Canva only hires people with these 2 traits—why they matter amid the AI shift

Canva's Chief People Officer, Jennie Rogerson, identified two essential human traits for workplace success amid the rise of artificial intelligence: curiosity and the initiative to "go the extra mile." Rogerson shared these insights at Charter's New Employer Brand Summit in New York City last week. Curiosity, she stated, is a baseline requirement, while the ability to take initiative and responsibility beyond one's defined job description is equally crucial for team support. These traits can manifest as pursuing advanced certifications or integrating soft skills into professional roles.

Career coaches and industry experts concur with Rogerson's assessment, emphasizing that technical skills alone are insufficient for long-term career viability in an AI-driven landscape. Caroline Hickey, a London-based career coach specializing in young professionals, highlighted curiosity as a "human superpower" that grants individuals agency over their career paths. She suggests that cultivating curiosity involves becoming comfortable asking "why?" to understand the root causes of project failures, job rejections, or negative feedback, thereby enabling adaptation and learning from digital disruptions.

Melissa Swift, CEO of Anthrome Insight and author of "Effective: How to Do Great Work," echoed the sentiment regarding human initiative. Swift noted that the capacity to extend effort beyond immediate tasks is a distinctly human capability that AI currently lacks. This "going the extra mile" involves proactively contributing to team success and demonstrating a commitment that surpasses the scope of a standard job description, a quality that becomes increasingly valuable as AI automates routine functions.