AI is fast transforming work as we’ve known it—and the latest data on jobs doesn’t always reflect the changes underway. “One word sums it up best: ‘uncertainty,’” says Svenja Gudell, chief economist of global employment platform Indeed. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Svenja joins McKinsey talent leaders Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock , along with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, to help leaders make sense of the current collision of labor market trends: generative AI, agentic...
Jun 25, 2025•26 min
Think about your org chart. Now imagine it features both your current colleagues—humans, if you’re like most of us—and AI agents. That’s not science fiction; it’s happening—and it’s happening relatively quickly, according to McKinsey Senior Partner Jorge Amar . In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , Jorge joins McKinsey talent leaders Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock and Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly to talk about what these AI agents are, how they’re being used, and how leaders can...
Jun 03, 2025•34 min
Leaders have long recognized the importance of a healthy workforce to driving economic productivity. But they might be surprised at the value at stake—and at the size of the employee population in less-than-fine fettle. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, McKinsey talent leaders and Global Leader of the McKinsey Health Institute Lucy Pérez speak with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly about new research on employee health : what it means, its vital link to value, and the steps leaders...
Mar 26, 2025•25 min
Return to office (RTO) is on the rise. But in the words of McKinsey partner and talent expert Bryan Hancock , “It doesn’t matter where you ask someone to be. What matters is what you do with them once they’re there.” On this episode of , Hancock and McKinsey senior partner Brooke Weddle speak with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about surprising soon-to-be-published research on the opportunities and challenges of RTO—and about how leaders can make the most of this transition to drive pro...
Feb 06, 2025•23 min
Time is finite and leadership pressures are legion, particularly in the throes of change. Nevertheless, the best leaders persist in cultivating generosity with their teams—and they see a range of advantages as a result. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle , Bryan Hancock , and Dana Maor speak with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about why—and how—to invest in generosity at work, as well as about the overarching benefits of shifting...
Dec 18, 2024•20 min
New research reveals what employees find fair, what motivates them to perform, and where many organizations go wrong when it comes to feedback, compensation, and annual ratings and reviews. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , talent experts Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle speak with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about new research on what drives performance : what motivates employees most, what matters less than you think, and the changes organizations need to make to ensure the...
Nov 19, 2024•21 min
Everybody hurts sometimes, R.E.M. once famously sang. And if you’re in human resources, your job is to help. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock join Wendy Miller, McKinsey’s chief people officer for North America, as well as global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to discuss the dynamics that are making HR tougher than ever—as well as what leaders can do differently to begin turning morale around. See www.mckinsey.com/p...
Oct 30, 2024•24 min
Neurodivergent people make up a substantial percentage of the global population. How can companies best put their distinctive capabilities to work? On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , McKinsey senior partner Brooke Weddle , partner Bryan Hancock , and global editorial director Lucia Rahilly speak with Dr. Lawrence Fung, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, about the productivity and creati...
Sep 13, 2024•21 min
Middle management was already a tough gig. Then generative AI (gen AI) entered the fray. A year after the publication of their book Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work (Harvard Business Review Press, July 2023), McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Emily Field join global editorial director Lucia Rahilly to revisit whether and why middle managers matter, what leaders could do differently to make more of the managers on their team, and how gen AI could change midd...
Jul 26, 2024•25 min
Plumbers, carpenters, builders, and engineers are in short supply. What will it take to meet the demand for these skills in the United States and globally? In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock join host Lucia Rahilly to discuss how to attract—and keep—people in these roles and drive productivity. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
May 31, 2024•25 min
Narcissism. Overconfidence. Low EQ. Why do we persist in selecting for leadership traits that hamper organizational progress—and leave the right potential leaders in the wrong roles? In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?: (And How to Fix It) (Harvard Business Review Press, March 2019), joins McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, as well as global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to disc...
May 01, 2024•26 min
Yes, organizational health still drives long-term performance—but the way leaders measure and diagnose health should change, new research shows. McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle join global editorial director Lucia Rahilly to discuss McKinsey’s recently updated Organizational Health Index : how it works, what has changed, and why it’s still among the best predictors of whether your company will thrive over the long term. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy informatio...
Mar 29, 2024•24 min
Empathy: we all aspire to it, but does it really make a performance difference in the workplace? Definitely, according to Jamil Zaki, a research psychologist at Stanford University and author of The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World (Crown, June 2019). In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , Jamil joins McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to make the case for investing in empathic behavior—for reasons inc...
