foHRsight

NOTE: We will be welcoming Dr. Gleb to our community for an interactive webinar November 25th. To go deeper on this episode and take the opportunity to connect with Dr. Gleb live, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HfJOZAaIRI6DBXc84CSCSA. Hope to see you there!Most AI adoption strategies start with tools, training and governance.But what happens when the real barrier isn't knowing how to use AI?Employees may be wondering whether the technology will eventually replace them. Experienced professionals may feel that work they spent years learning to do can suddenly be generated in seconds. Others are already using AI successfully but are reluctant to admit it because they worry it will make them look lazy, less capable or as though they have somehow cheated.Those aren't technology problems. They're human ones.In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi Titleman is joined by behavioural scientist Dr. Gleb Tsipursky to explore what leaders often miss when trying to drive AI adoption at work.They unpack three very different forms of resistance: fear and anxiety about job security, threats to professional identity, and the social stigma that can keep productive AI use hidden. Gleb shares practical ways leaders can respond, including starting with the work employees actively want off their plates, modelling AI use openly, creating opportunities to share what is working, and giving people genuine space to experiment.The conversation also looks at the growing problem of AI-generated “work slop,” why critical thinking becomes more important rather than less important in an AI-enabled workplace, and how psychological safety needs to be paired with accountability and human review.For HR leaders navigating AI adoption, the challenge is no longer simply choosing the right technology.It is creating an environment where people can learn how to use it without feeling that doing so puts their job, identity or credibility at risk.About Our GuestDr. Gleb Tsipursky is a behavioural scientist, seven-time bestselling author and author of The Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results. His work focuses on how leaders and organizations make better decisions and adapt to changes in the future of work, drawing on extensive research and consulting with organizations navigating AI adoption.Resources ReferencedThe Psychology of AI Adoption at Work: From Resistance to Results — Dr. Gleb Tsipursky's latest book. Georgetown University Press Free book sample + AI adoption resources — disasteravoidanceexperts.com/aibook MIT research on GenAI ROI — referenced in the discussion about the majority of AI pilots failing to show ROI. MIT Project NANDA Harvard Business Review on AI “workslop” — referenced in the discussion about poor-quality AI output creating more work for colleagues. Read the article Amy Edmondson on psychological safety — referenced in the conversation about balancing experimentation with accountability. Amy EdmondsonStay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramOn November 12th future foHRward will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary and 200th podcast episode in person in Toronto and you're invited! More information and registration can be found at this link. Hope to see you there!Support the show

AI is moving quickly into HR, but the most important question may not be how much work it can automate.It may be what HR chooses to do with the capacity it creates.In this episode of foHRsight, Mark Edgar speaks with Franco Girimonte about what the next phase of AI means for HR operating models, skills, workforce planning and the role HR needs to play in enterprise AI strategy.Franco shares research from The Hackett Group estimating that by 2030, 43% to 49% of HR roles or activities could be automated. But rather than seeing that solely as a headcount story, many HR leaders see an opportunity to redirect capacity toward work that has historically been under-resourced: strategic workforce planning, deeper business partnership, better insights and helping employees and leaders adapt to AI.The conversation also explores why HR and IT increasingly need to lead AI transformation together, why standardized processes matter before organizations can capture the benefits of automation, and how HR roles may shift from producing work to orchestrating work across people and AI agents.For HR leaders feeling both excited and overwhelmed by AI, this episode offers a useful place to start: not with every possible tool, but with the work your organization needs HR to be capable of next.About Our GuestFranco Girimonte is a Principal at The Hackett Group, where he works within HR transformation and brings extensive experience across HR consulting, organization design, operating models, research and benchmarking. His perspective combines hands-on transformation work with a broad view of how organizations across North America and Europe are adapting their HR functions for the future.Resources ReferencedThe Hackett Group — thehackettgroup.com2026 HR Key Issues Study: Building the Agentic HR Organization — View the researchAI World Class Human Resources — View the researchMicrosoft Copilot — copilot.microsoft.comStay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramOn November 12th future foHRward will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary and 200th podcast episode in person in Toronto and you're invited! More information and registration can be found at this link. Hope to see you there!Support the show

AI is making hiring faster. But is it actually helping organizations make better decisions about people?Candidates are using AI to write, tailor and scale applications. Employers are using it to screen, evaluate and increasingly interact with those candidates. The result can quickly become an arms race where both sides automate more, trust each other less, and lose sight of what hiring is supposed to uncover in the first place.In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi Titleman Colla speaks with Jeremy Schifeling about what HR leaders should be paying attention to as AI reshapes recruitment, early-career work and the talent pipeline.At the centre of the conversation is a simple question: does AI move us closer to people, or further away from them?They explore why candidates may be using AI differently than employers assume, where automation genuinely creates room for better human connection, why transparency in the hiring process matters, and what organizations risk when short-term efficiency removes the entry-level opportunities that develop future leaders.They also consider a bigger shift underway in how organizations assess talent. As technical tasks become easier to automate, qualities like initiative, relationship-building, judgment, creativity and the ability to use AI to accomplish meaningful work may become increasingly valuable signals.For HR and talent leaders, the opportunity isn't simply to add more AI to an old hiring process. It's to question whether the process itself is still measuring what matters.About Our GuestJeremy Schifeling is a former LinkedIn executive, early OpenAI partner and author of three number-one Amazon bestselling career books. Through his work with job seekers, students, career changers and working professionals, he brings a ground-level view of how AI is changing the experience of getting hired and what those changes mean for employers and the future talent pipeline.Resources ReferencedUnbreakable by Jeremy Schifeling: https://www.thejobinsiders.com/unbreakableFortune: “Robots Screening Robots: Inside the AI Arms Race Reshaping Hiring”:  https://www.fortune.com/2026/06/01/robots-screening-robots-inside-the-ai-arms-race-reshaping-hiring/Stanford Digital Economy Lab: “Canaries in the Coal Mine? Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial Intelligence”: https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/publication/canaries-in-the-coal-mine-six-facts-about-the-recent-employment-effects-of-artificial-intelligence/future foHRward: “Rethinking Entry-Level Work in the Age of AI”: https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeJeremy Schifeling on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schifelingCNBC: “The No. 1 AI Mistake Job Seekers Make”: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/18/dont-use-chatgpt-to-write-your-resume.htmlStay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Most organizations would say they care about their people. The harder question is whether their people can actually feel it.When work is moving quickly and leaders are navigating pressure, change and new technology, it is easy for care to become something organizations talk about rather than something employees experience. But culture is built in the everyday proof points: the questions leaders ask, the clarity they provide, how they respond when someone is struggling, and whether people feel seen in the first place.In this episode of foHRsight, Mark Edgar speaks with Justin Ricklefs about why caring can be a genuine competitive advantage and what it takes to turn that idea into action.Justin shares a practical framework built around curiosity, compassion, clarity and consistency, including why empathy without action only goes so far, why leaders need to ask better questions, and why the strongest culture signals are often much simpler than we think.The conversation is a useful reminder that you cannot market your way to a healthy culture. Your people experience the organization from the inside, and the stories they tell about that experience become part of the business itself.About Our GuestJustin Ricklefs is the founder of strategic brand agency Guild Collective and the author of Give a Damn. His work explores how care, storytelling and human connection shape stronger organizations, brands and leadership cultures.Links from the EpisodeJustin Ricklefs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinricklefsGuild Collective: https://guildcollective.com/Give a Damn: The Catalyst for Caring Companies: https://thegiveadamnbook.com/Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Your turnover numbers might look reassuring. That doesn't necessarily mean your people want to stay.The current labour market has created what PayScale calls a “job-hugging” era: employees are changing jobs less frequently, but economic uncertainty, slow hiring and anxiety about AI may be keeping people in roles they are no longer particularly happy in. As Amy Stewart puts it, some employees are holding onto their jobs “like you're hugging a cactus.”That creates a difficult challenge for HR. Low attrition can look like stability while masking disengagement, pay frustration and employees quietly preparing themselves for their next opportunity.In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi talks with PayScale's Ruth Thomas and Amy Stewart about what the latest compensation and flight-risk data tells us about where organizations may be vulnerable.They explore why new hires can sometimes out-earn longer-tenured employees, why perceived pay fairness can matter as much as actual market competitiveness, and why pay transparency makes it increasingly important for organizations to explain not just what people are paid, but why. The conversation also looks at some less obvious signs of flight risk, from employees seeking bigger titles to acquiring certifications and new skills, and why this slower labour market may actually be the right moment to examine job architecture, internal equity and where your retention dollars will matter most.For HR leaders, the takeaway is simple: don't wait for resignations to tell you where the risk is.About Our GuestsRuth Thomas is PayScale's Chief Compensation Strategist and SVP of Marketing, with decades of experience studying compensation, labour-market trends and the evolution of rewards strategy. Her perspective helps connect today's pay pressures with the broader changes reshaping how organizations attract and retain talent.Amy Stewart is a manager on PayScale's content and research team and one of the lead authors of its 2026 Flight Risk Report. Her work draws on PayScale's proprietary compensation data to identify where organizations may be most exposed to attrition and pay-related retention risk.Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

