At the meeting of the AmCham Future of Work and Education Committee, held on April 18, 2025, at the premises of PwC Slovenia, members of the committee, together with guest speaker Dan Podjed, PhD, an anthropologist, engaged in a thoughtful discussion about how digital transformation is shaping the future of work and education – and what kind of society we are building as a result. 

The central focus of the discussion was how individuals and society as a whole respond to rapid technological change. Through the lens of anthropology, Podjed, PhD presented several key challenges: from the loss of focus and empathy due to digital distractions to the risk that Generation Z is becoming the largest social experiment of all time – a generation growing up with screens, yet reporting the highest levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness to date. 

The discussion addressed pressing questions such as: 

• What skills will we need for the future? 

• How can we maintain resilience and humanity in times of rapid change? 

• Are we still capable of dreaming on our own, without technological interference? 

• Where is the boundary between the benefits of digitalization and the right to disconnect? 

The discussion served as a powerful reminder of a simple but often forgotten truth — that happiness is not found solely within ourselves, but especially alongside others, in relationships with those we love. Podjed, PhD captured this message with a symbolic gesture – a “stamp of humanity” – marking the end of the discussion and underscoring that the future of work and education must be built on compassion, connection, and mutual understanding.