The thorniest ongoing challenge for automation providers in an AI age is allaying workers’ fear that the technology is an existential threat to their livelihood. In the face of that, and in the unfamiliar and rapidly changing landscape of tech companies, finding and motivating talent might be the most difficult role there is.
Despite the uncertainty, Agnes Garaba, chief people officer at UiPath, claims the future is bright for workers, not bleak. Robots aren’t coming for your job, she told Automation Today in a recent interview, they’re coming to work with you. And Garaba is charged with finding the next generation of people who can make that happen.
A veteran HR leader who spent 16 years at SAP before joining UiPath, Garaba brings both a global perspective and a pragmatic edge to the evolving relationship between humans and machines. Her experiences have led her to her current role where she has developed a guiding mission: provide the environment for digital workers to become part of the enterprise workforce while ensuring the humans alongside them are not left behind.
Talent in the Age of Agentic Automation
UiPath’s “Act Two” era—defined by agentic automation—demands a new kind of workforce. Garaba says the company is hiring hybrid technical and customer-facing talent, such as “forward-deployed engineers” located with clients to solve problems and bring insights back to product teams.
“It’s a different profile of a technical person who actually sits with the customer,” she says. “We’re competing with the OpenAIs and Microsofts of the world for the same talent pool, but we’re also looking inward to grow our own.”
That internal focus is critical as automation reshapes jobs. Those whose jobs may be partly usurped by automation, she says, need pathways to the next stage of their careers.
UiPath is mapping each department to see which roles are most affected and how to help people evolve. “It’s hard to design for the future if you don’t know where you are today,” Garaba notes.
Data-Driven HR and the Culture of Change
For Garaba, the transformation inside HR is as profound as UiPath’s product evolution. She’s pushing her team to rely more on analytics and automation. “I really enjoy making decisions with data,” she says. “It doesn’t come naturally for a lot of HR departments, but we’re changing that.”
UiPath has begun designing and building internal agents to streamline onboarding and career development. She notes the company is already working on a number of agents to help its employees.
“It’s exciting times to be in HR,” she says.
The company is also confronting automation-related anxiety acknowledging the fear among employees about not being able to provide for families. UiPath is undergoing a cultural evolution, she says, that is helping people move beyond that fear and see the opportunity.
Personalized Learning in a Machine-Enabled World
Garaba’s team is building “personalized growth experiences” that combine digital learning tools with human connection.
“We use platforms like Udemy and LinkedIn Learning,” she explains, “but for our key talent, we invest more deeply in unique learning and growth opportunities.”
UiPath is evolving a mentoring bot into a conversational agent that matches mentors and mentees, schedules meetings, sends prep materials, collects feedback, and reports outcomes.
“It used to just do the matching,” Garaba says. “Now it takes action—scheduling meetings, following up, even collecting feedback. It saves my team from tactical work and lets them focus on strategy.”
Future versions could support shadowing or coffee chats. “Imagine saying, ‘I’m an engineer, and I’d love to learn about product management,’ and the agent connects you with someone to talk to,” she adds.
Hiring in the Era of AI Recruiting
Automation may be changing recruiting, but Garaba argues individuality still matters. Job seekers are using AI tools to generate resumes and filtering applications, resulting in dangerous uniformity. She cautions candidates not to lose their edge.
“Companies are getting millions of resumes that all look the same,” she says. “Those who stand out are the ones willing to take some risk and show individuality.”
She encourages applicants to combine technology with personal effort. “There’s brilliant tech to help you apply for jobs,” she says, “but if you don’t make human connections, it won’t get you anywhere.”
On the employer side, Garaba sees both promise and pitfalls. “The productivity gains from AI recruiting tools are huge,” she notes, “but you might miss out on those gems who don’t have the right keywords.”
Her advice: focus less on perfect resumes and more on drive. “Someone with half the experience but twice the hunger can sometimes be the better hire.”
Building Connection in a Hybrid World
Garaba supports flexibility but insists that physical connection still matters. “We’re not mandating everyone back to the office,” she says, “but where possible, being together has clear advantages.”
A redesigned office in Bellevue reflects that balance. “It’s two floors connected by an open staircase,” she says. “Something so simple made a huge difference—people run into each other, ideas flow, collaboration happens naturally.”
The Human Future of Automation
During her tenure at SAP, Garaba helped launch GIRLsmarts, a STEM program at SAP that brought middle school girls into tech. At UiPath, that spirit continues through the UiPath Foundation, which helps underprivileged children access technology education in Romania, India, and beyond.
“Some of those students are now graduating from university,” she says. “It’s about opening eyes to opportunity and a better future.”
Garaba believes that future includes automation but isn’t about replacing people—it’s about coexistence. “It’s a paradox,” she reflects. “We can automate entry-level roles, but then we lose the very pipeline that builds our future leaders.”
Her vision is one where automation amplifies human capability. “Companies have to be smart about not just replacing everything,” she says. “Otherwise, we risk creating a gap in the very talent we depend on.”
For UiPath, that means cultivating a workforce ready not just to use automation—but to grow alongside it.
