Future of Work Hub Podcast Series

Future of Work Hub
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to the Future of Work Hub’s In Conversation podcast. In this podcast series, Lucy Lewis will be hosting exclusive discussions with innovators, business leaders and thought leaders, to explore their perspective on the changing world of work. The global pandemic has accelerated longer term societal, economic, and technological trends, giving us a unique opportunity, a once in a generation challenge to rethink who, how, what and where we work.

  1. In Conversation… with Barry Schwartz

    6D AGO

    In Conversation… with Barry Schwartz

    In this episode of the Future of Work Hub’s In Conversation podcast, Lucy Lewis sits down with Barry Schwartz, emeritus Professor of Psychology at Swarthmore College and Visiting Professor at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley. Barry draws on 50 years of research at the intersection of psychology, behavioural economics and business to explore what motivates people at work. They discuss how fostering meaningful work and autonomy offer significant opportunities for organisations to unlock better outcomes and why trust – rather than rules and incentives – should be the foundation of effective leadership. Key takeaways Prioritise meaningful work. The long-standing Industrial Age belief that pay is the primary motivator to work still shapes how many organisations design jobs, yet research shows that people do their best work when they are given autonomy, opportunities to think and collaborate, and feel that their work matters.Create an employee proposition grounded in what people actually want from work. Engage in open, ongoing dialogue to understand what motivates employees and remain flexible as expectations shift amid economic uncertainty and technological disruption.Make wellbeing intrinsic to job design. Organisations often focus wellbeing offerings on peripheral benefits rather than addressing what happens at the workplace itself. Move wellbeing in from the fringes by building autonomy, meaning and appropriate levels of responsibility into job design.Give employees real autonomy to unlock frontline workforce insights and better workforce engagement. Command-and-control models lead managers to prioritise authority over empowerment, even when this comes at the cost of the bottom line. Create genuine opportunities for employees to use their judgment. Foster trust and mutual respect with the workforce to unlock the wisdom of those closest to day-today operations.Embrace "good enough" to reduce decision overwhelm. While choice and autonomy are essential to wellbeing, too much choice between workplace tools, technologies and pathways can overwhelm employees. Delegate decisions to trusted colleagues and use feedback mechanisms between leadership and employees to continuously adjust and maintain the right balance for your workforce.

    29 min

  2. JAN 7

    Peer-to-Peer… with Richard Vanner

    In this episode of the Future of Work Hub’s Peer-to-Peer podcast, Julia Paulding is joined by Richard Vanner, Human Resources Director at WTW. They discuss the importance of sustaining a strong, consistent culture through rapid growth and transformation and how technology and AI are reshaping workforce design and skills, emphasising that how change is delivered matters just as much as what is implemented.

    18 min
  3. Reflections on 2025

    12/15/2025

    Reflections on 2025

    In this final episode, Lucy and Julia reflect on the insights shared across our “In Conversation” and “Peer-to-Peer” podcast series. Together, they draw out the key themes that defined 2025 and consider what employers should be prioritising to build resilience and momentum in the years ahead. Across the conversations, a consistent message has emerged: people strategy is business strategy. The real risk is not uncertainty itself but failing to invest in capabilities that build resilience and the ability to respond to change.

    28 min
  4. Peer-to-Peer... with Jenny Shiers

    11/19/2025

    Peer-to-Peer... with Jenny Shiers

    In our latest Peer-to-Peer podcast, Julia speaks with Jenny Shiers, Chief People Officer at Unily, about crafting truly personalised employee experiences, reducing digital friction to unlock focus, and creating the organisational velocity needed to pivot quickly and deliver on strategy.

