Josh Bersin

In this episode I discuss our findings on AI systems architectures, and how they are going to completely change our HR Technology stack. As you’ll hear, I’m not predicting a quick disruption of $50+ billion in corporate software, but over the next decade we will see a quantum shift. (Quantum meaning “from A to B” not a gradual transformation.) Listen in and you’ll see how relevant this is to your own HR Tech and systems decisions, your AI adoption and transformation strategy, and your vendor analysis as you look for tools and platforms. And for those of you driving AI transformation in HR, you’ll hear about how to think of AI as a “creator platform” not just a new set of apps and agents. I also discuss the upcoming Venus release of Galileo (and Galileo for Managers) and how it supports this architecture and extends our AI leadership into management development and leadership support. Takeaways AI is fundamentally changing how we interact with technology. The cloud has enabled rapid application deployment and integration. AI eliminates the need for traditional user interfaces. New AI architectures allow for decentralized processing. Professionals are now empowered to build their own applications. AI tools will become ubiquitous in the workplace, driving an internal creator economy. Learning management will evolve with AI integration. The next generation of AI companies will emerge from current disruptions. Additional Information The L&D Revolution: Docebo Goes AI-Native, Sana Expands, What Do You Do? The Workday Economy – As AI Disrupts, A New Strategy Emerges Yes, HR Organizations Will (Partially) Be Replaced by AI, And That’s Good

This week we finished a series of events in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai and met with more than 100 company HR leaders. In today’s podcast I discuss the business and HR issues these companies face and more significantly give perspectives on the management culture in these fast-growing companies. We discuss AI transformation in detail and I also explain why the “mass layoffs” idea around AI is misleading and incorrect, and give you my perspective on why Human Intelligence is and will always be far more sophisticated and advanced than AI. This was a continuous point of discussion and you’ll hear my explanation. I think it’s important to understand the richness and purposeful nature of business and economic growth in these countries, so listen this to get a perspective on the exciting positive things going on in the region. Two important research studies to read: The Revolution in L&D, and our new Pacesetters in the AI Era: Secrets of Superworker Companies. Note: the US attack on Iran actually took place just as I was flying home, so these perspectives focus on the peaceful economic activities of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, not the political issues between US, Israel, and Iran. Chapters: 00:00 Exploring the Middle East’s Economic Growth 06:28 Cultural Insights and Relationship Dynamics 09:16 AI’s Role in Workforce Transformation 12:47 The Future of Learning and Development 15:40 AI’s Impact on HR and Organizational Structure 21:23 The Evolution of Technology in HR 22:44 The Resilience of the Human Spirit Additional Resources No, Entry Level Jobs Are Not Going Away. Yes, HR Organizations Will (Partially) Be Replaced by AI, And That’s Good Galileo Learn – A Revolutionary Approach To Corporate Learning It’s Time for an L&D Revolution: The AI Era Arrives (Essential research)  

New research shows a level of pessimism we haven’t seen in a long time. While there are many reasons for this (politics, climate, economy, AI fears), we all need to do something about it. In this podcast I share the research and give you five important steps you can take to avoid, reduce, and eliminate pessimism at work. (Optimism, certainty, growth, citizenship, and empathy.) This framework will give you sound information for your own life at work, your role as a leader, and your investments in leadership development and management coaching. I also talk about our research on Trust, and the role trust plays in employee optimism. I also discuss “The Unquenchable Power of The Human Spirit,” an idea I discuss in Irresistible, which will help you move into an optimistic view of life, work, and business. Takeaways The rise of pessimism is a significant trend in the workforce. (64% on average) Realistic optimism is possible in any situation. We can reduce uncertainty through sound leadership. It’s ok to accept things that you cannot change. Citizenship as a company and individual creates positive energy. Growth and development is fuel for positive thinking and engagement. Health, sleep, exercise, nature, and relationships are your personal fuel. Why optimism is central to HR’s role and our job. Research on Pessimism and Employee Engagement MeQuilibrium State of Workforce, Summer 2025 U.S. Employee Engagement Sinks to 10-Year Low (Gallup) Citizenship At Work: Dealing With Politics Inside and Outside The Company (podcast) Corporate Citizenship Redefined: Trust, Inclusion, and Responsibility  

Suzanne McGovern, CHRO of Ipsy, has many years of experience in consulting, HR, DEI, and business growth (PwC, IBM, Splunk) and now leads HR for a billion dollar beauty company. In this thought-proving interview, Suzanne explains how the CHRO role has now become an “outside-in” C-level role and how complex and “mission-centric” the CHRO role can be. Suzanne also believes and explains how consulting experience is so important in the CHRO position, the importance of recruitment, hybrid work, and her perspectives on the role of AI. Additional Information The CHRO Insights Initiative Why Is It So Hard To Be A Chief HR Officer (CHRO)? Learn about Galileo, the World’s AI Expert Assistant for HR Special Josh Bersin Academy Course: AI in HR (highly acclaimed)  

This week I summarize my Irresistible Keynote and explain the five keys to building an AI-powered Superworker company. And as you’ll hear, they revolve around the value of people, not the value of technology. It’s funny how we think AI is “different” and we personify it. It’s basically a tech platform, and if you think about it that way you’ll be much better off. Additional Information No, Entry Level Jobs Are Not Going Away Why AI Is A Job Creator, Not A Job Destroyer Reinvent your Career: Galileo Learn, the AI Learning Academy for HR The Revolution in L&D    

