With AI disrupting nearly every industry and profession, the question of what work or a career looks like is becoming increasingly uncertain for individuals everywhere. While existing research has taught us a great deal about work or career change, the transitions people face today are fundamentally different.
In the past, most work changes or career transitions were relatively “institutionalized.” There were clear pathways. For example, moving from journalism to law, or from banking to baking, involved established steps—training programs, qualifications, and defined entry points. Individuals needed only to choose a direction and follow a known route.
Today, that clarity is breaking down. First, it is increasingly difficult to identify a “safe” or stable next step. Industries that once appeared secure are being rapidly reshaped by AI and other forces. Second, even when individuals identify a new direction, the path to get there is far less clear. AI is transforming how skills are developed, how learning occurs, and reducing traditional entry-level opportunities.
As a result, our work lives and careers are no longer about moving between predefined roles, but about continually inventing and reinventing what work looks like. This shift creates an urgent need for new knowledge and evidence-based tools to help individuals navigate these “un-institutionalized” transitions and make ongoing reinvention.
In response, I am in the process of launching the INSEAD Work Reinvention Lab. The Lab is designed as a living laboratory to both study and support:
Individuals navigating “un-institutionalized’ work-related transitions and engaging in ongoing reinvention in the age of AI
Organizations seeking to support employees through these transitions—and to transform individual reinvention into a source of organizational value and competitive advantage
We want to invite individuals currently navigating, or preparing for, work reinvention, as well as organizational leaders committed to supporting employees through these transitions to join us as partners in this initiative. Through participation, you and your organization will contribute to—and benefit from—cutting-edge research. Together, we aim to rapidly generate insights and practical, evidence-based tools to support individuals on their journey of work reinvention.