As we begin a new year, it’s natural to reflect on what’s changed - and what’s quietly no longer fit for purpose.

AI investment is accelerating at pace, and autonomous and semi-autonomous agents are moving from experimentation to everyday work. And yet, many organisations are still operating with leadership models, workforce structures, and planning assumptions designed for a world where humans were the only actors in the system.

In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, David Green is joined by Sandra Durth, Partner at McKinsey & Company, to explore what happens when work is no longer just human-to-human, but human-to-agent - and what that means for the future of organisations.

Drawing on McKinsey’s latest research, Sandra shares her perspective on:

• How AI-human symbiosis is reshaping the very definition of work
• Why traditional hierarchies and leadership models are starting to break down
• What “agentic leadership” really looks like in practice
• The implications for performance, management capability, and strategic workforce planning
• The biggest opportunities - and the biggest risks - HR leaders need to be paying attention to right now

Links to research:

The agentic organization: Contours of the next paradigm for the AI era

Six shifts to build the agentic organization of the future

Rethink management and talent for agentic AI

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Can AI fuel a people-first transformation at global scale? At UPS, the answer is a resounding yes.

While many companies view AI through the lens of automation and efficiency, UPS is taking a radically different approach: treating AI as an enabler of human growth, not a replacement for it.

In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, host David Green is joined by Danelle McCusker, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Talent, Learning and Culture at UPS, to explore how the company is redefining what workforce transformation looks like in the age of AI.

With over half a million employees and a deeply rooted culture of promotion from within, UPS faces a unique challenge: how to prepare its people for a future defined by emerging technologies - while preserving trust, purpose, and opportunity.

Join them as Danelle and David explore:

• Why UPS is designing AI implementations to relieve frontline burdens and elevate the value of human work - not eliminate it.
• How a pilot with Valence’s AI coach Nadia is creating access to consistent, personalised development for employees well beyond the executive tier.
• The role of psychological safety and experimentation in successful AI adoption
• How HR and technology teams are partnering to drive cultural and capability transformation
• What other HR leaders can learn from UPS’s intentional, business-first approach to AI

Whether you're in the early stages of your AI journey or looking for practical ways to align tech with talent strategy, this conversation offers both inspiration and actionable insights from the front lines of change.

This episode is sponsored by Valence.

Imagine if every employee had a world-class coach in their pocket. That’s exactly what Valence has created with Nadia - the AI-powered coach helping Fortune 500 companies scale development, boost performance, and support leaders at every level.

Learn more at valence.co/insight222

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Performance expectations are rising - but the systems designed to support people haven’t kept up.

In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders Podcast, host David Green is joined by Parker Mitchell, CEO and Founder of Valence, to explore how AI is transforming the way organisations think about performance.

Tune is as they explore:

• Why traditional performance management still feels broken
• How AI coaching can support real-time performance improvement at scale
• How trust, context, and timing make the difference in effective AI tools
• What changes when every employee has access to a personal coach
• The signals that show AI coaching is driving real performance impact
• How HR leaders can start small - but smart - when exploring AI coaching

This episode is sponsored by Valence.

Imagine if every employee had a world-class coach in their pocket. That’s exactly what Valence has created with Nadia - the AI-powered coach helping Fortune 500 companies scale development, boost performance, and support leaders at every level.

Learn more at valence.co/insight222

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.