What if someone can look successful on paper and still be operating almost entirely in survival mode?For HR leaders, that distinction matters. Organizations are moving faster, employees are carrying more, technology keeps accelerating the pace, and HR is often asked to respond with another program, initiative or tool. But what if thriving at work depends on something more fundamental?In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi Titleman Colla speaks with Jon Rosemberg about the difference between success and thriving, and why agency, meaning and connection are essential to moving out of survival mode. Jon explores what happens to our decision-making when our nervous systems are overloaded, how emotions can become useful information rather than something to suppress, and why slowing down can actually help us respond more effectively when everything feels urgent. They also unpack Jon's AIR framework: Awareness, Inquiry and Reframing, a practical way to create distance from difficult situations, challenge the stories we're telling ourselves and see more possibilities before deciding what to do next. For HR leaders, the conversation ultimately lands somewhere deceptively simple: people need to feel seen, heard and valued. If work has become increasingly transactional, meaningful human connection may be one of the most important conditions HR and leaders can create for people to thrive. About Our GuestJon Rosenberg is a former operations executive turned advisor, the founding partner of Anthr and author of A Guide to Thriving. His work with founders and CEOs focuses on widening the frame around difficult decisions and helping people reclaim agency, making his perspective particularly relevant for leaders navigating pressure, uncertainty and change. Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the showIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Boards are making decisions about AI, transformation, succession, culture and growth. But how often does the person with the deepest understanding of the workforce have a seat at the table?In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi is joined by former CHROs Suzan Morno-Wade and Harriet Harty to explore why HR leaders remain significantly underrepresented on corporate boards, and why that gap matters more as organizations navigate increasingly complex workforce decisions. The conversation challenges some persistent assumptions about what CHROs bring to the boardroom. Strong HR leaders aren't simply experts in people programs. They understand organizational performance, leadership capability, succession, culture and enterprise risk. They know how to influence without owning the decision, ask discerning questions and connect talent decisions back to business strategy. And as AI reshapes work, that perspective becomes even more important. Technology decisions are also workforce decisions. Suzan and Harriet make the case for HR leaders to position those conversations in the language of strategy, risk, opportunity, financial analysis and measurable business outcomes. For CHROs who see board service in their future, there's also a practical message: don't wait until you leave the operating role to start preparing. Building board experience, relationships and a board-ready profile takes time. About Our guestsSuzan Morno-Wade is a former CHRO of Xerox whose career has spanned finance, human resources and enterprise leadership. Today, she advises organizations, serves on boards and supports greater representation in the C-suite and boardroom. Harriet Harty has held multiple executive HR roles, most recently serving as Chief Administrative Officer at ADT. She now works across advisory, board and executive coaching roles, bringing extensive experience in business transformation, talent and leadership. Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Your organization probably has more good ideas than you realize.The challenge is what happens next.Employees learn quickly whether an unconventional suggestion is genuinely welcome, whether failure will be treated as information or incompetence, and whether leadership is open to an outcome it did not already choose. When those answers are unclear, people protect themselves. They offer safer ideas, wait for direction or stop speaking up entirely.In this episode, Naomi Titleman Colla speaks with Fiona Stevenson about the human dynamics that cause innovation to stall. They explore why fear of taking action can be stronger than the fear of doing nothing, how leaders unintentionally become more rigid when the stakes are high, and why psychological safety must be built into the work rather than treated as a separate culture exercise.Fiona also shares a practical process for moving from a clearly defined problem to human insight, inspiration, ideas, iteration and implementation. For HR leaders, the conversation offers a clear challenge: examine whether your performance measures, reward systems and everyday leadership behaviours actually support the experimentation your organization says it wants.Guest ResourcesWebsite: fionastevenson.comOpen State (with co-founder Alyssa Kerbel): openstate.ca — bringing nervous system regulation, music, and movement into the creative processKindness at Work: kindnessatwork.com — inaugural Workplace Kindness Awards ceremony in New York City during Kindness Week (November); nominations now openLinkedIn: Connect with Fiona StevensonAbout Our GuestFiona Stevenson is CEO and founding partner of the Idea Suite, where she helps organizations turn human insight into commercially viable ideas. With a background in psychology, more than a decade at Procter & Gamble and experience leading hundreds of innovation projects around the world, she brings a deeply human and practical perspective to how ideas move through organizations.Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