Anshul Sheopuri, Executive Vice President, People Operations & Insights, Mastercard, talks with Kathi Enderes about the company’s method for using AI in HR. From Build vs Buy decisions and approaches to govern the roll-out of AI to specific examples of use cases, he explains how to use AI strategically across a fast-growing, tech-first company at the forefront of AI innovation—and he gives tips on how to get started. Additional Information Artificial Intelligence in HR: Certificate Course in Galileo Learn The End of HR As We Know It? AI Is Starting To Change Everything. The Rise of the Superworker: Understanding The Deep Impact of AI on Business At the inflection of AI and HR: How we’re equipping employees for the AI era (by Mastercard)

This is a fascinating conversation with Josh Newman, the Global Head of People Strategy & Experience, at WPP. WPP, the world’s leading advertising agency, has around 110,000 employees and a fascinating agency-specific organization around the world. Josh explains the business and operating model for WPP, and how it became an $8.1 Billion market cap business. Over the last year WPP’s board wanted to look at the workforce and find ways to improve productivity (“the Workforce Intelligence Project”). Josh explains how WPP took this sprawling, high-performance company and developed an enterprise-wide “work-design”, using its own AI and help from a new vendor Reejig, to understand what everyone was doing. This effort enabled WPP to radically simplify its job families and prepare the jobs and roles for the company’s new AI platform, WPP Open. (As you’ll hear, WPP went from 60,000 job titles to fewer than 600 as the company streamlines operations for its new AI platform WPP Open.) This is work simplification at massive scale. This kind of work is now essential to every company as we look for ways to embrace AI. And as you’ll hear, the WPP Workforce Intelligence project has helped people find new jobs, advance their careers, and better pinpoint HR investments in the right place. The end result will be a company with higher growth, profitability, innovation, and client service. If you’re a business leader, HR professional, consultant, or CEO you should listen to this discussion. Josh describes precisely how they accomplished this transformation and explains how AI is “preparing WPP for AI.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction to WPP and Its Role in the Future of Work 05:36 Workforce Intelligence and Job Redesign Project 10:23 Leveraging AI for Job Architecture and Efficiency 15:05 Mapping Roles and Tasks for Enhanced Productivity 20:18 The Concept of M-Shaped Workers 25:11 Validating New Job Structures and Roles 30:19 Business-Driven Workforce Intelligence and Its Impact 35:06 Future-Proofing Organizations Through Continuous Learning Additional Information The Rise of the Superworker: Designing You Company for AI The End of HR As We Know It? AI Is Starting To Change Everything. Galileo Learn: The AI Professional Development Academy for Leaders  

Recent comments from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei claims that we’ll have a “white collar bloodbath” in jobs and 50% of jobs are going away, leading to 20% unemployment. I believe this is completely incorrect, and in this podcast I explain why. Tech leaders may have a distorted perspective because so much of their energies go into pure software development – there’s a much bigger positive effect happening. (The Superworker effect.) Background Why Entry Level Jobs Are Not Going Away The Rise Of The Superworker Axios story

This week I discuss Cornerstone Galaxy, the new, integrated version of Cornerstone, which includes Skyhive, Edcast, Grovo, Tailspin, and other technologies built in. As you’ll hear, Cornerstone is the largest enterprise learning platform company in the world and they’re getting very aggressive with bundling, pricing, and features. At the same time I discuss the role of other competitors such as Docebo, Oracle, Workday, SAP, and the role of Sana and Galileo Learn (our new offering). There’s lots more to discuss, please call us if you’d like help with your LMS | enterprise learning strategy and I urge to read our Revolution in Corporate Learning comprehensive study on how AI can totally reinvent your corporate learning, enablement, and skills strategy. Additional Information The Revolution in Corporate Learning (research report) Galileo Learn – A Revolutionary Approach To Corporate Learning

This is a fascinating and essential podcast about leadership, AI, HR, and business transformation, featuring Tanuj Kapilashrami, the CHRO and Chief Strategy Officer of Standard Chartered. In this conversation, Tanuj talks about the strategic direction of Standard Chartered Bank, her role as Chief Strategy and Talent Officer, and the importance of aligning organizational capabilities with business strategy. She discusses the transformation of work processes, the integration of AI, and the evolving role of HR in the banking sector. Tanuj explains the role of job architecture and the importance of skills in driving organizational success, and she also clearly explains the future role of the CHRO. The CHRO role has risen tremendously in the last two decades. Tanuj is an inspirational example of a CHRO who has taken her experience in all areas of human capital management to become a powerful chief strategy officer, a career transition which will become much more common in the future. You will also hear how Tanuj views the AI transformation and how she puts a clear business focus on the AI strategy, moving far beyond AI as a tool to streamline HR. (Listen to her discussion about AI in performance management and how the “AI Sandpit” works at Standard Chartered.) Listen also to Tanuj’s focus on “plumbing,” as the foundation for business growth and transformation. Takeaways Standard Chartered is a cross-border bank focused on emerging markets. The role of Chief Strategy and Talent Officer is crucial for aligning strategy with capabilities. Transformation should be a core part of the organizational DNA. Skills development must be integrated into work redesign. AI can enhance productivity across various job types. Job architecture needs to evolve with changing business needs. A centralized approach to AI strategy is essential for scalability. HR must embrace technology to remain relevant. Understanding the operational aspects of HR is critical for strategic success. Curiosity and continuous learning are vital for HR leaders. Sound Bites “Transformation is such an abused word.” “Skills come in at a work redesign level.” “Humans will lose out to other humans who use machines.” “AI cannot be empathetic as humans can be.” “Get comfortable as a team playing in the sand pit.” “It’s the plumbing that matters.” Chapters 00:00 Overview of Standard Chartered Bank 02:49 The Role of Chief Strategy and Talent Officer 05:52 Aligning Strategy with Organizational Capabilities 08:46 Transforming Work Processes and Skills 12:07 Navigating Job Architecture and AI Integration 14:56 AI Strategy and Implementation in Banking 17:54 The Future of HR in the Age of AI 21:13 Advice for Aspiring CHROs Additional Information Our New CHRO Insights Research Yes, HR Organizations Will (Partially) Be Replaced by AI, And That’s Good The White Collar Recession Is Real: What Should We Do About It? The Rise of the Superworker: Reinventing Jobs, Careers, and Organizations

