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Digital HR Leaders with David Green
What the Impact of Distributed Work on Organisational Networks Tells Us About the Future of Talent Management (an Interview with Michael Arena)
How is the shift to hybrid and distributed work reshaping the very fabric of your organisation’s networks? And how you can leverage these changes to build more effective teams and drive business success?
In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, David Green is joined by Michael Arena, a pioneer in Organisational Network Analysis (ONA), to explore how networks have evolved since the height of the pandemic.
Listen in as they explore:
- How organisational networks have evolved in a distributed work environment
- Key findings from Michael’s research on optimal team size
- How HR leaders can implement network analysis insights to drive strategic action
- The role of AI in facilitating ONA and the future of network research
This episode, sponsored by Workday, is essential listening for HR leaders looking to optimise team dynamics and embrace the power of organisational networks to thrive in today’s world of work.
Workday is a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for HR and finance, recognised as a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud HCM Suites.
Organisations ranging from medium-sized businesses to more than 50% of the Fortune 500— including Netflix, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, and Rolls Royce—have chosen Workday to build their HR systems and implement Workforce Analytics solutions. Join them and learn more at workday.com
Links to Resources:
- Michael Arena on LinkedIn: Michael Arena
- Workday: Workday
- MyHRFuture Academy: MyHRFuture
- Insight222: Insight222
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238. The Skills Revolution: Your Playbook for Workforce Agility (an Interview with Ravin Jesuthasan and Brian Fisher)
44:42||Season 48, Ep. 238Is your workforce strategy stuck in the past? As AI accelerates and traditional job structures show their age, more companies are asking a fundamental question: Are we organising work the right way? Which is why, in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, David and his guests explore why skills-based workforce planning has surged to the top of the HR agenda - and what leading companies are doing to turn intent into action. Joining David are Ravin Jesuthasan, Senior Partner and Global Leader for Transformation Services at Mercer, and co-author of The Skills-Powered Organization, and Brian Fisher, Global Solutions Lead for Skills, Jobs and Careers at Mercer, and co-author of Mercer’s Skills Snapshot Survey. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why jobs are no longer the ideal unit for workforce planning, and why skills are taking centre stage How to align mindset, skillset and toolset to drive lasting transformation The role of pilots and internal marketplaces in delivering measurable business impact What AI is changing about the definition, demand and shelf life of skills The three core capabilities every organisation must build to sustain a skills-powered strategy How leading companies are connecting skills to ROI, workforce agility, and employee growth This episode is sponsored by Mercer. To thrive in an AI-augmented world, organisations must rethink how work gets done. Mercer’s Work Design solution uses AI to deconstruct jobs, redeploy tasks, and redesign work for greater agility, productivity, and impact. Unlock your team’s full potential. Learn more at mercer.com/wfdemo Links to resources discussed in the episode: Work Without Jobs The Skills-Powered Organisation The Global Skills Technology and Adoption Survey Report The 2024/2025 Skills Snapshot Survey report237. Uncertainty as an Opportunity: HR’s Role in Shaping the Future of Work (an Interview with Peter Hinssen)
45:43||Season 48, Ep. 237What if the chaos around us isn’t a threat, but your organisation’s greatest advantage? In this thought-provoking episode, futurist and innovation expert Peter Hinssen returns to the Digital HR Leaders podcast to join host David Green in an exploration of why uncertainty is no longer the exception but the new normal, and how HR can lead the way in turning disruption into momentum. Based on insights from his new book The Uncertainty Principle, Peter challenges traditional thinking and shares a bold vision for how organisations - and their people leaders - can thrive in the “never-normal.” What you’ll learn in this episode: Why uncertainty is the new strategic advantage, and how to “weaponise” it The biggest myth HR believes about change, and why it’s holding us back AI’s promise vs. reality and why early adoption often falls short How to unlock HR’s most underutilised asset: unstructured data Real-world phoenixes - organisations rising stronger through disruption The new HR mindset and how it’s redefining talent, leadership, and foresight Link to purchase Peter's book on The Uncertainty Principle This episode is sponsored by Mercer. To thrive in an AI-augmented world, organisations must rethink how work gets done. Mercer’s Work Design solution uses AI to deconstruct jobs, redeploy tasks, and redesign work for greater agility, productivity, and impact. Unlock your team’s full potential. Learn more at mercer.com/wfdemo.236. How People Analytics is Powering Business Strategy at Mastercard (an Interview with Anshul Sheopuri)