When pressure becomes constant, resilience can start to look a lot like suffering in silence.Employees are told to adapt, stay positive and keep moving, while the conditions driving burnout often remain untouched. For HR leaders, the challenge is not simply helping people manage stress. It is creating workplaces where people can stay clear, connected and capable even when the demands are high.In this episode, Naomi Titleman Colla speaks with Jay Abbasi about why resilience is not built by asking people to push harder. They explore how safety, focus and meaningful connection shape performance, why people struggle to access their best thinking when they feel threatened, and what emotionally intelligent leadership looks like in practice.The conversation also offers a practical challenge for leaders: notice what is driving your own behaviour before attempting to understand someone else's. From regulating before reacting to sharing vulnerability without becoming the victim of the situation, this episode offers grounded ways to lead more effectively under pressure.About Our GuestJay Abbasi is a global keynote and TEDx speaker, coach and former Tesla leader who helps professionals perform under pressure without burning out. After leading national training programs for more than 1,000 Tesla employees, he has coached leaders at organizations including Google, Amazon, TikTok and Wells Fargo.Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Most organizations aren't struggling with AI because of the technology. They're struggling because people don't change as quickly as the tools do.As leaders race to implement AI, many are relying on change management approaches that were designed for a slower, more predictable world. But when change is constant, communication plans and training sessions aren't enough. Real transformation happens when leaders understand how people actually adopt new ways of working.In this episode, Naomi sits down with organizational change expert and author Paul Gibbons to explore why traditional change management needs an update for the age of AI. Together, they unpack why leadership modelling matters more than ever, how HR can navigate the "double bind" of transforming itself while helping the rest of the organization evolve, and why behavioural science—not technology—is the missing ingredient in successful AI adoption.Whether you're leading an AI initiative, supporting organizational change, or simply trying to help your people adapt to a rapidly changing workplace, this conversation offers a thoughtful, practical perspective on leading transformation with both confidence and humanity.About Paul GibbonsPaul Gibbons is a consultant, speaker, and author focused on change, culture, and AI adoption. He is the creator of the Adaptive Adoption Framework and has authored nine books, including Adopting AI, written for leaders who need a practical strategy. He was ranked among the top five culture change thinkers globally by Global Gurus.Find Paul:Website: Paul Gibbons AdvisorySlack community: Think Bigger Think BetterStay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Every generation of HR leaders faces a transformation that changes how the profession works.Today, it's AI.The pressure to move quickly can make it feel like everything is changing overnight. But beneath the new technology, the core of great HR remains remarkably consistent: earning trust, exercising sound judgment, navigating difficult conversations, and helping leaders make better decisions.In this conversation, retired CHRO Karen Trenton reflects on a career that spanned enormous shifts in technology, leadership and organizational change. She shares what she's most proud of, the career decisions she would make differently, why community matters more than ever, and why emotional intelligence—not technical expertise—is still what separates exceptional HR leaders.If you've been wondering what skills will matter most in the next decade of HR, this episode offers a thoughtful perspective from someone who's led through decades of transformation.About Our GuestKaren Trenton is a retired Chief Human Resources Officer with executive leadership experience across Coca-Cola and Sherritt International. Having led HR through periods of rapid organizational growth, global expansion and technological change, she brings a grounded perspective on leadership, judgment and the enduring human side of HR.Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Most teams don't have a collaboration problem because they lack talented people.They have a collaboration problem because they've never really talked about how they work together.We invest in Slack, Teams, Miro, Notion and countless other tools designed to make collaboration easier. But more tools haven't necessarily made teams better at collaborating. In some cases, they've simply created the illusion that collaboration is happening.In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi sits down with Alison Coward to explore why great teamwork rarely happens by accident and what it means to intentionally design the way people work together.They discuss why talented people don't automatically create high-performing teams, why workshops so often fail to create lasting change, and why small, consistent shifts in how teams communicate, align and make decisions can be far more powerful than sweeping culture initiatives.For HR leaders, there's an important challenge here: stop treating collaboration as something that should happen naturally. Start creating the conditions for it.About Our guestAlison Coward is a team culture strategist, workshop facilitator, trainer, and keynote speaker based in London. As founder of Bracket, she partners with ambitious, forward-thinking companies to help them build high-performing team cultures. Her book, Workshop Culture, lays out a practical framework for taking the energy and effectiveness of great workshops and embedding them into how teams work every day.Connect with AlisonWebsite & newsletter: bracketcreative.co.uk | bracketcreative.co.uk/newsletterLinkedIn: Alison CowardBook: Workshop Culture — available wherever books are soldStay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

We spend so much time helping people perform that we often forget to help them recover.Today's employees are balancing demanding workloads alongside constant notifications, endless comparison, economic uncertainty and personal pressures that don't disappear when the workday begins. By the time someone reaches a breaking point, the signs have often been there for much longer.In this episode, Mark Edgar sits down with life and wellness coach Ashish Singh to explore what it really means to build resilience before it's needed. Together, they unpack why calm isn't something we discover after everything settles down, but something we cultivate in the middle of everyday life.Ashish shares the deeply personal experience that led him from corporate life into coaching after a serious injury forced him to confront anxiety, uncertainty and his own internal dialogue. That journey became the foundation for his work helping others reconnect with what he calls "the steadiness within."Throughout the conversation, they explore why we can only truly control our thoughts and our actions, how social media has amplified stress through constant comparison, why mindfulness doesn't have to mean lengthy meditation sessions, and what practical tools can help people reset throughout an ordinary workday.For HR leaders, this conversation offers an important shift in perspective. Rather than waiting until employees are overwhelmed, organizations have an opportunity to normalize simple wellbeing practices that support people every day. Creating healthier workplaces isn't only about responding well during difficult moments. It's about making steadiness part of how work happens in the first place.ResourcesWebsite: thecalmmind.coInstagram: singashish3LinkedIn: Available (handle mentioned in conversation)About Our GuestAshish Singh is a life and wellness coach, author and founder of The Calm Mind. Drawing from his own experience navigating anxiety, injury and major life transitions, he helps individuals and organizations develop practical tools for building emotional resilience, mindfulness and lasting inner steadiness.Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

We often think resilience is something we discover in the hardest moments. But what if it's actually something we build long before we need it?As work becomes more complex, change accelerates, and cognitive demands continue to rise, many leaders find themselves relying on the same habits that helped them succeed in the past—only to realize they no longer have the capacity they once did. The challenge isn't a lack of capability. It's that resilience is too often treated as an individual trait instead of something we can intentionally strengthen.In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi Titleman Colla sits down with leadership psychologist and executive coach Dr. Marie-Hélène (MH) Pelletier to explore why resilience isn't about pushing harder or simply "bouncing back." Instead, it's a strategic practice that can be developed by individuals, teams, and organizations alike.Together, they discuss why high performers often underestimate the demands they're carrying, how cognitive patterns quietly erode decision-making, why resilience should be treated as leadership infrastructure rather than a wellness initiative, and the practical habits leaders can build today to protect their performance before they reach their breaking point.Whether you're leading an HR function, supporting organizational change, or simply feeling the weight of today's pace of work, this conversation offers a practical and refreshingly human approach to sustaining performance without sacrificing wellbeing.About Our GuestDr. Marie-Hélène (MH) Pelletier is a leadership psychologist, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health. With more than 20 years of experience working with leaders across industries, she helps organizations build resilience as a strategic capability that strengthens decision-making, leadership, and long-term performance.Connect with MH:Website & book: theresilienceplan.comLinkedIn: search Dr. Marie-Hélène PelletierLink for free resources: https://drmarie-helene.com/free-resources-sign-up/Stay Connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

For many leaders, retirement isn't about leaving work. It's about leaving behind an identity.After decades of building careers, leading teams, and carrying enormous responsibility, the biggest question isn't "What's next?" It's "Who am I without the title?"In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi Titleman Colla sits down with Zabeen Hirji, former Chief Human Resources Officer at RBC, to explore what she calls the Purposeful Third Act—a new way of thinking about life after executive leadership.Together, they unpack the emotional transition that comes with stepping away from a long career, why purpose is something we rediscover rather than reinvent, and how organizations are missing an opportunity to better engage experienced leaders. They also discuss the growing importance of intergenerational workplaces, lifelong learning, and why judgment, wisdom, and human connection will become even more valuable in the age of AI.Whether retirement feels years away or is already on the horizon, this conversation is a thoughtful reminder that your greatest contribution may not be behind you—it may simply take a different shape.About Our GuestZabeen Hirji is a founder, retirement disruptor, executive advisor, and board director. She served as CHRO at Royal Bank of Canada and is now the driving force behind the Purposeful Third Act movement, which helps senior leaders navigate life and work after corporate careers with intention and impact.

