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Articles by Ursula Fear
The Agentic AI Era Demands New Entry-Level Roles. Are SA Companies Creating Them?
With all the speculation about AI eliminating entry-level jobs, it is no wonder young South Africans are anxious about launching their careers. This anxiety is entirely understandable. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey from Statistics South Africa, the official unemployment rate stood at 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, with 7.8 million people unemployed.
The Great Redeployment: How to Build a Workforce for the Agentic Era
By Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Program Manager at Salesforce The conversation about AI and the workforce has been dominated by one word: replacement. However, the true story of this technological revolution isn’t about replacement, but about redeployment – a fundamental shift in how we orchestrate human talent and intelligent technology.
The Future of learning: From online courses to integrated experiences
The pace of change in the workplace is faster than ever, reshaping the skills required to thrive. This shift demands a new approach to learning – one that moves beyond passive online course completion to agile, integrated experiences that empower individuals to be lifelong learners and teachers.
The Future of learning: From online courses to integrated experiences
The pace of change in the workplace is faster than ever, reshaping the skills required to thrive. This shift demands a new approach to learning – one that moves beyond passive online course completion to agile, integrated experiences that empower individuals to be lifelong learners and teachers.
The Future of learning: From online courses to integrated experiences
By Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Program Manager at Salesforce The pace of change in the workplace is faster than ever, reshaping the skills required to thrive. This shift demands a new approach to learning – one that moves beyond passive online course completion to agile, integrated experiences that empower individuals to be lifelong learners and teachers.
The Great Redeployment: How to Build a Workforce for the Agentic Era
The conversation about AI and the workforce has been dominated by one word: replacement. However, the true story of this technological revolution isn’t about replacement, but about redeployment – a fundamental shift in how we orchestrate human talent and intelligent technology. At a time when organisations face rising expectations and increased complexity, we are entering the era of the agentic enterprise: where humans and AI agents collaborate seamlessly as a single, intelligent workforce.
Humans + Machines: Building the workforce of the future
Written by Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Programme Manager | Salesforce (pictured above). Is AI coming for your job, or is it already working beside you? As its use becomes more routine, artificial intelligence is looking less like a threat and more like a teammate: answering queries, making decisions, chasing leads, processing invoices, and drafting content around the clock. This new class of digital labour is changing how teams function, how targets are met, and how people spend their time at work.
Humans + Machines: Building the workforce of the future
News Sponsored by HUAWEI Pura80 series: By Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Programme Manager, Salesforce Intro: Is AI coming for your job, or is it already working beside you? As its use becomes more routine, artificial intelligence is looking less like a threat and more like a teammate: answering queries, making decisions, chasing leads, processing invoices and drafting content around the clock.
As Agentic AI reshapes the workforce, businesses must proactively redeploy talent
By Ursula Fear, Senior Talent Program Manager, Salesforce The world of work is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by the rise of agentic AI – systems capable of independent action and complex problem-solving. Coupled with demographic shifts and broader technology adoption, this next phase of work is leading to a revaluation of the skills and roles needed.
As Agentic AI Reshapes The Workforce, Businesses Must Proactively Redeploy Talent
The world of work is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by the rise of agentic AI – systems capable of independent action and complex problem-solving. Coupled with demographic shifts and broader technology adoption, this next phase of work is leading to a revaluation of the skills and roles needed. As we move away from a human-only workforce, businesses need proactive strategies to navigate these changes effectively and to set employees up for success.
Gen Z skills development - bridging the workplace gap
Ursula Fear | Senior Manager | Talent Program | Salesforce | mail me | The solution to youth unemployment and the skills crisis lies in upskilling and empowering youth with future digital skills. Relevant digital skills should be developed before they enter the workplace. ICT certifications alone are not enough to meet the rate of change in the workplace. They also cannot secure sustainable job creation. South African companies hiring young people with practical skills will succeed.
New Salesforce developer training programme launched for WC youth Original
Advertise your job vacancies 2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more A one-year youth Salesforce developer training programme has been launched in the Western Cape. The aim is to train young people as admin and app builder-certified practitioners to develop and customise the Salesforce CRM system for clients in South Africa and across the world, says Salesforce. 23 young people began a one-year educational and work-readiness programme to become developers for the Salesforce ecosystem.
