Share

cover art for The Key Role of HR in Successfully Integrating a Blended Workforce (an Interview with Lynda Gratton and Diane Gherson)

Digital HR Leaders with David Green

The Key Role of HR in Successfully Integrating a Blended Workforce (an Interview with Lynda Gratton and Diane Gherson)

Season 41, Ep. 201
•

Did you know that an estimated 35-40% of the global workforce will be classified as independent workers by 2025? So what does this mean for the future of organisations? And what does it mean for HR leaders who have to navigate this massive shift? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, David Green sits down with two industry experts to discuss this very topic. Joining him are Lynda Gratton, Professor of Management Practice at London Business School and Founder of HSM Advisory, and Diane Gherson, former CHRO at IBM and board member for several top companies.  

 

Both Lynda and Diane are well-known visionaries in the field of HR. Together, they have joined forces to write two insightful articles in Harvard Business Review (see links below) that explore the implications of this growing trend. Today, they share their experiences and perspectives on how organisations can adapt to the rise of independent workers, and what HR leaders need to do to manage this new workforce landscape effectively. 

 

Listening to this podcast episode, you can be sure to gain insights on: 

  • The factors driving the rapid increase in freelance work and how technology is enabling this transformation 
  • The impact of a blended workforce on organisational structures and the evolving role of managers 
  • Practical strategies for HR leaders to adapt workforce planning and recruitment processes to integrate freelancers effectively 
  • The importance of building the right cultural infrastructure to support a diverse and dynamic workforce 

 

This is an episode for every HR leader who wants to ensure a successful integrated approach to merging external and internal talent effectively. 

 

We would also like to take the opportunity to say thank you to Visier for sponsoring this series of the Digital HR Leaders podcast. Visier is the people analytics platform for successful HR teams, bridging the gap between HR productivity and business performance, giving managers the insights they need to lead effectively. Learn more at visier.com. 

 

Links to Resources: 

 

 

Sign up for the Productivity Collaboration Jam held on the 10th of September: Sign up Here 

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 253. The New CHRO-CEO Partnership: Leading With Insight and Humanity

    38:42||Season 51, Ep. 253
    In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, Katarina Berg - CHRO at On, former CHRO at Spotify, and author of Bold: A New Era of Strategic HR - joins David Green to explore what modern, strategic HR leadership truly requires. Together, they dive into the evolving partnership between the CHRO and CEO - a relationship that has never been more critical as organisations navigate AI, workforce transformation, culture, and business growth. Katarina shares how HR leaders can bring both insight and humanity to the executive table, shape decisions that drive business outcomes, and intentionally design a culture that empowers people to perform. The conversation covers:What a genuinely strategic CHRO-CEO relationship looks like - and how to build itHow Katarina approached her first 100 days as CHRO at On, and the lessons she’s bringing into the next phase of growthWhy “putting the H back in HR” is essential in the AI eraHow people analytics teams can evolve into true insight and decision-driving partnersWhy intentional leadership - not just tools or trends - will define the next era of HR This is a must-listen for HR leaders who want to elevate their strategic influence and lead with courage, clarity, and humanity. This episode is sponsored by Valence.Imagine if every employee had a world-class coach in their pocket. That’s exactly what Valence has created with Nadia - the AI-powered coach helping Fortune 500 companies scale development, boost performance, and support leaders at every level. Learn more at valence.co/insight222 Links referenced in the conversation:Bold: A New Era of Strategic HR2025 HR Predictions: Looking Into the Crystal Ball

  • 252. The Science Behind High-Performing Teams

    56:29||Season 51, Ep. 252
    Why do some teams click while others struggle, despite having top talent? That’s exactly what our host David Green explores in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, with guest Dr. Colin Fisher - PhD Programme Director at UCL School of Management and author of The Collective Edge. With a background in organisational behaviour, Colin brings a fresh lens to one of the most critical - and misunderstood - aspects of modern work: how teams are structured, and how that structure shapes everything from communication to creativity to performance. Join them and learn more about: Why the seeds of team success - or failure - are planted before Day One The 60-30-10 rule for high-performing teams (and why most leaders focus on the wrong 10%) How to design work that kills free-riding and boosts engagement Why psychological safety is a non-negotiable - and how to build it fast How AI and team design intersect, and what leaders need to do right now This episode is sponsored by Valence. Imagine if every employee had a world-class coach in their pocket. That’s exactly what Valence has created with Nadia - the AI-powered coach helping Fortune 500 companies scale development, boost performance, and support leaders at every level. Learn more at valence.co/insight222