Learning and development has spent decades creating courses, launching platforms, and chasing the next technology trend. But what if the problem isn't the technology at all?As AI reshapes how people access information, many traditional assumptions about workplace learning are being challenged. Employees no longer need to sit through generic training to find answers. They expect learning to be personalized, contextual, and available exactly when they need it.In this episode, Lori Niles-Hofmann joins Naomi Titleman Colla to explore why L&D is facing an existential moment, what organizations are getting wrong about skills development, and how AI could fundamentally change the way learning happens at work. Together, they discuss the shift from course creation to intelligent learning ecosystems, why skills management should be treated with the same precision as a supply chain, and how HR leaders can move from order-taking to strategic enablement.If you're responsible for developing people in an environment where business priorities, technology, and skills requirements are changing faster than ever, this conversation offers a practical and thought-provoking look at what comes next.Resources & References Mentioned

Most presentations fail long before the speaker gets to the “important” part.Not because the content is wrong.Because the audience never felt connected in the first place.In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi Titleman Colla sits down with presentation coach and communication strategist Anthony Lee to explore what makes communication actually land — whether you are moderating a conference panel, leading a board meeting, facilitating a town hall, or simply trying to run a better team meeting.Together, they unpack:why audience connection matters more than information dumpingthe communication mistakes most moderators and panelists makehow storytelling and emotional connection build trustwhat high-performing teams do differently in meetingshow leaders can think more intentionally about the “voice” they are usingand why rehearsal and feedback matter far more than most organizations realizeThe conversation goes far beyond public speaking.At its core, this episode is about conversational leadership — how leaders create clarity, trust, engagement, and momentum through the way they communicate with others.About Our GuestAnthony Lee is the founder of Heroic Voice Academy and a communication coach who works with executives, conference speakers, HR leaders, and teams to strengthen audience connection, storytelling, and presentation effectiveness. With a background in engineering and executive leadership coaching, Anthony brings a uniquely practical and human-centered approach to communication.Connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heroicvoice/Resources MentionedHeroic Voice AcademyPresentation, communication, and speaker coaching for leaders, teams, conference speakers, and executives.Website: https://heroicvoice.comOpen Gym ThursdaysAnthony hosts weekly “Open Gym” sessions where participants can practice presentations, receive coaching, and learn communication techniques.Thursdays at 12:00 PM PTLearn more via Anthony's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heroicvoice/TEDx Salt Lake CityAnthony credits coaching speakers at TEDx Salt Lake City as a pivotal moment in his journey from engineering leader to presentation coach.https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/12806Miles Davis – Someday My Prince Will ComeReferenced as an example of how great moderators function like jazz band leaders—setting the tone, creating space for others to shine, and guiding the overall audience experience.https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Miles+Davis+Someday+My+Prince+Will+ComeStay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Most leaders today feel stuck in a constant tug-of-war. Push harder for results and risk burnout or focus too much on engagement and worry performance will suffer.But what if that tension exists because we are solving the wrong problem?In this episode of foHRsight, Naomi Titleman Colla sits down with leadership consultant Rachel Cooke to explore a different approach to leadership and work design, one where development, connection, wellbeing, and performance are not competing priorities, but built into the fabric of how work happens every day.Together, they unpack:why traditional leadership models are breaking down under uncertaintythe difference between certainty and clarityhow leaders can better harness frontline insight and intelligencewhy work design matters more than another leadership programhow small experiments inside the flow of work can create meaningful cultural changeand the opportunity HR has to stop separating “people stuff” from business resultsThis is a thoughtful and deeply practical conversation for leaders trying to create healthier, more adaptive workplaces without adding more complexity, meetings, or programs.About Our GuestRachel Cooke is the founder of Lead Above Noise, host of the Modern Mentor Podcast, and author of the newsletter Making Work Work Better. With a background spanning organizational psychology, operations leadership, and HR, Rachel helps organizations rethink leadership and work design in ways that strengthen both business performance and human experience.Stay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

Everyone is trying to move faster right now. Faster outputs. Faster decisions. Faster adoption of AI.But somewhere inside that acceleration, many leaders are starting to feel something else too: cognitive overload, constant mental switching, and a growing sense that work is becoming noisier instead of clearer.In this episode, Mark and Naomi unpack two emerging ideas gaining traction in the AI conversation: “AI brain fry” and “cognitive surrender.” Together, they explore what happens when efficiency becomes the default goal, how over-reliance on AI can quietly erode critical thinking, and why HR leaders need to be paying closer attention to the human experience underneath AI adoption.This conversation isn't anti-AI. It's about intentional AI use.The discussion explores: Why productivity pressure may be pushing teams toward unhealthy AI habits  The difference between learning moments and efficiency moments  How AI-generated volume can actually increase cognitive fatigue  Why HR professionals may be especially vulnerable to “brain fry”  What organizations risk losing when human judgment disappears from the process  How leaders can create healthier norms around AI use before bad habits calcify Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that AI should augment human capability, not replace thoughtful human participation in work.Stay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward  Follow us on InstagramIf you are looking for more foHRsight, sign up for our monthly foHRsight newsletter. It's free and includes access to our quarterly white paper. This quarter's white paper is about Rethinking Entry-Level work in the Age of AI, produced with Dr. Miranda Rodak from Indiana University's Kelley school of business - an important topic for HR, Leadership and parents, students and society as a whole! https://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeSupport the show

AI is accelerating change faster than most organizations are emotionally prepared for.Employees are anxious. Leaders are overwhelmed. And many managers are being asked to guide people through uncertainty without ever being taught how to truly understand human behaviour in the first place.In this episode of the foHRsight podcast, Mark Edgar sits down with organizational psychologist, executive coach, and author Karl Hebenstreit to explore why empathy, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness may become some of the most important leadership capabilities of the AI era.Together, they unpack:Why AI is creating more fear and pressure at work than many organizations want to admit The leadership gap created when technical experts become people managers overnight How unclear expectations quietly damage trust, performance, and culture Why understanding motivation matters more than personality labels How the Enneagram can help leaders better navigate teams, conflict, communication, and change This conversation is ultimately about something bigger than frameworks or assessments. It's about building workplaces where people feel understood enough to actually thrive.About Our GuestKarl Hebenstreit is an author, speaker, executive coach, and organizational development leader with more than 25 years of experience helping leaders and teams work more effectively together. His work focuses on emotional intelligence, leadership development, and using the Enneagram as a practical framework for building healthier organizations and stronger human connection.Stay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward  Follow us on InstagramFor more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Many organizations are planning for AI disruption. Far fewer are planning for demographic disruption.In this episode of foHRsight, Dan Pontefract joins Naomi Titleman Colla to unpack what he calls “age debt” — the growing organizational risk created when companies ignore longevity, ageism, workforce demographics, and the loss of institutional wisdom.The conversation challenges the way we think about generational labels at work and asks a bigger question: what happens when organizations become so focused on optimization and speed that they stop valuing experience altogether?Dan introduces a new framework for thinking about careers through evolving life stages instead of fixed generational identities, and explores why the future of work will require organizations to rethink career paths, knowledge transfer, leadership structures, and workforce wellbeing.For HR leaders navigating talent shortages, succession concerns, burnout, and constant change, this episode offers a more human and sustainable lens on what future-ready organizations actually need.About Our GuestDan Pontefract is an award-winning author, leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and adjunct professor at the University of Victoria. A former Chief Learning Officer at TELUS, Dan has spent decades helping organizations rethink leadership, learning, culture, and the future of work. His latest book, The Future of Work Is Grey explores the overlooked workforce risks tied to age, longevity, and organizational wisdom. Website & free assessments: www.thefutureofworkisgrey.comTake the Personal Age Assessment to see how prepared you are for age debtTake the Organizational Age Assessment to benchmark your companyStay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward  Follow us on InstagramFor more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

