How can we prepare people to not only survive in the workplace of tomorrow but also thrive?
Dr. Naeema Pasha has spent her career exploring this question. A leading expert on the future of work, AI, and diversity, Dr. Pasha is a Visiting Fellow at Henley Business School, where she founded the World of Work Institute to explore how technological and societal shifts are reshaping the workplace. She also co-authored Futureproof Your Career, contributed to UN research on generative AI, and was recently named among the Ifpc-online Top 50 Worldwide Influencers on AI Ethics.
Ahead of her keynote at MoodleMoot Global 2025, we spoke to Dr. Pasha about what it means to build inclusive, future-ready learning cultures. From workplace resilience to cross-generational empathy, here’s what she had to say.
Learning in a fast-changing world
“We’re not just learning about change anymore, we’re learning with it.”
For Dr. Pasha, organisations that thrive will be those that reimagine learning as something deeply human and purpose-driven.
“Learning cultures must become more fluid, participatory, and future-attuned,” she explains. “We need to build learning around purpose. When people connect with why they’re learning something, not just what they stay engaged, adaptable, and open to transformation.”
Drawing from her research at Henley’s Leadership Futures initiative, she points out that the motivation to learn is a defining trait of successful careers in times of uncertainty. “It’s not just about acquiring new skills,” she says. “It’s about embedding meaning into the process.”
The lived practice of inclusive leadership
“Resilience comes from diversity of thought, and inclusion is how we unlock it.”
Inclusive leadership, Dr. Pasha argues, is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s essential. During her time as Director of DEI, she led The Equity Effect study, which found that organisations taking active steps to address inequality see significantly stronger employee satisfaction, loyalty, creativity, and even up to 58% higher revenue.
But for inclusion to be real, she insists, it must go beyond policies. “Inclusive leadership is a lived practice. It shows up in who gets heard, who gets invested in, and who feels safe to contribute.”
In the organisations of the future, leadership must be rooted in equity, and belonging must be engineered into systems, not left to chance.
Education as a bridge across generations and cultures
“There are more differences within generations than between them.”
As workplaces become more generationally and culturally diverse, learning can help bridge gaps in values, expectations, and communication. Dr. Pasha cautions against over-simplified generational labels, noting that factors like social class and education often play a bigger role than age alone.
“Learning is our most powerful connector,” she says. “When people of different backgrounds and ages come together to learn, they don’t just build new skills, they build mutual understanding.”
She believes that co-learning environments grounded in empathy and curiosity are essential for creating inclusive, innovative cultures.
Rethinking the future of work beyond AI
“To futureproof a career, you don’t need to outrun change, you need to build a relationship with it.”
In her book Futureproof Your Career, Dr. Pasha explores how workers can adapt to a wide range of trends from AI to gig work to the four-day week. But her message goes deeper than tools and trends.
“What we need most are human capabilities,” she says. “Agility, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, creative problem-solving, these are the qualities that will shape the careers of the future.”
Rather than seeing AI as something to fear, she encourages individuals and organisations to embrace curiosity as a guiding force.
Aligning training across sectors
“We need more spaces where educators and employers co-design learning.”
Dr. Pasha has worked across both higher education and industry, and sees huge potential in stronger collaboration between the two. “Industry needs the critical thinking and values-driven approaches fostered by education. Education can learn from the agility and application focus of business.”
But alignment remains a challenge, especially when it comes to pace, expectations, and language. She envisions more shared spaces for designing agile, inclusive, future-focused learning pathways. “That kind of collaboration could be transformational.”
The power of in-person connection
“Events like MoodleMoot remind us of the power of being human together.”
Dr. Pasha is looking forward to attending her first MoodleMoot Global in 2025 and sees in-person gatherings as more relevant than ever.
“Being in the same room creates space for deeper conversations, spontaneous ideas, and trust. And in a world where trust is a fragile currency, that’s powerful.”
While digital tools will always play a role, she believes events like MoodleMoot help energise communities and foster the kinds of human connections that shape learning and leadership.
Key takeaway
“We don’t need to predict the future to lead it we need to shape it through inclusive, courageous learning.”
Asked what she hopes attendees take from her keynote at MoodleMoot Global 2025, Dr. Pasha’s answer is simple. She says, “If each person walks away inspired to challenge norms, lift others, and stay curious in the face of uncertainty, we’ve done something truly powerful.”
Don’t miss Dr. Pasha’s keynote at MoodleMoot Global 2025.
