Podcast
The Edge of Work
Hosted by Al Dea · EN
The Edge of Work provides new insights and ideas to help leaders navigate the changing world of work. In each episode, we’ll talk to leaders, practitioners, and innovators to explore new ideas for attracting and developing talent, leadership, and workplace culture, all to help you lead and succeed in a changing world of work.
22episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Leading at The Edge: How to Lead During Uncertain Times
3d ago00:19:57Tap to summarizeIn this solo episode of the Edge of Work, host Al Dea shares his perspective on what it means to lead through uncertainty in a world of work that refuses to stand still. Drawing from his research and work with leaders across industries, Al explores why traditional playbooks are falling short and what it takes to navigate constant change with confidence. He breaks down five key behaviors for leading at the edge of work, from focusing on your highest value contributions to building relationships, developing earned insight, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for them. This episode offers a practical framework for leaders who want to adapt, grow, and help shape what comes next.LinksAl Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/
Transcribe →The Frontline Enablement Playbook: Supporting Frontline Managers with JD Dillon
1w ago00:39:13Tap to summarizeJD Dillon is a Speaker, Technologist, and Author of The Frontline Enablement Playbook, a new book focused on helping organizations better support frontline and deskless workers. In this conversation, JD shares why frontline managers are some of the most important and overlooked people in the workplace. He unpacks the challenges they face every day, from constant unpredictability to limited support, and explains why traditional leadership development often misses the mark. Finally, JD also explores what organizations can do differently to better enable frontline teams, build stronger workplace communities, and create environments where people can thrive. LinksJD’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jddillon/JD’s Book: https://jddillon.com/frontlinebook/
Transcribe →What’s New in Learning and Development with Dani Johnson (RedThread Research)
2w ago00:38:04Tap to summarizeDani Johnson is Co-Founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research, and returns to the show to unpack how learning and development is being reshaped in real time. Drawing on new research, she offers a different perspective on the centralized vs decentralization org structure and staffing model, and instead argues for more intentional, decision-based design. Dani also shares why Learning and Development’s pursuit of having a “Seat at the table” may be fading and why that might not be a bad thing. From the rise of workflow-based learning to the growing importance of data and change management, she outlines what it means to be tactically strategic. Linkshttps://redthreadresearch.com/redthread-summit-2026https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-johnson/
Transcribe →Redesigning Leadership Development for an AI-Enabled Workplace
3w ago00:32:21Tap to summarizeMohit Jiwnani is the Director of Talent Development at Okta. In this episode, he shares how AI is reshaping leadership development and why traditional programs may no longer be enough as the nature of work changes. During this conversation, Mohit explores how organizations can shift from teaching leadership in classrooms to enabling leaders in the flow of work by redesigning workflows, clarifying what work humans should own versus AI, and helping teams operate differently. Mohit also discusses practical approaches to AI adoption and empowering internal champions to drive change. Finally, he reflects on how leaders can embed AI into everyday moments like decision-making, coaching, and performance conversations.LinksMohit’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohitjiwnani/
Transcribe →The Power of Social Capital in Leadership with Greg Pryor
Apr 2100:35:24Tap to summarizeGreg Pryor is a Founding Member of Connected Commons and a longtime leader in human capital and talent strategy. In this episode of Greg joins the podcast to discuss why social capital, the relationships and networks that connect people, plays such a major role in career success and organizational performance. He shares stories from his work in management consulting, talent leadership, and research on networks to explain how relationships shape influence, learning, and opportunity. They also explore how organizations can identify key influencers, lead change more effectively, and avoid collaboration overload. The conversation closes with a discussion about how AI is changing the workplace and what it means for collaboration and leadership.LinksGreg’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-pryor-907920/
Transcribe →Building a Workforce at Zurich Canada That’s Ready for What’s Next with Elizabeth McSavaney
Apr 1400:15:49Tap to summarizeElizabeth McSavaney is the Chief People Officer of Zurich Canada, where she leads talent strategy in a highly technical, rapidly evolving industry. In this live episode from the 2026 Transform Conference, Elizabeth shares how Zurich Canada is rethinking learning and development by focusing less on training activity and more on solving real business problems. She explains how initiatives like “Day to Invest” create space for growth, why capability and not completion should be the true measure of learning, and how HR teams can build credibility by driving measurable outcomes. Elizabeth also discusses preparing early-career talent, embedding AI into everyday work, and why empathy remains a critical human skill in insurance and beyond.LinksElizabeth’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-mcsavaney-chrl-bsc-371377/
Transcribe →Inside Deloitte’s 2026 Human Capital Trends Report with Kyle Forrest
Apr 700:21:13Tap to summarizeKyle Forrest is a Principal and the Future of HR Leader at Deloitte Consulting, where he helps organizations navigate the rapidly evolving intersection of Humans and AI. In this live episode from the Transform Conference in Las Vegas, Kyle breaks down two of the key trends from Deloitte’s 2026 Global Human Capital Trends Report. During our conversation, he explores how organizations can stay relevant amid constant change, why traditional change management is falling short, and what it means to become “changeful.” Kyle also dives into the rise of orchestration—where leaders must align human and machine capabilities—and what it takes to unlock real productivity gains in an AI-powered workplace.LinksKyle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleforrest/Deloitte Human Capital Trends 2026: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/talent/human-capital-trends.html
Transcribe →Open to Work: How to Build a Career in The Age of AI with Aneesh Raman
Mar 3100:36:46Tap to summarizeAneesh Raman is Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn and Co-Author of Open To Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI. In this episode of The Edge of Work, Aneesh shares his perspective on how AI is reshaping careers, leadership, and the very nature of work itself. He explains why many professionals feel overwhelmed and unprepared, and why that anxiety is also an opportunity to rediscover uniquely human strengths like curiosity, creativity, and compassion. Finally, Aneesh shares why the traditional career ladder is breaking down, how individuals can adapt using a “climbing wall” mindset, and what organizations must do to redesign work for a more human-centered future.LinksAneesh Raman’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneeshraman/Open to Work Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/open-to-work-ryan-roslanskyaneesh-raman
Transcribe →How to Grow Your Career in the Age of AI
Mar 2400:24:04Tap to summarizeIn this solo episode of The Edge of Work, Al Dea explores how to grow your career in a time when AI, automation, and constant change are reshaping the workplace. He shares why traditional career paths and milestones are becoming less reliable, and why it is more important to focus on direction instead of fixed destinations. Al offers practical guidance on taking agency of your development, building adaptable skills, and staying relevant even when the future feels uncertain. He also explains how employees can shift their mindset from waiting for clarity to actively creating career opportunities for themselves in a rapidly evolving world of work.LinksAl Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/
Transcribe →Beyond Change Management: The New Rules of Change Mastery
Mar 1700:35:18Tap to summarizeMichael Bungay Stanier is the Author of The Coaching Habit and Host of the Change Signal podcast. In this episode of The Edge of Work, Michael joins Al Dea to challenge conventional thinking around change management and introduce the concept of change mastery. Drawing on insights from his podcast and decades of experience, Michael explains why most change initiatives fail and what leaders must do differently in a world defined by constant disruption. He shares the three pillars of change mastery, distributed agency, organizational capacity, and technical excellence—and why successful change depends less on process and more on people. LinksMichael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbungaystanier/ Change Signal Podcast: https://thechangesignal.com/
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