The Gartner Talent Angle

Author and professor Mauro Guillén joins the Talent Angle to explain how generational labels, such as "baby boomers" or "millennials," can be counterproductive in the workplace. Guillén offers an alternative vision of a postgenerational society and advocates for a workplace in which individuals are not confined by their age. He urges HR leaders to instill a "perennial" mindset in their organizations to foster intergenerational collaboration and engage diverse talent pools. Mauro F. Guillén is one of the most original thinkers at the Wharton School, where he is a professor of management and vice dean for the MBA for Executives Program. He combines his training as a sociologist at Yale and as a business economist in his native Spain to methodically identify and quantify the most promising opportunities at the intersection of demographic, economic and technological developments. He has received Fulbright and Guggenheim fellowships, was honored with the Aspen Institute's Faculty Pioneer Award, and was elected to the Macro Organizational Behavior Society and the Sociological Research Association. Peter Aykens is chief of research in Gartner's human resources practice. He is responsible for defining research coverage within the practice and building and leading research teams that address clients' key initiatives. In prior roles at the firm, he spent over 25 years leading research teams focused on banking and financial services strategy, producing numerous studies that addressed business strategy, channels, marketing, customer experience and product issues in financial services. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from St. Olaf College; a master's degree in international politics from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (now known as Aberystwyth University); and a master's degree and a doctorate in political science from Brown University.

Drawing on their professional and academic experience, Ravin Jesuthasan and John Boudreau argue the current work "operating system" is increasingly unable to meet the needs of employees and employers. They join the Talent Angle to discuss their new book, Work Without Jobs: How to Reboot Your Organization's Work Operating System, and the opportunities for HR to shape a new vision for the future of work. Jesuthasan and Boudreau propose a new work "operating system" based on deconstructed work and deconstructed talent that would ultimately lead to a more human-centric approach to work. In their new vision for the future of work, they emphasize the importance of developing capabilities that will enable organizations to redesign and reinvent work and the employee experience. Ravin Jesuthasan is the global leader of Mercer's Transformation Services business. He has led multiple research efforts on the global workforce, the emerging digital economy, the rise of artificial intelligence and the transformation of work. Ravin has led numerous research projects for the World Economic Forum including many of its ground-breaking studies on the transformation of work and the global workforce. He is a regular participant and presenter at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos and is a member of the forum's Steering Committee on Work and Employment. He is the author of the books Transformative HR (Wiley, 2012), Lead The Work: Navigating a World Beyond Employment (Wiley 2015), Reinventing Jobs: A 4-Step Approach to Applying Automation to Work (HBR Press, 2018) and the Wall Street Journal bestseller; Work Without Jobs: How to Reboot Your Organization's Work Operating System (MIT Press, 2022). Dr. John Boudreau is recognized worldwide as a leading evidence-based visionary on the future of work and organization. Dr. Boudreau is Professor Emeritus of Management and Organization and a Senior Research Scientist with the Center for Effective Organizations, at the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California. For 40 years, he has conducted breakthrough research on the bridge between work, superior human capital, leadership and sustainable competitive advantage. His research addresses the future of work and the global HR profession, work automation, HR measurement and analytics, decision-based HR, executive mobility, HR information systems and organizational staffing and development. Dr. Boudreau helped to establish and then directed the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies (CAHRS) at Cornell University, where he was a professor for more than 20 years Peter Aykens is chief of research in Gartner's human resources practice. He is responsible for defining research coverage within the practice and building and leading research teams that address clients' key initiatives. In prior roles at the firm, he spent over 25 years leading research teams focused on banking and financial services strategy, producing numerous studies that addressed business strategy, channels, marketing, customer experience and product issues in financial services. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from St. Olaf College; a master's degree in international politics from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth (now known as Aberystwyth University); and a master's degree and a doctorate in political science from Brown University.

In their pursuit of heightened productivity, organizations are leaving little room for failure. However, failures are an inevitable part of the innovation process and often serve as a precursor to breakthroughs. By solely focusing on productivity, organizations may be missing out on valuable opportunities for innovation that could propel them forward. In the worst-case scenarios, a failure-adverse climate can lead employees to hide concerns or problems, which can lead to potentially catastrophic issues. Amy Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School and author of "Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well," shares her expertise on the Talent Angle podcast, offering insights on how organizations should shift their mindset toward failure and embrace it as a catalyst for growth and improvement. Amy C. Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, is a management scholar best known for her research on psychological safety and team learning. She has been recognized by the biannual Thinkers50 global ranking of management thinkers since 2011 and was ranked No. 1 in 2021 and 2023. She is the author of eight books, including her most recent book, Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, and more than 100 academic articles. Jessica Knight is a vice president of research in the Gartner HR practice. She leads research teams to identify best practices and new opportunities to address HR executives' most urgent challenges. Her areas of focus include employee experience, organizational culture, change management and the future of work.

