In this episode of the Breaking Through Series, host Michael Rom speaks with bestselling author, entrepreneur, and digital transformation expert Charlene Li about her book Winning with AI: The 90-Day Blueprint for Success. Together, they explore why successful AI adoption is not simply a technology challenge, but a leadership, strategy, and people challenge.

 Charlene shares a practical roadmap for leaders who want to move beyond small AI experiments and efficiency gains toward meaningful enterprise value. She explains why AI must be connected directly to business strategy, why responsible governance and clear ownership matter, and how organizations can avoid the “efficiency trap” by using AI to expand human capability rather than simply reduce headcount.

 The conversation also examines the human side of AI transformation, including employee skepticism and fear, the importance of transparency and fairness, the evolving role of managers, and the mindset shift required for people to see AI as a tool for agency, growth, and unlocking potential.

 Charlene emphasizes that the organizations most likely to win with AI will be those that break down silos, build AI fluency across the workforce, and lead with purpose, values, empathy, and realistic optimism.

Key themes: AI strategy, leadership, digital transformation, responsible AI, workforce change, human potential, AI fluency, organizational culture, and the future of work.

How can organizations build adaptability in a world being reshaped by AI, demographic shifts, and constant change?

In this episode of the Breaking Through Series, Michael Rom sits down with workforce strategist, author, and former SAP Chief Expert for Work and Technology, Dr. Steven Hunt, to discuss insights from his book Talent Tectonics. Together, they explore why adaptability has become one of the most critical human capabilities in the modern workplace and what leaders can do to create the conditions for people to thrive amid uncertainty.

The conversation covers the tectonic forces transforming work, the shift from productivity to adaptability, and the psychological foundations that enable people to embrace change rather than resist it. Steve shares a practical framework built around meaning, confidence, and belonging, and explains why the future belongs to organizations that connect business goals with human purpose.

Whether you're a CEO, HR or Talent leader, or anyone navigating the future of work, this discussion offers valuable insights into unlocking human potential in the age of AI.

Key Topics:

• The forces reshaping work and talent
• Why adaptability is the new competitive advantage
• Growth mindset vs. survival mindset
• Creating meaning, confidence, and belonging at work
• The evolving role of leaders in an AI-enabled future
• How organizations can unleash human potential while driving performance

The way we design organizations, define roles, and measure performance no longer reflects how people actually do their best work.​ In this conversation with Meg Bear – board member, patent holder, change agent, startup investor/advisor, keynote speaker, podcaster, blogger, TEDx host, and former President of SAP SuccessFactors - we explore what it takes to redesign work so it works - shifting from static structures to dynamic workflows, from compliance to agency, and rethinking how we motivate and reward meaningful value creation.

From the Breaking Through Series: Important conversations about unlocking human potential

In an era of relentless disruption, shrinking investment, and high expectations from both inside and outside the organization, today’s managers and executives are under more pressure than ever to deliver results, inspire trust, and pivot quickly — and that’s exactly what we’ll tackle in this conversation.   ​

In this installment of the Breaking Through Webinar Series entitled Manager. Leader, and Coach – Becoming All Three, Gina Cruse, executive and leadership coach, consultant, and former people leader with Edelman Financial Engines, Saba Software (now Cornerstone on Demand), Cadence Design Systems, and Business Objects (now SAP) shares practical insights to help you balance the roles of manager, leader, and coach to build stronger teams and drive lasting results. ​

3 Takeaways:​

• Step into true leadership: Go beyond managing tasks to guiding and empowering your team. ​
• Shift from Boss to Builder: Explore the mindset and skill shifts that help managers inspire, develop, and create greater impact. ​
• Close the Performance Gap: Learn how leading and coaching creates stronger engagement, resilience, and results that go beyond traditional management.​

‍Gina shared the following list of coaching questions which she alluded to in the conversation:

ACTION/ ACCOUNTABILITY/RESPONSIBILITY COACHING QUESTIONS

Questions used to support moving into action with accountability and responsibility

Questions that project into the future 

Questions that tag into the emotional side of action 

1. What do you choose to do with that information? 

2. How would improving that make you feel? 

3. Who (or what) may be available to help/support you in this? 

4. What would it take to have such a day? 

5. How willing would you be to do your part to make that happen ? 

6. If nothing changes, what will that cost you? 

7. What would be the result if you did X? 

8. Is there something you have always wanted to do but never tried? 

9. Are you moving forward in the right gear?? Is it too high/low?? How can you change gears?

10. What other resources (people or things) can you use to help you find the answer to your issue/problem/etc. 

11 How would the situation look like if you had the power of a magician? 

12. How are you planning to get there? 

13. What do you want to do with this? 

14. To succeed in your meetings starting tomorrow, what is the first thing you will make sure you don't do anymore? 

15. Who will decide? 

16. What's next? 

17. What DO you have the power to do right now? 

18. Do you want to find out that anything is possible?

19. What if . . . .?

20. What is the smallest possible step you could immediately take, in the right direction?

21. So what would have to happen for you to set it up that way?

22. How willing are you to do whatever it takes to discover the highest and best of who you are? 

23. What could you be losing, if you do nothing? 

24. What could you do to worsen this problem?

25. What have you already tried to overcome this problem? sometimes coupled with What is your own theory why you haven't been able to overcome it?