Welcome to Galileo Learn, the world’s first AI-native platform for all areas of corporate learning and professional development. And yes, Galileo Learn is also the new, dynamic version of The Josh Bersin Academy, and also your personal professional development coach. As the world’s first AI native platform for learning, Galileo Learn delivers an exciting new learning experience and the most dynamic, productive way to build content in the market. And in an exciting new innovation, Galileo Learn connects directly to Galileo, the world’s AI Assistant for HR and Managers. Read more here: Buy Galileo Learn. Learn more about The Revolution in L&D.

This week I dig into digital twins and AI and why I believe the “pedagogical” approach to corporate learning is going away. While we will always have educational programs in business, the L&D world is going in a wild new, positive direction. This podcast explains the forgetting curve, spaced learning, and what I call “the curiosity cycle” in business. Does this mean “the death of courseware?” In some ways the answer is yes, so listen in. Additional Information Galileo Now Embedded Into ServiceNow and HiBob The Mercury Release of Galileo Signals a New Era for Intelligent Agents The White Collar Recession Is Real: What Should We Do About It? A Revolution In Corporate Learning Begins, Join The Journey

In this episode we hear from Irena Flego Maric, Global Talent Acquisition Leader and HR Technology Strategist at Foundever, one of the largest customer service companies in the world. She describes how the company is transforming its highly demanding recruitment process with next-gen AI. The company uses Maki People’s AI-powered solution to manage massive scale of hiring, sometimes recruiting 2,000 customer service reps over a weekend while handling millions of applications each month. And every candidate is assessed against the job. Foundever uses Maki’s AI to create personalized, skills-based assessments that provide candidates realistic job previews, engaging candidates in the process. As you’ll hear, this kind of “skills-based assessment” creates a highly positive candidate experience, enabling Foundever to find the best candidates at enormous scale. Additional Information Maximizing the Impact of AI in the Age of the Superworker Talent Acquisition at a Crossroads (Academy course) Emerging Trends in Talent Acquisition: Factbook

This week I discuss the total re-engineering of HR and business software and why the “functional application” approach is going to be destroyed by workflow-oriented systems. I apologize for the slightly awkward voice, I recorded this on a long walk this morning! I discuss ServiceNow, Maki People, Galileo, Hubspot, Salesforce, HiBob, Workday, SAP, Paradox, and many other innovative systems. Come to Irresistible 2025 in a few weeks to hear and see more! Additional Information Galileo Now Embedded Into ServiceNow and HiBob The Mercury Release of Galileo Signals a New Era for Intelligent Agents Podcast: The Galileo Inside Strategy Q&A: Get Galileo for ServiceNow Q&A: Get Galileo for HiBob

This week we announce the deep integration of Galileo, the world’s AI Assistant for HR, into ServiceNow (Now Assist) and the fast-growing HCM system HiBob. This means you can now access Galileo in the flow of work. Additional Information Announcement Details The Mercury Release of Galileo Signals a New Era for Intelligent Agents Q&A: Get Galileo for ServiceNow Q&A: Get Galileo for HiBob

This week, in advance of major announcements from us and other vendors, I give you a good overview of the AI Agent market, and discuss the new role of AI governance platforms, AI agent development tools, AI agent vendors, and how AI agents will actually manifest and redefine what we call an “application.” I discuss ServiceNow, Microsoft, SAP, Workday, Paradox, Maki People, and other vendors. My goal today is to “demystify” this space and explain the market, the trends, and why and how your IT department is going to be building a lot of the agents you need. And prepare for our announcements next week! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI Agents and Market Trends 02:55 Understanding Intelligent Agents and Their Applications 05:48 The Role of Agents in HR and Business Workflows 09:09 Agent Management and Governance Challenges 11:46 ServiceNow’s Evolution and AI Integration 15:06 The Future of Custom Agent Development 17:55 Upcoming Events and Industry Insights 20:46 The Impact of AI on HR and Workforce Dynamics Additional Information The Mercury Release of Galileo Signals a New Era for Intelligent Agents The End of HR As We Know It (long read on AI’s impact on HR) The Rise of The Superworker: Four Stages of AI Explainer Video Microsoft Launches People Skills In Copilot, Altering The HR Tech Market Irresistible 2025: Join Us (almost full)    

In this episode of the WhatWorks podcast, Dara Engle, CHRO of ORIX USA, speaks with Kathi Enderes to explore the power of systemic HR in transforming a global organization. Discover how Dara navigates the complexities of leading HR in a multinational context, leveraging her extensive experience to drive strategic alignment and transformation. From building resilient cultures to managing change in a fast-paced environment and coaching senior executives, Dara shares invaluable insights and advice for HR leaders and aspiring CHROs. Additional Information Systemic HR: The New Operating Model Designed for the Age of AI

