The Josh Bersin Company - podcast cover

The Josh Bersin Company

Josh Bersinjoshbersin.com
Insider Insights on Corporate Talent, Learning, and HR Technology, with analyst perspectives, executive interviews, and in-depth vendor analysis.

Episodes

Lynda Gratton, Professor at London Business School, And I Discuss How Life and Work Have Changed

This was such a fun discussion: Lynda Gratton, who wrote The Hundred Year Life , and I discuss the new world of work, careers, and policy issues we face. As I discuss in the beginning, the changing demographics and demands workers are essentially forcing companies to become what we call “Dynamic Organizations.” Note that this week Bayer jumped into this new world , following companies like Telstra, Unilever. Schneider Electric, HSBC, and many others. Additional Information About Lynda Gratton Ba...

Mar 29, 202436 min

The Pragmatic Approach To Skills - Bonus Episode

This podcast was just published on YouTube , so you can watch the video. Companies all over the world are buying and implementing skills technology throughout HR. But how do we know what to buy and make sure it’s all going to add value? In this video I unpack a different approach: the pragmatic approach to skills, and how this approach will unlock you from vendor paralysis and make sure your investments really drive tremendous value. Much more to come on this topic, stay tuned for our upcoming r...

Mar 25, 202422 min

Surprising Results From The World Happiness Report: What It Means To You

This week the World Happiness Report was published, an encyclopedic look at happiness for the year. The results are surprising, disappointing, and very important. In this podcast I unpack the findings and show you the six factors that correlate to global happiness and what they mean for you as a leader, employer, or HR professional. Once again there are lots of important lessons here for corporate culture, remote work, pay, and management. Additional Information What The World Happiness Report T...

Mar 23, 202426 min

Why The 4-Day Week? Because 33 Year-Olds Now Run The World.

Why are we having a national discussion about the 4-day week? Because the workforce has radically changed, and 33 Year-olds now run the world. In this podcast I talk about how and why the workforce has radically changed and what this means to managers, leaders, and HR. I also discuss why talent density, talent activation, and empowered leadership are the management secrets for the future. I also describe my discussion with the head of HR at OpenAI, the 4-day week legislation in Washington (Berni...

Mar 15, 202424 min

Why "Talent Density" Is So Critical In Business Today

In this podcast I discuss our meetings in NYC with senior HR leaders about our Dynamic Organization research, and how “Talent Density” is becoming one of the key strategies for growth. I also discuss how “change has changed” and why we have to take advantage of front-line employees and managers in our organizational development and growth strategies. I also discuss what change leaders do and why a new model of leadership is emerging, as well as why financial systems and DEI programs have to adap...

Mar 09, 202422 min

M&A In HR Tech and Implications Of The Workday-HiredScore Deal

This week Workday announced plans to acquire HiredScore and while it may seem tactical, this deal could have bigger implications. In this podcast I discuss M&A in HR Tech and why we may be entering a new AI-fueled cycle of M&A activity. Additional Information Workday To Acquire HiredScore, A Potential Shakeup In HR Technology Introducing Galileo, The World’s First AI-Powered Expert Assistant For HR HR Predictions for 2024: The Global Search For Productivity Understanding AI in HR The Tal...

Mar 02, 202421 min

The Wakeup Call To Colleges: A Growing "Worthlessness" Of Degrees

As companies shift heavily towards “skills-based hiring” to remove bias, we now see the unintended consequence. Half of all US college graduates are now “underemployed” and 52% of college grads never use the skills they studied in school. This new study, which looks at 10-year job histories of college graduates in the US found that “of the graduates in non-college-level jobs a year after leaving college, the vast majority remained underemployed a decade later.” This study included college grads ...

Feb 24, 202418 min

Interview With Joel Hellermark, CEO of Sana - AI-Powered Learning Arrives

In this podcast I interview Joel Hellermark, the founder and CEO of Sana , one of the most exciting new learning and AI platforms in the market. As you'll hear, Joel has a vision for corporate learning which many of us have dreamed about, and he explains how he's bringing it to reality. Over the coming months I will be interviewing other HR Technology CEOs, focused on exploring the many innovations created through AI and other advanced machine learning technologies. So stay tuned for more. Pleas...

Feb 17, 202432 min

What's Wrong With The Recruiting Department?

In this podcast I discuss the urgent need to better automate, upskill, and integrate recruiting. CEOs believe recruiting is the third "most time-wasting" process in their companies (after emails and meetings), yet it's more important than ever. This year companies need to really rethink and transform this function, and this podcast explains the issue. And yes, AI is part of the answer. Additional Information Why Do Companies Hire Too Many People? HR Predictions for 2024: The Global Search For Pr...

Feb 10, 202421 min

Why Do Companies Hire Too Many People? And What About Meta's Earnings?

This week Meta (Facebook) announced revenue growth of 25% year over year and a headcount cut of 22%, with net income soaring to $14 billion, almost a 35% net profit. That spectacular outcome is a result of focus and a clear and rigorous process of reducing headcount. But the big story is not this company, it's the big idea that companies often over-hire . And this over-hiring results in bureaucracy, slowdown, and loss of innovation. Just as Meta has learned this, I believe every company has to l...