    20 min
  5. Peer-to-Peer… with Rob Worrall

    10/22/2025

    Peer-to-Peer… with Rob Worrall

    Human skills, agility and proactive workforce planning In our launch episode, Julia Paulding, Chief People Officer at Lewis Silkin, sits down with Rob Worrall, Head of People at BDO UK, to explore the future of work - and it’s looking optimistic. They discuss how organisations can stay ahead by investing in human skills, embracing flexible working models, and engaging future talent from day one. It’s a conversation packed with peer-to-peer insights for business leaders, people managers and anyone navigating the evolving workforce landscape. Key takeaways include: Early talent engagement: embed values from the first interactionFlexibility in hybrid/agile working: serve clients and teamsTraining for people managers: build confidence at all career stagesAmplifying human skills: curiosity, creativity, collaborationLong-term planning: stay agile while thinking ahead

    18 min

  6. 10/15/2025

    Peer-to-Peer... with Cathy Temple

    In this episode of the Future of Work Hub’s Peer-to-Peer podcast, Julia Paulding, Chief People Officer at Lewis Silkin, sits down with Cathy Temple, Head of HR, EMEA at Salesforce. They discuss HR’s evolving role in AI-driven workplace transformation, emphasising the need for trust, transparent communication, human-centric leadership and continuous upskilling to build agile, future-ready organisations.

    24 min
  7. In Conversation… with Professor Alan Felstead

    09/23/2025

    In Conversation… with Professor Alan Felstead

    In this episode of the Future of Work Hub’s In Conversation podcast, Lucy Lewis is joined by Professor Alan Felstead, Emeritus Professor at Cardiff University and a leading expert on work, skills and employment. Alan shares insights from the landmark Skills and Employment Survey 2024, exploring how the world of work in the UK is evolving, what workers value, and the challenges and opportunities facing employers and policymakers. Key takeaways 1. Make fair work your business advantage: When employers treat workers as valued assets, fostering respect, autonomy and development, it strengthens wellbeing, drives business improvement, and sets the foundation for lasting organisational success. Regularly survey staff to track how job quality is changing over time and identify areas for improvement. 2. Foster meaningful work by investing in line manager capabilities: Research shows that the majority of workers find their jobs meaningful, with managerial support, skill utilisation and participation at work playing a greater role than pay in driving a sense of purpose. Organisations should train managers to provide timely guidance, deliver constructive feedback, and show empathy - particularly when supporting younger employees and new joiners. 3. Prioritise genuine employee participation: Employee control over job tasks has sharply declined, negatively impacting wellbeing and productivity. Employers should regularly measure and monitor employee task discretion across their organisation and hold managers accountable for progress. 4. Promote equality in flexible working: Offering a range of solutions, such as flexi-time, compressed hours, and part-time roles, helps to ensure all employees, including those whose jobs cannot be done remotely or who lack dedicated home workspaces, can access the benefits of flexible working.  For more discussion of the themes explored in this podcast, see the Hub's latest report "Strategic workforce priorities - What matters most?".

    31 min
  8. In Conversation… Geopolitical disruption and the future of work, what does this mean for employers?

    07/16/2025

    In Conversation… Geopolitical disruption and the future of work, what does this mean for employers?

    In this special episode of our In Conversation podcast recorded live at our Managing an International Workforce  Conference. James Davies, Partner at Lewis Silkin is joined by Ius Laboris colleagues from Canada, Italy and Poland  to discuss the rapidly evolving global landscape, from intensifying trade wars and shifting alliances to the rise of  populist politics and regional unrest. As the forces of geoeconomic fragmentation reshape international business, our  expert panel unpacks  the implications for employers managing global workforces, offering a valuable roadmap to stay  resilient and competitive in uncertain times.

    46 min
See All (55)

About

Welcome to the Future of Work Hub’s In Conversation podcast. In this podcast series, Lucy Lewis will be hosting exclusive discussions with innovators, business leaders and thought leaders, to explore their perspective on the changing world of work. The global pandemic has accelerated longer term societal, economic, and technological trends, giving us a unique opportunity, a once in a generation challenge to rethink who, how, what and where we work.

Information

  • Creator
    Future of Work Hub
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Future of Work Hub Podcast Series
  • Show Website
    Future of Work Hub Podcast Series