Talent in the Age of AI — Workforce Development, Talent Strategy & the Future of Work

As organizations rapidly integrate AI into everyday work, are leaders paying enough attention to the one capability machines can’t fully replace—human judgment?In this episode of Talent in the Age of AI, host Wendy Wiseman sits down with Larry Durham to explore a growing challenge he calls The Judgment Void.Larry explains how organizations are increasingly using AI to perform early-career and task-based work that once helped employees develop critical thinking and decision-making skills over time. While AI creates opportunities for efficiency and scale, it also raises an important concern: if machines are handling foundational work, how will future leaders develop the judgment needed to make high-stakes decisions?The conversation dives into the long-term impact AI may have on talent pipelines, leadership readiness, and organizational capability. Larry challenges HR and learning leaders to step back and think beyond technology adoption, focusing instead on how work itself is changing.Together, Wendy and Larry discuss why this moment presents both a risk and an opportunity for organizations willing to intentionally develop human judgment alongside AI capability.This episode is the first in a three-part series exploring leadership, AI adoption, and the future of human capability at work.Episode Timestamps;00:28 Meet Larry Durham - President, St. Charles Consulting Group02:51 Why Judgment Matters04:29 Apprenticeship Disappears06:21 Regulators And Risk10:42 Rethinking L&D Models14:45 Sponsor Break16:39 How To Get Ahead18:33 AI Inference Isn’t Judgment20:53 Rebuilding Judgment Formation31:40 Talent Consortium Approach35:23 Wrap Up And Next Steps36:11 Closing CreditsCredits:Connect with the Guest, Larry Durham:Website: https://stccg.com/Connect with the Talent in the Age of AI;Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)

As organizations rapidly adopt AI, how do leaders ensure they don’t lose sight of the most important element—the learner?In this episode of Talent and the Age of AI, host Jason Keese sits down with Deidre Alves, Chief Learning and Leadership Officer at ExuLAB™ Global, to explore how leaders can thoughtfully navigate AI adoption while staying grounded in how people actually learn.Deidre highlights a growing challenge: many organizations are rushing into AI tools and learning technologies without first understanding the fundamentals of human learning. She explains why experiential learning—briefing, experience, and reflection—is critical and must remain the foundation before layering in AI.The conversation also explores the uneven pace of AI adoption across organizations and why leaders must create intentional space to pause, reflect, and assess what’s truly working.Deidre emphasizes the importance of AI literacy—not full technical fluency—and why leaders should focus on helping teams understand how AI works, including ethical considerations and bias awareness.She also introduces a powerful concept: avoiding “data absolutism.” While metrics and ROI matter, leaders must balance data with human experience, creativity, and the intangible “magic” that drives meaningful learning and performance outcomes.Through real-world examples, including a powerful story about redesigning pediatric MRI experiences, this episode challenges leaders to think differently about AI, learning, and what success really looks like.Timestamps;00:00 Welcome & Introduction to AI in Learning and Development02:02 Keeping the Learner First in the Rush to AI Adoption07:59 Why Human Learning Must Come Before AI Strategy09:20 Experiential Learning Framework: Brief, Experience, Reflect13:31 The Shift to Contextual Learning in the Age of AI15:38 Why AI Is Putting Human Skills Back in the Spotlight20:08 Sponsor Break20:39 AI Literacy vs Fluency: What Leaders Really Need to Know24:56 AI Ethics, Bias, and Safe Experimentation Strategies29:24 The Risk of Data Absolutism in AI Decision-Making33:18 Metrics vs Magic: The MRI Story and Human-Centered Design36:51 Educating Leaders on the Limits of AI Data and Metrics39:32 Key Takeaways on AI, Learning, and Leadership + ClosingCredits:Connect with the Guests;Deidre AlvesWebsite: https://exulab.com/Connect with the Talent in the Age of AI;Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)

How can organizations responsibly integrate AI into talent development while still preserving the human side of leadership?In this episode of Talent in the Age of AI, host Wendy Wiseman sits down with Sarah Truchard, Manager of Talent and Leadership Development at CITGO. Sarah shares how her team is thoughtfully incorporating AI tools into leadership development, succession planning, and employee training across a workforce of more than 3,000 employees.Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for people, Sarah explains how her team is using it to amplify leadership capabilities, improve communication, and empower employees to think more strategically.Sarah also shares insights from CITGO’s leadership development program, Fueling Good Leaders, which combines proven leadership frameworks with practical AI experimentation to help managers navigate complex workplace conversations and performance challenges.From AI-powered leadership simulations to real-world applications such as improving performance feedback and goal setting, Sarah explains how organizations can move beyond fear and begin experimenting with AI in practical ways.Episode Timestamps;00:00 Welcome to the Talent in the Age of AI podcast00:28 Meet Sarah Truchard02:36 CITGO Talent Scope03:36 Why Embrace AI04:33 Governance and Tools05:22 CliftonStrengths with AI07:40 Fueling Good Leaders11:19 AI in Leadership Practice13:13 Culture Shift and Trust16:05 Productivity and Validation20:14 Adoption and Goal Setting23:22 Scaling Across Workforce26:33 Key Takeaways and Wrap29:06 Outro and SubscribeCredits:Connect with the Guests; Sarah Truchard:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cooper-truchard-shrm-scp-acc-33983417/Connect with the Talent in the Age of AI;Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)

