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.

In her book "The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It," Jennifer Moss implores organizations to design burnout strategies that move beyond apps, wellness programs and perks. Instead, she makes the case for a systematic and preventative approach to building an anti-burnout strategy. To do so, organizations must first understand the key drivers of burnout, why conventional approaches fall short and how leaders can build cultures that prioritize workforce resilience and health. Jennifer Moss is an award-winning journalist, author and international public speaker. She is a nationally syndicated radio columnist and writes for Harvard Business Review. Her first book, "Unlocking Happiness at Work," received the distinguished UK Business Book of the Year Award. Jennifer has been named a Canadian Innovator of the Year, an International Female Entrepreneur of the Year, and was a recipient of the Public Service Award from the Office of President Obama. *This episode is an excerpt taken from our 2022 interview.

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 recent years, organizations have started to experiment with skills-based hiring by dropping degree requirements and other credentials in job postings to unlock new talent populations. However, a fully-realized skills-based hiring approach demands deep change in talent processes and hiring manager practices. To this point, most organizations have been unable to weave this method into the fabric of their talent strategy. Joseph Fuller, professor at Harvard Business School, rejoins the Talent Angle to discuss his latest research: "Skills-Based Hiring: The Long Road from Pronouncements to Practice." Joseph shares data to show the extent to which skills-based hiring commitments have translated to meaningful action, and offers practical guidance to help organizations broaden the aperture of their talent pools. Joseph Fuller is a professor of management practice in general management at Harvard Business School and co-leads the school's initiative, Managing the Future of Work. He founded the consulting firm Monitor Group, now Monitor Deloitte, and has worked with senior executives and policymakers on a wide variety of issues related to corporate strategy and national competitiveness.   Dion Love is a vice president of research and advisory services at Gartner. Dion is 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.

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.

Leader and manager development was CHROs' top priority in 2025, according to the 2025 Gartner HR Priorities Survey. When employees are frustrated by the leadership at the organization, their engagement, performance and productivity suffer. Adam Galinsky, professor at Columbia Business School and author of "Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others," joins the Talent Angle to share research on what makes leaders inspiring, rather than infuriating, and how organizations can adapt their leadership development strategies to nurture inspiration at scale. Adam Galinsky is a celebrated social psychologist at Columbia Business School known for his research on leadership, decision-making, teams, and ethics. His scientific research — consisting of more than 1,000 studies published in more than 200 scientific articles — has been cited more than 64,000 times. In Adam's latest book, "Inspire The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others," he weaves together his decades of research and global consulting experience to reveal the science of how to become more inspiring. His TED Talk, "How to Speak Up For Yourself," has been viewed more than 7.5 million times, and his book "Friend & Foe: When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both" was an audible and eBook bestseller. 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.

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.

Today's CHROs face a dynamic business environment, and must make difficult, strategic decisions despite uncertainty. Justin "Hasard" Lee, former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and author of "The Art of Clear Thinking: A Stealth Fighter Pilot's Timeless Rules for Making Tough Decisions," joins the Talent Angle to share a decision making framework for leaders to use so assess the problems in front of them, choose the best course of action, and execute decisively. Justin "Hasard" Lee is a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, bestselling author, and expert in high-stakes decision-making. He empowers HR leaders and organizations to build decisive cultures, boost agility, and optimize team performance, partnering with Meta, Microsoft, and other Fortune 500s. A decorated pilot, Justin flew more than 80 combat missions, led teams under pressure, and piloted the F-35. As Chief of Training Systems, he spearheaded AI initiatives to enhance decision-making. His book, "The Art of Clear Thinking," a No. 2 Wall Street Journal Bestseller, offers HR professionals a practical framework for navigating complexity and driving innovation. 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.  

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.

Navigating new levels of change, CHROs can find it difficult to determine which global and long-term trends matter for their talent and business strategies. Brent Cassell, VP in Advisory at Gartner and member of Gartner's Futures Lab, joins the Talent Angle Podcast to offer a framework to sense and respond to the macro trends CHROs need to be paying attention to, today. Brent Cassell is a vice president of advisory in Gartner's HR practice, and he has spent the past 19 years in Gartner's HR and CIO practices. His job is to help clients find the research they need, to help them understand that research, and to coach them through the implementation of those best practices in their own organizations. Brent is the contributing editor of the HR Leaders Monthly Journal. In 2022, he won Gartner's award for Outstanding Thought Leadership for his work on Redesigning Work for the Hybrid World. 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.