As Co-Founder of Impact Work, Jildert Huitema is on a mission to harness the power of AI to reshape the future of work. His career trajectory beautifully illustrates the value of versatility and continuous learning in an era of exponential change. From studying law to discovering his passion for marketing in a Parisian startup, Jildert’s journey is a masterclass in adaptability.  

Jildert's time at Randstad shaped his vision for ImpactWork. Spearheading data-driven projects like the 'Becoming who you are' campaign, he experienced firsthand the transformative potential of AI in recruitment. By moving beyond traditional CVs to a skills-based matching engine, Randstad unlocked hidden talent pools and carved pathways for career transitions. This insight into matching people with their true potential laid the foundation for ImpactWork's human-centric approach to AI integration.

I really believe in the concept of mastery by Lynda Gratton - becoming deeply skilled in a particular area. Spend five years becoming good at something... make sure you build your own portfolio. Just knowing a little bit of everything won't get you there.

How did you approach mastering new skills like marketing and data?

In hindsight, I took the advice of Lynda Gratton to heart - investing at least five years to master a skill truly. I dedicated my first five years to all marketing facets, from campaigns to websites to online strategies. Then, I shifted my focus to data, taking on a market intelligence role at Randstad. This coincided with the emergence of the big data hype, and I immersed myself in leveraging data to drive better business decisions. For example, we built a sales navigator that used various data points, like cadastral data on office square footage, to predict potential staffing needs at companies.

What inspired you to focus on customer experience next?

After five years in data, I added customer experience to my skill set. What I love about CX is how beautifully it complements the latest AI technologies. AI enables unprecedented personalisation and proactive problem-solving, genuinely elevating the customer experience. It's not just about the technical capabilities but how we can harness them to enrich people's lives. At Randstad, we pioneered this through initiatives like the "Becoming Who You Are” campaign, using AI matching to connect people with careers based on their potential, not just their resumes. For example, we could identify that a theatre technician had 80% of the skills needed to become a process operator, opening up new career opportunities.

By looking beneath the surface at candidates' skills, we could identify that a theatre technician had 80% of the skills needed to become a process operator, opening up new career opportunities. This focus on potential rather than just experience is at the heart of what we do at Impact Work.

How are you bringing this human-centric approach to AI at Impact Work? 

At Impact Work, we're focused on addressing the significant challenges in the labour market - scarcity, job dissatisfaction, and inequality. We strive to remove biases from recruitment processes and match people with roles where they can thrive. It's not a one-size-fits-all approach; it requires understanding each individual's strengths, barriers, and needs. Too often, companies try to take shortcuts with generic solutions, but we're committed to bringing a personalised, data-driven approach to create sustainable, meaningful impact.

What are some current successes and challenges you're experiencing at Impact Work?

One project we're proud of is developing the HR strategy for the municipality of The Hague. By combining our expertise in digitalisation and employee experience, we co-created a strategy that the management team is thrilled with. The key to success was envisioning the future and helping them make the tough choices needed to get there. 

In terms of challenges, being a startup means constantly forging new ground. We're doing many things for the first time, so it's a steep learning curve. Balancing client work with business development and navigating long sales cycles requires agility. But seeing the impact of our work makes it all worthwhile. 

It's really important to keep the human aspect at the forefront. You see a movement to focus too much on the tech and what it can do... The moment you make that meaningful, that's when it gets interesting. It's not just about what's under the hood, but how you can enrich people's lives with it.

How do you envision AI shaping the future of work, and what steps should companies take to prepare?

AI is already making some workers significantly more productive. Those who have mastered the tools would be lost without them. But there's a risk of over-reliance. People might ask ChatGPT for ten ways to boost sales without considering their unique context. 

Companies must go beyond tool training to harness AI and cultivate a new way of thinking. Methodologies like design thinking are crucial for keeping the end-user at the heart of innovation. It's about defining the correct problems to solve, not just jumping to off-the-shelf solutions. 

I believe skill-based organisations are the future. By gaining a granular understanding of the skills in their workforce, companies can optimise talent allocation and support targeted upskilling. But this requires more than just installing new HR tech. It demands a fundamental mindset shift from focusing on functions to people and their potential.

What advice would you give to a young professional entering the workforce today?

My key advice is to commit to mastery. Spend at least five years becoming genuinely excellent at, for example, design, data analytics, or consulting. Build a strong foundation of expertise that you can then expand upon. Deep skill will set you apart in a world where shallow knowledge is increasingly automated. 

When it comes to AI specifically, stay curious. Carve out time to explore the latest developments and experiment with the tools. But always keep the human impact in mind. The greatest opportunity lies in leveraging AI to augment and enrich human potential, not just to drive profits or productivity.