  • 251. Why Authenticity Is Overrated - and What Great Leaders Do Instead

    58:22||Season 51, Ep. 251
    “Be yourself.” “Bring your whole self to work.” It sounds empowering -  but what if it’s actually bad advice? That’s exactly what our host David Green explores in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, with returning guest Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic - Professor of Business Psychology at UCL and Columbia, and author of Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity is Overrated (and What to Do Instead). Together, they challenge popular leadership tropes and explore why being real doesn’t always lead to being effective - especially in today’s fast-changing, AI-driven world. So, join them as they explore:  Why authenticity is misunderstood, and when it becomes a liability The leadership traits that actually build trust and influence How AI is transforming the employee experience The risks of eliminating early-career jobs in pursuit of productivity What inclusion really requires beyond buzzwords and optics The three ingredients every AI strategy needs to succeed This episode is sponsored by Valence. Imagine if every employee had a world-class coach in their pocket. That’s exactly what Valence has created with Nadia - the AI-powered coach helping Fortune 500 companies scale development, boost performance, and support leaders at every level. Learn more at valence.co/insight222 

  • 250. AI in HR Tech: What Investors and Leaders Need to Know

    45:46||Season 50, Ep. 250
    The HR technology market is booming - but with so much innovation (and noise), how can HR leaders and investors tell what’s truly transformative from what’s just trendy? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders Podcast, host David Green sits down with Thomas Otter, General Partner and Venture Capitalist at Acadian Ventures - a firm dedicated to investing in groundbreaking companies that make work better. With decades of experience spanning SAP, Gartner, and now venture capital, Thomas brings a rare 360-degree view of the HR tech ecosystem - from building and leading product teams to backing the next generation of innovators. Together, David and Thomas explore: Whether HR tech is going through a true transformation or simply evolving Where AI is actually making a difference,  and where the hype is getting ahead of reality Why AI adoption remains slow for many organisations, and what leaders can do about it The traits and technologies that make HR tech startups stand out to investors The trends and breakthroughs shaping the next five years of HR technology and the future of work If you’re an HR or people analytics leader, tech founder, or investor looking to cut through the noise and understand where HR tech is really headed, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. This episode is sponsored by TechWolf. TechWolf helps enterprises get fast, accurate, and actionable skills data—without surveys. From identifying the skills your workforce has to mapping what they need, TechWolf’s AI integrates seamlessly with your existing systems to turn messy data into strategic advantage.   Learn more at techwolf.com   

  • 249. What Every People Analytics Leader Can Learn from HSBC’s Transformation

    43:09||Season 50, Ep. 249
    The future of work won’t wait - and neither can your people analytics strategy. On today’s episode of the Digital HR Leaders Podcast, Rob Etheridge, Global Head of Workforce Strategy and Insights at HSBC, joins the Digital HR Leaders podcast with host David Green to reveal how the bank is building a forward-looking people analytics function - grounded in skills, AI, and trust. Join them, as they explore: The evolution of people analytics at HSBC and across the industry How to design and scale an operating model that delivers business value Why skills are a strategic priority - and how HSBC is addressing them Building governance frameworks for AI in people analytics The leadership behaviours that embed analytics into decision-making This episode is sponsored by TechWolf. TechWolf helps enterprises get fast, accurate, and actionable skills data—without surveys. From identifying the skills your workforce has to mapping what they need, TechWolf’s AI integrates seamlessly with your existing systems to turn messy data into strategic advantage.   Learn more at techwolf.com  

  • 248. Is AI accelerating a skills revolution, or deepening the divide in knowledge work?