26. Have you used all the resources at your disposal? Really??? ALL of them???

27. What could you do today without anything or anyone else changing?

28. What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? 

29. What wouldn't happen if you didn't do it?

30. Imagine that you are a year or two in the future. How do you remember this day? What do you want to remember?

31. Imagine that you can do anything... what would you do in this situation? What is it that you want to achieve/accomplish? 

32. What is the best use of your time RIGHT NOW? 

33. What is the BEST use of YOUR TIME right now? 

34. If you could wave a magic wand... ( i.e. "what would this situation look like?" or "what would you be doing?" or...) 

35. Who is in control? Who decides?

‍Adapted from Powerful Coaching questions From ICF group members on LinkedIn

This installation of the Breaking Through Webinar Series includes a powerful conversation with Ravin Jesuthasan, renowned futurist and bestselling author of Work Without Jobs and The Skills-Powered Organization. We explore a new work operating system designed to drive performance, agility, and innovation at scale. As AI, workforce expectations, and business models rapidly evolve, Ravin shares a bold vision for deconstructing jobs, dynamically redeploying talent, and reconstructing new ways of working to thrive in a world of constant change.
 
 3 Takeaways:
 - Work Reimagined
 - Productivity Overdrive - Human + AI Collaboration
 - Lessons. Insights. Directives for leaders and HR

As AI continues to rapidly transform work of all sorts, employee development is no longer optional—it’s a strategic imperative. Yet too often Individual Development Plans (IDPs) fall short, becoming little more thana formality or a box to check off among many. Our discussion will focus on the opportunity and mind shift for elevating IDPs into inspiring, energizing growth journeys—for individuals and organizations alike. View our conversation with Veronica (Roni) Jacknow, leadership coach, public speaker/facilitator, wellness advocate, and former senior people leader at Kaiser Permanente and Charles Schwab.

 Three takeaways:

- Why individual development is a priority

- Best practices in laying a solid foundation

- What commitment to real development looks like for all involved

Watch our exclusive fireside chat with Stephan Meier, renowned behavioral economist and author of "The Employee Advantage: How Putting Workers First Helps Business Thrive". Discover why forward-thinking leaders are shifting from a customer-first to a people-first strategy—and how this change is unlocking innovation, retention, and business growth. In this conversation, Stephan shares a practical framework for building human-centric workplaces and real-world examples of organizations thriving with an employee-first mindset.

Three takeaways:

- How an employee-centric approach drives measurable business outcomes

- Key mindsets and factors necessary to embrace

- Leading organizations putting this approach into action

Listen to a dynamic discussion with Sandra Loughlin, Chief Learning Scientist, EPAM Systems, to hear how leading organizations are transforming talent strategies through a skills-based approach—especially as AI reshapes work at every level. Discover what it takes to stay future-ready, from building a business case to measuring potential and unlocking internal mobility.

Things you'll hear:

- How EPAM's skill-based model has evolved

- Importance of the business case

- What you need to get started

The first installment in our Breaking Through Series features Rick Mirabile, PhD discussing Anticipatory Thinking. Different than strategic thinking, this capability is one which enables leaders to see what others do not see, to imagine how unexpected events might affect plans and strategies, and to create readiness and adaptive mindsets for what might happen.

As AI rapidly reshapes how work gets done, most organizations are focused on technology adoption but missing the real constraint: an outdated HR operating model. In this Breaking Through Series session, Alex Zea, who leads People & Digital Transformation at GE Healthcare and previously served as Senior Principal and HR Digital Transformation Innovation Leader at Mercer, shares why she made the leap from advisor to operator, and what it takes to rewire HR and other supporting functions for a world of human–machine teaming.
   
   Key takeaways:
   
   - AI Isn’t the Hard Part, the Operating Model Is: Why legacy functional structures are now the biggest barrier to realizing AI’s value and what leaders misunderstand about readiness
   
   - Human–Machine Teams Are the New Unit of Work: How work must be redesigned when machines become collaborators, not just tools and what humans should    focus on (and stop doing) in this new model
   
   - HR’s Future Role: Steward of Humanity: Why HR must move from service delivery to stewardship protecting trust, judgment, dignity, and purpose as AI becomes embedded in how work gets done.