The Edge of Work

Tanya Moore is the Chief People Officer at West Monroe. In this episode, she joins The Edge of Work to discuss how organizations can navigate transformation while keeping people and business performance at the center. Tanya shares how she's leading transformation at West Monroe and how she and her team are sensing and responding to shifts in the professional services industry, from investing in company culture to realigning performance management to meet the needs of the business environment. Tanya also explores how West Monroe is approaching AI adoption, including the role of AI literacy, hands-on learning, and employee "power users" in driving meaningful adoption. Links Tanya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyaemoore/

Emily Field is the Chief People Officer at LPL Financial. In this episode Emily she shares lessons from her transition from management consulting to becoming a Chief People Officer, including how to approach onboarding, operate as a strategic business leader, and serve as the connective tissue across an executive team. During the conversation, Emily also discusses how AI is changing work design, why organizations need to keep humans in the lead, and how leaders can turn workplace anxiety into agency. Finally, we close with a discussion about why why managers remain essential as teams increasingly work alongside AI agents. Links Emily’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilykfield/ Emily’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Middle-Managers-Hold-Future/dp/1647824850

In this solo episode, The Edge of Work host Al Dea takes a closer look at the idea that AI transformation is a change management challenge and explores what that really means for organizations. Drawing on his own speaking and coaching work as well as dozens of conversations with leaders working on AI adoption and enablement, he outlines six themes that go beyond simply introducing new tools: understanding different stages of AI adoption, addressing human behavior and incentives, involving people across the organization, investing in foundational work, rethinking how work gets done, and taking a more personalized approach to enablement. The episode offers a practical framework for leaders looking to move beyond AI adoption and toward meaningful changes in how people work. Links Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/ Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/

Ketaki Sodhi is Head of AI Enablement at Moody's Corporation. In this episode, Ketaki shares her perspective on what it really takes for organizations to move beyond individual AI productivity toward enterprise-wide transformation. They discuss why the biggest barriers to AI adoption are no longer technical, but organizational, spanning culture, workflows, leadership, data, and incentives. Finally, Ketaki shares how leading companies are building the systems, operating rhythms, and knowledge infrastructure needed to scale AI responsibly inside of organizations. Links Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ketakisodhi/

Sangeet Paul Choudary is the Founder of Platform Thinking Labs. In this episode, Sangeet joins the podcast to explore how AI is reshaping knowledge work, organizational structures, and the way businesses create value. He explains why the biggest impact of AI may not be automation, but coordination, why most conventional explanations of Jevon’s paradox are off, and why leaders need to think beyond individual tasks to understand how entire systems and workflows are being redesigned. Finally, also discusses the changing relationship between humans and AI, the risks of knowledge work becoming commoditized, and why organizations need to focus on where value is moving rather than simply what AI can automate. Links Sangeet's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangeetpaul/ Sangeet's Substack: https://platforms.substack.com/

Yolanda Seals-Coffield is Chief People & Inclusion Officer at PwC US. In this episode, Yolanda discusses how one of the world's largest professional services firms is preparing its workforce for the age of AI. During this conversation, Yolanda shares PwC's approach to AI upskilling, why human skills are becoming an even greater competitive advantage, and how the firm is reimagining apprenticeship and early career development. They also explore the importance of culture, continuous learning, and equipping employees with the technical, AI, and human capabilities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace. Links Yolanda’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolanda-seals-coffield/

In this solo episode of The Edge of Work , Al Dea reflects on the biggest leadership challenges emerging from his conversations with executives and organizations this year. From the unintended consequences of AI mandates to organizational whiplash, leading without certainty, and navigating growing workforce anxiety, Al unpacks the patterns shaping today's workplace. He introduces the idea of the "liminal space," the period between outdated ways of working and a future that has yet to fully take shape, and explains why leaders must resist waiting for clarity and instead create it through action. Links Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/ Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/

Note: This is a replay of a previous popular episode Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Author of Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead) . In this episode, Tomas challenges the conventional wisdom that authenticity is always a virtue, especially in leadership. He explains why showing up as your “whole self” can backfire, and why striving to bring your best self is a more powerful approach. Along the way, Tomas connects these ideas to his broader research on technology, AI, and the future of work. Links Website: https://www.drtomas.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtomaschamorro/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Be-Yourself-Authenticity-Overrated/dp/1647829836 HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2025/07/why-leaders-should-bring-their-best-self-not-their-whole-self-to-work

Note: This is a replay of a live webinar on the topic of how to lead change . Leading change has never been more complex. In this episode, Al Dea explores why today's workplace demands a new approach to change leadership and shares practical strategies for helping people navigate uncertainty. Learn why transformation efforts often stall, how to avoid common leadership pitfalls, and what it takes to build commitment, resilience, and momentum across your team. From balancing competing priorities to leading with clarity when the future is uncertain, this conversation offers actionable insights for leaders navigating organizational change, AI transformation, and the evolving world of work. Links Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/ Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/

