20 Oct

How To Train Leaders with Nina Möller

Nina Möller is Managing Partner of Implement Consulting Group in Germany. Implement spent its first 20 years refusing to hire graduates, because consultants needed real-life experience in the backpack. Now AI is taking on much of the work that used to fill it, so Julian asks Nina where experience will come from next. Nina also explains what makes leadership training stick, why the room matters as much as the content, how to tell whether training worked, and which tasks Implement wants juniors to keep doing without AI. Who this episode is for Leaders of consulting and professional services firmsHeads of L&D and HR designing leadership programmesSenior leaders weighing training spend and AI adoptionYouTube chapters 00:00 - Opening 00:30 - Introducing Nina Möller 02:57 - Trojan mice and reverse mentoring 03:58 - Abu Dhabi and the learning zone 07:50 - Why Implement isn't up or out 12:29 - What makes training stick 16:29 - Who should deliver the training 18:55 - How to tell if training worked 23:41 - Protecting time for learning 33:27 - When juniors shouldn't use AI 35:52 - Where will experience come from? 38:15 - Quickfire questions Practical takeaways Keep AI out where the thinking is the work, and form a view before asking AI for one.Use the content on something real before anyone leaves the training room.Measure over months, starting with a baseline set before the programme begins.Stretch people into the learning zone, with backing when they are not quite ready.About the guest Nina Möller is Managing Partner of Implement Consulting Group in Germany and sits on the group board. She began her career at 22 in Abu Dhabi, joined Implement in 2018 when the German business had five people, and was running it four years later. About Talent Talks Talent Talks by be/impact explores how organisations are rethinking development, leadership and culture, and what it takes to build teams that stay and thrive. https://t.mtrbio.com/talenttalks

6 Oct

Keeping Work Human in the Age of AI with Laura Casci

In this episode of Talent Talks, Julian Buschmaas speaks with Laura Casci, Managing Partner UK at Valcon, about how leaders can embrace AI while protecting the human skills, judgement and relationships that organisations still depend on. Laura discusses what she looks for when hiring, why technical training alone is not enough, the role of face-to-face interaction in developing soft skills, and why employee engagement is central to retention. They also explore AI capability across organisations, responsible adoption, and the business case for social impact and tech-for-good programmes. Who this episode is for CEOs and senior leaders navigating AI adoptionHR, L&D and talent leaders developing human skills alongside technical capabilityConsulting and professional services leaders focused on retention and cultureTechnology leaders balancing automation with human judgementOrganisations looking to connect social impact with employee engagementYouTube chapters 00:10 - Introduction to Talent Talks 00:55 - Meet Laura Casci, Managing Partner UK at Valcon 02:27 - Laura's route into consulting 05:01 - Valcon's ambition around data and AI 11:40 - Where AI belongs in recruitment 13:08 - What Laura looks for in great hires 16:47 - Why technical training is not enough 17:34 - Why soft skills need real interaction 18:23 - The human side of employee retention 19:57 - Laura's approach to culture and leadership 24:43 - How Valcon develops new joiners 27:19 - AI capability as a hiring expectation 29:12 - Why everyone needs fundamental AI knowledge 30:31 - AI literacy versus AI capability 32:08 - What strong AI leadership looks like 34:21 - Social impact, purpose and culture 35:01 - The tech-for-good model 36:50 - How tech for good affects employee engagement 38:26 - The ROI of social impact 40:00 - Quickfire questions Practical takeaways AI can support work and recruitment, but Laura argues that important human touchpoints still require judgement, empathy and communication.Technical capability is only part of development. Soft skills are strengthened through interaction with colleagues and shared learning.Retention depends on people feeling engaged, known and invested in, not only on salary.AI capability is becoming a baseline expectation, while leaders also need enough knowledge to practise what they preach.Social impact can strengthen employee engagement and retention while creating a multiplier effect in the wider community.Laura sees businesses as having a responsibility to create opportunity and contribute to the communities around them.About Laura Casci Laura Casci is Managing Partner UK at Valcon. She has spent nearly 30 years in consulting and now leads Valcon's UK business as it grows its data and AI capabilities while maintaining a collaborative, inclusive and human culture. About Talent Talks Talent Talks by be/impact explores how organisations are rethinking development, leadership and culture, and what it takes to build teams that stay and thrive.

