Mira Lane, who began her career as a programmer, later went to project management, and eventually headed the laboratory examining the influence of technological innovation on society, emphasizes that many people change the professional path many times due to uncertainty.
– I would recommend to do it on the basis of specific information to people who want to change up She said in an interview with Business Insider.
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According to her, people looking for a new road should gather as much information as possible to make sure that the chosen direction is hit.
This means: Talk to people from the industry, watch movies on YouTube about the competitions you are interested in, try internships – says Lane. If you are at an early stage of your career, choose a university that allows you to gain professional experience.
The goal is “continuous feeding of feedback” – says Lane.
Changing work in the AI era
Regardless of whether you are just entering the labor market or thinking about a change after years, changing your career path is something common. However, her advice is particularly important now when the labor market is transformed by the development of artificial intelligence.
According to the study of the World Economic Forum of 2025, 41 percent Companies in the world are expecting to reduce employment in the next five years due to new technologies. This means that even more people can be forced to change their profession.
– All competitions are evolving at the moment – says Lane. – Everything is transforming. That is why you have to be where many signals reach us – he adds.
Mira Lane
| Mira Lane (private archive)
This is how Lane went through subsequent professional changes. She started as a programmer, then dealt with programs management, and then managed the AI ethics and society department in Microsoft.
After almost two decades in Microsoft, she noticed that companies should be more involved in a discussion about the tools they create. This inspired her to build a team of creative strategists, philosophers and technology researchers in Google.
– I don't like when technology is created, and then people have to face the effects of decisions that were not fully thought out – says Lane, who is also a visual artist.
See also: At the age of 35 I changed the industry. I've never been happier
A question that surprised
When she was looking for a new role, she met a man who later became her boss in Google. He asked her what he wanted to do in her life then – The question surprised her, so she asked that she could answer later.
Although she had some premonitions about her interests, Lane decided that it was worth stopping and really thinking about what she wanted.
“I wasn't ready to answer right away,” he recalls. – I thought: If someone asks me about it, I want to think about it – he adds.
After reflection, she prepared a one -page description of the laboratory that she wanted to create – and in fact they were able to realize them.
Lane says that when you collect enough signals about what interests or rejects you, you should listen to what “ignites” you.
If you follow the path that does not excite you – maybe it's not the right one.
The above text is a translation with American Business Insider edition
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
