foHRsight: HR, Leadership & the Future of Work

Mark Edgar and Naomi Titleman
  • 4.7 (13)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

You’re leading people through constant change. Evolving expectations, AI disruption, and rising pressure to get culture and performance right. If you’re an HR leader, People and Culture executive, or senior business leader shaping the future of work, foHRsight is for you. foHRsight: HR, Leadership & the Future of Work is a weekly podcast from future foHRward, hosted by Mark Edgar and Naomi Titleman Colla. Each episode explores the most pressing issues facing HR and leadership today, including employee engagement, retention, flexible work, leadership effectiveness, and the real impact of AI on organizations. Through candid conversations with CHROs, senior leaders, and forward-thinking experts, foHRsight delivers practical insight and strategic perspective you can apply immediately. The goal is simple: help you make better people decisions, build stronger organizations, and lead with confidence in an increasingly complex world of work. Follow foHRsight on your favourite podcast platform and join the future foHRward community, a growing network of HR and People leaders connecting through conversation, events, and shared insight on what’s next for work.

  1. The Disconnection Crisis with Dr. Tracy Brower

    6D AGO

    The Disconnection Crisis with Dr. Tracy Brower

    Most HR leaders are chasing engagement scores. Very few are diagnosing loneliness. If performance feels flatter… if initiative is fading… if teams feel more transactional than connected, this episode explains why. In this conversation, Dr. Tracy Brower joins Naomi Titleman to unpack a truth many leaders feel but struggle to articulate: connection is not a “nice-to-have.” It is a structural driver of performance, initiative, retention, and fulfillment. They explore: The early warning signs of workplace disconnectionWhy proximity still matters in a hybrid worldHow AI may unintentionally weaken team relianceSocial contagion and why energy spreads faster than strategyThe difference between dirt roads and superhighways inside your cultureWhat a real “connection infrastructure” looks likeThis isn’t about forcing friendships or dragging people back to the office.  It’s about being deliberate about the human system inside your organization. Because when people don’t feel seen or needed, they disengage. And disengagement is expensive. About our guest Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist and VP of Workplace Insights at Steelcase. She studies connection, community, fulfillment, and the future of work, and is the author of Critical Connections. Her work bridges research and real-world application, helping organizations understand how human dynamics directly influence performance. Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing! Support the show

    35 min
  2. Why HR’s Role Is Expanding in an AI-Driven Organization with Josh Bersin Part 2

    FEB 26

    Why HR’s Role Is Expanding in an AI-Driven Organization with Josh Bersin Part 2

    HR leaders are being asked to modernize faster than their organizations are ready for. New AI tools appear weekly, vendors promise transformation, and the pressure to “do something” keeps mounting. At the same time, most HR teams are still running complex, multi-step processes built for a very different era. In this episode, Josh Bersin helps cut through the noise by reframing what AI transformation actually looks like inside HR. Rather than chasing dozens of tools or fearing job displacement, he argues that the real work ahead is architectural. Deciding what to build versus buy. Determining which processes matter most. And putting human ownership around data, judgment, and governance so AI can scale responsibly. You’ll hear why onboarding, learning, feedback, and career development are not isolated workflows, but interconnected systems that AI can finally stitch together if HR leads the design. Josh also explains why organizations that get this right will not reduce HR’s importance, but elevate it. This conversation is for HR leaders who feel both excited and overwhelmed, and who want a clearer mental model for where to start, what to prioritize, and how to partner with IT without losing their seat at the table. About our guest Josh Bersin is a global HR industry analyst, researcher, and founder of The Josh Bersin Company. He has spent decades advising CHROs and executive teams on talent, leadership, and workforce transformation, and is a leading voice on how AI is reshaping the HR function in practice, not theory. Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe  Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ Support the show

    30 min
  3. The Super Worker Organization - AI Goes Enterprise with Guest Josh Bersin - Part 1

    FEB 19

    The Super Worker Organization - AI Goes Enterprise with Guest Josh Bersin - Part 1

    If you’re leading HR right now, it can feel like the ground is moving under your feet. You’re still expected to deliver flawless service, keep costs down, and manage risk, while your CEO quietly expects you to redesign the workforce for an AI era that’s arriving faster than most operating models can handle. In part one of this conversation with Josh Bersin, we explore a reframe that changes everything: AI isn’t just personal productivity. The real disruption is enterprise-level “super agents” that automate whole sequences of work, and force HR to rethink hiring, talent strategy, and even the idea of “a job” itself. We also dig into why CHRO tenure may be shrinking, what that signals about expectations on HR leaders, and why “talent density” is becoming a more useful lens than traditional talent management as companies try to scale without simply adding headcount. About our guest Josh Bersin is a leading HR and workplace industry analyst and the founder of Bersin by Deloitte (now The Josh Bersin Company). He advises senior executives on HR, talent, and organizational transformation, with a sharp focus on what’s actually changing inside companies as AI moves from experimentation to enterprise reality. Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ Support the show