22 Sept

Learning Outside Your Comfort Zone: Talent Talks with Ffion Bartley

In this episode of Talent Talks, Julian Buschmaas speaks with Ffion Bartley, Global Head of Learning and Development at Cambridge Consultants, about learning culture, leadership, AI, and the human skills people need in a changing workplace. Ffion explains why learning often requires discomfort, how teaching can deepen expertise, why learning needs to become part of delivery, and why managers play such an important role in whether people strategies succeed. The conversation also explores AI in workplace learning, including Ffion’s useful analogy of treating AI like an intern: highly capable at execution, but still dependent on human context, judgement and oversight. Who is this episode for? L&D and talent leaders Senior leaders in professional services and technology Managers responsible for developing people HR leaders thinking about AI, skills and workplace learning Chapters 0:00 – Why discomfort and learning are connected 0:32 – Introduction to Ffion Bartley 3:03 – Looking beyond training to solve the real problem 4:22 – Lessons from Ffion’s best and worst boss 6:02 – Stretch opportunities, discomfort and psychological safety 8:02 – Why L&D professionals need to understand the business 12:33 – Building a learning culture at Cambridge Consultants 16:30 – Making learning part of work and delivery 20:04 – How AI is changing workplace learning 23:43 – Treating AI like an intern 25:30 – The human skills people will need in an AI-driven workplace 34:05 – Why people strategy succeeds or fails through managers 35:20 – Employees watch what leaders do, not what they say About Ffion Bartley Ffion Bartley is Global Head of Learning and Development at Cambridge Consultants. Her career has included teaching, training, charity, fintech and professional services. At Cambridge Consultants, she focuses on building a learning culture that supports highly technical teams while connecting development with business performance. About Talent Talks Talent Talks explores how leaders think about talent, learning, leadership and the future of work. In 2026, the podcast focuses on AI and the human side of work, including culture, re- and up-skilling, purpose, impact and the human skills people need as technology changes how work gets done. Connect be/impact: https://beimpact.co.uk/ Julian Buschmaas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianbuschmaas/ Ffion Bartley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ffionbartley/ Cambridge Consultants: https://www.cambridgeconsultants.com/ Cambridge Consultants on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cambridge-consultants/

8 Sept

Teaching Is The Key To Success: Talent Talks with Kolja Heskamp

In this episode of Talent Talks, Julian Buschmaas speaks with Kolja Heskamp of torq.partners, about learning, talent, culture, and the future of professional services in an AI-driven world. Kolja shares how his experience across finance, private equity, investment banking, and scaling businesses shaped his approach to talent, including his belief in backing overlooked people based on their drive, motivation, and potential rather than simply their CV. The conversation explores how to build a learning culture, why teaching should be a condition of progression, how companies can make people more valuable even if they eventually leave, and what AI means for junior talent and the traditional professional services pyramid. Who is this episode for? -L&D and talent professionals building cultures of continuous learning -Senior leaders in professional services rethinking talent development and progression -Consulting and finance leaders navigating AI's impact on junior roles -Early-career professionals looking to build the human skills that will matter in an AI-driven workplace Chapters 0:00 – Introduction 8:55 – The company of the overlooked 18:15 – Why learning is a predictor of performance and retention 26:35 – Why teaching should be part of progression 36:40 – AI and the changing professional services pyramid 42:15 – Building the firm of the future 46:06 – Quickfire questions Practical takeaways ● Hire for drive, motivation, and learning ability rather than relying too heavily on polished CVs. ● Build teaching and knowledge-sharing into progression and promotion. ● Create enough space for people to learn, even when utilisation and client pressure are high. ● As AI replaces repetitive junior tasks, deliberately create opportunities for people to develop communication, judgment, negotiation, and other human skills. ● Build organisations where people become more valuable through their time there, even if that eventually means they leave. About the host Julian Buschmaas is the CEO and co-founder of be/impact and the host of Talent Talks. He works at the intersection of learning, talent, AI, social impact, and the future of work. Connect Be/Impact - https://beimpact.co.uk/ Connect with Julian on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianbuschmaas/ Connect with Kolja on LinkedIn - https://de.linkedin.com/in/kolja-heskamp-2a110520 torq.partners - https://www.torq.partners/

