Innovations like generative artificial intelligence (AI), the cloud, biometrics, and remote talent have all become a significant part of the global business landscape in recent years. These and other technologies have not only helped streamline business and payroll processes, but also catapulted payroll professionals to the frontlines of strategic leadership.

But perhaps there is more.

Perhaps there is a paradigm shift coming that will disrupt the norm even more to streamline businesses and payroll processes even more.

Shawn Kanungo, a globally recognized innovation strategist and best-selling author, was the Opening General Session keynote speaker, sponsored by rapid!, at the 42nd Annual Payroll Congress. Kanungo, making his first appearance at Payroll Congress, spoke on the impact of transformation change in his presentation, “The Age of Infinity—Generative AI and Our Future.”

Kanungo believes business and payroll leaders are standing at the transformational crossroads of technological innovation and creativity.

“There are just some individuals who change the world, and we need more of them to step up and ask, ‘How do I change my industry? How do I change my organization? How do I change myself?’ There are disruptors—those people who are willing to answer the call for innovation and transformation—who throughout our history have changed the world,” he said. “The payroll industry is full of people like this. They just don’t see it yet.”

Before Kanungo became a keynote speaker in 2018, he was the Senior Manager of Strategy and Innovation at Deloitte Consulting in Edmonton, where he specialized in understanding disruptive business models, technologies, and disruptive trends.

Kanungo said he loved his job as a consultant because each new day brought new challenges, which enabled him to grow in his role with Deloitte, and ultimately as a keynote speaker.

“I think the beauty of working in consulting is that it has a compounding effect, because you don’t just work one job, you’re working a bunch of jobs,” he said. “You see so much, and you are forced to be in uncomfortable situations. It’s incredible when you can navigate these waters. You see so much more than the average person.”

His career at Deloitte spanned 12 years and across many sectors, including the public sector where he was often a key presenter on foundational platforms and programs, innovative projects, and creating a disruptive culture to spawn greater innovation.

“People in the business realm wanted to hear about the work I was doing in the technology and innovation space,” he said. “One presentation led to another, so very early on I began to film my presentations.”

Kanungo didn’t study other public speakers to hone his speaking style. Instead, he studied the delivery of standup comedians and entertainers, such as Chris Rock. “I love how he is able to break down a topic and do it in a counterintuitive way,” he said. “He would almost provoke you in the beginning, and them dissect his thesis. I feel like if you’re a good speaker, then that’s what you’re doing.”

The recorded presentations that Kanungo posted online quickly became popular. In October 2017, he began to market his content through Speakers Spotlight to Fortune 500 companies like Morgan Stanley, Pfizer, Microsoft, and Johnson & Johnson.

Kanungo said he takes a lot of pride in being able to tailor his message of transformational change and the need for disruption to various professional groups, and he does a fair amount of research by watching videos, listening to podcasts, and interviewing ahead of each engagement.

“I don’t come into any event or keynote thinking I am an expert, because I am not,” he said.

He is, however, a student of innovation and disruption, which he talks about extensively in his book. He adds that there are two types of people in the world: geeks and freaks.

“Geeks love data, and they want to optimize and standardize. They optimize the past,” he said. “To me, freaks are creating the future because they can look outside of the data. We call freaks crazy, but they are the ones who go off and change the world. More organizations should be embracing those freaks who go with their gut, who go with their intuition. They are the disruptors of every generation.”

Kanungo said payroll professionals must realize that they aren’t just at a crossroads of transformational change, they can be the change, they can be the disruptors and the freaks in this “Age of Infinity.”

“They can leverage technology for good and continue elevating the payroll profession to be more strategic and more fun,” he said. “We can only do that if we are willing to innovate and reimagine the role of the payroll professional.”

Bryan Kirk is the Senior Writer and Editor of Membership Publications for PayrollOrg.