To help workplace and equity leaders understand how technology innovation is transforming the equity compensation landscape, Andy Jaglall, Executive Director at Morgan Stanley at Work, sat down for a virtual discussion with Jeannine Merrill, Senior Global Equity Manager at UiPath, Stacy Zhang, Head of Global Equity Operations at Canva and Matt Forester, Executive Director, AI and Software Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley to explore emerging trends. Below are some takeaways from their discussion:
What Technology Trends Are Shaping Today’s Workplace?
In equity compensation, and across the broader workplace, AI and automation are moving from experimentation into operational deployment. For instance, some companies are exploring ways to use AI to automate equity compensation workflows, support participant education initiatives and reduce manual work associated with high-volume, rules-based tasks.
“These technologies are no longer theoretical. They’re actively reshaping how work gets done,” Andy Jaglall noted. “From enterprise automation to employee enablement, organizations are leveraging AI to drive meaningful efficiency and impact.”
What AI Quick Wins Can Equity Leaders Implement Now?
While transformational initiatives can deliver long-term benefits, quicker wins can help drive buy-in and adoption. Equity leaders engaged in early testing may want to:
- Look for opportunities to reduce costs or complexity by, for example, automating vesting reminder emails or using AI agents to answer common questions.
- Experiment with uploading existing workflows, such as grant and/or close processes, to AI and ask for suggested improvements.
- Invest in AI literacy to help employees get comfortable with the technology, accelerating adoption and productivity in the process.
“Moving fast matters, but you shouldn’t underestimate the time it takes to build detailed process maps that account for key decision points, exceptions and integrations,” Jeannine Merrill cautions.
What Best Practices Can Guide Equity-Focused AI Initiatives?
“AI can help accelerate numerous processes, but it doesn’t free teams from personal accountability,” Stacy Zhang shared. In exercising that oversight, equity leaders could aim to:
- Align technology with process design and change management.
- Focus on measurable outcomes, such as time saved, costs reduced or speed to market.
- Start with a blank slate to avoid transposing out-of-date workflows onto new tools.
Above all, be strategic about prioritizing. “There are thousands of different use cases for AI within equity compensation alone,” Matt Forester said. “To deliver faster value to customers, innovative companies can expand their ecosystems via partnerships rather than trying to do everything themselves.”
For a more detailed technology outlook and insight into actionable strategies to consider, access the full replay.
Frequently Asked Questions About Workplace Technology Trends
How can companies stay ahead of the AI curve?
Implementing AI as a feature or bolt-on may no longer move the needle. Companies staying ahead of the curve are often integrating AI-native workflow automation directly into their core operating platforms.
How can equity teams demonstrate rapid progress with AI or automation?
Focus on small wins, pick processes that will yield measurable results and prioritize AI literacy to help educate employees and drive engagement.
How can workplace leaders sustain technology innovation cost-effectively?
Keep testing and learning. If something isn’t working or the environment changes, be open to changing course.
