Why Calling AI A “Digital Workforce” Misleads Leaders with Phil Wainwright

Forget the headlines predicting a “workerless workforce.” In this episode, host Bill Banham sits down with longtime cloud and SaaS analyst Phil Wainwright to cut through the hype and examine what AI agents really mean for HR, business leaders, and the people doing the work.Phil argues that automation can be transformative—but calling software a “workforce” conceals the real challenges organisations face: governance, transparency, accountability, and change management. Together, we explore where AI agents will take hold first—help desks, admin-heavy workflows, repetitive processes—and why this shift places HR in a more strategic, cross-functional role.Listeners will get practical guidance on:How to encode policy, ethics, and organisational values into systems so AI operates safelySpecific risks in AI-driven recruiting and performance processes, from hidden bias to opaque decision pathsThe documentation, access rules, and audit trails needed to build trustHow skills-based talent frameworks are reshaping hiring, development, and mobilityWhy adaptability, empathy, creativity, and problem solving are emerging as the defining skills of modern workWe also dig into early-career disruption, the evolution of knowledge work, and the rise of modular teams blending AI, contractors, and full-time staff—without dumping everyone into the gig economy.If you’re leading HR or building teams, this episode offers a grounded roadmap for responsible AI adoption and resilient workforce design.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

The Future of Learning: Turning Training into Performance with Rob Rosenthal, President of Udemy BusinessThe ground is shifting under every team — and the biggest winners are the ones treating learning not as a checkbox, but as a performance system that fuels growth, agility, and innovation.In this in-depth episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham sits down with Rob Rosenthal, President of Udemy Business, to explore how learning and development is being redefined in an era shaped by AI, hybrid work, and rapid skills transformation.Together, Bill and Rob unpack how AI, executive sponsorship, and measurable enablement can dramatically shorten ramp times, sharpen skills, and deliver business outcomes that leaders can trust. Rob shares what he’s seeing across industries and regions: a growing expectation for L&D to partner directly with technical teams to lead AI readiness while also proving ROI to the C-suite.Listeners will discover a practical framework for building what Rob calls a “skills operating system” — one that starts with clear assessments and gap discovery, moves through curated learning paths, and lands on deliberate practice powered by AI. Rob explains how AI-based role play and virtual coaching can help new skills take hold faster, and how Udemy implemented this internally to reduce new-hire ramp time by 30% for account executives through structured enablement, not just new tools.The conversation also explores what skills truly outlast the hype. Rob highlights the continued importance of communication, change management, resilience, and leadership, especially as automation accelerates and teams face constant reinvention. Finally, Rob describes how private LLM integrations can deliver targeted, role-specific content at the exact moment of need — whether an engineer is debugging code or a manager is preparing for a tough conversation — turning learning from an occasional event into an everyday habit.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

Pressure is rising on DEI programs, but the smartest companies aren’t retreating—they’re getting clearer. In this episode, Bill Banham welcomes global inclusion expert Dean Delpeache back to the show to unpack the legal, cultural, and practical forces reshaping workplace equity and belonging. From U.S. executive orders to multinational ripple effects, Dean breaks down what’s actually changing inside organizations and what’s just media noise.We explore a critical reframing: equity isn’t about engineering outcomes—it’s about ensuring access. Accommodations, transparent processes, and consistent selection criteria do more than satisfy compliance; they unlock performance. Dean details how teams can move away from identity quotas while still expanding the pipeline through intentional sourcing: partnerships with veteran groups, disability organizations, and community networks that widen opportunity without promising a numeric end state. The result is defensible, humane hiring that holds up under scrutiny.One of the most inspiring threads is the rise of neurodiversity at work. We talk candidly about shedding stigma, normalizing accommodations, and redesigning interviews to assess real job skills. Dean shares simple, high-impact changes—like structured questions, work samples, and clearer expectations—that help candidates shine and help managers make better decisions. We also dig into how leaders can host courageous conversations about race, belonging, and systemic barriers, using ERGs and time-boxed dialogues to turn discomfort into progress.We close with the data that ties it all together: belonging drives advocacy. When people feel included, they’re dramatically more likely to recommend their employer, fueling talent attraction more credibly than any ad spend. If you’re navigating DEI rollbacks, stakeholder pressure, or global alignment, this conversation offers a roadmap: document fairness, widen access, train inclusive leaders, and amplify belonging. If this resonates, subscribe, share with your team, and leave a review telling us what you’ll try first.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