Feb 03, 202423 min

Why Does Netflix Outperform? They are a "Dynamic Organization." Here's What We've Learned.

In this podcast I discuss our Dynamic Organization research and how this new way of running a company is rapidly growing around the world. As the title points out, Dynamic Organizations are 31X more effective at bringing innovations to market and far outperform their peers (Netflix is discussed in detail). But this is not as easy as it seems. This podcast is a summary of 200+ discussions we had with HR leaders this week, talking about speed and agility in organization design, Irresistible Leader...

Jan 27, 202425 min

Our 15 Predictions for Work, Technology, and HR in 2024

In this podcast I tell the narrative for the 2024 predictions, and why labor shortages, productivity, and dynamic organization models will become core topics this year. I also discuss the new role of DEI, employee activation, labor unions, and what we can expect in the economy. The 15 predictions are all imperatives and our new research should help you learn, prioritize where to focus, and see around the corners for this exciting year ahead. Additional Resources HR Predictions for 2024: The Glob...

Jan 20, 202420 min

Employee Activation: Redefining The Employee Survey

This week I introduce a big idea: Employee Activation. This idea, which comes from important work we’re doing with Medallia, shows you how to move “beyond engagement” to a whole new world of employee listening and action-taking based on feedback. In the new world of labor shortages, high turnover, unions, and general employee stress, Employee Activation might be the big answer. Here’s a definition: “Employee Activation means designing the company so that managers, line executives, and employees ...

Jan 12, 202414 min

2024 is Here. Is DEI going to DIE? What Do We Do About These Job Numbers?

2024 is off with a bang. The death or decline of DEI strategies, increased activity among unions, and job numbers in December that predict a secular labor shortage for years ahead. In this podcast I give HR and business leaders some advices on "what to do about DEI programs" in this new political environment, and how to think about this ongoing labor shortage. Imagine a world where every employee has 15 job offers to think about each day? That's where we are! And get ready for our comprehensive ...

Jan 06, 202419 min

The Big Stories Of 2023 and What To Expect In 2024

In this podcast I walk through the big business and HR stories of 2023 and what they tell us for the year ahead. 2024 looks like a year with a strong economy, continued labor shortages, with employees continuing to take charge. And as you expect, AI will change everything. And there's one big story that defines everything, but you'll have to listen to the podcast to hear it. Join me as we look ahead and stay tuned for our detailed 2024 Predictions report coming in January....

Dec 26, 202324 min

One Of The Secrets To Success In 2024 Is... Care

As I look back on the year and think about all the challenges we face in business, I'm reminded of the simple human formula of how we care for each other. This topic, that of "care," is not something people talk about a lot at work. But in many ways it's fundamental to business success. This podcast explores that issue. Additional Information Workplace Mental Health Has Become A Strategy For Business Performance The Four-Day Work Week: An Idea Whose Time Has Come The Healthy Organization: Next B...

Dec 16, 202321 min

Understanding The Knowledge Graph Of HR: Galileo™ AI Unveiled

This week I want to give you some insights on AI, the use of LLM's, and how to think about a "knowledge graph" for your company, and how it applies to HR. Yes, your AI strategy, your employee experience strategy, and your own career as a professional are all dependent on your "Knowledge Graph." In HR your knowledge graph includes your understanding of HR practices, vendors and tools, economic and workforce data, company culture, industry trends, HR benchmarks, and the many case studies of succes...

Dec 09, 202320 min

Four-Day Work Week: Not A Benefit, A Performance Improvement Program.

We've just completed a major study of the 4-day week and the results are surprising: companies of all sizes are seeing real benefits and this podcast explains why. While we've all been comfortable with the 5-day week since the early 1920s, it's now time to let go of that paradigm. Lots to discuss and think about here, but it's real. Additional Information Our New Research and Toolkit On The Four-Day Workweek The Four-Day Work Week: An Idea Whose Time Has Come (Videos and Examples) Your Co-Worker...

Dec 01, 202318 min

What Is The Role Of An Expert In The Age Of AI?

I bet you're an expert at something. We all are. But how will it feel when a Generative AI becomes deeper and more expert than we are? In this podcast I describe what an "Expert" really is, and why Gen AI has the potential to totally change the market for Experts: not only HR consultants, but lawyers, accountants, scientists, and more. And that means we "Experts" need to up our game. Consulting firms watch out. After many weeks using our new platform Galileo™, I'm amazed at what it can do. This ...

Nov 26, 202325 min

The OpenAI, Sam Altman Drama In Perspective: What Have We Learned?

The OpenAI board saga has been fun to read about, but now that it's settling down what have we learned? In this podcast I recap the last week's events and give you some perspectives on tech companies, leadership, employee activation, and culture. And by the way, what is the role of the board and where does it fit? And why is Sam Altman so important? As you'll hear, the big lesson here is that the most important stakeholders are not the board , but the employees, management, leadership, and cultu...