Conflict management is an increasingly essential skill for individuals in leadership positions. However, it is a topic that often makes people — especially leaders and managers — feel uneasy. As leaders are responsible for handling conflicts between their employees, teams, and peers, it is crucial for them to have effective strategies for conflict management. Amy Gallo, the author of "Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)," joins the Talent Angle podcast to provide valuable insights and strategies on how to effectively manage conflicts and transform them into productive dialogues within your organization. Amy Gallo is a workplace expert who writes and speaks about gender, interpersonal dynamics, and difficult conversations. She's the best-selling author of "Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)" and the "HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict," as well as hundreds of articles for Harvard Business Review. For the past five years, Amy has co-hosted HBR's popular Women at Work podcast, which examines the struggles and successes of women in the workplace. Her advice has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, BBC, and NPR. Caroline Walsh is a managing vice president in Gartner's HR practice. Her teams help HR leaders build and execute talent, diversity, rewards, and learning strategies and programs. Caroline has also led Gartner research teams on commercial banking strategy and leadership. She holds a bachelor's degree in East Asian studies from Columbia University, and a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University.

From the emergence of generative AI (GenAI) to widespread adoption of hybrid work, HR leaders are increasingly called upon to lead their organizations through uncertainty. Authors Nathan Furr and Susannah Harmon Furr join the Talent Angle to explain why uncertainty should be associated with opportunity, not anxiety. They detail how organizations can navigate uncertainty to drive transformation and innovation, and offer tools to help HR leaders develop the "uncertainty ability" in leaders and managers. Nathan Furr is a professor of strategy at INSEAD, where he teaches innovation and technology strategy. Nathan earned his doctorate from the Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP) at Stanford University and has written five books and more than 70 articles on innovation, technology, and transformation. Nathan and Susannah Harmon Furr are co-authors of "The Upside of Uncertainty" (HBR Press, July 2022). Susannah Harmon Furr is a designer and art historian, and has founded a women's clothing line inspired by her research. She is currently creating a hope accelerator in Normandy, France, to teach regenerative ecosystems and transformation for individuals and families. Susannah and Nathan Furr are co-authors of "The Upside of Uncertainty" (HBR Press, July 2022). Jessica Knight is a vice president of research in the Gartner HR practice. She leads research teams to identify best practices and new opportunities to address HR executives' most urgent challenges. Her areas of focus include employee experience, organizational culture, change management and the future of work.

Organizations today are grappling with how to manage the merging of peoples' work and personal lives. With many organizational processes and structures not fully accounting for the human impact they have on their employees' lives, organizations are now looking for a better approach to the way we work. Peter Aykens and Sari Wilde, two leaders of the Gartner HR practice, offer a new, human-centric, approach that they argue will foster creativity and engagement among employees, ultimately delivering the best results for their organization. Peter Aykens is the chief of research for Gartner's HR practice. Peter is responsible for building and leading research teams within the practice to address clients' key initiatives. Before his current role, he spent over 25 years at Gartner leading research teams focused on banking and financial services strategy, producing numerous studies that addressed business strategy, channels, marketing, customer experience and product challenges. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from St. Olaf College, a master's degree in international politics from Aberystwyth University (formerly known as the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth) and a master's degree and a doctorate in political science from Brown University. Sari J Wilde oversees peer and practitioner research in the HR practice. She holds a bachelor's degree from Barnard College, Columbia University and a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology from New York University. Caroline Walsh is a managing vice president in Gartner's HR practice. Her teams help HR leaders build and execute talent, diversity, rewards, and learning strategies and programs. Caroline has also led Gartner research teams on commercial banking strategy and leadership. She holds a bachelor's degree in East Asian studies from Columbia University, and a master's degree in public affairs from Princeton University.

