In a world that is being reshaped by AI and automation, H22™AI believes that clarity about who you are and why you’re here matters more than ever.
Gen Z is facing unprecedented and accelerated change at a time at a time in their lives where they’re just beginning to get their footing. The entry-level jobs that serve as the first rung in their career ladder have been most affected, and a cohesively reconfigured world of work is still a ways off. This blog series with H22 CEO and Founder Heather Jerrehian features questions crafted to explore the ways self-knowledge contributes to the purpose and passion that will help pull Gen Z through these times. They’re designed to surface something deeper than the trappings of titles or achievements and explore what makes you, uniquely YOU.
Heather met Ryan Bonnifield at an event where they were seated next to one another at a roundtable discussion about AI and the Workforce and was glad for the opportunity to continue her conversation with him.
Heather: When do you feel most energized — what are you doing?
Ryan: I have two schools of thought for that. Personally, I feel most energized when I am outside and working out. Whether I am running, biking, or swimming in the sun, I always get a burst of energy from that. It’s nice to get outside and clear your head, which re-energizes me to get back into whatever else I was doing.
Professionally, talking through the lens of Gen Z in the workforce, it is sometimes hard to understand what value you bring to a company in an entry-level position. My role is in sales, so it’s easy to see value because it is tied to revenue. I feel most energized in my career when I am working face-to-face with customers and clients and really understanding their problems. In that sense, I’m not just providing value to my company, but to my customers and their companies as well.
Heather: What is a strength you have that the world hasn’t fully seen yet?
Ryan: I think one of my greatest skills is the ability to compound my improvements over time, following that "1% rule" of getting 1% better every day. The world hasn't fully seen it yet because I haven't fully seen how my skills have developed, but I am constantly improving. In five years, I’ll be able to look back and see exponential improvement in my skills in consulting, selling, and relationship management. It’s a skill that gets overlooked because it isn't immediate.
Additionally, I’d say my ability to build relationships. I do a great job at that now, but as time goes on, those relationships will get bigger, stronger, and more influential.
Heather: What skill are you deliberately building right now — and why?
Ryan: To sum it up: AI, AI, AI. Especially here in the Bay Area, that is every conversation we have with clients, friends, and internally. I am looking to upskill myself in the technical side of it. That is a bit harder for me because I don't have a technical background, but I believe that AI isn't necessarily coming for your job—it's coming to your job. I need to be the best at using these tools so they can make me exponentially better. If I’m not the one implementing it, I’ll get left behind. By learning and implementing AI, I’ll continue to climb the ladder.
Heather: In a world where AI can do more and more, what should remain deeply human?
Ryan: The obvious answer is relationships. At the end of the day, people want to do business with people. Being well-liked and well-received will go a lot farther than what AI can do. If I’m calling my doctor’s office, I’ll give basic info to a software, but I want to be heard by another human at some point.
Branching off of that, communication should remain human. I’ve used AI for ghostwriting emails, but it hasn't captured my voice just yet. It is easy to get lazy and just send what it puts out, but for anything important, you should use AI for ideas or grammar checks while keeping the overall flow and tone deeply human. Everyone can tell when it’s an AI-written email or LinkedIn post.
Heather: Do you have a favorite quote or saying that strongly resonates with you?
Ryan: In true Gen Z fashion, I got this quote from a podcast. It says: "There's no perfect way to live your 20s. You can live them up and become an underskilled 30-year-old, or you can work them up and become an under-lived 30-year-old. You have to figure out which you'd rather be and accept that there's no do-overs."
That resonates because it helps me understand the balance between wanting a life outside of work and wanting to be successful. I have to understand that there will be sacrifices—it goes back to that 1% compounding rule. If I go out with friends, I have to understand what the implications are further down the line.
Heather: What is something you wished I’d asked you about?
Ryan: Maybe my five-year goal. It’s a question I need to be asked because I need to get it dialed in myself. A five-year goal is always evolving based on your daily life, but it’s nice to get grounded in one. At my current company, my goal in five years is to become a Managing Director within the healthcare, or more specifically, the life sciences portfolio.
Find Ryan on LinkedIn.