Nov 22, 202315 min

Hello Galileo™, The AI-Powered "Bloomberg Terminal of HR"

In this podcast I tell the story of our new Generative AI platform Galileo™ , The World's first AI-Powered Expert Assistant for HR . Not only do I explain the history, but I explain how Generative AI platforms work and how flexible and scalable they can be. As I explain, Galileo is much more than a highly intelligent assistant, it is a platform for many applications in HR. I hope you find this podcast educational, because it will teach you about AI in general and many of the powerful benefits to...

Nov 16, 202319 min

Performance Management Revisited and The Ray Dalio Dot Collector

As everyone talks about building a skills-based organization, developing people, and dealing with the tough labor market a looming question remains: How do we evaluate people for performance? A new book about Ray Dalio's company Bridgewater Associates gives us some interesting insights into one of the most "feedback-rich" cultures on the planet. How much feedback is good and how do we make it work to everyone's benefit? In this podcast I explore the topic and give you my perspective on the never...

Nov 12, 202321 min

Why Businesses Must Focus On Inclusion And Diversity, Especially Now

In this podcast I draw the line from cancel culture to Israel to DEI to business performance. And the argument I make is that despite the challenges we face in the political and culture wars, we, in business, have to do away with these behaviors and focus on building a meritocracy, a culture of open, socratic debate, and a focus on "trusted data." A business, unlike a society, relies on trusted data, a common set of values, and the opportunity to decide how decisions are made. Despite the curren...

Nov 04, 202323 min

The Surprising Facts About Leadership Development

In this podcast I review our new Irresistible Leadership research , which discusses the new models of leadership and why leadership development investments are so important. Despite a wide range of offerings in this area, investments in leadership have lagged, so I hope this research gets you motivated to put some time and money into this critical business initiative. Additional Information Irresistible: The Seven Secrets Of The World’s Most Enduring, Employee Focused Organizations (Josh’s book)...

Nov 01, 202326 min

Understanding Systemic HR: The Four Levels Of Maturity

In this podcast I give you the "under-the-covers" look at our new Systemic HR research, and discuss the evolution of HR, the reason HR has changed, and the urgent need for full-stack HR professionals around the world. This research, which is soon to be launched to our corporate members, has been developed after two years of work and helps CEOs, CFOs, and CHROs understand the new operating model for HR teams, and walks through the four-levels of maturity to get there. We're all on this journey to...

Oct 28, 202326 min

Trailblazer HR Technology Vendors: STRIVR Labs, Seekout, Sana Labs, HiBob, Rippling, ServiceNow

In this podcast I briefly discuss the Trailblazer HR Technology vendors STRIVR, Seekout, Sana Labs, HiBob, Rippling, and ServiceNow. These are vendors who are pioneering the use of AI or other innovative technologies; they are big and well enough established to be a safe buy; and they are platforms and tools that have been proven in the market. I'll talk more about other Trailblazer HR Technology Vendors as the year goes on. Many are implementing next generation AI solutions but others are innov...

Oct 22, 202320 min

Unleash Paris 2023: The Skills HR Tech Confusion. Trailblazers: Docebo, Arist, Cornerstone

In this podcast, authored in Paris at Unleash, I discuss the confusion about skills technology and how to rethink your skills strategy. I also discuss AI #Trailblazers Docebo, Arist, & Cornerstone.... and I preview some very important c-level research we launched, "The Dynamic Organization." Additional Information The Definitive Guide To Building A Dynamic Organization - new research and infographic to download Building the Dynamic Organization: Critical for the Post-Industrial Era - article...

Oct 19, 202322 min

The HR Technology Trailblazers: How AI Is Disrupting This Market

This week I'm kicking off a series of podcasts and articles on the HR Tech "Trailblazers," vendors who are pioneering the use of AI to revolutionize HR, the workplace, and management. As you'll hear me explain, AI is going to totally revolutionize the HR and workplace technology market, and some vendors are now showing us the way. In this podcast I highlight Eightfold, Paradox, SuccessFactors, and Visier. In future podcasts I'll talk about other Trailblazers like Seekout, Sana, Textio, and many ...

Oct 14, 202320 min

Beyond HR Transformation: Systemic HR - Four Stages Of Growth

This week we previewed our big research effort in Systemic HR, the evolution of the human resources function. As you'll hear, this is a story about how Human Resources professionals continue to add value as business, the economy, and the workforce continues to change. We will be releasing much more on this, I hope it gets you motivated to rethink your role, your career, and how your team is organized. Additional Information The Josh Bersin Academy: The World's Professional Development Center for...

Oct 07, 202324 min

Big AI Announcements From Workday, SuccessFactors, and LinkedIn

This week and next we're going to see some big news from the three biggest companies in HR Technology. In this podcast I explain what Workday announced last week and give you a sneak preview (nothing confidential) about what's coming from SAP and LinkedIn. The message is pretty clear: Gen AI is not only here but it's about to add massive value to these systems. There are some threats to come, but generally thinking you'll see how creative and solution-oriented these offerings are. (Definitely no...

Sep 30, 202319 min
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