In this week’s podcast I discuss my meetings with many companies in Europe about “how to rapidly implement AI” to improve productivity and scale. And every single company is being asked to do this now, some with very mature and sophisticated plans. So the first question I ask is “how do we implement AI to improve the productivity of the company” and then “how do we also do this within HR?” Well now that we’re a few years into this journey, the land mines and lessons are becoming clear, and I discuss what’s going on in some of the largest companies in the world. And yes, everything you know about HR itself is changing at a rate I’ve never seen before. The second question I discuss is “what is about to happen to Corporate Learning?” And in this case I walk through the large session I had at the L&D Tech conference and how radically L&D is about to be revolutionized. A big research report on this is coming soon, but in the podcast I discuss “the end of the publishing model” in L&D, and all that implies. For those of you still a bit confused by AI and Agents in general, I urge you to Get Galileo, our ready-made AI assistant for HR. You’ll learn everything you need to know about agents and you’ll also have the world’s best “digital HR consultant” at your desk. Come see us at Unleash Vegas or Irresistible over the next few weeks, and next week I’ll cover some more in-depth case studies I want to share. Sound Bites “AI threatens the HR profession as we know it.” “Every employee is going to have their own large language model.” “We need to redesign the work to use AI.” “The AI push is forcing us to clean up our roles.” “AI can change 70 to 80% of the L&D process.” “This is a revolution, not a step change.” Additional Information Microsoft Skills Agent Disrupts the Skills Tech Market The Mercury Release of Galileo Signals a New Era for Intelligent Agents The White Collar Recession Is Real: What Should We Do About It?

This week I discuss this massive shift toward “AI-Native” applications and systems which are radically different from traditional HR Tech, with a particular focus on L&D. I also explain how new AI architectures are so completely different from our traditional types of HR platforms, and how vendors have to be more expansive with their thinking. Vendors here include Sana, Degreed, Docebo, CodeSignal, Arist, Uplimit, Eightfold, and many other pioneers to come. (I recorded this on a walk today so it sounds like I’m outside, but hopefully you enjoy the new ideas here.) I’m going to be diving into this at L&D Technology in UK this week and much more at Unleash Vegas the first week in May. Additional Information The Mercury Release of Galileo Signals a New Era for Intelligent Agents A Revolution In Corporate Learning Begins, Join The Journey

Alfredo Thompson, Chief People Officer at Royal United Hospitals Bath, NHS Foundation Trust, talks with Kathi Enderes about how he is leading an end-to-end transformation of talent acquisition and onboarding for the Trust. Built on principles of customer orientation and systemic HR®, the organization shifted recruitment from a compliance-oriented fulfillment center to a business growth function, using a combination of mindset shift, process redesign, technology enablement, and cross-functional collaboration. The results are outstanding, significantly reducing the healthcare organization’s vacancy rates and increasing employee retention while also improving hiring manager and candidate satisfaction. Additional Information Emerging Trends in Talent Acquisition: Factbook Talent Acquisition at a Crossroads Systemic HR Overview Transforming the NHS, by Sonia Mooney

This week I detail the whole story: how the $360 billion corporate learning market is being blown up by AI. This tidal wave has now arrived, with every major company asking “how can I get rid of a third of my training department and deliver skills faster in the flow of work?” What happens to the Chief Learning Officer? What happens to the LMS? Is Instructional Design going away? What happens to needs analysis? And What are the new jobs in L&D being created? And in this new world, will we even call it “Learning and Development” any more? In this podcast I explain the history, the new role of AI, and the ten top implications for L&D, training professionals, HR teams, and employees around the world. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI in Learning and Development 03:01 The Business Landscape and AI’s Role 06:04 The History of Learning and Development 08:53 Challenges in Learning and Development 11:45 The Future of Learning with AI 15:05 Transforming Learning and Development Practices 17:56 The Impact of AI on Corporate L&D Teams 21:11 Redefining what L&D does 24:06 Dynamic Learning Systems and AI Architectures 26:48 A Fundamental Shift in Learning and Development Paradigms 30:10 Don’t Get Caught In The Past Additional Information The Mercury Release of Galileo Signals a New Era for Intelligent Agents A Revolution In Corporate Learning Begins, Join Us On The Journey New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO Artificial Intelligence in HR (Josh Bersin Academy) The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI

Introducing the Galileo Mercury Release: a new reasoning model, extensive new data and information from Lightcast, the Universal Competency Framework from SHL, and our first “consultant mode” feature, Intelligent Benchmarking. Galileo is now the essential AI tool for HR professionals around the world. Get Galileo Today!

This week the economic environment changed, with new US reciprocal tariffs launched on 180 countries. The net impact, which is hard to predict, is lots of strategy discussions about manufacturing, redeployment of resources, price increases, and possible economic slowdown. In today’s podcast I explain what this means to you, as an HR leader or HR professional. Additional Information The White Collar Recession Is Real: What Should We Do About It? The Rise of the Superworker: Reinventing Jobs, Careers, and Organizations The Organization Design SuperClass (Certificate Program) Systemic HR: The Lean, Mean HR Department

Jörg Dersch, CHRO at XPAY, joins Kathi Enderes to discusses innovation in HR and how CHRO’s can stay ahead. He also shares advice to CEOs about their role in HR issues. He shares his journey into HR leadership and how HR leaders can become true strategic partners in their organizations. From navigating digital transformation to building business acumen, Jörg offers valuable insights into what it takes to succeed in today’s highly-innovative, tech-enabled HR landscape. Jörg’s advice – “You own the company. Operate as if the company is your company” XPay is a fintech company that offers various payment solutions, including international payments APIs, embedded payment solutions, and white-label payment card solutions, aiming to simplify and streamline payment processing for businesses. Additional Information New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO CHRO Insights Research Report CHRO Insights Benchmarking Survey CHRO Insights Video (Youtube) CHRO Insights Program Overview