Three key changes are impacting today's labor market: a changing workforce composition, evolving attitudes toward work, and new tools and technologies to empower employees and candidates. HR leaders must understand the implications of these changes as they set talent strategies and build out capabilities for their organizations. Gad Levanon, chief economist of the Burning Glass Institute, joins the Talent Angle to discuss evolving dynamics in the labor market and offer practical recommendations to HR leaders. He explains how organizations must pull a variety of levers, from technology to rewards and learning programs, at the same time to gain an edge in the talent market. Gad Levanon is chief economist of the Burning Glass Institute. Previously, Gad was with The Conference Board where he was founder of the Labor Market Institute and led the Help Wanted OnLine program. His research focuses on trends in U.S. and global labor markets, the U.S. economy, and their impact on employers. Before The Conference Board, he worked at the Bank of Israel​. He received his doctorate in economics from Princeton University, and he holds undergraduate and master's degrees from Tel Aviv University. Dion Love is a vice president of research and advisory services at Gartner. He's a labor market expert, focusing on global labor market trends and what they mean for organizations' talent and business strategies, as well as broader social and economic issues. In his work at Gartner, Dion advises clients on key aspects of talent acquisition, including talent acquisition function planning and management, talent needs definition and internal recruiting, employment branding and recruitment marketing, and talent sourcing and selection. He has co-authored more than 12 strategic research studies at Gartner. His work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review and industry publications, as well as Gartner HR Leaders Monthly and Smarter With Gartner.

Communication is a critical skill for leaders and managers, who run into problems when their teams feel unsupported or unheard. Charles Duhigg, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection," joins the Talent Angle Podcast to share his findings on communication. Charles identifies different archetypes of conversations and explains how to smoothly navigate them. By articulating the skills and behaviors that leaders must develop to become better communicators, Charles shows how communication can build trust and connection with their teams. Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of "The Power of Habit," which spent over three years on bestseller lists and has been translated into 40 languages, "Supercommunicators," also a bestseller published in 2024, and "Smarter Faster Better," a third bestseller. Charles writes for The New Yorker magazine and is a graduate of Yale University and the Harvard Business School. He previously wrote for The New York Times, and is a frequent contributor to CNBC, This American Life, NPR and Frontline. He was also, for one terrifying day in 1999, a bike messenger in San Francisco. Jessie Knight is a vice president of research in the Gartner HR practice. She leads research teams to identify best practices and new opportunities to address HR executives' most urgent challenges. Her areas of focus include employee experience, organizational culture, change management and the future of work.

Change agility — the ability to effectively manage and adapt to change — is a top leadership priority for organizations in 2025. As disruption becomes the norm, leaders must adapt and equip their teams to do the same. Red Hat CPO Jennifer Dudeck joins the Talent Angle Podcast to share her insights on how to lead through change and build a strong bench of future change-ready leaders. Jennifer Dudeck is Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Red Hat. In this role, she leads the team responsible for managing global human resources, administering payroll, and creating inspiring work environments supporting Red Hat's award-winning culture. She has more than 25 years of human resources experience across all functions with a focus on helping the teams she led maximize alignment with, and impact on, the enterprise Jennifer is passionate about improving the experience of being a Red Hatter. Throughout her time at Red Hat, she has driven increased focus on manager excellence, performance and development, and career mobility. Jennifer is also a thought leader on the opportunities and challenges created by the convergence of AI and human resources. Jennifer has been a change leader across the enterprise, playing an active role in multiple major transformational initiatives in previous roles. Before joining Red Hat, Jennifer worked with Cisco Systems most recently as Vice President of the Transformation Office focused on enabling ongoing employee engagement, growth, and business impact. During her time with the company, she also held various leadership roles across the human resources function. Prior to that, Jennifer held several business-aligned human resources roles at Honeywell Corp.'s Aerospace and Performance Materials business units. Peter Aykens is the chief of research for Gartner's HR practice. Aykens is responsible for building and leading research teams within the practice to address clients' key initiatives. Before his current role, he spent over 25 years at Gartner leading research teams focused on banking and financial services strategy, producing numerous studies that addressed business strategy, channels, marketing, customer experience and product challenges. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from St. Olaf College, a master's degree in international politics from Aberystwyth University (formerly known as the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth), and a master's degree and a doctorate in political science from Brown University.

