Dr. Alexandra Cook was a panelist at The Digital Economist’s Biannual Virtual Roundtable Series – AI and
Education: The Great Relearning Revolution, held on December 12, 2025.
As a professor, investor in the AI space, and someone actively hiring in the job market, I tell my students
something that surprises them: they may be the last generation to have entry-level jobs.
Let me explain what I mean.
The Disappearing Entry-Level Experience
Today’s college students have a competitive advantage that future students may not enjoy. They’re
likely the last cohort who will gain experiential, hands-on learning in their professions before becoming
supervisors who predominantly write prompts to use AI.
That experiential knowledge is priceless.
We have an entire generation retiring from the workforce, taking decades of practical knowledge with
them. Meanwhile, we’re running out of people entering the workforce who will be given opportunities
for actual experience in entry-level white-collar roles and as supervisors and managers. The whole
dynamic is changing before our eyes.
Aggressive Action Required Now
Speaking at the AI and Education Roundtable, I emphasized that we must take very aggressive action in
the short term to achieve the outcomes we’re looking for 20 years out in 2045.
The good news? Many tools are available now that provide learning, tutoring, and access to education
more than ever before. This creates opportunities for those who previously lacked access. Children in
struggling schools can now access resources that help them flourish. These tools are already causing
what I believe will be a radical disruption in how education is structured, delivered, and what
expectations we place on students at each learning level.
The Critical Questions We Must Answer
From my perspective as a fourth-generation educator who homeschooled my two sons from grades
three through high school, and as a professor for 30 years, I see several urgent questions:
What skills do students need? They must develop strong critical thinking abilities and technical
competencies. But more fundamentally, how will they add value to companies using AI and other
emerging technologies as tools? How do we prepare them for a positive, win-win workplace dynamic?
What role will traditional education play? I foresee standardized testing going away as we move from
current LLM systems toward more sophisticated synthetic learning environments. Why couldn’t your AI
certify that you have competency in subjects X, Y, and Z? We’d need to define what skills and tasks
matter, but the model could be transformative.
What are we educating people for? This is perhaps the most important question. We’re educating
people so they can do what? Play what role in society? With their families? In the world? What is the
purpose of education beyond human development?
A Message to Today’s Students
If you’re in college now, embrace this moment. Seek hands-on experience in your field. Develop your
critical thinking skills. Learn to pivot quickly and adapt to changing circumstances—including potential
hardships. Become someone who can think on your feet.
The skills that will be valued in 2045 may look very different from today, but the ability to think critically,
execute effectively, and add genuine value will never go out of style.
The future is being written now, and today’s students have the opportunity—and responsibility—to
shape what comes next.
About the Author:
Dr. Alexandra C. Cook, CPA, CGMA, CFF, FAIA (PRINCE2® Practitioner) is the founder of Dynastillion, a
family office advisory firm specializing in multi-generational wealth management, investment strategy,
and operational excellence. Dr. Cook serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Cooper Family Office and
Managing Member at Sunburst Ventures Florida & Puerto Rico. She brings over 30 years of experience
as an educator, CPA, software and ERP systems expert, and investment professional specializing in early-
stage venture capital and private equity. As Head of Due Diligence for Gauntlet Ventures, a fund of
funds, she combines her operational expertise with deep investment acumen to help families and
institutions build lasting legacies.