Strategy isn’t a wishlist—it’s a series of tough choices about where to play and how to win. In this episode, economist, entrepreneur, and Strategic Value Creation author Rupert Morrison joins Bill Banham to break down why so many organisations confuse goals with strategy, and how to build a simple, practical system that links strategy to plans, KPIs, and boardroom decisions.Rupert walks through the core steps: define your unique value factors, map the capabilities that power them, and capture the activity system on one page. Then make it real with a plan-on-a-page showing today’s metrics, five-year targets, and the critical initiatives across customer, revenue, operations, finance, and people.We also cover how to test for defensible advantage—network effects, brand strength, cornered resources, process power—so your organisation is building something competitors can’t easily copy.For leaders wrestling with reporting, Rupert explains why most board packs fail and introduces a clear “view from the bridge” approach: start with highlights, lowlights, key issues, and explicit recommendations, then support the narrative with data. He also lifts the lid on private equity portfolio reporting and how tracking against the investment thesis can sharpen focus in any organisation.If you want to turn ambition into a genuine advantage, this episode is for you! Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

Want a real-world look at how AI is reshaping work without the hype? Dr. Mary Hayes joins us to explore what employees actually feel about AI, why optimism varies across countries and roles, and how leaders can turn uncertainty into momentum through honest, practical communication. We dig into ADP Research findings that reveal a surprising truth: many executives admit they don’t yet know how AI will change their jobs, and that vulnerability can be the key to building trust when paired with clear use cases and feedback loops.We break down where AI helps today—automating repetitive Q&A, speeding data analysis, and freeing people to handle nuanced conversations—and where it still falls short in creativity, common sense, and emotional intelligence. You’ll hear a simple framing that sticks: AI won’t necessarily replace you, but someone using AI might. The path forward is to make the technology a tool for every employee and to design learning experiences that meet people at different stages of their careers.Dr. Hayes shares a practical blueprint for upskilling across three role types—knowledge workers, cycle workers, and skilled task workers—highlighting how each group perceives readiness and investment differently. We talk about bridging soft-skill gaps in communication and critical thinking, especially after years of disrupted education, and we offer ideas for peer coaching that pairs digital fluency with deep domain judgment. Expect concrete steps: start with focused pilots, publish what works, measure time saved and quality gains, and keep the conversation open so adoption feels collaborative, not imposed.If you’re leading teams through AI change or figuring out where to begin, this conversation will help you craft transparent messages, pick high-value use cases, and build durable skills that machines can’t imitate. Listen, share with your team, and tell us: what’s the first workflow you’ll pilot with AI? Subscribe, leave a review, and join us at HRGazette.com for more research and episodes.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

Strategy beats panic when work changes this fast. We sit down with Karla Eidem, North American Regional Managing Director at the Project Management Institute, to explore how HR can turn AI disruption into a springboard for skills, execution, and meaningful outcomes. From facts over fear to practical, lightweight tools, we walk through the moves that help teams adapt with less noise and more impact.Karla breaks down the PMI Talent Triangle—power skills, ways of working, and business acumen—and shows why these capabilities now matter across every HR function. We dig into skills-based hiring, internal mobility, and creating early-career on-ramps when routine tasks are automated. If you’ve ever run a “meeting for everyone with no one accountable,” you’ll get immediate value from simple project tools like a team register, a sharp charter, and a clear cadence that turns ambition into action.We also tackle the tough questions about AI: where it helps, where it can’t, and how HR should evaluate tools to truly capture value. Karla shares field stories, including leading a COVID-19 vaccine rollout, to illustrate how project management provides structure in ambiguity. Plus, we highlight insights from her SHRM session and extend an invitation to stay connected with PMI’s global community through year-round learning and networking, including the annual PMI Global Summit.If you’re ready to shift from operations to strategic leadership, this conversation offers a practical playbook. Subscribe, share this episode with your team, and leave a review with the one skill you’re prioritizing next—we’ll feature our favorites in a future show.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

How much of your benefits budget actually helps people live and work better?In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham sits down with David Duckworth, Co-Founder and COO at Ben, to explore why so much global benefits spend gets wasted—and how a smarter, more human approach can turn perks into performance.David draws on his background in payments, financial services, and HR tech to reframe benefits as what they really are: complex, recurring payments that deserve the same precision and transparency as payroll. That mindset, he argues, is key to building cleaner, simpler, and more impactful experiences for employees everywhere.The conversation covers:The shift from work-life balance to work-life integration—and how policy design must evolveHow Ben encourages real-time off and embeds wellbeing into daily workflowsWhy boldness and resilience define great hires and high-performing teamsThe mechanics of fixing a fragmented benefits ecosystem with AI, automation, and open architectureHow to measure ROI in practical ways—through adoption, engagement, experience scores, and retention impactWe also preview Disrupt London 25.0, hosted at Ben on November 12, 2025, and discuss why bringing innovators together accelerates progress in employee experience and HR tech.If you’re rethinking your benefits strategy or building the next generation of workplace experience, this conversation is your playbook.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