What if the reason your culture isn't shifting… isn't your people?For many HR leaders, the pressure is familiar. You hire thoughtfully. You invest in development. You talk about inclusion. And yet, something still doesn't move.Because the issue isn't just who is in the organization. It's what they move through once they're there.In this episode, Mark Edgar sits down with Celeste Warren to unpack a more pragmatic, and more demanding, view of diversity, equity and inclusion. One that moves beyond representation and into the systems that shape access, opportunity, and performance.They explore why so many DEI efforts fail to create real change, how the role of the Chief Diversity Officer has evolved through a decade of volatility, and what it actually takes to build environments where people can thrive.This is not a conversation about optics or ideology. It's about how organizations work, who they work for, and what leaders need to redesign if they want performance to be sustainable.If you're leading through complexity, trying to balance business outcomes with human realities, this episode will challenge how you think about both.About Our Guest Celeste Warren is a former Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and global HR leader with decades of experience across complex organizations. She now advises companies on how to embed inclusive and equitable practices into business and people systems. Her work is grounded in both lived experience and deep operational expertise, making her perspective both practical and hard to ignore.Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward  Follow us on InstagramFor more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

What if the problem isn't that your people aren't performing… but that your system is broken?Right now, many organizations are rushing to adopt AI, cutting entry-level roles, and asking more from leaders who are already at capacity. It feels efficient. It looks strategic. But it's quietly eroding the very foundation of future performance.In this episode, host Mark Edgar sits down with Kelly Monahan to challenge the way we're thinking about work, leadership, and AI. They explore why starting with technology is the wrong move, how outdated systems are limiting human potential, and what leaders need to rebuild if they want sustainable performance.This is a conversation about getting the moment right. Not just implementing AI, but redefining how value is created, how people are developed, and what leadership actually requires now.If you're feeling the pressure to “move faster” while sensing something deeper is off, this episode will help you step back and rethink where to start.About Our GuestKelly Monahan is a future of work advisor, researcher, and bestselling author focused on the intersection of human behavior, leadership, and technology. With a background in HR and a PhD in organizational research, she works closely with executives to help them navigate AI-driven transformation while keeping human performance at the center.Stay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE  Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward  Follow us on InstagramFor more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

What if you could see your organization's culture like an X-ray?In this episode, host Naomi Titleman sits down with behavioral scientist Dr. Harry Toukalas and talent strategist Mark Jesty to explore how organizational network analysis is replacing guesswork in HR and what the rise of AI means for human accountability at work.Because most leaders believe they understand their culture. They've run the surveys. They've reviewed the data. They've built action plans.But they're often working from a partial view.This conversation challenges that assumption by unpacking what sits beneath the surface: the informal networks of trust, influence, and communication that actually determine how work gets done. The parts of culture that don't show up in surveys or org charts, but shape performance every day.We explore the gap between what people say and what they do, why hybrid work is quietly eroding cross-team collaboration, and how behavioral data can reveal early signals of disengagement before they become exit interviews.Most importantly, this episode reframes the role of HR. From interpreting opinions to measuring behavior. From reacting to problems to predicting them.Because when you can see how culture is forming and spreading in real time, you can finally intervene with precision and credibility.About Our GuestsMark Jesty is a talent strategist and advisor who has spent decades helping leaders strengthen performance and leadership inside complex organizations. Dr. Harry Toukalas is a behavioral scientist and CEO of Swarm, where he combines behavioral science and AI to analyze how decisions, culture, and performance actually form and evolve inside organizations.Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, click HERE  Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark EdgarNaomi Titleman Collafuture foHRward Follow us on Instagram For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Most leaders know meetings are broken. What's harder to admit is that we keep reinforcing the system that makes them that way.Calendars are full. Teams are exhausted. And yet, meetings continue to multiply. Not because they work, but because they signal work.In this episode, Rebecca Hinds challenges the idea that meetings are just a scheduling problem. She reframes them as a deeper organizational issue rooted in visibility, status, and outdated ways of measuring value.You'll hear why meetings often aren't the root problem, but the most visible symptom. Why hybrid work and AI haven't fixed collaboration, and in many cases have made it worse. And what it actually looks like to design meetings and workflows with intention, not habit.For HR leaders, this conversation is a wake-up call. Not just to reduce meetings, but to rethink how work itself is defined, measured, and experienced.Because if we don't change it deliberately, AI will simply help us do more of what isn't working.About our guest Rebecca Hinds is a leading expert in organizational behavior who works with companies navigating the challenges of modern work. She founded the Work Innovation Lab at Asana and the Work AI Institute at Glean, where she bridges the gap between academic research and real organizational practice. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She is also an instructor for CNBC's Make It Masterclass: How to Use AI to Be More Productive and Successful at Work, and the author of Your Best Meeting Ever.Key Topics & Timestamps[~12:50] Check-In: Rebecca's best meeting ever [~19:40] Why meetings got worse after the pandemic[~22:10] Visibility bias: why we equate busyness with value[~24:45] The WWII sabotage manual [~27:00] The $1.4 trillion problem [~30:10] Meetings as your most expensive, overlooked product [~35:45] "Process is a proxy" [~36:00] Where AI helps and where it hurts meetings[~38:30] The brainstorming debate: to AI or not to AI? [~43:40] One tip for HR leaders: where to start[~45:05] It's okay to cancel Resources & Links

What happens when smart, capable teams keep having meetings, but nothing really moves?In this episode, Gustavo Razzetti joins Naomi Titleman to unpack the hidden cost of the conversations teams avoid. He argues that many workplace breakdowns are not caused by weak strategy or lack of talent, but by “conversational debt” that builds when people stay silent, rush alignment, blame each other, or perform agreement they do not actually feel. For HR leaders, this tension is especially familiar. You can invest in engagement, communication, and psychological safety, but still find teams stuck in circular meetings, unresolved friction, and unspoken resentment. This conversation helps name what is really happening underneath those patterns and offers a more useful lens for moving teams forward. Gustavo shares why groupthink is often the hardest dysfunction to spot, why silence is not the same as alignment, and why many employees stop speaking up not only because they are afraid, but because they no longer believe it will make a difference. He also introduces the idea of “forward talk” — conversations that address the real issue and focus on the future — and explains what HR leaders can do to build teams that disagree well, commit clearly, and stop carrying avoidable relational and operational drag. About our guest Gustavo Razzetti is a culture design consultant, speaker, and the CEO of Fearless Culture. He has facilitated more than 1,500 workshops with teams at companies including Microsoft, Mars, Merck, Globant, and the Inter-American Development Bank, and his work focuses on helping organizations build healthier, more honest team cultures. Connect with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Connect with GustavoWebsite: GustavoRazzetti.comLinkedIn: Search Gustavo Razzetti (with double Z, double T)About Gustavo's Book