25 Aug

Talent Talks with Will Hayllar: AI Won't Replace Consultants In The Way We Think

In this episode of Talent Talks, Julian Buschmaas speaks with Will Hayllar (Global Managing Partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants), about the future of consulting, leadership, and talent development in an AI-driven world. He has spent 25 years in consulting and now focuses on building a strong, future-ready firm that combines analytical rigor with human-centered leadership and learning. The conversation explores how firms can balance analytical excellence with the human skills that matter more than ever: critical thinking, influencing, judgment, and relationship-building. Who is this episode for? -Senior leaders navigating AI's impact on teams and talent -Consulting & professional services leaders rethinking apprenticeship and partnership models -L&D and talent professionals focused on building human skills -Early-career professionals looking to future-proof their careers Chapters 0:00 – Introduction 3:45 – The shift from advisor to leader 8:20 – Learning from mistakes 14:05 – How AI is changing the apprenticeship model 20:30 – Why human skills matter more in an AI era 26:15 – Why firms still need juniors 31:40 – Preparing the next generation 36:55 – Closing thoughts Practical takeaways ● Don't treat AI as only a tooling or technical issue. ● Invest in human skills early: communication, persuasion, judgment, and structured thinking. ● Update apprenticeships so knowledge can flow in multiple directions. ● Great leaders make themselves replaceable by building others up. ● Keep hiring juniors, but redesign what they learn and how they contribute. About the host Julian Buschmaas is the CEO and co-founder of be/impact and the host of Talent Talks. He works at the intersection of learning, talent, AI, social impact, and the future of work. Connect Be/Impact - https://beimpact.co.uk/ Connect with Julian on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianbuschmaas/ Connect with Will on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-hayllar-a6532636/ OC&C Strategy Consulting - https://www.occstrategy.com/en

11 Aug

Talent Talks with Simon Piesse: Supercharging Your Staff In The Age of AI

Talent Talks: Supercharging Talent in the Age of AI with Simon PiesseIn this episode of the Talent Talks podcast, Julian Buschmaas is joined by Simon Piesse from North Highland to explore how organisations can think differently about talent, learning and AI. Rather than viewing AI simply as a way to replace work, Simon explores how it can be used to supercharge the talent organisations already have, helping people work more effectively while creating opportunities to develop new capabilities. The conversation also looks at the importance of practice in turning learning into real capability. Training can introduce a skill, but applying it in real situations is what helps people become confident and effective. Julian and Simon also discuss the importance of “showing your workings” when using AI. As AI becomes increasingly involved in decision-making and professional work, understanding how an outcome was reached becomes an important part of quality assurance, accountability and trust. In this episode, we explore:How AI can supercharge talent rather than replace itThe gap between learning and doing, and why practice mattersBuilding capabilities before organisations urgently need themThe importance of understanding how AI-supported decisions are reachedWhat “showing your workings” could mean for quality assuranceHow organisations can prepare people for a changing world of work About Simon Piesse Simon Piesse is a leader at North Highland, working with organisations on transformation, talent and the future of work. About Talent Talks Talent Talks is hosted by Julian Buschmaas, CEO and co-founder of be/impact. The podcast explores the intersection of learning, talent, AI, social impact and the future of work, bringing together leaders and thinkers to explore how organisations and people can adapt to change.