    40:02||Season 50, Ep. 248
    In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders Podcast, host David Green is joined once again by Mikael Wornoo, Co-Founder of TechWolf - a company at the forefront of skills intelligence. Bringing fresh insights from the frontlines of AI and workforce strategy, together they explore where leading companies are heading, and what HR needs to do to stay ahead of the curve. From adoption challenges to ethical concerns, in this episode, you can expect to learn more about:  How the conversation around AI and skills is shifting—and what’s driving the change Why skills-based workforce planning is becoming a business-critical priority The human side of AI: navigating adoption, mindset shifts, and ethical concerns The data and insights HR needs to lead meaningful transformation How to build a fair, skills-powered future—and avoid a “winner-takes-all” dynamic This episode is sponsored by TechWolf. TechWolf helps enterprises get fast, accurate, and actionable skills data—without surveys. From identifying the skills your workforce has to mapping what they need, TechWolf’s AI integrates seamlessly with your existing systems to turn messy data into strategic advantage.   Learn more at techwolf.com  

  • 247. How to Influence Business Strategy Through Workforce Planning (an Interview with Ross Sparkman)

    53:56||Season 50, Ep. 247
    What if the most valuable business strategy starts with workforce planning? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, David Green is joined by one of the world’s most respected voices on strategic workforce planning, Ross Sparkman, Global Head of Workforce Planning at Nutrien and author of the recently released second edition of Strategic Workforce Planning. With a career leading workforce strategy at companies like Meta, GE, Nike, and Walmart, Ross brings rare insight into how to turn workforce planning into a true lever of transformation. Join their conversation as they explore:  Why traditional workforce planning is no longer fit for today’s pace of change How to integrate AI into workforce planning without falling for the hype What it really takes to make workforce planning stick inside large organisations The critical partnership between people analytics and SWP for future-ready strategies This episode is sponsored by TechWolf. TechWolf helps enterprises get fast, accurate, and actionable skills data—without surveys. From identifying the skills your workforce has to mapping what they need, TechWolf’s AI integrates seamlessly with your existing systems to turn messy data into strategic advantage.   Learn more at techwolf.com   

  • 246. How to Transform HR Into an Insight-Driven Function (an Interview with Jenny Dearborn)

    53:58||Season 50, Ep. 246
    What if the reason HR isn’t influencing strategy… is because it’s looking in the wrong direction? That’s the powerful idea Jenny Dearborn - Chief People Strategy Officer at BTS and co-author of The Insight-Driven Leader - unpacks with host David Green in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast. Drawing on her experience as a senior HR leader in some of the world’s biggest companies, Jenny makes the case for a bold shift: from reactive, rear-view reporting to forward-looking, insight-driven action. Join them, as they explore: Why “data-driven” HR often falls short, and what insight-driven really means The risks of relying on outdated metrics that don’t influence business decisions What CEOs should be demanding from HR leaders How top organisations are transforming HR into a strategic, insight-generating function What it looks like when HR operates like a product organisation How CHROs can build trusted partnerships with CFOs and CIOs If you’re ready to unlock the true strategic potential of your HR function, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. This episode is sponsored by TechWolf. TechWolf helps enterprises get fast, accurate, and actionable skills data—without surveys. From identifying the skills your workforce has, to mapping what they need, TechWolf’s AI integrates seamlessly with your existing systems to turn messy data into strategic advantage.   Learn more at techwolf.com   

  • How to Reconnect Learning to Business Outcomes with Skills (an Interview with Vincent-Pierre Giroux)

    44:09||Season 49
    How do you reconnect learning with business outcomes in a world where skills are evolving faster than ever? That’s what Vincent-Pierre Giroux, Global Learning & Talent Development Director at Alstom, explores in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast. Host David Green speaks with Vincent-Pierre about the lessons he’s learned from leading resets across industries, his perspective on why skills volatility is reshaping mobility and retention, and the leadership qualities that matter most in today’s environment of constant change. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why reconnecting learning with business outcomes is key to driving real impact How skills volatility is transforming mobility, engagement, and retention What leadership qualities are most critical in a world shaped by disruption How to think about ROI in learning and skills, and measure it meaningfully Practical advice for HR and people analytics leaders to keep their organisations future-ready This episode is sponsored by 365Talents. 365Talents takes a flexible, tailored approach to skills and talent management—because no two businesses are the same. Their adaptive talent intelligence solutions empower HR teams to move faster, build skills-based strategies, and deliver real impact at scale. Want to learn more? Visit www.365talents.com  And don't forget to explore the latest thinking on skills and job architecture in this in-depth playbook: The Skills and Job Architecture Playbook  
Copyright Insight222
Hosted with ❤️ by Acast