What’s the solution to political, economic, and global conflict? It’s not more anger and competition, it’s kindness. In this podcast I try to convince you that Kindness, the act of listening, caring, and helping, is a real secret weapon. Additional Information The World Happiness Report (which proves that trust and social connections matter more than money) Edelman Trust Barometer 2025: Crisis of Grievance Kindness at Work: Our Research and UC Berkeley Research Irresistible: The Seven Secrets of the World’s Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations (my book) The Atlantic Article I mention

Today I wanted to briefly discuss the impact of US Tariffs on manufacturing talent. As many of you know, decisions about where to locate manufacturing are very big and very important. As you’ll hear, much of your company’s response may come down to talent and skills issues, since manufacturing skills are in short supply. I hope this conversation helps you think through the fast-changing economic issues our companies face. Additional Information New Certificate Program: Building A Skills Strategy That Works Job Redesign Around AI: Work Intelligence Tools Arrive Understanding Talent Intelligence: A Primer How To Take A Pragmatic (and winning) Approach To Skills

Today I talk with Vijay Swaminathan, the CEO and co-founder of Draup, one of the most amazing data and insights providers in HR. Vijay and his partner Vamsee Tirukkala were the original founders of Talent Neuron, a pioneer in talent planning. Now, with Draup, they’ve gone an order of magnitude beyond to build a data platform that identifies skills, technologies, competitors, labor market trends, and a myriad of financial and organizational data to help companies benchmark themselves, plan, hire, and prepare for AI transformation. You’ll learn a lot about skills inference, workloads, and much more about the role of data and talent intelligence in all areas of HR. For more information on AI transformation, read some of the links below and sign up for our new Josh Bersin Academy course “Building a Skills Strategy That Works.” Additional Information New Certificate Program: Building A Skills Strategy That Works Job Redesign Around AI: Work Intelligence Tools Arrive Understanding Talent Intelligence: A Primer How To Take A Pragmatic (and winning) Approach To Skills  

In this podcast I describe the massive AI-powered revolution starting in corporate L&D, and give you some history, context, and a mandate for the future. This is based on a massive research program we’ve been doing for the last year and I’m now convinced that this entire $360 Billion market is going to reinvent itself. Vendors mentioned include Sana, Uplimit, Docebo, Arist, CodeSignal, 360Learning, Cornerstone, LinkedIn, Microsoft, as well as Workday, SAP, and Oracle. This is a huge space so I can’t cover them all but we will be launching much more on the Corporate Learning Revolution in the coming months. If you want to experience this revolution, join The Josh Bersin Academy and get Galileo because we’ll be exposing you to all this soon. If you’re a vendor and you want us to know about your fantastic innovations, please reach out here and we’ll talk with you. As you’ll hear in the podcast, I see this as one of the most exciting applications of AI in the coming years, so stay tuned and join us in the revolution! Additional Information Learning in the Age of AI Benchmarking Study A Revolution In Corporate Learning Begins, Join Us On The Journey Please join me at the L&D Technology Conference on April 23 in London Irresistible: The Global Conference for HR Leaders And Their Teams

Tigran Sloyan, CEO of CodeSignal, talks with Kathi Enderes about his company’s mission to transform skills assessment and development with AI. He shares insights from his experience at Google, where he recognized flaws in hiring practices that prioritize resumes over actual skills. Tigran explains how CodeSignal evolved from technical skills assessments to AI-driven personalized learning. He emphasizes the importance of a skills-based approach and using generative AI to make skills development more engaging. And as you’ll hear, it’s now possible to assess an employee’s skills through conversational AI. Additional Information Definitive Guide to Dynamic Organizations Building a Skills Strategy That Works Why Are Some Companies More Dynamic Than Others? Assess and Develop Your Skills in HR: The Global Capability Assessment

Everyone is talking about productivity, layoffs, and job redesign. In this week’s podcast I share much of what we’re learning in AI-based job design, all with a focus on productivity. I discuss the role of Reejig, Gloat, Draup and the shift from “skills-based organization” strategies to “task and activity” redesign. And I also share my experiences with the “chainsaw” model of layoffs. Additional Information Busting Bureaucracy: Are Layoffs The Only Way To Go? How To Create Talent Density The Road To AI-Driven Productivity: Four Stages of Transformation Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR  

In this episode of the WhatWorks podcast, Caryn McGarry, CHRO of ICF, describes her journey to CHRO how she manages HR in a highly competitive professional services company. Caryn shares insights on the detailed nature of the C-suite partnership and how her unique career path contributes to her C-level business role today. ICF is a large professional services company headquartered in Washington, DC with over 7,000 employees globally. Additional Information Why Is It So Hard To Be A Chief HR Officer (CHRO)? New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO Systemic HR Overview How Systemic HR shapes TomTom’s Strategic HR Journey

After an intense week in Europe at an HR Technology conference, I want to share my deep perspectives on Trust, which is in very short supply these days. Not only do European leaders mistrust the US right now, the Edelman Trust Barometer shows that 2/3 of employees no longer trust the CEOs of their own companies. In an effort to help you think this through, I share the three dimensions of trust and give you some important things to think about in your own career and in your role as an HR professional, leader, friend, or advisor to other leaders in your company. Additional Information 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer: A Crisis of Grievance Citizenship At Work: Dealing With Politics Inside and Outside The Company (podcast) Corporate Citizenship Defined: Trust, Inclusion, and Responsibility Giving Voice to Values: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy  

After a long week of meetings about AI transformation with many companies, I want to highlight the big paradox we face. On one hand, AI is now seen as a proven, pragmatic solution to productivity, growth, and customer experience. So every company is pushing for AI transformations in every domain. But on the other hand, AI is also likely to eliminate many routine jobs, already leading to a white-collar recession. (White collar and college educated workers are having a hard time finding new jobs.) How do we deal with this paradox? Listen in and I’ll tell you the story, and also explain how companies are redesigning their entire job architectures to accommodate the AI change. Additional Information First HR AI Success Metrics Beyond “Saving Time” Emerge from Josh Bersin Company Analysis The Rise of the Superworker: AI Imperatives for 2025 Meet Galileo, your essential AI assistant for everything HR.

