AI Impact: New Jobs or No Jobs?

In this must-see installment of Wholesale Change, industry thought-leaders Ian Heller and Josh Palubicki go head-to-head in a friendly but tough debate over AI’s real effects on work. Will intelligent automation create new roles, or will it displace human labor? Which functions are safe, and which are threatened? And what’s the truth behind the hype?

You’ll walk away with:

• Clearer insight into where AI is likely to create opportunities — and where it poses real risk
• Practical takeaways for leaders who must balance innovation with workforce strategy
• A balanced, no-spin conversation that cuts through extremes on both sides

Who should attend
This debate is ideal for executives, HR leaders, operations leaders, technologists, and anyone in distribution or supply chain concerned about the future of work in their organization.

Format & access
This is a live interactive debate complemented by audience Q&A. If you can’t join live, registered participants will receive on-demand access to the replay and key takeaways.

Why this matters for distributors
AI is already reshaping ordering, forecasting, pricing, and customer engagement. For distribution businesses, decisions you make today about how and when to adopt AI will influence your competitiveness — and your talent mix — for years to come.

Reserve your seat now and bring your toughest questions. Whether you see AI as a partner or a rival, you’ll leave with better clarity and stronger views.

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About our guest:

Josh Palubicki

Director of Marketing

Josh brings more than 15+ years of experience in digital marketing, storytelling, and brand strategy to the Distribution Strategy team. With a blend of creative vision and strategic rigor, he leads content development, communications, and marketing operations — bridging the gap between narrative and measurable results.

About our hosts:

Ian Heller

Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer

Ian Heller joined Grainger as a part-time truck unloader in college and left fifteen years later as the VP Marketing. Since then, he's held senior executive positions at four other publicly-held firms, consulted with dozens of distributors, and continues to write and speak extensively on how AI, strategy, channel evolution and other major trends affect the industry. Ian holds a B.A. in History from Roosevelt University and an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University.