India, Jan. 29 -- After more than 30 years helping organizations develop talent, I've learned that the most disruptive force shaping the workforce isn't technology-it's the widening gap between the skills organizations assume their people have and the skills they now actually need.

The last decade saw enormous investment in learning platforms, content marketplaces, and digital courses designed to close skill gaps. But in 2026, the real challenge isn't access to learning. It's knowing which capabilities matter most-and building them fast enough to keep pace with shifting work, market, and technology demands.

Two forces are converging to reshape talent strategy.

First, work is changing faster than organizations can redesign roles. AI, au...