
McKinsey Talks Talent
Listen in to learn how to navigate a fast-changing business landscape and prepare for the future of work by turning talent into competitive advantage. McKinsey talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock lead discussions with globally recognized experts and thought leaders on talent, transformational change, and leadership development.
Latest episodes

May 1, 2024 • 26min
Why so many bad bosses still rise to the top
Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic discusses why incompetent men often rise to leadership roles, advocating for a gender-neutral approach. They explore the importance of emotional intelligence, authenticity, and hard skills in leadership selection. The podcast challenges traditional leadership traits and emphasizes the need for selecting stronger, more diverse candidates.

Mar 29, 2024 • 24min
Rethinking organizational health for the new world of work
McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle discuss rethinking organizational health for the new world of work. They highlight the importance of aligning on strategy, embedding it in the work environment, and continuously renewing the organization to thrive. The conversation also touches on the impact of data-driven decision-making, empowering innovation, and the connection between mobility at work and employee well-being.

Feb 28, 2024 • 34min
It’s cool to be kind: The value of empathy at work
Empathy: we all aspire to it, but does it really make a performance difference in the workplace? Definitely, according to Jamil Zaki, a research psychologist at Stanford University and author of The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World (Crown, June 2019). In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Jamil joins McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to make the case for investing in empathic behavior—for reasons including higher productivity, a stronger workplace culture, and better organizational health—as well as to discuss how to go about cultivating kindness at work.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Jan 18, 2024 • 27min
The shape of talent in 2023 and 2024
The podcast discusses the important talent themes of 2023 and how they could influence organizations in 2024, including the role of managers in a changing work environment, the significance of middle managers in hybrid work, creating new working norms to improve performance, and the future of HR and talent leaders in 2023 and 2024.

4 snips
Dec 11, 2023 • 24min
Human-centered AI: The power of putting people first
'Human-centered AI' is discussed in this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent. The speakers address concerns about job loss and macroeconomic impacts, explore the role of user interface in AI integration, analyze biases and resistance to AI adoption, discuss ways to unleash employees and improve organizational design with AI, and explore the challenges of data segmentation in AI.

Oct 24, 2023 • 27min
Right skills, right person, right role
McKinsey partner Bryan Hancock discusses skills-based hiring with a focus on evaluating job candidates based on their skills. The podcast explores the rise of skill-based hiring, shifting career paths, skills-based learning, talent diversity challenges, and upskilling initiatives.

Aug 9, 2023 • 29min
The future of middle management
Authors Emily Field, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger discuss the pivotal role of middle managers in organizational success. They explore redefining middle management roles, offering alternative career tracks, addressing gender dynamics, valuing employees, and balancing process efficiency with mission-driven approaches.

Jul 6, 2023 • 22min
Making sense of generational stereotypes at work
Look around. If you’re like many of us, your workplace comprises members of four, possibly even five, generations—and attention to age-based differences is mounting. On this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk to global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about new research on generational preferences at work: what’s myth, what matters, and how to manage the new multigenerational team.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Jun 5, 2023 • 26min
Generative AI and the future of HR
Generative AI: it’s powerful. It’s accessible. And it’s poised to change the way we work. On this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk with McKinsey Technology Council chair Lareina Yee and global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about the promise and pitfalls of using gen AI in HR—from recruiting to performance management to chatbot-enabled professional growth. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Jan 25, 2023 • 32min
Workplace rituals: Recapturing the power of what we’ve lost
Learn about the importance of workplace rituals in creating a sense of community and belonging among employees. Explore how the pandemic has impacted in-person rituals and the rise of remote rituals to combat loneliness. Discover various workplace rituals like Mindful Mondays and team-building exercises that foster connection and purpose within organizations.