In this episode, we’re joined by Maiven Collective co-founders Emily Skeen and Kate Telge, who are on a mission to bridge the 20–25% gender gap in AI adoption. They discuss their holistic approach—combining AI literacy, business development, and nervous system support—to help women overcome adoption barriers like trust and security concerns while building the future of tech.The conversation dives into Maiven’s "Founder Foundations Challenge," a six-week cohort that helps entrepreneurs validate ideas using AI automations, financial modeling, and custom AI accountability coaches. Emily and Kate also share practical advice on prompt quality ("crap in, crap out") and the importance of experimenting across different tools to ensure accuracy and security in a corporate setting.Looking ahead, Maiven Collective aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem for women founders from ideation to exit, challenging traditional "growth-at-all-costs" models. They encourage listeners to lean into experimentation and visit maivencollective.com to learn more about their upcoming cohorts and the AI Ethics Social Club.Episode Timestamps;00:00 Podcast Intro00:28 Meet Maiven Collective02:08 Why Women In AI03:27 The AI Adoption Gap04:32 Trust And Mindset Barriers05:55 Six Week Founder Challenge07:22 Safe Cohort Community08:21 AI Ethics For Corporations13:06 Ad Break And Membership13:42 Prompts And LLM Basics18:05 Experimentation Builds Confidence19:40 Founder Ecosystem And Exits22:07 Closing, Thanks And OutroCredits:Connect with the Guests;Emily SkeenLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-skeen/Website: https://www.maivencollective.com/Kate TelgeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-telge/Website: https://www.maivencollective.com/Connect with the Talent in the Age of AI;Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)

In this episode of Talent in the Age of AI, host Wendy Wiseman talks with Eric Strandt about his study on cross-cultural differences in AI acceptance. The discussion explores how leaders from Eastern and Western cultures differ in their motivation and ease of adopting AI. Eric highlights the importance of organizational support and social influence in the East, while ease of use and perceived usefulness are key drivers in the West. The episode also delves into the ethical considerations and the impact of AI on different levels of employee adoption. Tune in to gain insights into how organizations can effectively implement AI, considering these cultural nuances.Episode Timestamps;00:00 Introduction to Talent in the Age of AI00:48 Meet Eric Strandt: AI Acceptance Across Cultures03:06 Key Findings: Western vs. Eastern AI Adoption07:02 Practical Implications for Organizations11:11 Future Studies and Generational Differences11:39 Addressing Common AI Concerns19:43 Ethics, Privacy, and Human Oversight in AI24:20 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsCredits:Connect with the Guests;Eric Strandt:Publication: https://bit.ly/4raypNaConnect with the Talent in the Age of AI;Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)

In this episode of Three Big Questions, host Jason Keese engages with Bill Gallagher, a seasoned entrepreneur and leadership coach who has advised leaders in 14 countries. Bill also hosts the popular Scaling Up Business podcast. The discussion centers on how AI affects leadership by increasing the volume of information leaders must process. Bill emphasizes the importance of clear-headed practices, mental hygiene, and disciplined use of AI to simplify tasks instead of overwhelming oneself.He also discusses the human behavioral elements crucial for adapting to AI confidently. Bill advocates using AI to enhance, rather than replace, human roles and highlights how leaders can leverage AI tools to reduce stress and improve decision-making.Episode Timestamps;00:00 Introduction to Talent in the Age of AI00:29 Meet Bill Gallagher: Leadership Coach and Entrepreneur01:04 Big Question 1: Staying Clearheaded with AI05:52 Big Question 2: Understanding Human Behavior with AI11:32 Big Question 3: Reducing Stress with AI13:11 Final Thoughts and Parting Wisdom14:38 Closing Remarks and ResourcesCredits:Connect with the Guests;Bill Gallagher;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billgall/Website: https://scalingcoach.com/Connect with the Talent in the Age of AI;Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)

Welcome to Talent in the Age of AI, the podcast helping leaders make sense of what AI means for their people, their culture, and their future. We talk with experts across business, education, technology, and government, all working to shape how we work, learn, and lead in a changing world.Our focus is on the leaders closest to the talent, the ones responsible for preparing today's workforce for tomorrow's demands. We dig into the issues you're facing now, recruiting and retention, re-skilling and career growth, leadership during rapid change, and the responsible adoption of AI in everyday work.No hype, no fear tactics, just practical insight to help your people grow, and your organization move forward. Through talent in the age of AI, we create, curate, and connect the ideas, tools, and community that help leaders build AI confidence in themselves and in their teams. Subscribe now and join us as we shape the future of talent together. This is Talent in the Age of AI. Follow, rate, and review — and subscribe so you never miss a conversation shaping the future of talent in the age of AI.Visit our Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/