EY rethinks promotion criteria as AI transforms corporate pathways

Artificial intelligence is fundamentally rewriting the criteria for professional advancement within the corporate sector, with Big Four firm EY leading a significant shift in performance evaluation.

Ginnie Carlier, the chief talent and culture officer for EY Americas, recently confirmed that the traditional organisational pyramid is being replaced by more flexible career portfolios.

In an interview with Business Insider, Carlier emphasised that in this new technological era, individual impact now carries more weight than job titles or years of tenure.

"Undoubtedly, AI is changing how work is done," Carlier stated, noting that the firm is now factoring in additional signals to assess promotion potential.

This evolution marks a transition toward a "skills-powered organisation" where rigid job descriptions are abandoned for fluid roles.

A company spokesperson added that while promotions historically relied on business needs, EY now prioritises the ability to apply judgement to AI outputs and provide data interpretation.

To support this, the firm is testing agile promotions and expanded skills assessments to better align employees with roles that require greater scope and impact.

Managers at the firm are also seeing their responsibilities evolve. "They're increasingly responsible for cultivating a psychologically safe environment where people can experiment, fail forward and learn from AI," Carlier explained.

In a LinkedIn post from January, she noted that the firm must completely change the employee experience, from hiring to career trajectory.

This shift follows EY's 2024 launch of the 360 Careers program, part of a $1 billion investment in talent and technology designed to enhance early-career development and wellbeing.