Something feels off.A leader who used to be effective is becoming controlling. A team that used to work well together is suddenly tense. Conversations are getting sharper, more personal, more certain.And yet, the numbers still look fine.For many HR leaders, this is a familiar and frustrating position. You can feel the shift early, but by the time it's acknowledged, the conversation has already turned into a performance issue. The system pressure has already been translated into a judgment about the person.In this episode, Ned Eustace introduces a different way to understand what's happening underneath those moments. He explains how leadership strain builds under pressure, how organizations unconsciously convert that pressure into capability judgments, and why that shift makes it harder to intervene effectively.More importantly, this conversation offers a practical way forward. It helps HR leaders slow down that conversion, ask better questions, and create space for a more accurate diagnosis before action is taken.If you've ever had the sense that something was coming before anyone else could see it, this episode will help you trust that signal and know what to do with it.About our guest Ned Eustace works with senior leaders navigating sustained pressure in environments of growth, transformation, and integration. His work focuses on how leadership strain shows up early, often before traditional performance signals, and how organizations can respond without defaulting to individual blame. He partners closely with HR and executive teams to help them interpret system signals and intervene with clarity.To go deeper on this topic: https://hbleaders.com/pressure-gap-leadership-strainStay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Caregiving rarely shows up neatly at work.It shows up as distraction. Exhaustion. Missed capacity. A high performer who suddenly cannot take on one more thing. A manager who is present in the meeting, but mentally somewhere else. And for many organizations, it remains largely invisible until someone burns out, steps back, or leaves.In this episode, Raymond Levine brings attention to a reality more employers need to take seriously: caregiving is not a niche issue, and it is not only about later life. It affects employees across stages of life, often quietly, and with real consequences for focus, wellbeing, and retention.For HR leaders, this conversation is a useful reminder that support does not start with having every answer. It starts with recognizing caregiving as part of the human reality employees are already navigating and asking whether your workplace is designed with that in mind.About Our GuestRaymond Levine is an extended care benefits advisor and longtime advocate for greater awareness around caregiving and long-term care. His perspective matters here because he focuses closely on a gap many employers still overlook: the practical, emotional, and financial strain caregiving places on working people and their organizations.Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeFollow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Work is changing faster than many organizations know how to lead through.Between AI, constant transformation, and growing complexity, many leaders are still relying on outdated habits: top-down decision-making, poor communication, and the assumption that leadership means having all the answers. The result is often slower execution, lower engagement, and teams that resist change instead of moving through it.In this episode, Marianne Bachynski shares what it really takes to lead in uncertainty. Drawing on her experience leading large-scale transformation in high-pressure financial and technology environments, she explains why adaptability, clear communication, curiosity, and trust are now essential leadership muscles.For HR leaders, this conversation is a timely reminder that the biggest barrier to change is rarely the technology itself. It is whether leaders know how to create the kind of culture where people can think, contribute, experiment, and evolve together.About our guest Marianne Bachynski is an author, advisor, and former technology executive who combines deep technology expertise with a people-first approach to leadership. Her perspective matters in this conversation because she has spent her career leading transformation in high-pressure environments, giving her a practical and deeply informed view of what leaders need to navigate uncertainty, complexity, and continuous change.Stay connected with foHRsight Sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight HERE. Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi Titleman Colla - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/Follow us on Instagram:future foHRward - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Work doesn't feel sustainable right now.Employees are overwhelmed, leaders are exhausted, and organizations are trying to solve burnout by reducing workload - but what if that's not the real problem?In this episode, organizational psychologist Liane Davey introduces the concept of thought load - the cognitive demands, emotional strain, and depleted energy that come from navigating modern work. From endless matrix structures and constant organizational change to meetings that add noise instead of clarity, today's workplace is quietly draining the mental bandwidth people need to actually perform.Liane shares practical ideas for leaders trying to restore focus and effectiveness inside their teams: how to stop chasing productivity, eliminate dead work, redesign meetings, and create space for insight in a world full of noise.For HR leaders especially, this conversation reframes burnout as a systemic design problem, not a personal failing.About our guestLiane Davey is an organizational psychologist, keynote speaker, and bestselling author focused on helping teams achieve extraordinary results together. Known as “The Teamwork Doctor,” she works with executive teams and organizations around the world to tackle the messy people challenges that get in the way of performance. Her latest book, Thoughtload, explores why modern work is overwhelming people and what leaders can do about it.CHANCE TO WIN! We're giving away a few copies of Liane's book. To enter, all you have to do is post about this episode and tag Naomi Titleman and future foHRward, and we will put you in a draw to win!Stay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeFollow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Most HR leaders are chasing engagement scores.Very few are diagnosing loneliness.If performance feels flatter… if initiative is fading… if teams feel more transactional than connected, this episode explains why.In this conversation, Dr. Tracy Brower joins Naomi Titleman to unpack a truth many leaders feel but struggle to articulate: connection is not a “nice-to-have.” It is a structural driver of performance, initiative, retention, and fulfillment.They explore:The early warning signs of workplace disconnectionWhy proximity still matters in a hybrid worldHow AI may unintentionally weaken team relianceSocial contagion and why energy spreads faster than strategyThe difference between dirt roads and superhighways inside your cultureWhat a real “connection infrastructure” looks likeThis isn't about forcing friendships or dragging people back to the office. It's about being deliberate about the human system inside your organization.Because when people don't feel seen or needed, they disengage.And disengagement is expensive.About our guestDr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist and VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase. She studies connection, community, fulfillment, and the future of work, and is the author of Critical Connections. Her work bridges research and real-world application, helping organizations understand how human dynamics directly influence performance.Stay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

HR leaders are being asked to modernize faster than their organizations are ready for. New AI tools appear weekly, vendors promise transformation, and the pressure to “do something” keeps mounting. At the same time, most HR teams are still running complex, multi-step processes built for a very different era.In this episode, Josh Bersin helps cut through the noise by reframing what AI transformation actually looks like inside HR. Rather than chasing dozens of tools or fearing job displacement, he argues that the real work ahead is architectural. Deciding what to build versus buy. Determining which processes matter most. And putting human ownership around data, judgment, and governance so AI can scale responsibly.You'll hear why onboarding, learning, feedback, and career development are not isolated workflows, but interconnected systems that AI can finally stitch together if HR leads the design. Josh also explains why organizations that get this right will not reduce HR's importance, but elevate it.This conversation is for HR leaders who feel both excited and overwhelmed, and who want a clearer mental model for where to start, what to prioritize, and how to partner with IT without losing their seat at the table.About our guest Josh Bersin is a global HR industry analyst, researcher, and founder of The Josh Bersin Company. He has spent decades advising CHROs and executive teams on talent, leadership, and workforce transformation, and is a leading voice on how AI is reshaping the HR function in practice, not theory.Stay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

If you're leading HR right now, it can feel like the ground is moving under your feet. You're still expected to deliver flawless service, keep costs down, and manage risk, while your CEO quietly expects you to redesign the workforce for an AI era that's arriving faster than most operating models can handle.In part one of this conversation with Josh Bersin, we explore a reframe that changes everything: AI isn't just personal productivity. The real disruption is enterprise-level “super agents” that automate whole sequences of work, and force HR to rethink hiring, talent strategy, and even the idea of “a job” itself.We also dig into why CHRO tenure may be shrinking, what that signals about expectations on HR leaders, and why “talent density” is becoming a more useful lens than traditional talent management as companies try to scale without simply adding headcount.About our guest Josh Bersin is a leading HR and workplace industry analyst and the founder of Bersin by Deloitte (now The Josh Bersin Company). He advises senior executives on HR, talent, and organizational transformation, with a sharp focus on what's actually changing inside companies as AI moves from experimentation to enterprise reality.Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

