In this episode of Catalyst, Tammy is joined by Emma Boyd, a recent Chapman University graduate beginning her career in law. Emma studied political science and sociology and was a legal intern at Fabletics. Now she’s a practice analyst at a San Francisco law firm and stepping into the workforce in the middle of the AI boom. Tammy and Emma discuss where AI fits into education and work and what business leaders should know about working with Gen Z.

Highlights from the episode include:

• AI in higher education. Emma is candid about watching classmates hand their writing entirely over to AI in college. She also saw professors using it for efficiency while insisting students not do the same. For Emma, AI earns its place when it compresses organizing and outlining before writing, leaving the actual craft to her.
• The law always plays catch-up. During her internship at Fabletics, Emma's research revealed an interesting cycle: regulators would close an AI loophole, the technology would move and the legal field would find itself back at square one. She saw first-hand how hard it is for standards to keep pace with technology.
• Don't confuse AI fluency with laziness. Asked what she wishes senior leaders understood about her generation, Emma is direct: the perception that Gen Z is coasting on AI is wrong. She describes her peer group as go-getters who are trying to figure out how to use new tools well.

Check out the full episode to hear more about Emma’s act first, think second approach to the job search and why she and Tammy agree that generational attitudes toward AI are all over the map.

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Please note that the views expressed in this episode may not necessarily be those of NTT DATA.