NYU Professor Scott Galloway: Master These AI-Proof Skills

NYU Stern business school professor Scott Galloway says in an AI-driven future, your priority should be on building lasting, practical skills — especially the ability to tell compelling stories and form strong relationships, which he predicts will remain valuable no matter how industries change.

On an episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast released earlier this week, host Steven Bartlett asked Galloway which abilities will be most valuable in the years ahead. (Galloway is also an entrepreneur; he founded the digital intelligence firm L2 in 2010 and sold the business to Gartner for $160 million in 2017.) 

Galloway noted that about a decade ago, many private schools poured resources into teaching Mandarin and computer science. The schools assumed those skills would give students a long-term advantage. In hindsight, he argued, that bet hasn’t paid off the way many expected.

“How’s that worked out?” Galloway said. “‘Thank god my kid knows Mandarin,’ said nobody right now.”

Instead, he argued that the next generation should prioritize what he sees as a timeless advantage: the ability to tell a strong story. “That’s your ability to look at data, create a narrative arc and then communicate that story in a compelling way via all the different mediums,” he said. “I think you have to write well.”

Galloway said top CEOs tend to stand out for their storytelling ability. He gave examples like Jeff Bezos’s early shareholder letters and Jensen Huang’s high-energy, arena-style presentations. These examples are “very compelling,” Galloway said. 

An underrated skill

Galloway also emphasized that as AI becomes more embedded in everyday work, human connection will only grow more important. He said the ability to build trust, communicate effectively and develop meaningful relationships will remain a critical advantage — something technology can’t easily replicate.

“At the end of the day, I have three different law firms pitching me business, three different investment banks,” he said. “Who do I have the best relationship with, and who do I want to work with?”

The entrepreneur and educator added that having a solid grounding in the sciences will continue to be valuable. It will be useful to have a basic understanding of how scientific and technical systems work, he said.

Galloway urged the next generation to develop strong writing skills, feel confident engaging directly with others and maintain a competitive edge. One “hugely underrated” skill he observed young people are lacking, is the ability to “endure rejection.”

“The secret to my success is rejection,” Galloway said. 

Other AI-proof skills

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said in a December interview with Fox News that AI “will eliminate jobs.” However, he added that acquiring a few skills can keep you in demand. 

“My advice to people would be critical thinking,” Dimon said in the interview. “Learn EQ [emotional quotient or emotional intelligence], learn how to be good in a meeting, how to communicate, how to write. You’ll have plenty of jobs.”

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in a 2024 company video that what separates people who build strong careers from those who stall is a constant drive to keep learning. “You have to be ravenous and hungry to find ways to learn,” Jassy said. “It’s not easy to do.”

NYU Stern business school professor Scott Galloway says in an AI-driven future, your priority should be on building lasting, practical skills — especially the ability to tell compelling stories and form strong relationships, which he predicts will remain valuable no matter how industries change.

On an episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast released earlier this week, host Steven Bartlett asked Galloway which abilities will be most valuable in the years ahead. (Galloway is also an entrepreneur; he founded the digital intelligence firm L2 in 2010 and sold the business to Gartner for $160 million in 2017.) 

Galloway noted that about a decade ago, many private schools poured resources into teaching Mandarin and computer science. The schools assumed those skills would give students a long-term advantage. In hindsight, he argued, that bet hasn’t paid off the way many expected.