Let’s be honest: AI is already here, and it's moving fast. For HR and L&D, the race is on. But amid the urgency, one question still looms: Where do we begin?
That question matters more than it seems. Because the goal isn’t just to “do something” with AI, it’s to build the skills, confidence, and alignment your workforce needs to thrive in an AI-powered world.
And that starts with clarity: Where are you now? What’s most urgent? How can you move forward without overwhelming your teams?
This guide walks you through a step-by-step framework for building a practical, role-based AI learning strategy—one that’s built to scale, grounded in real examples, and supported by tools from OpenSesame and Workday.
Step 1: Understand your starting point
Before making decisions about platforms, training, or policies, it’s essential to understand where your organization stands today. Not every company is ready to dive into advanced AI or machine learning—and that’s okay. Real progress starts with clarity.
That’s why we created the AI Implementation Readiness Checklist. Use it to assess where you are now, and identify what to focus on next.
Step 2: Turn readiness into strategy
Knowing your starting point is empowering, but it’s just the beginning. To move forward, you need a plan that balances ambition with practicality. That means setting clear goals, securing leadership buy-in, and equipping your teams to engage meaningfully with AI.
Here’s how to turn insights into action:
- Use the 5 Essential Moves to Lead Talent in the Age of AI playbook: This playbook helps you identify where AI can make the biggest impact and how to communicate that value across your organization
- Leverage the AI-Enabled Learning Path Worksheet: This framework helps you design personalized training programs by job role, skill level, and business need.
These resources are more than checklists. They’re conversation starters designed to help you build internal momentum and ensure alignment from day one.
Step 3: Start with a toolkit built for real adoption
AI strategy doesn’t move forward without champions, the people who lead change across teams, processes, and technology. That’s why we built the AI Implementation Toolkit, a curated learning path for those driving AI adoption, governance, and change management.
Here’s a taste of what’s inside:
- Creating an AI Adoption Strategy for Businesses: Learn how to prioritize use cases, align stakeholders, and define outcomes before investing in tools.
- Demystifying AI: Build foundational awareness of what AI is (and isn’t), how it works, and where it’s already creating impact.
- AI: Upskill and Reskill: Explore how AI is shifting job roles and how to prepare your teams with targeted upskilling strategies.
- Using AI to Build a Strategic Mindset: Discover how AI enhances strategic planning across business functions, led by consultant and marketing analytics expert Jim Sterne.
Together, these resources can guide your team from pilot to production, ensuring that adoption isn’t just successful, but sustainable too.
Explore the full learning path
Looking to support other teams across your organization? Check out these curated learning paths for broader enablement:
- AI for Everyone: Build foundational AI literacy across the workforce
- AI by Role & Function: Tailored learning for HR, Finance, Sales, Marketing, and more
- AI for Software Engineers: Technical upskilling in ML, NLP, and AI infrastructure
Need a mix or don’t know what fits your organization’s priorities? Our OpenSesame Curation Team can design a path that fits your organization’s unique needs.
Step 4: See it in action with Workday + OpenSesame
Theory and planning are important, but execution is what brings your AI strategy to life. That’s why we’ve partnered with Workday to bring AI-powered learning directly into the flow of work.
Together, we help organizations:
- Reduce time-to-productivity for new hires through role-specific learning paths
- Embed responsible AI education into compliance and ethics programs
- Use data from Workday’s platform to trigger personalized learning recommendations at scale
One standout example is Sony Electronics. Their team uses OpenSesame alongside Workday Learning to gain visibility into the content that resonates most with employees. This insight helps them curate more impactful courses and accelerate upskilling across both technical and soft skill areas.
By monitoring topic engagement and course ratings, Sony has streamlined its learning strategy. As a result, their learning and development efforts are now better aligned with employee needs and business priorities.
Step 5: Share your voice
Where is your workforce on its AI journey?
You’re not navigating this alone. Sharing your experience helps shape the future of learning and gives you a chance to benchmark your progress and learn from your peers.
Take our quick poll and see how your AI readiness compares to others in the HR and L&D community.
You’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting from now
Implementing AI doesn’t require a blank slate. You already have learning infrastructure, capable teams, and momentum. What you need now is clarity, focus, and a partner who understands what’s at stake.
With OpenSesame and Workday, you can activate AI-powered learning in a way that’s responsible, practical, and aligned with your goals.
Let’s get started, together:
- Meet us at our booth at Workday Rising
- Explore our Workday Marketplace listing or visit OpenSesame.com
- Book a demo to see AI-powered learning in action
About the author
Heidi is a partner marketing leader with over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, including more than a decade in SaaS and 8+ years focused on building strategic partner programs. At OpenSesame, she leads go-to-market initiatives with learning technology partners, helping to drive growth and deliver value across the ecosystem. Heidi is passionate about helping partners articulate their unique value alongside OpenSesame—finding a shared voice, crafting impactful stories, and connecting with the customers who will resonate with them most.