39:15||Season 48, Ep. 236What does it take to move people analytics from the margins to the core of business strategy? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green is joined by Anshul Sheopuri, Executive Vice President of People Operations & Insights at Mastercard, to explore how people analytics is transforming from a support function into a business-critical capability. More than three years since his last appearance on the show, Anshul returns with a new role, a broader remit, and fresh insights into what it takes to embed analytics into enterprise-wide decision-making at scale. What you’ll discover in this episode: How the role of the people analytics leader is evolving into a portfolio leadership model The key catalysts behind the shift from traditional HR metrics to integrated, business-first insights How Mastercard is leveraging AI to drive employee success and business transformation A comparative look at building analytics and AI capabilities at IBM vs. Mastercard The importance of governance, ethics, and responsible AI in people analytics Practical steps to scale analytics and embed it into enterprise decision-making The future of people analytics—and what leaders need to prepare for next If you’re looking to understand how people analytics can become a true strategic partner across your organisation, this conversation offers a practical and inspiring roadmap. This episode is sponsored by Mercer. To thrive in an AI-augmented world, organisations must rethink how work gets done. Mercer’s Work Design solution uses AI to deconstruct jobs, redeploy tasks, and redesign work for greater agility, productivity, and impact. Unlock your team’s full potential. Learn more at mercer.com/wfdemo.The AI Pivot: Seagate’s Workforce Transformation in the Age of AI (an Interview with Patricia Frost and Ruslan Tovbulatov)
55:48||Season 47What happens when you stop looking outside for talent and start unlocking the full potential of the people already on your team? That is exactly what host David Green and his guests explore in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders Podcast. Joining David are Patricia Frost, Chief People and Places Officer at Seagate Technology, and Ruslan Tovbulatov, Chief Marketing Officer at Gloat, the platform partner behind Seagate’s internal talent marketplace, TalentLink. And together, they share how Seagate reimagined its approach to workforce planning by pausing external hiring and focusing on the talent already in-house. In this conversation, expect to hear how Seagate: Shifted from external recruitment to unlocking internal potential Created transparency and trust to support employee-driven growth Integrated AI to enhance - not replace - the human workforce Rebranded their platform to reflect a purpose-led, people-first strategy Helped employees navigate the emotional side of change and adoption This episode, sponsored by Gloat, is a practical, inspiring look at how to future-proof your workforce by starting with the people who are already part of it. Gloat is the world’s first work and workforce operating system for the AI era, helping leading companies like Seagate turn AI potential into real productivity by empowering people to work smarter, faster, and with purpose. Visit gloat.com to learn more.235. Why HR Must Confront Covering to Build True Inclusion and Psychological Safety (an Interview with Rami Tzafrir)
44:22||Season 47, Ep. 235Have you ever downplayed a part of who you are just to feel accepted at work? Maybe it was your background, your beliefs, or even just your personality. That quiet act of self-editing - called covering - is more common than many realise, and it comes at a high cost to individuals and organisations alike. In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green is joined by Rami Tzafrir, Senior Director of Talent, Organisation and Learning at HiBob, to unpack powerful new research on covering in the workplace. Together, they explore why this behaviour is not just a personal issue but a signal of deeper organisational challenges—and what HR can do about it. Key topics explored in the conversation include: What covering really means, and why so many employees do it Headline findings from HiBob’s global research on identity in the workplace Which groups are most likely to cover, and why How covering impacts performance, engagement, and career progression The link between covering and psychological safety What HR can do to create cultures of transparency and trust The complex role AI may play in either reinforcing or reducing covering This is a conversation that challenges traditional ideas of inclusion and calls for a more human approach to organisational culture. Want to build a culture where people feel free to be themselves? Download HiBob’s new report, “Hidden at work: The human cost of covering in today's workplaces”, at www.hibob.com/covering.234. From Deployment to Impact: Maximising Business Value with HR Tech (an Interview with Matthew Brown)
54:22||Season 47, Ep. 234Is your HR tech stack fixing real business problems, or just fuelling the shiny object hype? With new HR technologies arriving faster than ever, many organisations are quick to jump on the next big thing. But in the rush to modernise, are we losing sight of the real business problems we’re meant to be solving? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green is joined by Matthew Brown, Director of Research, HCM at ISG, whose diverse career spans practitioner, former Chief People Officer, and now respected industry analyst. And together they tackle a fundamental question: Are we truly leveraging HR technology to create business value, or are we just keeping up with trends? Tune in and join them as they explore: Why the disconnect between HR and tech adoption persists, and how to bridge it The risks of adopting AI without clear business purpose Why data quality remains an overlooked but critical obstacle What HR tech vendors should be doing to ethically upskill their customers When reimplementation of existing systems may be a smarter choice than replacement How to distinguish genuine tech partners from transactional vendors If you’re questioning whether your HR tech strategy is driving real results or just driving activity, this conversation, sponsored by HiBob, offers timely insight, practical guidance, and fresh perspective from both sides of the industry. HiBob is a fast-growing new leader in the HCM market. In fact, according to HR tech guru Josh Bersin, HiBob is one of the few SaaS companies that have successfully cracked the code on user experience. Josh Bersin says that Bob is not only feature-rich but genuinely enjoyable to use. Read his review of Bob--as an HR tech analyst and user--at www.hibob.com/davidgreen2025.233. The CHRO’s Playbook: How to Build an Agile and Data-Driven HR Function (an Interview with Janine Vos)
