I suspect many (if not all of you) have seen numerous articles, blogs about AI and its impact. At risk of adding one more blog to an already crowded conversation, I would like to offer some perspective, and hopefully some encouragement for the many professionals in our industry currently asking the question, "What will the equity admin career look like in the next several years?" After all, the entire world is changing quickly, and we all want to know where we will fit in.
Will AI Change the Equity Admin Career?
Let's begin with what I cannot tell you. I cannot say you are not going to be impacted by technology changes. In fact, every human who exists or has existed has been impacted in some way by changes in technology. Whether it is the invention of the hammer, improved heavy machinery, or a microchip, change is inevitable, and much of it finds its way into your life. Therefore, let's get this idea out of our minds that we can avoid what is unavoidable.
How Should Equity Professionals Think About AI?
The question I want to encourage you to think about is how innovative technology (AI for example) should be thought about considering our careers, our clients, and the people altogether who depend on us to help them.
First, technology and tools ought to serve people rather than being served. It is a means rather than an end. What I mean by that is that let's keep technology, regardless of how exciting it may be, in its proper place.
Second, how will AI help people? In the end, if we are working to accelerate processes or create expedited reconciliation, etc., who does it help? Will it help our client to mitigate risk? Will it help cut costs? Can it help our clients to be more successful with how they serve their clients? Those are important questions to ask.
Lastly, can anyone be hurt by this technology? If we take a pragmatic approach and say well more will be helped than hurt, I think we ought to step back and reassess. After all, while I know a company does not really have a conscience, I do. I am not in this business to hurt anyone. My satisfaction in this career is the knowledge that I have put others in positions to succeed, whether that is a co-worker or a client.
What Skills Will Matter Most for Equity Professionals?
So now you ask, what will the industry look like in several years with AI? My answer is I am not completely sure. However, what I can tell you is that what makes an equity professional a good one does not change. In fact, those skills and competencies that have made you successful to this point need to be further strengthened. Our value will not come from the ability to process more information. It will come from our ability to take what AI processes and use it in a way that turns it into meaningful information that helps our clients make good decisions. Yes, there will be new skills to learn. However, I think the good news is that if you are a professional who takes the time to understand your client, communicates data in such a way that it makes sense to the person listening, and still wants to serve people well, there is still a place for you in this industry. In fact, dare I say, we need you to remain.
More to come. Alicia Marchesano, CEP, Trevin Rard, ECA, and I took this conversation to NASPP 2026 in Orlando.
Want to talk through what AI could mean for your equity program and the people who run it? Talk to our team.
Questions and answers
- Will AI replace equity administrators?
- AI will change the work, and no one can avoid that. But what makes an equity professional a good one does not change. Professionals who take the time to understand their clients, communicate data so it makes sense to the person listening, and still want to serve people well will have a place in the industry.
- What skills will equity professionals need as AI grows?
- The skills and competencies that made them successful so far, further strengthened, plus some new ones. Their value will not come from processing more information. It will come from taking what AI processes and turning it into meaningful information that helps clients make good decisions.
- How should equity teams evaluate new AI tools?
- Ask three questions. Does the technology serve people, rather than people serving it? Who does it help, for example by helping clients mitigate risk or cut costs? And can anyone be hurt by it?