What are the top marketing automation options in South Africa?
Advertise your job vacancies 2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more In a world driven by technology, marketing automation tools are essential for businesses looking to simplify their marketing strategies, boost productivity, and improve interactions with customers. These tools provide functions, such as managing email campaigns overseeing social media activities generating leads and analyzing data.
What are the top marketing automation options in South Africa?
Advertise your job vacancies 2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more In a world driven by technology, marketing automation tools are essential for businesses looking to simplify their marketing strategies, boost productivity, and improve interactions with customers. These tools provide functions, such as managing email campaigns overseeing social media activities generating leads and analyzing data.
Worx Group and Salesforce collaborate for a successful World Tour Essentials Johannesburg Original
Advertise your job vacancies In the world of event management and experiential marketing, time is a limited resource. A keen eye is needed to capture opportunities for exceptional outcomes. Salesforce, a leading provider of cloud-based software, hosts numerous events worldwide, each of which demands careful and thorough planning and flawless execution to meet the company's business objectives.
Navigating unemployment in a changing skills development landscape Original
How will the imminent transition from the Setas to occupational qualifications under the QCTO impact our unemployment crisis? It’s no secret that South Africa has the highest unemployment rate in the world, a title we have held for some time. And the latest figures aren’t too encouraging either - Stats SA recently confirmed that our jobless rate rose to 32.9% in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 0.8% from the previous quarter.
In a surprise move, Ramaphosa to sign NHI Bill into law before 29 May elections Original
Fourteen days before the elections, President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the country’s biggest health policy overhaul into law, effectively consigning medical schemes to providing options only for small private elective procedures once implemented. In a surprise move, Ramaphosa announced that he will sign the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law on Wednesday, 15 May, at 2pm. It is likely to immediately be taken to court by opposition parties and the organised private health industry.
Cabinet hails Tetra Pak's R500m investment boost Original
Search jobs Cabinet has expressed its approval of President Cyril Ramaphosa's reopening of the Tetra Pak facility in KwaZulu-Natal, drawing in a R500m investment. The investment forms part of the Presidential Investment Mobilisation Drive, where government set the ambitious target in 2018 to attract R1.2tn investments over five years.
The impact of cheap cement imports on local construction sector
The South African construction sector is currently facing a crisis of confidence, reflecting wider economic and investment uncertainties. The FNB/BER Building Confidence Index, a barometer of satisfaction across six sectors within the construction industry, has seen a significant drop to 27 in Q1 2024, down from 43 in the previous quarter. This is the lowest level since mid-2020, indicating a deep-seated dissatisfaction among industry participants.
The impact of cheap cement imports on local construction sector
The South African construction sector is currently facing a crisis of confidence, reflecting wider economic and investment uncertainties. The FNB/BER Building Confidence Index, a barometer of satisfaction across six sectors within the construction industry, has seen a significant drop to 27 in Q1 2024, down from 43 in the previous quarter. This is the lowest level since mid-2020, indicating a deep-seated dissatisfaction among industry participants.
The power of AI and innovative thinking in learning Original
Search jobs If there is one thing the emergence of technology has taught the world it’s to abandon judgment in place of possibility. We’ve moved from an era of consuming information online to being active participants on the internet, with the freedom to own, control and build on the software. This has paved the way for new business opportunities, changing how most, if not all, enterprises operate.
WPP and Google Cloud collaboration a step-change in marketing efficiency and effectiveness
WPP and Google Cloud have announced a collaboration to integrate Google’s Gemini models with WPP Open that will accelerate the global network's generative AI innovation. Image supplied. Formula-E's latest all-electric GEN-3 model generated in WPP Open using Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro The announcement was made today, 9 April on the keynote stage at Google Cloud Next, in Las Vegas, US.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sets industry tempo
Search jobs The cornerstone of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 marketing message is “circle to search” – a feature that Google released to its Pixel 7 through a software update. Circle to search and the other suite of #GalaxyAI features are also available on the S23 family in an update, so you could (and should) save some money and just get an S23 Ultra instead. Samsung talks a big AI game in the S24 Ultra marketing material, but undermines this message by seeding the features to older models.
