HBS Managing the Future of Work

Bei Ling, Senior Vice President and Head of HR at Wells Fargo, brings her vast experience from top banks to discuss transformative culture change. She highlights the importance of restoring psychological safety and trust while navigating a turnaround. With a focus on talent strategy and AI integration, she emphasizes reskilling employees and adapting to a multigenerational workforce. Bei shares insights on attracting external talent and implementing responsible AI, showcasing innovative practices that align with the bank's growth ambitions.

The Managing the Future of Work co-chair and podcast co-host examines AI's implications for HR, spells out the competitive stakes in early adoption, and unpacks the technology's disruptive potential for jobs, organizations, and markets. Also, the rise of the CHRO, skills-based hiring, and more.   

In this engaging discussion, John Winsor, a serial entrepreneur and Harvard Business School executive fellow, dives into the evolving world of work shaped by AI. He highlights how COVID accelerated the shift to freelancing and unbundled traditional jobs into flexible tasks. Winsor provides insights on why many AI initiatives falter and stresses the importance of leadership engagement. He also shares career advice for young graduates, emphasizing the value of curiosity and experimentation. Finally, he envisions a future filled with agile, entrepreneurial ventures enabled by AI.

Bright Data's Or Lenchner on the evolving ground rules for harnessing the web's data. Charting the boundaries of fair use in training AI systems and robots. Also, the data gathering and analytics workforce.

How to get past AI fatigue and anxiety to a more expansive view of the technology's potential—bolstering knowledge work vs commoditizing expertise. As it guides organizations through the experimentation phase and into redesigning business processes, the professional services giant is undergoing an internal transformation.

Maria Flynn, President and CEO of Jobs for the Future, leads the conversation on increasing job quality amid economic uncertainties. She highlights the need for equitable workforce development and the transformative role of AI in hiring. Emphasizing the distinction between job quantity and quality, Flynn advocates for pathways that provide access to quality jobs for all, especially marginalized communities. The discussion also touches on the importance of a bipartisan approach to tackling inequality and the urgency for education systems to adapt to future labor demands.

Harrison Keller, the President of the University of North Texas and former Texas Commissioner of Higher Education, discusses Texas's innovative outcomes-based funding model for community colleges. He reveals how aligning education with workforce demands creates a competitive economic edge. The conversation also highlights the importance of experiential learning for students and the critical need for reskilling amid the rise of AI in the workforce. Keller emphasizes collaborative efforts among educators and employers to prepare for an evolving job landscape.

Alok Chanani, Co-founder and CEO of BuildOps, dives into the challenges faced by commercial contractors, including administrative burdens and the shortage of skilled technicians. He highlights how integrated operations apps and AI can enhance efficiency and improve job prospects within the industry. Alok also discusses the transition of veterans into entrepreneurship, showcasing their leadership skills. Additionally, he explores how advanced scheduling technologies are transforming operations, emphasizing the need for better training and career paths in the trades sector.

Join Francine Katsoudas, Cisco's EVP and Chief People Officer, who drives sustainability and governance, alongside Jeetu Patel, the President and Chief Product Officer focused on tech innovation. They delve into the crucial intersection of people and technology, especially during the pandemic. Discover how cross-functional collaboration fosters efficiency and creativity. The duo also discusses the growing influence of AI on workforce dynamics and the evolving role of leadership in nurturing agile cultures amidst rapid change.

Iris Bohnet, a Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, and Siri Chilazi, a researcher and co-author of 'Make Work Fair', discuss the critical need for workplace equity. They dive into how data-driven strategies can transform hiring practices by promoting skill-based assessments over traditional degree requirements. The conversation highlights the benefits of flexible work environments for diverse groups and the importance of public policy in fostering inclusion. Together, they offer actionable insights for organizations striving for fairness in their practices.