The Gartner Talent Angle

*This episode is an excerpt taken from our 2020 interview. In the wake of recent killings of Black Americans, Ben & Jerry’s put out a sharply-worded statement, which garnered social media attention for its strong condemnation of racial inequality and injustice.  In this Talent Angle podcast interview, Chris Miller, global head of activism at Ben & Jerry’s, shares the company’s history of social activism and discusses how it’s been uniquely positioned to effect global change. He also makes the case for corporate advocacy, urging organizations to have clarity in their beliefs and to speak out for their values.

This week, we're re-releasing an audience favorite podcast from this year. Please enjoy our conversation with Marissa King, professor at the Yale School of Management, as she makes the case for the power of professional and personal networks. In her book “Social Chemistry: Decoding Patterns of Human Connection,” she explores the different dimensions along which human connections are made, introducing three styles of network connection — expansionist, broker and convener. She offers practical tips and guidance for organizations looking to help their employees cultivate stronger professional ties.

*This episode is an excerpt taken from our 2020 interview. Generational expert Jason Dorsey discusses the implications of a growing Gen Z workforce in his book “Zconomy”, co-authored with Denise Villa, CEO of The Center for Generational Kinetics. He explains how global events influenced Gen Z’s expectations as consumers and employees, and how employers can meet those expectations. Dorsey shares his and Villa’s research on Gen Z’s preferences for onboarding, feedback, recognition and compensation. Jason Dorsey is an author, keynote speaker, and researcher. He is president of The Center for Generational Kinetics, a generational speaking, research, and strategic consulting firm with clients from many industries. He is a three-time company founder and author of Y-Size Your Business, which details ways to improve Millennial performance.

In this Talent Angle podcast, Gartner chief of HR research Brian Kropp shares challenges and opportunities that are top of mind for CHROs as 2022 approaches. He discusses how HR must adapt to a hybrid future in which leaders and managers need new skills and employees expect a more human relationship with their organizations. Kropp goes on to explain how executives must take new approaches to decision making to usher in the changes needed in this disruptive environment. Brian Kropp is Gartner’s chief of HR research. He oversees Gartner’s research, tools, services and support for CHROs and their leadership teams. Before joining Gartner, he worked in a variety of roles, conducting different types of economic analysis to drive critical business outcomes. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s in economics from Clemson University and a doctorate in public policy and applied economics from the University of North Carolina. Peter Aykens is a practice vice president in Gartner’s HR practice. He is responsible for building and leading research teams within the practice to address client’s key initiatives. In prior roles at Gartner, 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 challenges. He holds a bachelor’s in political science from St. Olaf College; a master’s degree in international politics from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth; and a master’s and a doctorate in political science from Brown University.

*This episode is an excerpt taken from our 2020 interview. Bureaucracy kills innovation. So say Michele Zanini and Gary Hamel in their book “Humanocracy: Creating Organizations as Amazing as the People Inside Them.” They argue that relying on outdated processes and capabilities, legacy systems and hierarchical decision-making hamstring growth and stifle workforce success. To overcome these challenges, they also provide practical guidance to create organizations that deliver business results and better serve the people inside them.  

In his book, “The Human Element: Overcoming the Resistance that Awaits New Ideas,” Kellogg professor David Schonthal challenges the default assumption that selling an idea requires the seller to heighten its appeal. Instead, he makes the case that failure to adopt ideas, strategies or products is often due to the four key psychological frictions that oppose change: inertia, effort, emotion and reactance. He argues that successful leaders and innovators must identify, understand and overcome these to achieve novel outcomes.

*This episode is an excerpt taken from our 2020 interview. Amazon’s presence in consumers’ lives is seemingly inescapable, though whether—and for how long— this hold will last is unclear. In his book, Bezonomics: How Amazon is Changing Our Lives and What the World’s Best Companies Are Learning From It, author Brian Dumaine explores just that. In doing so, he offers an insightful portrait of Jeff Bezos and the sprawling enterprise he’s built, as well as tips for businesses to compete in this digital age.

In this Gartner Talent Angle episode, author and banker Jeff Korzenik shares insights about the second-chance talent pool—that is, reemploying candidates with criminal records. He offers practical advice on tapping into non-traditional sources of talent by  differentiating between felony types, partnering with nonprofits and reevaluating legacy talent policies and processes. Jeff Korzenik is Chief Investment Strategist for Fifth Third Bank, one of the nation’s largest banks. He is the author of the book “Untapped Talent: How Second-Chance Hiring Works for Your Business and the Community” on the business case and best practices for hiring people with criminal records.

*This episode is an excerpt taken from our 2020 interview. Steve Herz argues positive feedback can limit personal and professional growth, while constructive feedback can lead to self improvement. He frames these insights using three communication traits: authority, warmth, energy (AWE). According to Herz, individuals can leverage the AWE framework to more effectively communicate and connect. Steve Herz is a talent agent and career advisor, as well as the president and founding partner of IF Management, now a part of the Montag Group. He has represented and coached dozens of sports, media, and entertainment leaders over the course of nearly three decades. Steve’s ultimate goal is to use his motivational message and distinct skillset to aid others on their journey to greater heights.

Questions of fairness and equity in the workplace have a renewed urgency, given the transition to hybrid work and the more human relationship between employees and employers. Workplace fairness--either perceived or actual--has real consequences on an organization’s performance and retention. Gartner’s Chief of HR Research Brian Kropp joins the Gartner Talent Angle to discuss strategies that organizations can apply to ensure employees are heard to bolster fairness. Brian Kropp is Gartner’s Chief of HR Research. He oversees Gartner’s research, tools, services and support for CHROs and their leadership teams. Before joining Gartner, he worked in a variety of roles, conducting different types of economic analyses to drive critical business outcomes. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Economics from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Applied Economics from the University of North Carolina.   Peter Aykens is a Practice Vice President in Gartner's Human Resources practice. He is responsible for building and leading research teams within the practice addressing client's key initiatives. In prior roles at Gartner, he spent over 25 years leading research teams focused on banking and financial services strategy producing numerous studies that addressed business strategy, channel, marketing, customer experience and product challenges. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from St. Olaf College; a MSc.(Econ) degree in International Politics from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth; and a MA and Ph.D. in Political Science from Brown University.