but a tool nonetheless.
The World Economic Forumpredicts that while AI might
displace around 92 million rolesby 2030, it will also create a
net gain of 78 million new jobs.
Let me say that again.
A net gain, more jobs createdthan lost.

(03:13):
This is a period oftransformation, not termination.
Your job isn't disappearing,it's evolving.
The real danger isn't that AIwill take your job.
The real danger is that your jobwill be taken by someone who
knows how to use AI.
And this is where yourmid-career advantage comes into
play.
Think about it.
What can AI do?
It can process massive amountsof data in seconds, it can

(03:33):
automate repetitive tasks.
It can even write a decent emailor a basic report.
But what can it do?
It can't replicate wisdom, itcan't understand the subtle
nuances of a client relationshipyou've spent 10 years building.
It can't walk into a boardroomand navigate complex human
dynamics to get a projectapproved.
It doesn't have strategicforesight, emotional

(03:55):
intelligence, or the kind of gutinstinct that comes from two
decades of real-worldexperience.
That is your domain.
That is your superpower.
Let me give you a real example.
I know a marketing director whowas terrified when her company
introduced AI tools for contentcreation.
She thought, this is it, they'regoing to replace me with a
chatbot.
But instead of retreating infear, she got curious.

(04:17):
She started using AI to draftinitial content, which freed up
her time to focus on strategy,brand positioning, and building
relationships with keystakeholders.
Within six months, her campaignswere performing better than ever
because she was spending herenergy on high-level creative
strategy instead of gettingbogged down in the weeds of
first drafts.
Her value to the companyskyrocketed.

(04:39):
She got promoted.
AI didn't take her job.
It elevated it.
AI can give you the data, butyou provide the insight.
AI can draft the plan, but youprovide the leadership to
execute it.
AI can analyze the numbers, butyou provide the human connection
to close the deal.
For every task that AIautomates, it elevates the
importance of the uniquely humanskills that you, as an

(05:03):
experienced professional, havein abundance.
Your job is shifting from doingto leading, from managing to
strategizing, from executing toinnovating.
And that is a powerful andprofitable place to be.
So the question isn't will AItake my job?
The real question is how will Iuse AI to make myself so
valuable that I am simplyirreplaceable?

(05:24):
And that, my friends, is aquestion we can answer.
It comes down to a clear,actionable strategy.
I call it the five-step AIthrival strategy for mid-career
professionals.
First, you must become AIliterate, not an AI expert.
You don't need to learn how tocode complex algorithms or
understand the mathematicsbehind machine learning, but you
do need to understand what AIcan and cannot do.

(05:45):
Get curious.
Play with tools like ChatGPT orClaude.
Ask it to help you draft anemail or brainstorm ideas for a
presentation.
Explore the AI tools that areemerging in your specific
industry.
If you're in finance, look atAI-powered analytics platforms.
If you're in HR, explore AIrecruitment tools.
By simply understanding thelandscape, you position yourself

(06:06):
as a forward thinker, the personin the room who isn't afraid of
the future but is activelyshaping it.
You become the go-to person fornavigating this new terrain.
And let me tell you, companiesare desperate for leaders who
can bridge the gap betweentechnology and people.
Second, you need to double downon your uniquely human skills.

(06:27):
This is where you truly shine.
Focus on honing your emotionalintelligence, your communication
skills, your ability to lead andinspire a team.
These are the skills that AIcannot replicate.
While others are worried aboutbeing automated, you will be the
one building strongerrelationships, solving more
complex problems, and providingthe kind of leadership that
drives real results.

(06:49):
Can AI give you a performancereview?
Sure, it can generate somemetrics, but can it sit across
from an employee who'sstruggling, read their body
language, understand what'sreally going on beneath the
surface, and provide the kind ofmentorship that turns their
career around?
Absolutely not.
That's you.
That's your magic.
These are the skills that getyou promoted.

(07:11):
These are the skills thatcommand a higher salary.
These are the skills that makeyou indispensable.
Third, and this is a gamechanger, you must position
yourself as the AI integrator.
Don't just be a user of AI.
Be the leader who bridges thegap between the technology and
the team.
Be the one who identifies how AIcan make your department more
efficient, more innovative, andmore profitable.

(07:32):
When you're the one showing yourcompany how to leverage AI to
enhance human expertise, youbecome indispensable.
You're no longer just amarketing director or a project
manager.
You are a strategic leaderdriving the future of the
business.
That is career security.
That is executive presence.
That is the kind of leadershipthat gets noticed at the highest

(07:54):
levels of your organization.

SPEAKER_02 (07:55):
Feeling invisible in your career?
It's time to build a brand thatcommands attention.
AI4.Career success.com todiscover how to become

(08:16):
irresistible.
That's AI, the number fourcareer success.com.

SPEAKER_01 (08:21):
Fourth, you have to commit to continuous upskilling
and adaptation.
The world is changing fasterthan ever, and lifelong learning
is no longer a buzzword.
It's a survival skill.
Take an online course on AI forbusiness leaders.
Attend a webinar on AI in yourindustry.
Follow thought leaders who arediscussing these trends.
Read one article a week about AIapplications in your field.

(08:44):
Every small step you take tostay ahead of the curve widens
the gap between you and thosewho are standing still, hoping
this will all just blow over.
It won't, but you can rise aboveit.
You can be the one who sees thewave coming and learns to surf
it instead of being swept awayby it.
And finally, number five, buildyour personal brand as an AI era

(09:05):
leader.
Start talking about what you'relearning.
Share an article on LinkedInabout how AI is impacting your
industry with your owninsightful commentary.
Write a post about a challengeyou solved using AI tools.
In team meetings, don't justtalk about the problems, talk
about how you're exploringAI-powered solutions.
You are demonstrating that youare not threatened by change.