You can be brilliant, hardworking, and respected — and still feel like you're running full-speed into an invisible wall. For many senior leaders (especially high-achieving women), the instinct is to push harder: take on more, prove more, hold more. But the higher you go, the more that strategy quietly limits influence, sponsorship, and sustainability.In this episode, we explore the tension HR leaders see every day: individuals are trying to thrive inside systems that weren't designed for them — and organizations keep investing in “fixes” that don't address the real blockers. Carolyn Lawrence and Jennifer Laidlaw unpack why burnout is often a signal your mind is in survival mode, how “resisting the system” can unintentionally keep inequity in place, and what it looks like when inner leadership shifts meet system-level redesign.About our guests Carolyn Lawrence partners with organizations to redesign systems so they stop reinforcing outdated patterns — removing invisible barriers so talent can thrive without overperforming for legitimacy. Jennifer Laidlaw is an executive coach focused on the inner transformation required of modern leaders, helping them achieve breakthrough results sustainably with strong teams and thriving culture.Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Success in HR often comes with a hidden job: absorbing everyone else's anxiety. You're expected to soothe, steady, and “make it okay”, even when what people are feeling is a normal response to real pressure and uncertainty.In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. David Rosmarin offers a practical reframe: not all anxiety is the same. Some anxiety does require professional support, but much of what shows up at work is an emotional signal, not a diagnosis. When leaders learn to recognize what anxiety is communicating, they can stop playing whack-a-mole with stress, build healthier trust on teams, and create a culture that performs without pretending certainty exists.You'll also hear David's simple four-step process to work with anxiety constructively, identifying what's underneath it, sharing it in a way that builds connection, embracing it as resilience-building, and letting go of what can't be controlled.About our guestDr. David Rosmarin is a clinical psychologist, author, and Associate at Harvard Medical School, and the founder of the Center for Anxiety. His work focuses on helping people rethink anxiety not only as something to treat clinically when needed, but as a normal human experience that can be used to thrive — a perspective especially relevant in today's high-pressure workplaces.Resources MentionedDr. Rosmarin's four-step framework (public resource) Dr. David RosmarinDr. Rosmarin's site + newsletter - Dr. David RosmarinBook: Thriving with Anxiety - Amazon TED Talk: How to make anxiety your friend TEDStay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeFollow us on LinkedIn:Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Entry-level roles are being labeled “obsolete.” But what if the real issue isn't AI — it's how we've designed early-career work for decades?In this episode of foHRsight, we explore why entry-level jobs aren't going away, but passive, low-agency roles are. As AI takes over routine execution, new hires are being asked to show judgment, critical thinking, and maturity much earlier than before — often without the support or learning pathways to succeed.Dr. Miranda Rodak joins us to unpack what this shift means for HR leaders, educators, and people managers who are responsible for building sustainable talent pipelines. Together, we examine why over-automation undermines learning, how “effortful learning” is being squeezed out by efficiency, and what organizations must redesign if they want AI to augment people instead of eroding capability.This conversation challenges a dangerous narrative — and offers a more hopeful, practical path forward for early-career development in an AI-enabled workplace.About our guestDr. Miranda Rodak is a professor at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business and Associate Director of the Communication Professional and Computer Skills Program. She brings a rare perspective at the intersection of education, communication, and AI-enabled work, helping organizations and universities rethink how humans learn, think, and lead alongside technology.Stay connected with foHRsightTo sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribeFollow us on LinkedIn:Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

James Terry shares how Indeed Flex is revolutionizing frontline staffing through AI-powered solutions, enabling 24/7 candidate interviews, same-day pay, and unprecedented workforce flexibility for hourly workers.Topics Covered:AI-Powered Recruitment:24/7 AI interviews eliminate scheduling frictionRecruiters now review 80+ interviews daily vs. conducting 7-12 manuallyHuman oversight ensures quality and catches misuseOperational Efficiency:One-click staffing requests distributed automatically via AIData analysis identifies turnover root causes (overtime policies, transportation issues)HR teams transitioning from admin roles to strategic business partnersWorker Experience:50%+ of sub-$20/hour workers juggle multiple jobsPlatform enables seamless multi-assignment managementSame-day pay provides financial flexibility for emergenciesFuture Vision:Consumer-grade flexibility becoming workforce standardSimplified interfaces replacing complex dashboardsTechnology enabling location and schedule flexibilityDon't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

This episode, Naomi was joined by Vaseem bAIg, otherwise known as “The AI Guy”, whose passion is making artificial intelligence accessible for everyone. Vaseem brings a wealth of experience in helping people and organizations navigate the world of AI, and he's all about empowering you to make the most of these emerging technologies.What We Talked About:Getting Started with AI: Vaseem shared some practical tips for beginners, including the importance of having a structured approach to prompting. He talked about starter templates that really help you get the conversation going with AI tools.Discovering Yourself through AI: One of Vaseem's favourite insights is how interacting with AI can actually reflect your own personality and communication style. It's a bit like holding up a mirror—sometimes you learn as much about yourself as you do about technology!Bringing AI to Work: We explored how organizations can implement AI strategies, with stories from trade shows and real-world examples. Vaseem's frameworks make it easier to get everyone on board and spark meaningful change.Workshops that Work: Vaseem is big on hands-on learning, so he shared some approaches for running effective AI adoption workshops. His materials and guides help teams build confidence and get results.Key Takeaways:Structured prompting is your best friend when starting out with AI—it helps you get reliable results and builds your skills.Your conversations with AI can shed light on your own habits and strengths, so it's a great tool for personal growth.Organizations succeed with AI when they use clear frameworks and practical support, like those Vaseem uses in his consulting and workshops.Blog posts: https://www.vaseemtheaiguy.com/ai-blogYou can learn more about the work Vaseem does here:https://www.vaseemtheaiguy.comAnd follow him on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaseemtheaiguyDon't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

Jackie Hanson is CEO and Co-founder of Sprout Family, Canada's first end-to-end family building platform launched in 2024. Jackie was inspiried to build her mission based company following the experience of her own parents who went through IVF. Having itnessed firsthand how fragmented and overwhelming the fertility space is, the mission of Sprout is to improve access to parenthood and support employees through challenging fertility journeys.Current Industry ChallengesRising Infertility Rates driven by:Later childbearing (average first-time mother age now almost 32)Same-sex couples forming families requiring donors/surrogacyCost of living delays (student debt, housing costs)Legal frameworks haven't kept pace with demandWorkplace Impact Statistics40% delay treatment due to financial reasonsAverage fertility patient spends 160+ hours navigating care72% would stay longer at companies offering fertility benefitsAverage IVF round costs $25,000+ ($5K drugs, $18-20K treatment)Current Canadian Coverage Landscape45% of employers offer fertility drug coverage (average $3,000)Less than 5% offer comprehensive coverage (treatments, preservation, surrogacy, adoption)US comparison: 50%+ offer $30-100K lifetime coverageThree-Pillar Support FrameworkFinancial Assistance: Comprehensive coverage beyond just drugsDigital Health & Navigation: Nurse support, provider network, virtual careLeadership Culture: Creating safe spaces for employees to share needsBusiness Case for EmployersRetention: Replacing employee costs 1.5-2x their salaryProductivity: Reduces distraction and unplanned time offEquity: Addresses barriers affecting women and LGBTQ+ individuals disproportionatelyFuture VisionMacro: More employer coverage creates demand, potentially driving down costs and expanding clinic infrastructureSprout: Expanding to full family wellness platform (pregnancy, postpartum, parental leave, hormonal health)Contact InformationWebsite: www.sproutfamily.caSignup for their newsletter signup available on websiteLinkedIn: Sprout - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sproutfamily/Jackie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-hanson/Don't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefoFor more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing!Support the show