Learning and development is a key lever for CHROs to deliver strategic impact, but it can be a challenge to keep pace with workforce needs. As technology innovation impacts both critical skills and learning delivery, CHROs must evaluate the effectiveness of their learning initiatives and foster an environment of learning. Bala Sathyanarayanan, CHRO at Greif, joins the Talent Angle Podcast to share insights on how HR can build a learning culture. He explains why continuous learning is a necessity in today's world of work, and shares how HR can drive business strategy by tapping into employees' desire to grow. Bala V. Sathyanarayanan serves as the executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Greif. Before Greif, Bala held global leadership roles at Xerox, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Coca-Cola and United Technologies. Bala earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electronics engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Madras in Chennai, India. He also holds a master's in human resources management from Rutgers University and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Peter Aykens is the chief of research for Gartner's HR practice. Aykens is responsible for building and leading research teams within the practice to address clients' key initiatives. Before his current role, he spent over 25 years at Gartner leading research teams focused on banking and financial services strategy, producing numerous studies that addressed business strategy, channels, marketing, customer experience and product challenges. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from St. Olaf College, a master's degree in international politics from Aberystwyth University (formerly known as the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth), and a master's degree and a doctorate in political science from Brown University.

Burnout can impact employees at all levels, including the very managers and leaders tasked with spotting it on their teams. Daisy Auger-Domínguez, author of "Burnt Out to Lit Up: How to Reignite the Joy of Leading People," joins the Talent Angle Podcast to discuss how she managed her own burnout while leading a global team through the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on her experience as a chief people officer (CPO), Daisy identifies warning signs of burnout that leaders should watch out for and provides strategies for organizations to mitigate the risks of burnout. Daisy Auger-Domínguez is an award-winning global leader, speaker and author who guides organizations to meet the moment and tackle the pressing question: "Is there a better way to work?" With decades of experience driving transformations at the leading edge of people and culture at Disney, Google and Vice Media, Daisy specializes in bridging divides and aligning people, culture, structures and practices to deliver lasting impact. Through her advisory firm, Daisy provides fractional CPO engagements, and speaks and advises startups on sustainable, people-centered solutions. Her books, "Inclusion Revolution: The Essential Guide to Dismantling Racial Inequity in the Workplace" and "Burnt Out to Lit Up: How to Reignite the Joy of Leading People" offer practical strategies for inclusion and leadership. A sought-after speaker, Daisy's work has been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Inc., MSNBC and TEDx. Jessie Knight is a vice president of research in the Gartner HR practice. She leads research teams to identify best practices and new opportunities to address HR executives' most urgent challenges. Her areas of focus include employee experience, organizational culture, change management and the future of work.

In 2024, experts joined the Gartner Talent Angle to discuss the world of careers. Author Dorie Clark shares how HR leaders can help employees achieve meaningful career growth and long-term success at work. Author and Professor Martin Gutmann looks back through history to surface new ideas about identifying strong leaders and building effective succession pipelines. Dorie Clark is a consultant and keynote speaker and teaches executive education at Columbia Business School. She is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of "The Long Game, Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You and Stand Out," which was named the No. 1 Leadership Book of the Year by Inc. magazine. Dorie has been named three times as one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. You can download her Long Game strategic thinking self-assessment at dorieclark.com/thelonggame. Martin Gutmann is an author, speaker and scholar interested in how the past can illuminate today's most pressing challenges. He is a professor at the Lucerne School of Business in Switzerland and the best-selling author of "The Unseen Leader: How History Can Help Us Rethink Leadership." His writing and thought leadership pieces have been published in various platforms and magazines, such as Forbes, Big Think, Fast Company, and Minutehack. Martin holds a Ph.D. in history from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, an Executive MBA from IE Business School in Spain, and higher education teacher's training from Harvard University and ETH Zurich.

In 2024, expert guests joined the Gartner Talent Angle to discuss the everchanging future of work. Professor and author Matt Beane shares his insights on how learning and development (L&D) leaders can play a strategic role in unlocking human ability in the age of intelligent machines. Alex Soojung-Kim Pang unpacks how the four-day work week can recharge the workforce, accelerate performance and benefit organizations. Matt Beane is an assistant professor in the technology management program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Matt does field research on work involving robots and AI to uncover systematic positive exceptions that we use across the broader world of work. He received his Ph.D. from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the information technologies department. Matt also took a two-year hiatus from his doctoral studies to help found and fund Humatics, an MIT-connected, full-stack IoT startup. Alex Soojung-Kim Pang a leading voice in reduced hours working. He is the author of three books exploring how companies and individuals can better integrate rest, creativity, and focus into digital-age lives and work. Before joining 4 Day Week Global, Alex was a research director at the Institute for the Future and senior consultant at Strategic Business Insights, and lectured at Oxford University, Stanford University, and UC Berkeley. Alex received a Ph.D. in history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania.