When Salesforce's head of AI, Jayesh Govindarajan, recently declared that having agency is more important than learning to code, I felt a rush of validation. After two decades in workforce development and managing internship programs, I've watched technical skill requirements evolve dramatically. But what struck me about this statement was its profound implications for how we prepare students for tomorrow's workplace.

Throughout my career, I've seen the pendulum swing back and forth on what skills matter most. At ServiceNow, where I managed internship programs before founding Campus to Commerce, technical proficiency was certainly valued. But even there, I noticed something critical: the most successful interns weren't necessarily the best coders.

They were the ones who showed agency.

What Does Agency Actually Mean?

Agency isn't just a buzzword. It's the ability to identify problems worth solving, make independent decisions, and direct resources (including AI tools) toward meaningful outcomes. As AI systems become increasingly capable of generating code and solving technical problems, this human capacity for discernment and direction becomes exponentially more valuable.

Think about what Salesforce is developing – a system that can "solve anything for anyone." Govindarajan describes using their agentic AI system to provide first-draft solutions for nonprofits, with minimal coding knowledge required from users. The implication is clear: technical implementation is becoming automated while the uniquely human ability to direct these tools remains irreplaceable.

I've seen this firsthand in our work connecting students with small and medium-sized businesses through micro-internships. The businesses don't primarily need students who can code perfectly – they need young professionals who can understand business challenges and apply the right tools to solve them.

Why Micro-Internships Matter More Than Ever

This shifting landscape is precisely why we've built Campus to Commerce around the concept of micro-internships – short-term, project-based opportunities that typically span 2-8 weeks. These experiences allow students to develop and demonstrate agency in real-world settings.

In a typical micro-internship, students aren't given rigid instructions to follow. Instead, they're presented with genuine business challenges and asked to develop solutions. Sometimes this involves using technical skills, but it always requires agency – the ability to understand the problem, consider various approaches, make decisions, and implement a solution.

For small businesses that don't have the resources for extensive technical teams, this combination of problem-solving ability and practical skills is invaluable. They don't need someone who can simply write code; they need someone who knows when and how to leverage the growing ecosystem of AI tools and platforms.

Preparing for an AI-Augmented Future

What does this mean for students concerned about their future career prospects? Should they abandon learning technical skills altogether?

Absolutely not. Understanding technology fundamentals remains crucial. But the emphasis needs to shift from mastering specific coding languages to developing the judgment to know which tools to apply to which problems.

I believe we're entering an era where technical skills become more accessible through AI assistance, while the human capacities for creativity, judgment, and direction become the true differentiators. Our micro-internships help students develop these capabilities by placing them in real business environments where they must exercise agency to succeed.

For businesses, especially the small and medium-sized organizations we partner with, this shift presents both challenge and opportunity. Those who can effectively harness AI tools while cultivating human agency within their teams will thrive. Those who focus exclusively on technical capabilities may find themselves outpaced.

At Campus to Commerce, we're committed to preparing students for this future by creating opportunities that develop not just technical know-how, but the irreplaceable human capacity for agency. Because in a world where AI can increasingly handle the "what" and "how" of coding, the people who determine the "why" and "which" will lead the way forward.

That's the real skill AI cannot replace.