Bob Pulver speaks with Agi Garaba, Chief People Officer at UiPath, about the organization’s evolution from robotic process automation (RPA) to agentic AI and how that has impacted people, processes, and culture. Agi shares how HR can lead with a human-centric lens during AI transformation, the importance of AI literacy, and the practical steps UiPath is taking to balance innovation with responsible governance. This conversation blends strategic foresight with pragmatic execution and offers a roadmap for any leader navigating AI-enabled change.

Keywords

UiPath, agentic AI, automation, digital workers, RPA, HR technology, AI governance, AI literacy, talent acquisition, responsible AI, workforce transformation, human-centric design, reskilling, change management, future of work, CHRO, culture shift, AI readiness

Takeaways

UiPath’s transition from RPA to agentic automation marks a broader shift in how digital and human workers collaborate.
HR has a central role in driving culture, trust, and adoption around emerging AI tools.
A grassroots approach to agent development—crowdsourcing over 500 ideas from employees—ensures relevance and engagement.
AI governance must evolve with technology; dedicated roles and frameworks are key to managing bias, access, and compliance.
Building AI literacy across the organization—through tiered training and internal tooling—helps democratize innovation.
Recruiting is transforming, but human relationships remain critical, especially in engaging passive candidates and senior-level talent.
Not every task should be automated—some skills, like creative writing or candidate engagement, lose value when over-automated.
Over-automation can create long-term talent gaps; junior roles are vital for succession and cultural continuity.

Quotes

“It’s not just a technology-led transformation. Culture has to be a core part of the AI journey.”
“Over 50% of my HR team are citizen developers—we’ve built that capability into our DNA.”
“We crowdsourced more than 500 ideas for agents across the organization—and everyone had a voice.”
“Just because you can automate something doesn’t mean you should. Human context still matters.”
“AI literacy is about imagination as much as it is about instruction. People need to see what’s possible.”
“I’d like to create a workplace where human connection still matters—even as agents take on more tasks.”

Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and Agi’s Career Path to UiPath

03:00 – From RPA to Agentic Automation

05:00 – HR at the Crossroads of Tech and Culture

07:15 – Org Design with Digital Coworkers

10:30 – Building Trust in Agentic Systems

13:40 – Responsible AI in HR Contexts

17:00 – Prioritizing and Tracking Agent Development

19:00 – Building AI Literacy Across the Organization

22:30 – From Vision to Execution: Pilots and Production

24:10 – Cross-functional Use Cases and Orchestration

26:45 – Governance, Compliance, and Continuous Oversight

30:00 – Redefining Human Skills in the Age of AI

33:00 – Knowing When Not to Automate

35:40 – Long-term Impacts on Junior Roles and Succession

38:45 – Strategic Workforce Planning and Digital Labor

41:00 – Agents in Recruiting: Limits and Opportunities

44:00 – Maintaining Human Relationships in Talent Acquisition 48:00 – Executive Search, Talent Advisors, and the Future of Recruiting

51:30 – Agi’s Personal Use and Reflections on GenAI

54:00 – Balancing Utility, Trust, and Critical Thinking

55:30 – Closing Thoughts and Wrap-up

Agi Garaba: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnesgaraba

UiPath: https://uipath.com

For advisory work and marketing inquiries:

Bob Pulver:⁠⁠ ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/bobpulver⁠⁠⁠

Elevate Your AIQ:⁠⁠ ⁠https://elevateyouraiq.com⁠⁠⁠

Substack: ⁠https://elevateyouraiq.substack.com⁠

Ep 88: Advancing the Human-AI Relationship to Redesign Work with Agi Garaba

Ep 88: Advancing the Human-AI Relationship to Redesign Work with Agi Garaba

Search Episodes

Sponsors

More Episodes from the Network