Beyond Efficiency: Why People and Culture Must Lead the Future of Work

When conversations about the future of work focus on AI, automation, and productivity, it is easy to overlook the human side of change. In our latest Lifting the Lid podcast, Olivia Brown, Group People and Culture Lead at Softsource vBridge, shares why success depends on building capability, community, and trust alongside technological progress.  
  
With a background leading large technical teams, Olivia has seen first-hand how fast changing tools can transform the workplace. Yet her philosophy remains grounded in people.

“I live by the motto that a rising tide lifts all boats. So, I really endorse that, and I love seeing people succeed.”

For Olivia, the real test of modern workplaces is how well leaders can foster collaboration and belonging. Technology should enable smarter ways of working, but not at the expense of human interaction. As she notes, organisations must set clear frameworks for using AI and digital tools, so they add value without replacing the connections that keep teams strong.  
  
In fact, over 80% of executives now believe that a strong commitment to human impact not only helps attract new talent but also improves customer appeal and increases profitability. Yet, fewer than 60% of workers feel their employer is currently delivering on that promise.¹ 

While AI and automation reduce mundane tasks, Olivia also cautions that over-reliance can lead to isolation or disengagement. She points to examples such as employees turning first to AI rather than a colleague, or keeping cameras switched off in online meetings, small behaviours that can weaken collaboration over time. 
  
Leaders, she argues, need to remain intentional about encouraging connection, whether through face-to-face rituals, meeting norms, or creating safe spaces for open discussion.  
 
Well-being isn’t improving quickly: only 56% of workers describe their overall well-being as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’, a figure that has barely moved over the past two years. Additionally, about 4 in 10 employees, managers, and leaders say they frequently feel exhausted or stressed. These are not small quirks; they are signals that, if technology replaces opportunities for connection, the toll on people may worsen.¹ 

One of Olivia’s strongest insights is the shift from focusing on technical skills alone to developing broader human capabilities “We are moving towards more of a capability than it is necessarily skills… You are never going to replace human interaction,” she explains. 
  
By prioritising adaptability, problem-solving, and creativity, organisations can prepare their people for whatever changes AI and technology bring next.  
 
It’s not just about technical skills anymore, workers want more human capabilities like adaptability, creativity, and problem solving. And for a lot of them, if their organisation increased its commitment to human sustainability, over 70% believe their job satisfaction, engagement, performance, and trust in leadership would improve. These shifts in mindset aren’t optional extras, they are central to how people decide whether to stay, or even join, an organisation.¹ 

The future of work is not defined only by the speed of innovation, but by the culture businesses choose to build. Organisations that balance technology with trust, wellbeing, and human capability will create workplaces where people can flourish and where technology becomes a true partner in progress.

Listen to the full conversation with Olivia Brown in our latest Lifting the Lid episode and explore how to prepare your people and culture for the future of work.   

Fisher, J., Cantrell, S., & Bhatt, J. (2024, June 18). Leading workplace well-being. Deloitte Insights. https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/talent/workplace-well-being-research-2024.html