Integrate or Die: a work technology podcast

Steve and Alexis talk with Guy Tourigny, HR Technology Implementation Leader at HRIZONS about using AI to build agentic HR applications.  We discuss the efficiency gains associated with these solutions along with the importance of not over automating a function that is focused on optimizing the value of humans. Some things we cover:• The value of agentic HR solutions that integrate data from different functional areas• Knowing when to switch from AI agents to human agents• Managing the risks when you rely on AI to interpret HR data policies instead of people
We also learn that Steve’s concepts of AI are rooted in how Lieutenant Uhuru used computers in the original Star Trek.

Steve and Alexis talk with Richard Landers, Professor of Industrial Organizational Psychology at the University of Minnesota about building AI technology that is informed by psychological science.  We focus specifically on the use of AI to support candidate selection and employee development.  Some things we cover:
The change management challenges caused by the rapid speed of AI innovation
The challenge of building effective AI agents for tasks where effective human performance is poorly defined
The risk of doing things because they are new and different but not necessarily better
We also hear Steve share a tale from his childhood about his dad acting like a robot.

Steve and Alexis talk with Armen Berjikly, an early-stage investor in technology solutions at Emerson Collective about integrating human involvement into AI automated processes.  Armen is a computer scientist who built some of the first widely adopted natural language AI solutions applied to HR at Kenjoya (employee listening) and Better Up (coaching).  Some things we cover:
The importance of investing in problem definition before investing in AI solutions• How AI can be used to understand and engage employees at all levels of the organization• Why we should resist the urge to give AI chatbots overly human personas
We also hear Steve explain why using the term “artificial intelligence” to describe LLMs is like using the term “energy drink”  to describe caffeinated sugar water.

Steve and Alexis talk with Alec Levenson, Director and Senior Research Scientist at the USC Marshall Center for Effective Organizations about AI, data, and decision-making through the lens of organizational effectiveness. Alec brings an economist’s skepticism to the discussion, emphasizing the limits of data and technology when disconnected from real organizational questions.  Some things we cover:
Why organizations repeatedly overestimate what data, analytics and AI alone can explain
If fears over AI and job loss are more about personal perspective than huge disruptions in the labor market
The danger of focusing on what technology can measure instead of what leaders need to know
We also learn from Alexis why we do not use AI to land planes even though we could.

Steve and Alexis talk with Tim Gregory, VP of HR Transformation at Delta Air Lines about adoption and use of AI technology in large, complex global enterprise companies. We explore the challenges enterprise organizations face when using AI technology and discuss why the development of enterprise AI solutions follows a different timeline from consumer AI applications.  Some things we cover:
The four levels of AI maturity within an enterprise organization
Why fully agentic AI solutions may be developed faster in enterprise companies than outside of them
Why skills management is a good training ground for using AI within an enterprise organization.
Alexis also tells us what it is like to confused with a generative AI solution whose name sounds a lot like yours.

Steve starts season 3 of Integrate or Die interviewing co-host Alexis Fink about her experiences using AI technology as an HR leader in large, global organizations. She shares insights about the benefits and risks of using AI to change talent processes and decisions drawn from experience leading workforce analytics at Meta, Intel and Microsoft.  Some things we cover:
Building “white box” vs “black box” solutions in a world where it is becoming easier to be misled by technology
The value of rethinking business processes to accommodate new technological capabilities
Why advancing your career often comes down to just doing new stuff on your own
We also learn that Alexis is a past president.

Steve talks with Shonna Waters about coaching technology and employee development.  Shonna is a co-founder of Fractional Insights, a company that helps organization increase workforce performance and amplify employee potential by integrating technological capability, work design, and psychological science. Some of the things we cover
+ Using technology to increase self-awareness
+ The risk of over-automating employee development and coaching
+ The concept of “cognitive load”, and how technology can help or hinder our ability to manage it effectively
 
We also learn how little time we spend practicing to become better at our jobs. 

Steve talks with Russell Klosk about workforce planning, what it means to do it well, and how technology is changing how it is done.  Russell is a Managing Director at Deloitte and author of a new book on workforce planning called Talent Prophecy. He has helped hundreds of companies build strategies that ensure their workforce can support their strategic goals while meeting their financial objectives. Some of the things we cover
+ Understanding how workforce planning impacts long-term growth and near-term performance
+ The need to incorporate non-HR data into workforce plans from finance, procurement and supply chain operations.
+ How technology is enabling companies to shift from reactive, descriptive workforce planning to proactive and planful strategic forecasting
 
We also learn what it means to have a workforce planning digital twin.

Steve talks with Muriel Clauson about building HR technology focused on supporting frontline, “deskless” workers. Muriel is the founder and CEO of Anthill, a company that builds technology to engage and retain distributed, frontline workforces. Some things we cover:
+ What makes the frontline employee experience distinct and why it is often overlooked
+ Value gained by establishing better lines of communication with frontline employees 
+ The unique challenges of being a frontline manager
 
We also learn why many frontline jobs are not likely to be replaced by AI.

Steve talks with Karie Willyerd about how technology is and is not changing the field of learning and development. Karie’s career is focused on building workforce capabilities whether as a Chief Learning Officer, a  start-up entrepreneur, or an author of multiple award-winning books on career development and workforce trends.  Some of the things we cover
+ How to get budget to invest in learning technology
+ The importance of customers holding vendors accountable for technology integration
+ The changing but critical role people play in the learning process
 
We also learn why the old saying “practice makes perfect” is often wrong.