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra sets industry tempo
Search jobs The cornerstone of Samsung’s Galaxy S24 marketing message is “circle to search” – a feature that Google released to its Pixel 7 through a software update. Circle to search and the other suite of #GalaxyAI features are also available on the S23 family in an update, so you could (and should) save some money and just get an S23 Ultra instead. Samsung talks a big AI game in the S24 Ultra marketing material, but undermines this message by seeding the features to older models.
South Africa's skills gap is a threat to innovation and growth
Search jobs The list of critical skills South Africa desperately needs is alarmingly long. From engineers to veterinarians, physicists to data scientists, the demand for STEM-trained professionals far outstrips our domestic supply. This skills gap, highlighted in the Department of Home Affairs' recent gazette show a fundamental challenge for South Africa's economic growth and its position as an innovation hub. Ursula Fear, Salesforce senior talent programme manager.
South Africa's skills gap is a threat to innovation and growth
Search jobs The list of critical skills South Africa desperately needs is alarmingly long. From engineers to veterinarians, physicists to data scientists, the demand for STEM-trained professionals far outstrips our domestic supply. This skills gap, highlighted in the Department of Home Affairs' recent gazette show a fundamental challenge for South Africa's economic growth and its position as an innovation hub. Ursula Fear, Salesforce senior talent programme manager.
Don’t import skills, grow them at home
There is no doubt that South Africa faces a skills crisis, especially when it comes to digital knowledge that will revolutionise the world. Yet, sourcing international professionals to fill the local digital skills gap is not sustainable in the long run, writes Ursula Fear, Salesforce senior talent programme manager. The list of critical skills South Africa needs to fill is long, and just some of those include skill sets in engineering, physics, chemistry, geology, and veterinary science.
Here’s how we need to think about digital skills in 2024
It’s no secret that, in addition to an unemployment crisis, South Africa suffers from a significant skills shortage. Some might see that as a paradox but they actually feed into each other. Without the requisite skills, many companies struggle to scale and grow, which would ease the unemployment crisis. There are few sectors where this skills shortage is felt more acutely than in the digital arena. A good example of how big the shortage is can be seen in the software development space.
AI won’t take your job, but humans with AI skills will
Ursula Fear | Senior Manager | Talent Program | Salesforce | mail me | Since the dawn of the computational age, human beings have pursued the creation of machine intelligence.
AI won’t take your job, but humans with AI skills will
AI as a driver of employment and skills generation Although there are fears that AI and automation will lead to the loss of a large amount of jobs, the truth is that this technology will be an engine for job growth. According to Gartner, , reaching over two million net new jobs in 2025. As such, AI holds great potential to help solve skills and job challenges in South Africa.
Learning agility trumps technical skills in the workplace
Ursula Fear | Manager | Senior Talent Program | Salesforce | mail me | Imagine that you’re updating your CV or LinkedIn profile. When listing your skills, would you be able to state that you are ‘proficient in the use of ChatGPT3’? This revolutionary Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool was launched in November 2022, so knowledge workers have had several months to teach themselves to use it, and to understand its many capabilities and limitations.
Why learning agility trumps technical skills in the workplace today - and into the future
Imagine that you’re updating your CV or LinkedIn profile. When listing your skills, would you be able to state that you are ‘proficient in the use of Chat-GPT3’? This revolutionary AI tool was launched in November 2022, so knowledge workers have had several months to teach themselves to use it, and to understand its many capabilities and limitations. Some people are already using it on a daily basis, as a kind of free assistant.
URSULA FEAR | Job creation in SA needs a new narrative
Tech and digital skills – often touted as the panacea for unemployment in SA – today have a shelf life of 18 months. This means that skills you may have acquired in mid-2021 are effectively out of date today. The world moves fast and those who want to remain relevant in the workplace need to understand and commit to a new relationship with learning. Skills development, as a term, is one that we’re all too familiar with.
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