The Edge of Work

This week, we are live in Las Vegas with 4,000 other professionals across the HR and people ecosystem at the Transform Conference. In this episode, we share two of our interviews with leaders across the HR Ecosystem to find out what’s on their mind and what’s going on in the world of work. Listen in to this conversation to hear perspectives from Kyle Forrest (Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP) and Rebecca Stern (Senior Director, Leadership Development and Interim CLO, Udemy.)LinksKyle Forrest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleforrest/Rebecca Stern: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccastern12/Transform: https://transform.us/

In this special episode of The Edge of Work, host Al Dea launches a new segment called Work in Progress. In this episode, he is joined by returning guests Shonna Waters and Angela Cheng-Cimini to explore the intersection of AI and leadership development. Together, they discuss the latest research and insights on how AI is shaping leadership, the challenges of adoption, and the opportunities it presents for developing leaders. From personalized learning to AI-driven coaching, they unpack what’s happening now and what’s ahead. Plus, they debate the risks of over-reliance on AI and its impact on critical thinking. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on the future of leadership in an AI-driven world.LinksAngela’s Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-cheng-cimini/Shonna’s Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonna-waters/ Article 1: https://brandonhall.com/how-to-leverage-ai-technology-to-improve-leadership-development-effectiveness/Article 2: https://time.com/charter/7210141/davos-ai-leadership/Article 3: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/uploads/prod/2025/01/lee_2025_ai_critical_thinking_survey.pdf

David Burkus is a Leadership and Teamwork expert, keynote speaker, and author of Best Team Ever. During this conversation, David shares key insights from his book Best Team Ever on what makes teams thrive in today's workplace. We explore the science behind high-performing teams, the critical role of psychological safety, and why work is increasingly about collaboration. Plus, David breaks down practical strategies for leading cross-functional teams, building social capital, and fostering a culture where everyone contributes their best. Website:https://davidburkus.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/

Conor Grennan, Dean of Students at NYU Stern and CEO of AI Mindset, dives into how AI is revolutionizing leadership and talent development. He emphasizes that adopting an AI mindset is vital for effective leadership, going beyond technical skills. The conversation highlights the necessity of creativity and behavioral change in navigating workplace challenges. Conor also discusses the pivotal role HR leaders play in AI integration, advocating for upskilling and addressing employee concerns to fully leverage AI's potential.

Jennifer Petriglieri is the associate professor at INSEAD and author of Couples That Work: How Dual-Career Couples Can Thrive in Love and Work. During this conversation, she joins The Edge of Work to discuss the challenges and strategies that dual-career couples use to navigate their professional and personal lives. She shares insights on the three career models couples adopt, how organizations can better support top talent with partners, and why proactive career conversations are crucial for long-term success. Finally, she offers practical advice for individuals and leaders looking to create sustainable career paths in today’s evolving workplace.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpetriglieri/Website: https://www.jpetriglieri.com/HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2018/05/talent-management-and-the-dual-career-coupleHBR Article: https://hbr.org/2019/09/how-dual-career-couples-make-it-work 

In this episode of The Edge of Work podcast, host Al Dea explores the concept of 'lead from anywhere'. Al shares insights from a virtual keynote, emphasizing that leadership isn't only a formal title but an action that everyone can practice. He delves into key principles such as situational awareness, developing organizational IQ, investing in relationships, creating opportunities for others, and being a continuous learner and teacher. This episode is packed with actionable advice to inspire you to cultivate leadership qualities in yourself and others, regardless of your position within an organization. Perfect for individuals in cross-functional or collaborative roles looking to drive impact and lead effectively from any level.LinksWebsite: https://al-dea.com/ Article: https://www.td.org/content/td-magazine/lead-from-anywhere?lid=h4ekw96t966r

Chris Louie is the Head of Talent Development at Thomson Reuters, where he leads initiatives in talent acquisition, learning and development, and diversity and inclusion. During the conversation, Chris shares his journey from finance to talent leadership and offers his perspective on career growth, skills, and the transformative potential of AI in the workplace. He introduces Thomson Reuters’ “Grow My Way” program, designed to empower employees with personalized career development opportunities and a skills-first approach. Chris also discusses how AI is reshaping both customer solutions and internal operations, emphasizing the need for experimentation, adaptability, and interconnected systems.LinksChris Louie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrislouie/Al Dea: https://www.al-dea.com/

Note: This is a replay of a top performing episode from 2024In today's workplace, career development is critical for attracting, engaging, and retaining talent. Employees expect a job with opportunities for growth and advancement. Managers can shape the employee experience and drive team performance.In this episode, The Edge of Work Founder and Podcast Host, Al Dea shares some of the research that he and the team have been doing around how to promote a culture of career development inside of your organization.In this episode, Al covers:The importance of career development as it relates to performance, agility, and talent attracting and retentionWhat employees are looking for out of managers for supportWhat managers can do to support employee career developmentWhat steps organizations can take to create a culture of career developmentAdditional LinksResearch Highlights: https://theedgeofwork.com/people-growth-equation-career-development-report/ Al’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/

Note: This is a replay of a top performing episode from 2024Christopher Lind, is a Chief Learning Officer, and the writer of the Future-Focused Newsletter and host of the Future-Focused Podcast. A longtime leader in the learning and development profession, Chris has a keen understanding of the intersection of business, technology and workers, and its implications for the learning profession.In this conversation, Chris discusses the importance of finding purpose in any job, the changing landscape of learning and development, the role of a Chief Learning Officer, and the impact of artificial intelligenceI on work. Christopher emphasizes the need for intentional relationship building, self-reflection, and understanding the context of employees' work experiences. He also encourages leaders to recognize the value and potential of every individual in their organization.Links:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherlind/Website: https://christopherlind.substack.com/ 

Note: This is a replay of a top performing episode from 2024Adam Hickman is the Vice President of Learning and Org Development at Partners Federal Credit Union, a Walt Disney Company. In addition to this role, Adam is an author and professor and writes and speaks regularly on topics related to management and leadership.During our conversation, Adam dove into some of the changes in the workplace and the implications of those changes (ex: technology) for what companies need out of their people managers so that they can have engaged and productive employees. Adam also shared some of his team’s strategy and approach at his organization around manager effectiveness, the approaches they are taking in redesign the role of the manager and develop good managers, and his own  to recruit and empower effective managers, and some of his own thoughts on how you can create a better world of work through better managers.