Feb 28, 2024•34 min
As the impetus of New Year’s resolutions starts to fade, the year’s real work begins. What can the dizzying pace of change in 2023 teach us about what’s next? Join McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, in conversation with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, as they speak about the trends that shaped last year’s talent landscape—and those poised to redefine its contours in 2024. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Jan 18, 2024•27 min
‘Humans in the loop’: It’s the angst-ameliorating mantra for the new age of generative AI. But what does it really mean? In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , Stanford University professor Melissa Valentine joins McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, along with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to discuss human-centered artificial intelligence: what it is, how it improves performance, and how it can help shift skittish employees’ mindsets from “ugh” to “wow.” See www.mck...
Dec 11, 2023•24 min
With the rise of more technical roles across industries and sectors, and a shortage of people to fill them, skills-based hiring could help organizations access new talent pools. McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and new co-host Brooke Weddle join global editorial director Lucia Rahilly in conversation. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Oct 24, 2023•27 min
Most of us don’t exactly dream about becoming a middle manager. But in fact, middle managers play a pivotal role in organizational success, according to the new book Power to the Middle : Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work (Harvard Business Review Press, July 2023). On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , authors Emily Field, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger talk with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about the benefits the best managers can bring—and about how to rethin...
Aug 09, 2023•29 min
Look around. If you’re like many of us, your workplace comprises members of four, possibly even five, generations—and attention to age-based differences is mounting. On this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk to global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about new research on generational preferences at work: what’s myth, what matters, and how to manage the new multigenerational team. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy in...
Jul 06, 2023•22 min
Generative AI: it’s powerful. It’s accessible. And it’s poised to change the way we work. On this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk with McKinsey Technology Council chair Lareina Yee and global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about the promise and pitfalls of using gen AI in HR—from recruiting to performance management to chatbot-enabled professional growth. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Jun 05, 2023•26 min
Office rituals matter—and in a range of ways. But the pandemic has made many rituals moot, at a time when employees need them most. In this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk to global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about how to develop rituals for the changing world of work—and what all of us stand to lose unless rituals are revitalized. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Jan 25, 2023•32 min
What should leaders implement to gain traction in a volatile talent landscape? For one–flexibility in all its myriad forms–is key. Talent experts Bonnie Dowling, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger weigh in with McKinsey global editorial director, Lucia Rahilly. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Dec 08, 2022•23 min
Churn is up. Engagement is down. And year-end reviews are here. Are you worried giving feedback will make workers feel worse? See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Oct 26, 2022•25 min
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 27:06) > In this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger speak with senior expert Phil Kirschner about the office space of the future: what workers want, what employers need, and how workplaces will need to change accordingly. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Jul 27, 2022•27 min
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 17:27) > There’s a talent shortage and many jobs to fill. By using an internal talent marketplace, organizations can hire from within. The result is win-win. Emily Field, expert associate partner joins talent partners Bryan Hancock, Bill Schaninger, and McKinsey's global editorial director, Lucia Rahilly, to discuss. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Apr 27, 2022•17 min
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 21:44) > Quitting is up, and so are wages. As the Great Attrition persists, employer–employee dynamics appear to be changing. But who actually benefits—and how durably? Hear talent experts Bill Schaninger and Bryan Hancock share their thoughts on who has power, who doesn't – and why. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Apr 04, 2022•22 min
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 25:11) > Rising resignations. Hybrid work. The diversity imperative. Leaders are navigating a talent market in flux. Today, hear from David Green, coauthor (with Jonathan Ferrar) of Excellence in People Analytics. He speaks with McKinsey’s Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger about a talent market in the throes of changes—and how HR leaders can use people analytics to navigate the current inflection point successfully. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-...
Feb 24, 2022•25 min
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 25:47) > In a wide-ranging discussion, hear Bryan and Bill discuss the Great Attrition, employee mental health and the significance of thoughtful middle managers as the pandemic persists. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Jan 27, 2022•26 min
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 40:45) > Too often, LGBTQ+ workers are "the only" in the office, which can lead to feelings of isolation. Diana Ellsworth, McKinsey partner and leader of our work on diversity, equity, and inclusion, talks with McKinsey talent experts Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger about our latest research on how to better support our LGBTQ+ colleagues -- not just during Pride month, but year-round. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Jun 30, 2021•41 min
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 34:34) > Hybrid is happening. Is your culture ready? Hear from McKinsey talent experts Bryan Hancock, Bill Schaninger and Brooke Weddle on the need to radically reshape culture for the hybrid workplace— and on how to get started. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
Jun 11, 2021•35 min
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 34:56) > The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped existing workforce trends and catalyzed new ones. Here’s what’s next—and what to do about it. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information...
May 13, 2021•35 min
