Integrating Workforce Insights with ONA

In this episode of the SWP Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Pitts, founder and CEO of Polinode, to explore the game-changing intersection between Organisational Network Analysis (ONA) and Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP). Andrew unpacks how ONA reveals the informal structures, influencers, and energisers that drive collaboration, agility, and transformation within organisations—insights often invisible in traditional org charts. Together, we discuss active vs. passive ONA, how network insights complement role and skills-based planning, and why combining ONA with labour market intelligence and attrition data can elevate SWP from theory to execution. From surfacing critical people to mapping career pathways and skill co-occurrence, this conversation is a deep dive into the networks shaping the modern workforce. If you're looking to future-proof your SWP strategy, this episode is essential listening.