“I'm Menno Bonninga, Partner at EY Consulting and AI Lead for the Netherlands. I have been working on digital and organizational transformations for over fifteen years now. And honestly? There has never been a period where technology had so much impact on people, teams and how we create value so quickly. That's exactly why I find AI so fascinating: it's not about machines, it's about keeping people relevant.”
Menno doesn't have to think twice when you ask him about the biggest misunderstanding about AI. “The headline “AI takes jobs” is a simplification. The reality is much more subtle. Work has been changing since humanity has existed. The real question is: what do we do as an organization to keep our people relevant? That's where the conversation is.” At EY, according to him, this is never about replacement, but about redistributing attention. “AI offers scale, speed, and consistency. People bring empathy, ethics, judgment, and context. So it's not about AI versus human, it's about AI one human being. And that's exactly where the magic comes in.”
“Anxiety is a bad strategy,” Menno says soberly. “When it chafes, people actually get creative. When organizations only cut or reorganize, people lose trust. What works is the opposite: “we help you onboard”. Not as a slogan, but as a design principle.” He sees that reflected in teams: “When you are clear about what is changing, where roles are moving and which skills are becoming important, you create peace of mind. That honest conversation is step one.”
Partner EY Consulting & NL AI Lead
Menno starts smiling when he explains how he thinks AI really makes an impact. “The biggest breakthrough comes when AI feels like a digital ally: something that supports you, prepares you, sharpens you. Not another tool in your workday, but a capability that becomes part of how you learn and work.” This requires continuous learning. “Not one training, but guidance that is always available: practice, experiment, get feedback. That's where AI agents are incredibly powerful.”
According to Menno, a resilient workforce is about three things:
Menno likes to give concrete examples. “Look at retail or fashion: if AI can accurately predict what someone likes, what size fits and what is sustainable, the entire operating model shifts. Less waste, fewer returns, more customization. This is not only more efficient, it is socially relevant. But this does require new skills and different choices.”
“When you join EY, we don't expect you to be an AI expert. We do expect you to be curious, to learn and to help build what becomes relevant. An engineering mindset: that's what we're looking for. We invest in you, in your skills, your growth and your future.” And then Menno asks the question that concerns him in every boardroom and team: “If you promised your colleague or customer that they will remain relevant; what else would you have to organize tomorrow?”