This week I summarize some of the hard-hitting AI transformation and productivity stories we’re hearing from clients, and I explain the various ways to approach these topics. I also discuss the surprising pushback on DEI and how workforce fear and stress has risen in our companies. All this leads to a new and important new role for HR leaders: driving and leading the push toward productivity and automation throughout the company. And finally I try to give you some perspective on the Elon Musk DOGE work going on in Washington and how this impacts our business strategies. Additional Information Busting Bureaucracy: Are Layoffs The Only Way To Go? New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO Despite Political Firestorm, Diversity Investments Are Alive And Well The Rise Of The Superworker: Delivering On The Promise of AI Edelman Trust Barometer 2025 Resources For You The Organization Design SuperClass (Josh Bersin Academy certificate program) Elevating Equity: Comprehensive Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Get Galileo®, The Essential AI Assistant For Everything HR  

This week I interview CEO of Arist Michael Ioffe, one of the most innovative entrepreneurs I’ve met. Michael and his team have built an astounding message-based learning platform that uses AI to build content, distribute content, and even do needs analysis. For those of you who are L&D or learning geeks, you really need to listen to this podcast. Arist was developed for “learning in the war zone,” and that’s pretty much what business is like. Additional Information Experience Arist: HR Predictions and Imperatives for 2025 (Josh Bersin Academy – Free) Autonomous Corporate Learning Platforms: Arriving Now, Powered by AI The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI    

This week I share perspectives on the huge theme of “taking a chainsaw to bureaucracy” and improving productivity. Is it fair to “Blame the Workers” for the bureaucracy we face? There is a growing trend toward strategic layoffs and workforce redeployment around AI, and this is just the beginning. But rather than blaming the workers for the problem, I suggest the problem starts at the top. When leaders over-hire, fail to clarify goals, and under-invest in strong leadership alignment, bureaucracy grows as a result. Along our new theme of “Creating the Superworker Organization,” I try to explain a new way of thinking about this challenge, and push for CEOs and CHROs to take responsibility. Additional Information The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO The Road To AI-Driven Productivity: Four Stages of Transformation

“The moment your HR organization can be ‘replicated’ into another company, you’ve failed as a CHRO.” In this podcast Arne-Christian explains why the CHRO is no longer an HR leader, but now a business transformation executive. Arne-Christian describes his career path to becoming a CHRO, identifies the key behaviors and characteristics that helped him become a high-performing CHRO, and discusses the evolving role of the CHRO and how it can shape the journey to Systemic HR®. He also provides actionable guidance for rising HR leaders, current CHROs, and CEOs to create business impact. If you’re a senior HR leader and would like to join our podcast, please reach out to us. Additional Information Why Is It So Hard To Be A Chief HR Officer (CHRO)? New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO CHRO Insights Research Report CHRO Insights Benchmarking Survey CHRO Insights Video (Youtube)

In this podcast I want to talk about Jamie Dimon’s recent town-hall at JP Morgan Chase. He describes his frustration with remote work, bureaucracy, and lack of productivity in vivid language. As you’ll hear from my comments, I have 100% sympathy for his feelings, but the answer is not as simple as forcing people into the office or laying off 10% of the workforce. Stay tuned I promise you’ll learn something. This is a problem in job design, culture, middle management roles, and overly complex job architecture. And we’re witnessing this precise situation with layoffs at Salesforce, Workday, Meta, and other fast-growing companies. Additional Information New Research: Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO Understanding Organization Design AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR  

In this week’s podcast I introduce our new research on the important and fast-changing role of CHRO, or Chief People Officer. Over the last decade this role has exploded in scope and importance, leaving many CEOs and CHROs working to keep up. After a year of research studying the career history and performance of more than 20,000 senior HR leaders, I explain how the role has changed and share our new research on the backgrounds, experiences, and capabilities of the world’s leading Chief HR Officers. If you’re a senior HR leader, please join our benchmarking survey to learn more. Additional Information New Research Unlocks Secrets Of The High Performing CHRO (article) CHRO Insights Research Report CHRO Insights Benchmarking Survey CHRO Insights Video (Youtube)  

This week I discuss the rapid evolution of AI Agents in the Enterprise, and how they’re starting to replace billions of dollars of legacy enterprise software. It won’t happen overnight, but using our four-stage model, companies are rapidly looking at ways to use AI platforms to assist, automate, and integrate business workflows in ways that ERP and HCM systems failed. (PS: this disruption is why Workday and Salesforce just had layoffs.) The four stages are discussed in The Rise of the Superworker. And you can get all the details in Galileo. Additional Information Digital Twins, Digital Employees, And Agents Everywhere The AI Trailblazers! HR Technology Outlook 2025. AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