Policy headwinds are rising, but the work still needs doing. In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham sits down with Pavel Shynkarenko, founder of Mellow, to unpack the ripple effects of proposed H-1B and L-1 visa reforms—and a possible 25% outsourcing levy—on the global freelance and contractor economy.Pavel has spent more than 20 years in financial and HR technology, building platforms that help freelancers access fair pay, benefits, and social protections on par with employees. He brings a pragmatic, data-informed view of how these policy changes could reshape the cost calculus for U.S. employers, HR leaders, and cross-border teams in 2025 and beyond.Together, Bill and Pavel explore how tightening U.S. visa policies could unintentionally accelerate the shift toward remote-first and distributed workforces. When companies face rising administrative costs or talent shortages at home, they often turn to Employer of Record (EOR) and Contractor of Record (COR) models to stay compliant while continuing to access top talent worldwide. Pavel walks through the hidden math behind total landed cost—how everything from currency fluctuations to social contributions can alter hiring decisions—and why the real bottleneck isn’t policy, but supply: there simply aren’t enough local workers to replace the global freelance engine that powers innovation.The conversation then turns to platform evolution. Legacy marketplaces once promised cheaper rates through mass competition, but that model no longer serves enterprise needs. Today, trust, verified track records, and long-term fit matter far more. Pavel explains how Mellow is redefining the space by using AI and behavioral data to connect companies with freelancers they’re statistically more likely to succeed with—based on shared networks, past project outcomes, and verified credentials. This AI-first approach also simplifies complex backend tasks such as KYC, tax, and payments across 100+ countries, giving HR teams one compliance-ready platform to manage their distributed workforce.Bill and Pavel also compare U.S. protectionist trends with Europe’s fragmented response. Some countries, especially those with aging populations and shrinking workforces, may loosen immigration for high-skill talent, while others tighten entry. The result? A global balancing act where companies must blend onshore, nearshore, and offshore strategiesSupport the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

How can HR leaders use AI and data-driven insights to make work fairer, more engaging, and more efficient — without adding complexity or risk?In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham welcomes back Lindsay Clayborne, Chief of Staff at Cardata, the fully managed vehicle reimbursement partner helping companies modernize outdated car allowance programs with smarter, fairer, and IRS-compliant solutions.Last time, Bill and Lindsay explored the basics of why a strong vehicle reimbursement program matters to both employees and employers. This time, they go a step further — looking at how HR and People leaders can use AI and automation to free up time, improve compliance, and empower teams to focus on the work that really matters.Lindsay reflects on her own evolution into a Chief of Staff role, sharing how her lens has widened from people operations to company-wide clarity, planning, and performance. That experience shapes a broader conversation around how HR can leverage AI to streamline processes, make data actionable, and strengthen its voice in strategic business decisions.Together, they explore:How AI reduces HR admin overload, freeing up time for judgment, coaching, and culture-buildingThe evolution of vehicle reimbursement programs — from mileage tracking to integrated, automated systems that reveal valuable patternsWhy data centralization and cross-system integration are key to eliminating friction and improving workforce insightsHow to design AI guardrails to ensure safe, ethical, and compliant adoption across teamsThe growing importance of curiosity, adaptability, and critical thinking in the age of AIThe conversation also tackles a challenge many HR teams face: fear of AI. Lindsay and Bill discuss practical ways to build trust and confidence — defining sensitive data by function, educating teams on safe use, and setting clear policies that encourage experimentation without risk.Tune in for real-world insights on how HR can harness AI to boost fairness, retention, and impact — and become a smarter, more strategic business partner.Learn more about Cardata: cardata.coSupport the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events

According to today's guest, most hires don’t fail because they can’t do the work, they fail because their mindset clashes with how the work gets done. In this HRchat episode, Bill Bnaham sits down with New York Times best‑selling author Mark Murphy, founder of Leadership IQ, to unpack why attitude, not technical skill, is the main reason good resumes turn into bad hires, and how to fix the interview process without adding complexity or bloat.Mark breaks down the traps that sink interviews: stock questions that beg for canned responses, interviewers who talk too much, and prompts that accidentally coach candidates toward a “success story.” He offers a simple, repeatable structure: define the few core attitudes your team truly needs, ask targeted behavioral questions tied to those attitudes, then leave the question hanging so candidates reveal how they think under light pressure. We explore what humility looks like in real answers and why growth after mistakes is a universal green flag.Mark also tackles a timely question: where does AI help, and where does it fall short? Automation already shines at scheduling and screening, but trained interviewers still catch evasive language, tense shifts, and non‑answers that slip past machine analysis. We compare in‑person and video formats, explain why asynchronous recordings reward scripts over substance, and show how to separate the assessment from the culture pitch so candidates still get a rich view of your team, values, and expectations.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events