    25 min
  4. How High Achievers Get Stuck and What Actually Creates Influence

    FEB 12

    How High Achievers Get Stuck and What Actually Creates Influence

    You can be brilliant, hardworking, and respected — and still feel like you’re running full-speed into an invisible wall. For many senior leaders (especially high-achieving women), the instinct is to push harder: take on more, prove more, hold more. But the higher you go, the more that strategy quietly limits influence, sponsorship, and sustainability. In this episode, we explore the tension HR leaders see every day: individuals are trying to thrive inside systems that weren’t designed for them — and organizations keep investing in “fixes” that don’t address the real blockers. Carolyn Lawrence and Jennifer Laidlaw unpack why burnout is often a signal your mind is in survival mode, how “resisting the system” can unintentionally keep inequity in place, and what it looks like when inner leadership shifts meet system-level redesign. About our guests Carolyn Lawrence partners with organizations to redesign systems so they stop reinforcing outdated patterns — removing invisible barriers so talent can thrive without overperforming for legitimacy.  Jennifer Laidlaw is an executive coach focused on the inner transformation required of modern leaders, helping them achieve breakthrough results sustainably with strong teams and thriving culture. Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing! Support the show

    44 min
  5. Thriving with Anxiety — Dr. David Rosmarin on Turning Fear into Fuel

    FEB 5

    Thriving with Anxiety — Dr. David Rosmarin on Turning Fear into Fuel

    Success in HR often comes with a hidden job: absorbing everyone else’s anxiety. You’re expected to soothe, steady, and “make it okay”, even when what people are feeling is a normal response to real pressure and uncertainty. In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. David Rosmarin offers a practical reframe: not all anxiety is the same. Some anxiety does require professional support, but much of what shows up at work is an emotional signal, not a diagnosis. When leaders learn to recognize what anxiety is communicating, they can stop playing whack-a-mole with stress, build healthier trust on teams, and create a culture that performs without pretending certainty exists. You’ll also hear David’s simple four-step process to work with anxiety constructively, identifying what’s underneath it, sharing it in a way that builds connection, embracing it as resilience-building, and letting go of what can’t be controlled. About our guest Dr. David Rosmarin is a clinical psychologist, author, and Associate at Harvard Medical School, and the founder of the Center for Anxiety. His work focuses on helping people rethink anxiety not only as something to treat clinically when needed, but as a normal human experience that can be used to thrive — a perspective especially relevant in today’s high-pressure workplaces. Resources Mentioned Dr. Rosmarin’s four-step framework (public resource) Dr. David RosmarinDr. Rosmarin’s site + newsletter - Dr. David RosmarinBook: Thriving with Anxiety - Amazon TED Talk: How to make anxiety your friend TEDStay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing! Support the show

    30 min
  6. Why Entry-Level Jobs Need to Change, Not Disappear with Miranda Rodak

    JAN 29

    Why Entry-Level Jobs Need to Change, Not Disappear with Miranda Rodak

    Entry-level roles are being labeled “obsolete.” But what if the real issue isn’t AI — it’s how we’ve designed early-career work for decades? In this episode of foHRsight, we explore why entry-level jobs aren’t going away, but passive, low-agency roles are. As AI takes over routine execution, new hires are being asked to show judgment, critical thinking, and maturity much earlier than before — often without the support or learning pathways to succeed. Dr. Miranda Rodak joins us to unpack what this shift means for HR leaders, educators, and people managers who are responsible for building sustainable talent pipelines. Together, we examine why over-automation undermines learning, how “effortful learning” is being squeezed out by efficiency, and what organizations must redesign if they want AI to augment people instead of eroding capability. This conversation challenges a dangerous narrative — and offers a more hopeful, practical path forward for early-career development in an AI-enabled workplace. About our guest Dr. Miranda Rodak is a professor at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and Associate Director of the Communication Professional and Computer Skills Program. She brings a rare perspective at the intersection of education, communication, and AI-enabled work, helping organizations and universities rethink how humans learn, think, and lead alongside technology. Stay connected with foHRsight To sign up for our monthly newsletter, foHRsight, visit http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark Edgar – www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/ Naomi Titleman Colla – www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/ future foHRward – www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing! Support the show

