AI and the Return of the Renaissance Generalist

Hey, generalists, our time has come (again)

Image: Created by author with Midjourney AI

For most of my career, I’ve been that person at the cocktail party who struggles with the inevitable question: “So, what do you do?” I usually take a deep breath, look down at my drink, and mumble something like, “Well, I sort of do a bit of… um… different things?” (Not that I’m invited to many cocktail parties…who am I kidding…but you get the idea.)

See, I’ve spent decades bouncing between industries, disciplines, and roles. You might say I’m like a pinball scoring points in different corners of the career machine (but you probably wouldn’t). Hands-on in technology one year, doing the big corporate thing the next, leading teams in a startup after that, and then there’s been writing, creative strategy, and leadership consulting. All this while society looked at me with that slightly pitying expression reserved for people who “haven’t found their thing yet.”

Meanwhile, my specialist friends climbed predictable ladders with admirable focus, collecting fancy job titles that make your relatives nod appreciatively at family gatherings even though they have no idea what you actually do. You know those conversations:

“So, Trevor, you’re in marketing, right?” Aunt Helen asks, cornering Trevor by the potato salad at a family reunion.

“Well, actually, I’m the Senior Marketing Manager of Restoratives and Impression Materials.” (SERIOUSLY! That was actually the job title of a good friend of mine.)

“Oh my!” Aunt Helen’s eyes widen. “That sounds very… important.” And just like that, she’s gone, leaving Trevor to explain his specialised expertise to the bowl of potato salad.

Anyway, forget about Trevor, he’ll be ok.

Here’s what I’ve been thinking: Maybe, as it turns out, my inability to “pick a lane” might not be a bug. It could be a feature.

And here’s why: Artificial Intelligence might just be setting the stage for the triumphant return of the Renaissance generalist. And I, for one, am sticking around to see out this redemption arc.

The Rise and Fall of Specialisation (A Brief History of How We Got Here)