48:22||Season 47, Ep. 233What does it really take to build an HR function that’s agile, data-driven, and truly influential at the top table? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green speaks with Janine Vos, Chief Human Resources Officer and Managing Board Member at Rabobank to explore how she has led her team through a significant transformation - shaping an HR function that not only keeps pace with business change, but helps lead it. From embedding agility into the day-to-day to using data as a lever for influence, Janine shares the strategies that have helped her team earn credibility and drive impact. Join them, as they discuss: What being agile actually looks like in practice, and how Rabobank brought it to life How to shift behaviours and mindsets to support new ways of working Why data is only powerful when it’s paired with trust and strong relationships How Janine helps her team move beyond the numbers to tell meaningful stories The value of having people analytics report directly to the CHRO - and what others may be missing What HR leaders need to prioritise today to stay relevant tomorrow Whether you're leading transformation or seeking to add more strategic business value, this episode sponsored by HiBob, offers practical insights and forward-thinking strategies to help you navigate what's next. HiBob is a fast-growing new leader in the HCM market. In fact, according to HR tech guru Josh Bersin, HiBob is one of the few SaaS companies that have successfully cracked the code on user experience. Josh Bersin says that Bob is not only feature-rich but genuinely enjoyable to use. Read his review of Bob--as an HR tech analyst and user--at www.hibob.com/davidgreen2025.232. How AI is Reshaping the HR Operating Model (an Interview with Volker Jacobs)
48:09||Season 47, Ep. 232How is AI redefining the HR operating model we’ve known for decades? With AI redefining how work gets done, the pressure is mounting to move beyond legacy structures and rethink HR from the ground up. The traditional three-pillar model is being pushed to its limits, and a new, work-centric, product-driven approach is emerging. To discuss this in more detail, in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green is joined by Volker Jacobs, CEO and Founder of TI People, an organisation at the forefront of helping enterprises transform to innovate people’s work. Drawing from TI People’s latest groundbreaking research, Volker unpacks how AI is reshaping HR roles, structures, and mindsets - and why it's time to move beyond services toward building HR "products" that solve real work problems. Join them, as they uncover: Why the classic three-pillar HR model is under pressure - and what might replace it The three ways AI is transforming HR: efficiency, innovation, and personalisation Which HR roles are being disrupted most, and what that means for team design What a product-oriented approach to HR looks like in practice The mindset and cultural shifts needed to make this transition stick Where HR leaders can start today, without overhauling everything at once Whether you're leading transformation or just beginning to explore what AI means for your HR model, this episode sponsored by HiBob offers practical insights and forward-thinking strategies to help you navigate what's next. Click here to access the full report. HiBob is a fast-growing new leader in the HCM market. In fact, according to HR tech guru Josh Bersin, HiBob is one of the few SaaS companies that have successfully cracked the code on user experience. Josh Bersin says that Bob is not only feature-rich but genuinely enjoyable to use. Read his review of Bob--as an HR tech analyst and user--at www.hibob.com/davidgreen2025.231. How HR Can Shape Business Strategy and Prove Its Impact (an Interview with Dave Ulrich)
52:16||Season 47, Ep. 231Is HR leading the business, or just keeping up with it? As complexity increases and resources tighten, the role of HR is under more pressure than ever. But within this challenge lies a powerful opportunity - for HR to become a driving force in delivering value to all stakeholders: employees, customers and investors. In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, David Green is joined once again by Dave Ulrich, Co-Founder of The RBL Group and widely recognised as the father of modern HR. Building on the success of his earlier episode with Stacia Garr, Dave returns for a reflective and practical conversation on how HR can step up to shape business strategy and deliver stakeholder value. Join them as they dive deep into: Why the HR role is becoming more complex What stops HR from taking the lead, and how to overcome those barriers What strategic HR looks like when it’s aligned to stakeholder value The outcome-focused metrics that matter most to the business How AI can support - or distract from - HR’s true purpose The critical skills and mindsets HR leaders need for the future Where work and employee experience might be headed next If you're an HR leader looking to have more influence and impact, this episode, sponsored by HiBob, is definitely a conversation you’ll want to revisit and take notes on. HiBob is a fast-growing new leader in the HCM market. In fact, according to HR tech guru Josh Bersin, HiBob is one of the few SaaS companies that have successfully cracked the code on user experience. Josh Bersin says that Bob is not only feature-rich but genuinely enjoyable to use. Read his review of Bob--as an HR tech analyst and user--at www.hibob.com/davidgreen2025.