The AI Anxiety Antidote: How HR Can Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity

In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Sue Newman, Senior Director of HR at ATW, to explore how HR leaders can transform AI anxiety into an organizational opportunity while supporting a multigenerational workforce through technological change.

When Sue’s employees started expressing concerns about AI potentially taking their jobs, she didn’t just address their fears; she turned it into a catalyst for practical AI adoption.

Topics Discussed:

• Moving beyond “clickbait” AI layoff headlines toward practical understanding and action

• Real-world case study: Using AI to help a late adopter retain employment while closing skill gaps

• The “candles to electricity” analogy: Why AI adoption is inevitable and how to embrace it

• Scaling learning & development as a “team of one” using AI for custom content creation

• Why HR professionals need their own AI point of view before engaging with vendors

• The future of HR: Moving from administrative burden back to relationship-building

• How to safely introduce AI across different generations and comfort levels

• Essential advice for new HR professionals: Understand your organization’s core business first

If you’re an HR leader wondering how to address AI anxiety in your organization while leveraging technology to enhance rather than replace human capabilities, this episode provides both empathy and practical strategies for transformation

Additional resources:

Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot
Future Proof HR Community
Sue Newman on LinkedIn