Note: This is a replay of a previous popular episode Greg Satell is the Author of Cascades: How to Create a Movement That Drives Transformational Change . In this episode of The Edge of Work , Greg joins Al Dea to explore why most organizational change efforts fail and how leaders can spark lasting transformation. Drawing from his front-row experience during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution and 15 years of research, Greg shares the power of “small groups, loosely connected, united by a shared purpose” to drive cultural and behavioral change. He explains why top-down, big-bang launches often trigger resistance, how to find early adopters, and the keys to creating the right conditions for change to spread. Links Website: https://gregsatell.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregsatell/ Book: https://gregsatell.com/cascades/

Note: This is a replay of a previous popular episode Greg Shove is the CEO of Section AI, a company helping enterprises and teams become truly AI-enabled. In this episode of The Edge of Work , Greg shares his journey of pivoting Section from an online business school to an AI-powered transformation partner. He discusses why most companies are struggling to adopt AI, the mistakes leaders make when rolling it out, and why the challenge is less about technology and more about change management. Greg also explains how AI is reshaping knowledge work, what employees and leaders need to do to stay relevant, and why the future of learning will look more like personalized coaching than traditional training. Links Newsletter: https://personalmath.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregshove/ Website: https://www.sectionai.com/

David Chestnut is a Principal Director of Human+AI Talent Strategy. In this episode, David joins Al to explore how AI is changing the relationship between human expertise, effort, and work itself. Drawing on his experience helping organizations adopt AI, David explains why AI is not a technology adoption challenge but a human capability challenge. During this conversation, David shares insights on developing judgment, expertise, and critical thinking in an era where outputs are increasingly easy to generate, and discusses the implications for early-career talent, learning and development, and organizational design. David also explores why authenticity, trust, and uniquely human perspectives may become even more valuable as AI-generated content becomes more widespread. Links David’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidchestnut/ David’s Medium Page: https://medium.com/@chestnut.david

Robin Barbacane is the Head of Talent Development and Workforce Transformation at Rackspace. In this episode, Robin joins The Edge of Work to discuss what it takes to move beyond AI experimentation and drive enterprise-wide workforce transformation. She shares how Rackspace has approached becoming an AI-first organization, including the development of AI-powered solutions, employee-led innovation programs, and new operating models designed to embed AI into everyday work. During the conversation, Robin also explains why successful AI adoption is fundamentally a change management challenge, how HR can play a more strategic role in transformation, and why organizations should focus on developing new ways of thinking and working rather than simply deploying new tools. Links Robin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinbarbacane/

Kelly Monahan is an Author, Speaker and Researcher. She is the Co-Founder of Beyond The Desk, where she researches the intersection of AI, leadership, and the future of work. In this episode, Kelly shares her perspective on how organizations are navigating the growing gap between AI investment and measurable business value. She shares insights from her work with executives and boards, including why many organizations lack a clear AI strategy, how leadership behaviors influence adoption, and what it will take to unlock value beyond individual productivity gains. Kelly also explores the changing nature of careers, the challenges facing early-career talent, and why organizations may need to rethink leadership and even the purpose of business as AI continues to reshape work. Links Kelly’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-monahan-ph-d-18879413/ Beyond the Desk: https://www.beyondthedesk.com/

Melody Wilding is the Author of Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge . In this episode, Melody and Al explore why managing up is not about pleasing your boss, but about creating the clarity, influence, and support you need to do your best work. She shares practical strategies for navigating workplace relationships, aligning priorities, setting boundaries, building visibility, and taking ownership without overstepping. Links Melody’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodywilding/ Melody’s Website: https://melodywilding.com/ Melody’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/psychology-at-work-career-success-leadership-communication/id1762458121 Managing Up: https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Up-What-People-Charge-ebook/dp/B0CXLSH6Y6/

Dr. Jerry Kane is a Professor at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. In this episode, Jerry joins The Edge of Work Podcast to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, learning, and leadership faster than most organizations can keep up. Drawing on his work with students and executives, he shares why artificial intelligence is less about technology and more about building an entrepreneurial mindset that helps people experiment, adapt, and create value. Jerry also explains how organizations can move beyond fear and hype to build real AI fluency, why human skills will become even more valuable as automation grows, and what leaders can do now to help their teams prepare for what comes next. Links Dr. Kane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldckane/ Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-take-jobs-question-misses-whats-actually-happening-gerald-kane-bssce/?trackingId=Ychj1h8FRAGHafoDDSbv4w%3D%3D

Charlene Li is the Author of Winning with AI: The 90-Day Blueprint for Success . In this episode, Charlene joins Al to break down what it really takes for organizations to move beyond AI experimentation and start creating real business value. She explains why companies should stop thinking about AI as a separate strategy and instead use it to strengthen their existing business goals. Charlene also shares practical advice on building AI fluency across teams, avoiding common adoption traps, and helping leaders guide their organizations through change. Links Charlene’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleneli/ Charlene’s Book: https://winningwithaibook.com/

In 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. Links Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/ Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/

JD 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. Links JD’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jddillon/ JD’s Book: https://jddillon.com/frontlinebook/

Dani 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. Links https://redthreadresearch.com/redthread-summit-2026 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-johnson/