Accenture CEO Julie Sweet Says Employees Must Use AI Tools to Earn Promotions

Julie Sweet has said that employees at Accenture must demonstrate proficiency in artificial intelligence tools if they want to be considered for promotions.

Speaking on the Rapid Response podcast, Sweet said the company has gradually integrated AI into its operations and expects employees to adopt the technology as part of their daily work.

"If you want to get promoted, you’ve got to do the things that we do to operate Accenture. These are the new tools to operate a company. We didn’t go from zero to ‘you won’t get promoted’ in a month. It’s over a three-year period of getting used to the technology, making sure it’s user-friendly, making sure we have the right workbench for people to use, and then saying, ‘Hey, this is Accenture and how we operate,’” Sweet said.

AI Skills Become Key for Career Growth

Sweet’s comments come as Accenture increases the use of AI across its workflows and business operations.

In September 2025, the company said it had invested more than $865 million in a six month business optimisation programme. The initiative includes reskilling thousands of employees while removing workers who declined to adapt to new workplace technologies.

Accenture’s $3 Billion AI Reskilling Plan

In 2023, Accenture announced a three year plan worth $3 billion to integrate AI into its business operations.

One of the key goals of the programme is to expand the company’s AI workforce to about 80,000 professionals through hiring, acquisitions and training initiatives.

Accenture currently employs more than 770,000 people worldwide.

Sweet said the transition to AI in workplaces is similar to earlier technological shifts when companies adopted computers and digital tools.

“No one would have said that requiring someone to use a computer is coercion. It’s how the companies were going to get work done. Today, AI at Accenture is how we do work,” she explained.

Companies Must Redesign Systems Around AI

Sweet also noted that some organisations face challenges in adopting AI because they treat it as an additional tool rather than restructuring workflows around it.

In an earlier interview with Fortune, she said companies must redesign their systems to fully benefit from AI.

“First of all, I think we’re a good lesson in something that I’m advising CEOs all about: To capture the opportunity with AI, you really have to be willing to rewire your company,” Sweet said.

She also acknowledged that employees faced difficulties while adapting to new tools and changing work practices.

“For our people and our clients, it was hard. How do you have the courage to do that? That’s where you have the humility, but also this idea of embracing change and innovation,” Sweet noted.