As a new school year gets underway in many parts of the world, students are preparing for a future shaped by AI. But succeeding will take more than technical know-how. As AI transforms how work gets done, distinctly human skills—like clear, confident communication—matter more than ever. Yet high-quality communication coaching remains out of reach for many.
JA Worldwide, a nonprofit that prepares young people for entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial health, partnered with McKinsey to change that. Through the firm’s AI for Social Good program and QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, the team developed JA Pitch Master, a gen-AI-powered communication coach that helps young people around the world refine pitch presentations through personalized, actionable feedback.
The tool demonstrates how AI can be used to complement and strengthen the human skills that are increasingly valuable in the workplace. “When thoughtfully designed and responsibly deployed,” says Stacie Fieth, vice president of education at JA Worldwide, “generative AI can fundamentally strengthen how young people practice, reflect, and grow.”
This back-to-school season, explore more McKinsey insights on improving education at scale and expanding opportunities for young learners to build bright futures.
Preparing the next generation of confident communicators in an AI-driven economy
eHBCU: A first-of-its-kind HBCU online consortium to expand economic mobility through education
Unlocking opportunity: How a digital platform helps more students in Türkiye succeed
Spark & Sustain: How all of the world’s school systems can improve learning at scale