28 Jul

Ivan Gladkow: Are your staff AI Literate or AI Capable?

As artificial intelligence reshapes the workplace, what skills will matter most? In this episode of Talent Talks, we sit down with Ivan Gladkow, Head of Enterprise Sector (UK&I) at SPS, to discuss how AI is changing leadership, learning and development, and the future of work. Whether you're a CEO, Managing Director, Partner, HR leader, L&D professional, or responsible for developing people in your organisation, this conversation offers practical insights you can apply immediately. In This EpisodeWhy soft skills become more valuable as AI becomes more capableThe difference between AI literacy and AI capabilityHow to identify and develop AI champions within your organisationWhy learning by doing outperforms online-only trainingHow to measure the real return on investment of trainingPractical leadership lessons for navigating AI transformationBuilding a culture of curiosity and continuous learningKey TakeawaysHuman skills matter moreAs AI automates routine work, communication, collaboration, empathy and leadership become even more valuable. Curiosity creates AI championsSuccessful AI adoption isn't driven by technology alone. Organisations need people who are willing to experiment, learn and help others embrace change. Learning happens through practiceOnline learning has its place, but capability is developed through coaching, observation, real-world experience and repetition. Who Should Listen?This episode is ideal for: CEOs and Managing DirectorsConsulting PartnersHR DirectorsHeads of Learning & DevelopmentTalent Development professionalsPeople leadersProfessional services firmsEnterprise organisationsAnyone preparing their organisation for the future of workAbout Ivan GladkowIvan Gladkow is Head of Enterprise Sector (UK&I) at SPS, where he works with enterprise organisations to improve performance, develop talent and drive organisational transformation. Throughout the conversation, Ivan shares practical examples from leading teams, implementing learning programmes and helping organisations adopt AI in meaningful ways. Connect with Ivan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-gladkow-mba-a744769/ Connect with Julian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianbuschmaas/

14 May

Talent Talks with Mike Drolet: How to drive employee engagement

In this episode of Talent Talks, Julian speaks with Mike Drolet, Chief Operating Officer at Six Degrees, about leading through change, building trust, and helping people stay valuable in an AI-shaped workplace. They explore why leaders need to listen before acting, how to turn learning into real behaviour change, and why adaptability, communication, and personalised development matter more than ever.

30 Apr

Talent Talks with Peter O'Connor: Building teams that stay and thrive

In this episode of Talent Talks, Julian speaks with Peter O’Connor, CEO of Target Group, about what it takes to build teams that stay and thrive. They explore leadership, communication, learning, AI, and why helping people flourish matters more than ever.

15 Apr

Talent Talks with Yv Corbeil: Creativity, curiosity and AI at work

In this episode of Talent Talks, Julian speaks with Yv Corbeil, Managing Director & CCO, ExCo member at Niji, about how AI is changing creativity, careers, and team performance. They explore the shift from AI literacy to AI capability, why curiosity is becoming the most valuable skill, and how leaders can create cultures where people experiment, learn, and thrive.

Talent Talks by be/impact

Episodes

How To Train Leaders with Nina Möller

Keeping Work Human in the Age of AI with Laura Casci

Learning Outside Your Comfort Zone: Talent Talks with Ffion Bartley

Teaching Is The Key To Success: Talent Talks with Kolja Heskamp

Talent Talks with Will Hayllar: AI Won't Replace Consultants In The Way We Think

Talent Talks with Simon Piesse: Supercharging Your Staff In The Age of AI

Ivan Gladkow: Are your staff AI Literate or AI Capable?

Talent Talks with Mike Drolet: How to drive employee engagement

Talent Talks with Peter O'Connor: Building teams that stay and thrive

Talent Talks with Yv Corbeil: Creativity, curiosity and AI at work

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