It's New Years Day so perfect timing for this week's episode to drop as co-hosts Mark and Naomi catch-up on their reflections on 2025 and predictions for 2026.Key discussion topics include:2025 Insights:Macro trends continued from previous year with advancement in all categoriesErosion of trust worsened due to AI-related misinformation and deep fraudAI advanced significantly beyond initial expectationsIncreased nationalism and tariffs impacted global businessesReturn-to-office mandates generated headlines vs. realityHR and IT functions began merging into "HI" ☺Major Disappointments:CHRO role perceived as declining in C-suite valueDEI initiatives faced significant backlash, making the topic difficult to discussReturn-to-office policies became overly restrictive, reverting to pre-2005 monitoring practicesProud Moments:Approaching 10th anniversary in 2026Celebrated 150th podcast episodeSuccessful collaborations, particularly "The Complete Leader" with Vanessa ChehlawiCommunity growth and strategic newsletter changes2026 Hopes:Reduce divisiveness and find common groundAddress entry-level job concerns related to AISupport the "tool belt generation" choosing trades over traditional academic pathsHR operating model evolution with creative solutionsAI integration becoming seamless in daily toolsWe're excited for many more episodes and guests in 2026!Don't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

This episode features Naomi Titleman meeting with Glain Roberts-McCabe, Founder & President of The Roundtable Inc.  They dive deep into high-potential talent research, exploring what engages top performers and what causes them to burn out. This episode features insights from Roundtable's latest research on high-potential leaders.Key discussion topics include:Defining High Potentials:Balance between driving results and maintaining cultural alignmentCore motivational drivers: helping others, excelling, adaptabilityBehavioral expectations vs. underlying motivational energyWhat Engages High Potentials:Clarity: Clear priorities and understanding of goalsTransparency: Honest career conversations and realistic expectations Quality career discussions: Beyond linear promotion pathsCross-functional opportunities:Leveraging adaptive strengths across organizationMajor Barriers & Burnout Risks:Firefighting mode: 45% of respondents stuck in reactive workUnclear priorities: Moving goalposts without contextResource constraints: Ambitious targets without adequate supportDevelopment crowding: Operational demands overshadowing growth opportunitiesEvolving Leadership Requirements:Strategic thinking: Increased emphasis on forward-thinking capabilitiesTechnical depth: Leaders need subject matter expertise, not just general managementCooperation: Willingness to trade individual agendas for organizational benefitYou can learn more about the research here:https://goroundtable.com/the-2026-roundtable-report-on-high-potential-leaders/And follow Glain on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/glain/Don't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

This episode of features Mark Edgar interviewing Greg Stewart, a counselor, executive coach, and consultant at Becoming More. Greg is the author of books on harnessing negative emotions.Greg shares his path from ministry to counseling to organizational development, personal experience with emotional challenges that inspired the work and how he uses his combination of counseling, coaching, and consulting to support clients.He shares insights on the current challenges at work and introduces his I³ (IQ) Model:Information: Gather complete information before forming opinionsInterpretation: Consider multiple perspectives and challenge assumptionsIntensity: Manage emotional energy appropriatelyYou can learn more about Greg's work here:https://www.becomingmore.com/resources-and-formsDon't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

This week podcast co-host Mark Edgar connects with the co-founders of Maturn, Jen Murtagh and Sonja Baikogli Foley to talk about the incredible work they do to support women through life-stage transitions at work including fertility, maternity leave, motherhood, and perimenopause/menopause.They share their inspiration behind Maturn and talk about the common barriers to supporting women at work and how HR leaders can support better conversations at work.You can follow Maturn on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/company/maturn/And find out more at their website:https://maturn.comDon't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

In this week's episode, Mark Edgar connects with author and business consultant Alan Gregerman who shares insights from his latest book “The Wisdom of Ignorance”. Alan provides his perspective on the dynamic world of work and what organizations should be doing to prepare their people to identify new and innovative approaches.He shares the six skills tied to “not knowing” that can be used to help navigate uncertainty and create breakthroughs. They include being purposeful, curiosity, humility, respect, being future focused and being paranoid!You can learn more about Alan's work here:https://alangregerman.com/about-alan/And you can follow her on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-gregerman-a33b236/Don't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

Mark and Naomi celebrate their 150th episode milestone by hosting two special guests: Anna Petosa from Rock Paper People and Greg Smith the author of Safe Brave Places. The conversation covers their HR career journeys, current challenges in the profession, and the importance of community support.Greg and Anna recently relaunched their podcast, Safe Brave Stories focusing on creating environments that are both psychologically safe and challenging, encouraging growth through shared stories and practical insights.You can learn more about their work on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-petosa/https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-smith-he-him-a8774410/https://www.linkedin.com/company/safe-brave-spaces/Don't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

In this week's episode Naomi connects with Andrea Guertin who is the Founder & President of Wemaygo. Andrea was educated in interior architecture but has spent her career in strategy. She taught management consultants how to think like designers to reinvent how they delivered their projects to clients and inspired them on how to introduce emerging technologies into their work. She has also run a design firm where she taught designers to think like consultants to grow the impact of service design work.Now she helps leaders bring creativity to their complex problems.You can learn more about Andrea's work here:https://www.wemaygo.com/And you can follow her on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaguertin/Don't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

This week co-host Naomi Titleman connects with Alex Suchman who is CEO & Co-founder of Barometer XP – a culture measurement and adjustment company.In this episode they talk about how companies can leverage play to build cultures that can adapt to the new world of work.You can learn more about Alex's work here:https://www.barometerxp.comAnd you can follow her on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrasuchman/You can sign up for Barometer XP's next open games session here:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rALBZsVPQkm8EwwFedktHA#/registrationDon't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

This week co-host Mark Edgar has connects ith Aamna Coskun to learn more about her HR journey. Aamna is Founder of PocketHR with extensive experiences across a broad range of sectors and HR disciplines.Aamna describes herself as a "collector of workspaces" rather than a job hopper and shares insights on her journey to entrepreneurship originally starting in recruitment, moving through various HR roles before specializing in people analytics and then becoming a fractional HR consultant.She shares insights on the trends impacting HR and the challenges and opportunities presented by a career as a business owner.You can learn more about Aamna's work here:https://www.pockethr.caAnd you can follow her on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/aamnac/Don't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

This week co-host Naomi Titleman has the opportunity to connect with future foHRward friend Jodi Baker Calamai. Jodi is the National Managing Partner for Deloitte's Human Capital Practice in Canada.They explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the world of work — not just through efficiency, but by augmenting human performance. The conversation bridges strategy, experimentation, and the human side of AI adoption within organizations.You can follow Jodi on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodi-baker-calamai-465a21a/Don't forget …To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

This week Mark had the opportunity to connect with change leadership strategist Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta. Yvonne is a change strategist, author and board director who through her company The Change Leadership helps organizations navigate change.Yvonne shared her career journey, including how an early career experience was her "eureka moment" that shaped her perspective on change. She shares what the distinction is between change management (tactical, time-bound, framework-driven) and change leadership (ongoing, skill-based, influence-focused) and talks about how the increasing pace of change in organizations is creating a "tug of war" between old and new ways of working.She talks about the key change leadership skills: adaptability, agility, and human-centered leadership and the importance of organizations understanding change management beyond just a checklist approach.The Change Leadership organization is approaching its 10-year anniversary next year and offers consulting, training, and hosts an annual conference bringing change practitioners together.You can learn more here:https://thechangeleadership.comAnd follow Yvonne on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneakpoveta/Don't forget …To sign up for our weekly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show

This week Mark had the opportunity to connect with behavioural expert Nigel Scott to discuss workplace collaboration challenges including how collaboration is often treated as a tool rather than a mindset and how ego and competitive behaviors hinder effective collaboration.Nigel also shares more details on the "People Puzzle" - an experiential diagnostic tool that helps organizations understand collaborative behaviors and overcome silos.You can follow Nigel on LinkedIn here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-scott-2246633/And learn more about the “People Puzzle” here:https://www.peoplepuzzleexperience.comDon't forget …To sign up for our weekly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe.Follow us on LinkedIn:Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/Support the show