Human Excellence in the AI Age, Part 1: A Soft Skills Course

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University of Virginia Darden School Foundation

Human Excellence in the AI Age, Part 1: A Soft Skills Course

Name: Human Excellence in the AI Age, Part 1: A Soft Skills Course
Rating: 4.682926829268292 (41 reviews)

Instructor: Edward D. Hess

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3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

41 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

41 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

3 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Tools to help you be more resilient and make better life choices and decisions.
Strategies to work towards becoming your Best Self.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 3 modules in this course

Finding meaningful work and happiness in the AI age depends on you - your ability to learn, unlearn, and re-learn at the pace of technological change. Follow Edward D. Hess, Professor Emeritus of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business, as he lays the groundwork for personal development and exceptional leadership in an era of exponential technological growth.

Volatility is the new norm. Technology is becoming faster and smarter than ever before. How can we distinguish ourselves in this new work environment? We must adapt to stay relevant, and according to Hess, we must become highly adaptive learners. Taking ownership of our minds, bodies, egos, emotions, behaviors, listening, and thinking is essential to success and allows us to bring our best selves to work each day. When we bring our best selves to work, we develop caring, trusting relationships with others, optimizing our ability to collaborate and work successfully in teams.

Welcome to Human Excellence in the AI Age Part 1, an exploration into the intersection of human potential and artificial intelligence (AI). In this module, we will lay the foundation for understanding the evolving relationship between humans and AI and how individuals and organizations can strive for excellence in this rapidly changing landscape. In this module, you'll meet your faculty, Edward D. Hess, author of 14 books and Professor Emeritus of Business Administration at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. Finally, you'll familiarize yourself with the course structure - video lessons combined with reflection questions and checks for understanding that is designed to help you familiarize yourself with the course so you can make the most of your course experience.

What's included

7 readings

Welcome to the Human Excellence in the AI Age module. This module addresses the challenges of work in the AI Age and the need to reman relevant - to not be automated out of a job. In this module, we will explore the skills that separate humans from technology (i.e.. critical thinking, relationship-building, problem solving) and the need for humans to become highly adaptive learners. Finally, we will discuss the biggest inhibitors of our ability to learn at the pace of change and the need for a new way of working to achieve success in the AI Age.

What's included

9 videos2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

9 videos Total 39 minutes

Human Excellence in the AI Age - Introduction 3 minutes
AI is Here - How Will You Cope? 3 minutes
Adaptation is Required - How Do We Add Value? 4 minutes
Highly Adaptive Leaders Become Enablers 7 minutes
So, What's the Problem? The Science of "Us" 7 minutes
The Science of "Us" - Summary 3 minutes
Top Priorities in the AI Age 4 minutes
The Importance of Soft Skills and "Otherness" 3 minutes
A New Way of Working 5 minutes

2 readings Total 20 minutes

Journal Exercise: Becoming Your Best Self 10 minutes
Slide Deck - Human Excellence in the AI Age 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 11 minutes

Reflection: Adding Value 10 minutes
Completion Check - Journal Exercise: Becoming Your Best Self 1 minute

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Becoming Your Best Self 10 minutes

Welcome to the Managing Your Ego - Quieting Your Mind and Body module. Our ego and our fear are the two biggest inhibitors of our ability to adapt and grow. In this module, we explore how mastery of self (both mind and body) enables us to become highly adaptive learners. We can overcome the limitations of our ego and fear by embracing humility and a new definition of smart. Using a variety of tools (daily meditation, mindfulness practice, coherent breathing) we are able to quiet our minds and master our physical reactions to stress, creating space to become a highly adaptive learner.

What's included

6 videos3 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

6 videos Total 39 minutes

Introduction: Managing Your Ego 2 minutes
Mastery of Self 4 minutes
What is Humility? 12 minutes
Introduction: Quiet Mind, Quiet Body 1 minute
The Power of Mindfulness Meditation 14 minutes
Quiet Your Body 6 minutes

3 readings Total 30 minutes

Workshop: 2 Key Behaviors 10 minutes
Slide Deck - Managing Your Ego 10 minutes
Slide Deck - Quiet Your Mind and Body 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 6 minutes

Completion Check - Workshop: 2 Key Behaviors 1 minute
Knowledge Check - What is Humility? 5 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

2 Key Behaviors 10 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(20 ratings)

Edward D. Hess

University of Virginia Darden School Foundation

4 Courses 91,020 learners

Offered by

University of Virginia Darden School Foundation

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Reviewed on Apr 6, 2025

Excellent.. Will Help you to open-minded and treat your beliefs, that's even more mission critical in the AI age that's moving at rapid rates and continue to do it.

Reviewed on Nov 16, 2024

A good course for me to learn how to manage my daily work and how to be best myself.

Reviewed on Jun 29, 2025

I like the part with practical breathing exercise - I think is very helpful.

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