"AI isn’t replacing people, it’s empowering them"
Tehiya Zilberman, SVP HR, Global Product and Technology at CyberArk, was speaking at the Israel 2.0 conference by Calcalist and the Anu Banu organization. The panel also included: Rinat Zilberstein, GM and VP of R&D at AT&T Israel; Rola Bisharat, co-founder of Kimah and former CCO at GM; and Eynav Haim Sayag, CEO of Place-IL.
“We have a platform that opens the door to integrating underrepresented populations,” said Eynav Haim Sayag, CEO of Place-IL, at Calcalist and the Anu Banu organization’s Israel 2.0 Conference. “We were founded three years ago as a social technology venture and have since built partnerships with 160 companies, with Google as a founding partner. Our screening process neutralizes cultural bias and incorporates tools that evaluate candidates based on their skills. We’ve developed a comprehensive screening and integration system that aligns with companies’ recruitment processes, working closely with the industry to ensure successful placements.”
Over the past three years, Place-IL has integrated more than 275 talents from Israel’s geographic and social periphery into the high-tech industry. However, the rise of AI has begun to reshape the landscape. “We’re seeing that the entry barrier to high-tech has risen significantly,” said Haim Sayag. “Many companies no longer have the resources to invest in training juniors. That’s becoming a real obstacle for our communities, and we’re working to bridge that gap. Efficiency is now the name of the game, employers want people who can deliver from day one, and that’s what we must prepare our candidates for.”
The panel also included Rinat Zilberstein, GM and VP of R&D at AT&T Israel; Rola Bisharat, co-founder of Kimah and former CCO at GM; and Tehiya Zilberman, SVP HR, Global Product and Technology at CyberArk.
“Integration and contribution to expanding gender equality and regional diversity are strategic matters that require real investment,” said Zilberstein. “We focus on three main levels: recruitment, development, and social contribution.
“First, in recruitment, we collaborate with Place-IL to identify men and women through universities and other channels to ensure equality in hiring. In my view, AI is a gift, it provides opportunities such as personalized interview practice, real-time feedback, and serves as a personal assistant.
“Second, post-recruitment, we invest almost two years in learning and growth for junior employees. Equal opportunity also means ensuring fair advancement, too many remain in entry-level roles. Here too, AI acts as an accelerator.
“Third, we look at our technological contribution to society, such as developing navigation systems for children with disabilities. That’s another way to reach diverse populations, not only through hiring but through community impact.”
Tehiya Zilberman described CyberArk’s regional initiative: “After October 7, we reflected on how we could best contribute as a leading technology organization. We decided to focus on the north, where many residents struggled to return home. Partnering with Raya Strauss and Spirit of the Galilee, the Nahariya Municipality, and other associations, we realized education was key to recovery.
“We established an AI House serving residents across the Galilee, a hub designed to bring technological education to the periphery. Beyond helping more young people complete technological matriculation, our vision is to reduce social gaps. Exposure to technology opens the imagination, it lets a child in Nahariya dream just like one in Tel Aviv. Even if they don’t pursue software, digital literacy is essential to every field today.”
Rola Bisharat, who left a senior corporate role to found a consulting firm focused on underrepresented populations, spoke about purpose-driven change. “I work harder now because I believe that to make an impact, you must create value. As AI rises and reshapes employment, entrepreneurs need to think about how to create value, for the economy and for themselves.
“We view AI as a personal mentor and a tool for entrepreneurship. My company helps build an ecosystem of managerial-entrepreneurial leadership, combining training and leadership development to generate value for people and the economy alike.
“The biggest shortage today is senior professionals, because fewer juniors are being hired. As a country, we must understand how to use AI to accelerate a junior’s growth into a senior role.”
The discussion also touched on the widening gap between academia and industry. “We already see a big disconnect between university graduates and the skills needed in the AI era,” said Zilberstein. “We launched a student program for those who’ve worked hard to get to university but aren’t yet on the right track. For many, these opportunities weren’t obvious at home. The only way to close that gap is for the industry to guide them, to show the path and the skills needed to enter leading companies like Google. Together, we must chart a new course that integrates AI competencies into education and the job market.”
Zilberman added: “AI is transforming everything. We now ask employees not what they know, but how fast they can learn the next thing. We train them to use AI tools, to dedicate time for growth, and to stay connected to innovation. Just last week, we recruited 30 juniors without prior experience, and in a short time, they were learning, adapting, and joining teams. That’s how we grow our next generation internally.
“AI isn’t replacing people, it’s empowering them. Those who learn to leverage AI will work smarter and make more room for creativity and human thinking. If we remain open, bold, and forward-looking, the future will belong to us.”
In closing, Zilberstein addressed local authorities: “We have a golden opportunity to educate a generation that will grow up with AI just as it grew up with smartphones. By the time they reach university, they’ll already be fluent in this world. That’s how we raise a generation that will not only use AI, but create it. That’s our shared responsibility: parents, educators, and the tech industry alike.”