Lloyds Banking Group, the largest bank in the UK, is undergoing a £3 Billion business transformation focused on enhancing customer experiences, integrating products and services, and leveraging technology to improve service delivery. Holly Quincey, Chief Talent Officer, describes the company’s accompanying talent transformation, particularly its skills-based hiring strategy. Talent Acquisition: This includes bringing executive hiring and leadership development in-house, saving millions. A program called “Prescient” was developed for the top 340 leaders, incorporating tools like Hogan and Raven assessments, 360 feedback, and external benchmarking to build leadership capabilities and align with future skills needs. Cultural Transformation: Lloyds is shifting from siloed thinking to a more collaborative, customer-obsessed, and growth-oriented culture. This involves fostering a mindset where the bank sees itself as a tech company that does banking, rather than a traditional bank with good technology. Recruitment and Workforce Planning: The recruitment function was remodeled in 2024, with a focus on reducing agency dependency and aligning talent acquisition with strategic workforce planning. This included hiring leaders with experience in campaign hiring and demand planning. Financial and Operational Impact: The transformation has already generated significant financial savings, including £20 million in 2024 alone from in-house initiatives like talent acquisition and leadership development. The organization continues to hire thousands annually while embedding innovation and efficiency across its operations. This WhatWorks interview will give listeners the inspiration to “think big” in your talent transformation strategy. Additional Information Leadership Development Insights, Human-Centered Leadership, Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Why Are Some Companies More Dynamic than Others?

Change and transformation is the theme for 2025. 53% of CEOs believe their company will not exist in ten years, with iconic brands like Starbucks, Boeing, Nike, Intel, Southwest, and Target going through turnarounds. And 93% of CEOs believe AI will totally transform their operating model. (PwC CEO Survey.) At the same time we’re witnessing a massive “change management” push in the US Federal Government, driven by 200+ executive orders and other communications. The big issue i discuss is “will this form of change even work?” Do “Executive Orders” help people understand and embrace mandates for change? While political change is not the right model for business, I want to point out how risky this approach may be. Putting aside political issues themselves, I think we’re about to learn a big lesson on “how to create enduring change.” Yes, sometimes things have to happen fast, but in most cases culture is built over years and individuals must be included in the process. And that goes for AI transformation too, as I discuss in the podcast. If you want to learn more about the topic of change, I encourage you to check out our Josh Bersin Academy program “Change Agility.” And please read my book Irresistible, which is now one of the highest rated business books on Amazon. Additional Information Despite Political Firestorm, Diversity Investments Are Alive And Well The Rise Of The Superworker: Delivering On The Promise of AI Elevating Equity: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Get Galileo®, The Essential AI Assistant For Everything HR  

Jim Hemgen, Director of Talent Development at Booz Allen Hamilton, talks with Kathi Enderes about how the company creates validated skills across hundreds of domains, including AI. This success story defines the journey for every company. Using skills validation provided by Workera, and content from Udemy and HackerRank, Booz Allen has created a highly trusted, validated skills process that credentials employees in a trusted and verified manner. And Jim explains how he works with these vendors to put together a powerful, working solution. As you’ll hear, the key to success is engaging managers (and employees) to encourage learning and focus on the most important new skills. Jim also describes how story-telling and rewards contribute to the company’s success in ongoing skills development. Today more than one third of Booz Allen staff have completed validated credentials for their career. Sign up today for our newest course “Building a Skills Strategy that Works,” filled with case studies and a step-by-step guide to skills-based learning, recruiting, development, and career management. Additional Information How To Take A Pragmatic (and winning) Approach To Skills The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

In this conversation, I discuss the DEI firestorm, the evolution and current state of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the corporate world, the alarming decline in trust towards businesses, and the necessity for companies to reinvent themselves in the face of changing market dynamics and the rise of the ‘super worker’. I also explain how much of our HR research is now clearly playing out in the PwC CEO Survey, which puts a financial picture on much of our HR and workplace research. Takeaways DEI programs have historical roots and are essential for business. The political climate has influenced DEI initiatives significantly. Trust in business has seen a significant decline recently. Many employees feel disillusioned with the American dream. Reinvention is crucial for companies to thrive in the future. Companies that redeploy talent see better financial outcomes. The Edelman Trust Barometer reveals alarming trends in public trust. Diverse and inclusive workplaces lead to better performance. The rise of AI is transforming business operations. Engagement in DEI is a business necessity, not just a social agenda. Important Resources The Rise Of The Superworker: Delivering On The Promise of AI January 28 Predictions Webinar Edelman Trust Barometer 2025 PwC 2025 CEO Survey Get Galileo®, The Essential AI Assistant For Everything HR    

In this podcast I explain the four-stages of AI transformation and detail why and how “AI Pacesetters” will far outperform others in their AI business transformations. The Rise of the Superworker research explains this in more detail. The Rise of the Superworker predictions report is available to all users of Galileo, The Josh Bersin Academy, or Corporate Members. (A Galileo Pro membership is only $39 per month, and JBA membership is $49 per month.) If you want to learn more and follow our ongoing case studies, briefs, and AI tools, download the Rise of the Superworker Overview today. You will be registered for regular updates. And please register for our launch webinar where I will detail this entire story. Chapters 00:00 The Super Worker Effect and AI Transformation 06:54 Re-engineering Work with AI 13:14 Change Management and Training for AI Adoption 17:14 The Future of Work in an AI-Driven World Additional Information Digital Twins, Digital Employees, And Agents Everywhere AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

How do you deliver on the promise of AI in your team, your company, and your career? Welcome to The Rise of the Superworker, our new research on the organizational adoption of AI. This research explains how organizations and leaders can redesign work, jobs, and customer experiences to deliver on the promise of AI. And as you’ll hear, job opportunities will expand for everyone. AI is not a technology to eliminate jobs, rather its a platform to empower every role. And the result will be orders of magnitude improvements in revenue, productivity, service, and creativity. Download the Infographic overview here. You can get the detailed report by subscribing to our AI platform Galileo, joining The Josh Bersin Academy, or our joining our Corporate Membership. Additional Information The Rise of the Superworker: In-Depth Article AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Galileo Professional, The AI Assistant for Everything HR