    47 min
  7. How AI is Transforming Frontline Staffing and Workforce Management with James Terry

    JAN 22

    How AI is Transforming Frontline Staffing and Workforce Management with James Terry

    James Terry shares how Indeed Flex is revolutionizing frontline staffing through AI-powered solutions, enabling 24/7 candidate interviews, same-day pay, and unprecedented workforce flexibility for hourly workers. Topics Covered: AI-Powered Recruitment: 24/7 AI interviews eliminate scheduling frictionRecruiters now review 80+ interviews daily vs. conducting 7-12 manuallyHuman oversight ensures quality and catches misuseOperational Efficiency: One-click staffing requests distributed automatically via AIData analysis identifies turnover root causes (overtime policies, transportation issues)HR teams transitioning from admin roles to strategic business partnersWorker Experience: 50%+ of sub-$20/hour workers juggle multiple jobsPlatform enables seamless multi-assignment managementSame-day pay provides financial flexibility for emergenciesFuture Vision: Consumer-grade flexibility becoming workforce standardSimplified interfaces replacing complex dashboardsTechnology enabling location and schedule flexibilityDon’t forget … To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe. Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing! Support the show

    40 min
  8. Unlocking Human Potential with AI: Insights from “The AI Guy” Vaseem bAIg

    JAN 15

    Unlocking Human Potential with AI: Insights from “The AI Guy” Vaseem bAIg

    This episode, Naomi was joined by Vaseem bAIg, otherwise known as “The AI Guy”, whose passion is making artificial intelligence accessible for everyone. Vaseem brings a wealth of experience in helping people and organizations navigate the world of AI, and he’s all about empowering you to make the most of these emerging technologies. What We Talked About: Getting Started with AI: Vaseem shared some practical tips for beginners, including the importance of having a structured approach to prompting. He talked about starter templates that really help you get the conversation going with AI tools.Discovering Yourself through AI: One of Vaseem’s favourite insights is how interacting with AI can actually reflect your own personality and communication style. It’s a bit like holding up a mirror—sometimes you learn as much about yourself as you do about technology!Bringing AI to Work: We explored how organizations can implement AI strategies, with stories from trade shows and real-world examples. Vaseem’s frameworks make it easier to get everyone on board and spark meaningful change.Workshops that Work: Vaseem is big on hands-on learning, so he shared some approaches for running effective AI adoption workshops. His materials and guides help teams build confidence and get results. Key Takeaways: Structured prompting is your best friend when starting out with AI—it helps you get reliable results and builds your skills.Your conversations with AI can shed light on your own habits and strengths, so it’s a great tool for personal growth.Organizations succeed with AI when they use clear frameworks and practical support, like those Vaseem uses in his consulting and workshops. Blog posts: https://www.vaseemtheaiguy.com/ai-blog You can learn more about the work Vaseem does here: https://www.vaseemtheaiguy.com And follow him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaseemtheaiguy Don’t forget … To sign up for our monthly newsletter foHRsight at http://www.futurefohrward.com/subscribe. Follow us on LinkedIn: Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/Naomi - www.linkedin.com/in/naomititlemancolla/future foHRward - www.linkedin.com/company/future-fohrward/ And on Instagram - www.instagram.com/futurefohrward/ For more information on our private community for forward-thinking HR leaders, including how to join our next Manager-Director HR Leader cohort launching this spring, visit our website at futurefohrward.com/community. We are also currently welcoming new members in our CHRO and VP+ HRBP & Talent cohorts. Don't miss your chance to join the community you've been missing! Support the show

    34 min
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4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

You’re leading people through constant change. Evolving expectations, AI disruption, and rising pressure to get culture and performance right. If you’re an HR leader, People and Culture executive, or senior business leader shaping the future of work, foHRsight is for you. foHRsight: HR, Leadership & the Future of Work is a weekly podcast from future foHRward, hosted by Mark Edgar and Naomi Titleman Colla. Each episode explores the most pressing issues facing HR and leadership today, including employee engagement, retention, flexible work, leadership effectiveness, and the real impact of AI on organizations. Through candid conversations with CHROs, senior leaders, and forward-thinking experts, foHRsight delivers practical insight and strategic perspective you can apply immediately. The goal is simple: help you make better people decisions, build stronger organizations, and lead with confidence in an increasingly complex world of work. Follow foHRsight on your favourite podcast platform and join the future foHRward community, a growing network of HR and People leaders connecting through conversation, events, and shared insight on what’s next for work.

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