Digital HR Leaders with David Green

The Data-Driven Reality of How Work Is Evolving in 2026

AI was supposed to make work more efficient. So why are people busier than ever? As organisations move into 2026, many leaders are realising that while technology has changed quickly, the fundamentals of how work gets done haven’t kept up. Activity is increasing, output is accelerating in places - yet coordination, focus, and decision-making often feel harder than before. So what’s actually going on? In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast, David Green is joined by Philip Arkcoll, Founder and CEO of Worklytics, to unpack this very question. Join this dynamic duo, as they discuss: What the data reveals around where organisations were getting stuck in 2025, and how the way we work is changing in 2026 What collaboration and activity data reveals that traditional HR metrics often miss Why decision-making, not output, is becoming the primary bottleneck in AI-enabled organisations How increasing spans of control are reshaping the role, and load, of managers The emerging divide between teams and individuals who are benefiting from AI and those who aren’t What HR and people analytics leaders can do to measure, diagnose, and redesign how work actually happens This episode is sponsored by Worklytics. Worklytics helps leaders understand how work actually happens with data-driven insights into collaboration, productivity and AI adoption. By analysing real work patterns - from meetings to tool usage - they empower teams to work = Learn more at worklytics.co/ai Link to resources: 5 Ways Work Will Change in 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Tesla Taught One HR Leader About Courage, Power, and Agency

Why are so many HR leaders experiencing “what just happened?” moments at work - and what does it really take to respond to authoritarian leadership with courage instead of fear? That’s the question Kristen Kavanaugh, Leadership Strategist, former Head of DEI and Talent Management at Tesla, explores in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast. In this episode, host David Green sits down with Kristen to unpack what happens when fear quietly becomes the operating system inside organisations, why authoritarian leadership styles are becoming increasingly normalised, and how HR leaders can reclaim their agency in environments shaped by power, pressure, and public leadership behaviour. Tune in and learn: Why fear-based leadership creates short-term gains but long-term damage Why HR leaders often underestimate the agency they actually have How Kristen’s Agency Loop framework helps leaders navigate tension, misalignment, and difficult decisions What courageous leadership looks like as AI reshapes roles, skills, and power at work Why HR has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape a more humane future of work This episode is sponsored by Worklytics. Worklytics helps leaders understand how work actually happens with data-driven insights into collaboration, productivity and AI adoption. By analysing real work patterns - from meetings to tool usage - they empower teams to work = Learn more at worklytics.co/ai Link to resources: Courage over Fear: Harness the Power of Agency to Lead in Uncertain Times Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Real Reason Hybrid, AI, and Change Initiatives Keep Failing

Why do organisations keep repeating the same mistakes when it comes to hybrid work - and are they now doing the same with AI? That’s the question Brian Elliott, one of the most respected voices on the future of work, explores in this episode of the Digital HR Leaders podcast. In this episode, host David Green sits down with Brian to unpack why the hybrid and return-to-office debate continues to create tension between leaders and employees, despite years of data and experience, and the striking parallels between how organisations handled hybrid work and how many are now approaching AI adoption. Tune in and learn: Why the hybrid and return-to-office debate continues to divide leaders and employees What the evidence says about making hybrid work effective for both people and the business The similarities between hybrid work decisions and today’s AI adoption challenges How AI is changing entry-level roles and long-term talent pipelines The biggest barriers organisations face when trying to change long-established ways of working Why leadership behaviour ultimately determines whether change sticks This episode is sponsored by Worklytics. Worklytics helps leaders understand how work actually happens with data-driven insights into collaboration, productivity and AI adoption. By analysing real work patterns - from meetings to tool usage - they empower teams to work = Learn more at worklytics.co/ai Link to resources: Five leadership lessons for "tough" CEOs The burnout age The job market and AI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Agentic Organisation: How AI–Human Collaboration Is Redefining Work, Leadership, and Performance.

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

How UPS Is Using AI to Prepare Its Workforce for the Next Chapter of Work

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.