Michael WatsonDT
I have the pleasure and honor of serving as Director of Customer Agentic Enablement at Eightfold AI, where I help organizations prepare their people to work confidently and effectively alongside AI.
About
Michael Watson is a talent technology, customer enablement, and artificial intelligence leader with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations transform how they attract, develop, and retain talent.
His career has included leadership roles and partnerships with organizations such as Aerotek, Robert Half, Polycom, Western Digital, Workday, Rambus, and Gigamon. Before joining Eightfold AI, Michael was an Eightfold customer, giving him a valuable firsthand understanding of what it takes to successfully introduce AI into a global talent organization.
Today, Michael serves as Director of Customer Agentic Enablement at Eightfold AI, where he helps organizations prepare their people to work confidently and responsibly alongside AI. His work focuses on translating complex technology into practical, human-centered experiences that build trust, accelerate adoption, and deliver measurable business outcomes. He is also the creator of Eightfold’s Agent Academy, a capability-building and accreditation program designed to help talent professionals progress from AI practitioners to architects of the future workforce.
Throughout his time at Eightfold, Michael has worked closely with talent leaders, customer executives, business leaders, and government officials to advance Eightfold’s mission of enabling the right career for everyone in the world. He is a passionate advocate for using AI for good and believes the future of work is not human or AI—it is people who understand how to build and succeed alongside AI.
Michael is an author, speaker, and recognized thought leader on agentic AI, talent acquisition, career development, and the future of work. His books include *Human Resources & Agentic AI: Skills, Ethics, and the Future of Work*, *Career AI*, *The AI-Powered HR Professional*, *Upskilling 101*, and *Children of the Algorithm*.
Whether speaking to executives, developing global learning programs, or helping customers reimagine their talent strategies, Michael brings warmth, practical experience, and a deeply held belief that technology should always improve people’s lives.