(09:26):
You are energized by it.
You are showing the world thatyou are a leader who is not just
keeping up but leading the way.
That is a brand that attractsopportunity.
That is a brand that attractspromotions.
That is a brand that attractsrecruiters who want to bring you
into their organizations at ahigher level.

SPEAKER_00 (09:44):
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build a career that trulyreflects your potential?
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your success, Levon McIver Jamesshares the proven strategies
behind her brand breakthroughsystem.
Learn how to think like aleader.
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(10:05):
that commands attention.
Whether you're looking to standout in your current role or land
your next big opportunity, thisbook is your guide to taking
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Don't wait for success to findyou.
Create it.
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(10:26):
And start building the brand andlife you deserve, available on
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SPEAKER_01 (10:30):
Welcome back to the Mid-Career Makeover Show where
we're discussing if AI will takeyour job.
Now, I want to talk to youdirectly.
I want you to hear me.
I know there's a voice of doubtthat creeps in, a voice that
says, I'm too old to learn thisstuff, a voice that says it's
too complicated, a voice thatsays, What if I'm not smart
enough?
And to that voice, I say, youhave forgotten who you are.

(10:53):
I want you to think back on yourcareer.
Think about the challengesyou've already overcome.
The tough bosses, the impossibledeadlines, the economic
downturns, the corporaterestructures.
Remember when you had to learnthat new software system that
everyone said was too complex?
You figured it out.
Remember when you took on thatproject that no one else wanted
because it seemed impossible?

(11:14):
You made it happen.
Remember when you pivoted yourentire strategy because the
market shifted overnight?
You adapted, you've navigated itall.
You are a survivor.
You are resilient.
You have a track record ofsuccess that proves you have
what it takes to handle whatevercomes next.
This is not your first storm andit will not be your last.

(11:35):
You have greatness within you,and I believe that.
You have a reservoir ofstrength, of wisdom, of grit
that you have built over yearsof showing up, of fighting, of
learning, of growing.
This AI revolution is not a walldesigned to stop you.
It is a hurdle designed to showyou how high you can jump.
It is a test designed to revealjust how powerful you really
are.
It's possible you can learnthis.

(11:56):
It's possible you can masterthis.
It's possible you can becomemore valuable, more sought
after, and more successful inthis new era than you ever were
before.
But you've got to be hungry.
You've got to make a decisionthat you will not be a victim of
change, but a master of it.
You have to decide that yourstory will not be my job, was
replaced by AI.

(12:18):
Your story will be I harness thepower of AI to reach a level of
success I never thoughtpossible.
This is your moment.
This is your turning point.
While others are frozen in fear,you will be taking action.
While others are complainingabout the future, you will be
building it.
You have the experience, youhave the wisdom.
All you need now is the will,the will to learn, the will to

(12:41):
adapt, and the will to lead.
Don't you dare let a piece ofcode discount the value of your
human spirit.
Your creativity, your passion,your ability to connect with
another human being, yourability to inspire a team, to
mentor a struggling employee toclose a deal because you
understand what truly matters toyour client.
That is the real magic.
That is your unbreakableadvantage.

(13:04):
I've seen professionals in their50s learn to use AI tools and
become the most innovativepeople in their companies.
I've watched people who thoughtthey were behind the times
become thought leaders in theirindustries because they had the
courage to lean into thediscomfort of learning something
new.
You are capable of the sametransformation.

(13:24):
The only question is, will yougive yourself permission to step
into that power?
So what if your specific role,the one you have today, does get
automated?
Even in that worst-casescenario, you are not starting
from scratch.
You have a wealth oftransferable skills.
Your ability to manage projects,to lead teams, to solve
problems, to communicateeffectively, to build

(13:44):
relationships.
Those skills are in high demandin every industry.
A career transition for youisn't a step back.
It's a strategic redeployment ofyour incredible assets into a
new, more promising field.
With the right strategy, withthe right mindset, even a
challenge can be turned intoyour greatest comeback story.
You've reinvented yourselfbefore and you can do it again.

(14:04):
So let's bring it all home.
The fear around AI is real, butit is based on a
misunderstanding.
AI is not your replacement.
It is your assistant, it is yourdata analyst, it is your
brainstorming partner.
It frees you from the mundane soyou can focus on the meaningful.
It handles the repetitive so youcan focus on the relational.
For the mid-career professional,AI is the ultimate amplifier.

(14:28):
It takes your two decades ofexperience and gives it a
megaphone.
It takes your strategic insightsand gives them wings.
It takes your leadership andmultiplies its impact.
Your journey forward startstoday.
It starts with one small step.
Open up a browser and experimentwith an AI tool.
Read one article about AI inyour industry.
Identify one task in yourworkflow that could be

(14:49):
automated.
That's it.
Just one step.
Because momentum is built onsmall wins.
And you are more than capable ofwinning this new game.
You've been winning your wholecareer.
This is just the next chapter.
And it's going to be your bestone yet.
Thank you for joining me todayon the Mid Career Makeover Show.
If this episode resonated withyou, share it with someone who
needs to hear it.

(15:09):
And don't forget to subscribeand leave a review.
Until next time, dream big, takebold action, and own your
success because the best is yetto come.