How do you build precision leadership skills at scale? Kendra Goldbas, Global Head of Learning & Development at PayPal, describes the world-class new manager development program at PayPal, MAPS (Managing at PayPal Successfully). During the pandemic PayPal grew rapidly and needed a world-class leadership development program for remote leaders. The MAPS program, which is based on “learn | practice | teach,” builds managerial skills quickly. The program starts with a 6-week cohort based learning experience covering technical and leadership topics, and then encourages leaders to focus on a six-month precision development journey. By encouraging leaders to focus on “one major skill,” the company creates a high level of accountability and continuous growth. The company uses Growthspace’s precision development platform to personalize leadership skills across the entire company. Additional Information The Surprising Facts About Leadership Development, Human-Centered Leadership, Why Are Some Companies More Dynamic Than Others? Leading with impact: How PayPal is shaping its new managers with Growthspace

Welcome to 2025, where I discuss the five big challenges ahead. These include (1) economic uncertainties, bifurcated labor market, (2) the impact of AI on the workforce and the Rise of Superworkers, (3) the new “soup” of issues in employee experience, which lands in HR’s lap, (4) the changing nature of leadership and leadership development, and (5) the urgent need to HR transformation from the inside out. Every CEO, CHRO, and individual HR professional is going to deal with these five challenges, and I hope this roadmap helps you prioritize your time in the year ahead. Remember that Galileo, The Josh Bersin Academy, and our corporate membership services are here to help! Additional Resources A Tumultuous Year Behind: A Challenging, Important 2025 (the 2025 article in detail) Introducing The AI Trailblazers! HR Technology Outlook 2025. AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Introducing Systemic HR® The Road to AI-Powered Productivity: Four Stages of Transformation Galileo Professional, The AI Assistant for Everything HR Systemic HR and Galileo are registered trademarks of The Josh Bersin Company.

Welcome to 2025. Today I give you a sneak preview of Galileo as a voice assistant, powered by our upcoming mobile app. And I give you a preview of your enormous 2025 role in embracing, adopting, and optimizing the use of AI in your company. I highlight three major themes for the year. First, the use of intelligent agents in your own work throughout HR; second, the new world of “productivity-based job design,” which will create enormous changes in job titles, roles, structures, and skills; third, the exciting new dynamic cultural shifts required in organizations to facilitate this transformation. Throughout this conversation I discuss many of the “100 Use Cases for Galileo in HR” which details many of the exciting innovations you can bring to your company this year. And at the end I share a brief conversation I had with Galileo, the AI-Powered Assistant for Everything HR. Additional Resources How AI Will Revolutionize The HR Department, In Detail. E205 (Podcast) Digital Twins, Digital Employees, And Agents Everywhere Introducing The AI Trailblazers! HR Technology Outlook 2025. Can AI Do Performance Reviews? Rippling Says Yes. AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

In this discussion I reflect on the significant events and trends of 2024, highlighting the impact of global conflicts, economic change, labor market dynamics, and the transformative role of AI in organizations. What has changed? I discuss the evolving nature of DEI, the new model of leadership which emerged, and the transformation of HR into a more integrated and essential function within businesses. I also describe the two-edged labor market, with severe labor shortages in hourly and blue collar work yet a lack of opportunities in white collar jobs. In fact I argue that our employment situation is not as happy as one may believe: the hyper low unemployment at the low end is masking unemployment fears among white collar workers. And as I discuss, 77% of employees are now fearful that AI could negatively impact their jobs and careers. I also point out the enormous opportunity for AI-driven change in 2025, which will not be easy or simple for companies to adopt. And I celebrate the central role of HR, moving to the Systemic HR® model ahead. To all our listeners: stay tuned for our major report on “The Rise of the Superworker” coming in January, an in-depth discussion about the 15 imperatives for change and AI transformation in 2025. This groundbreaking report and related tools will be available to Galileo users and our corporate members. Sign up for Galileo today. Key Points 2024 was marked by global conflicts affecting employees around the world Economic growth has been uneven, despite inflation’s impact Labor shortages continue, particularly in hourly jobs, while white-collar jobs are hard to find The low unemployment rate is misleading: many workers cannot find jobs AI is barely beginning to revolutionize work processes and organizational structures. DEI initiatives are being reframed as business priorities rather than social agendas. Leadership has become a responsibility for every employee, not just management. HR is evolving from a support function to a strategic partner in business. Organizations must focus on data management and governance as AI grows. Well-being in the workplace has plummeted, yet it remains essential for business success. HR is now taking on a very different role in our companies. Chapters 00:00 Reflections on 2024: A Year of Conflict and Change 03:32 Economic Landscape: Growth Amidst Challenges 07:32 Labor Market Dynamics: Shortages and Opportunities 12:05 AI Revolution: Transforming Work and Organizations 16:14 DEI and HR Tech: Evolving Strategies for Inclusion 20:35 Well-being and Leadership: Cultivating Healthy Organizations 24:52 The Future of HR: Strategic Integration and Transformation Additional Resources 100 Amazing Use-Cases for Galileo, The AI-Powered Assistant For Everything HR AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy The Road to AI-Powered Productivity: Four Stages of Transformation Digital Twins, Digital Employees, And Agents Everywhere Adecco: Adapting to an AI-Driven World of W