In this episode of the HRchat Show, Bill Banham talks with Douglas Leach about the upcoming Disrupt London and HR Analytics Summits. 

Doug's journey to founding the HR Analytics Summit reads like a masterclass in entrepreneurial resilience. Launching his venture in October 2019 - mere months before a global pandemic would shut down in-person events worldwide - Doug faced what seemed like insurmountable challenges. But as he reveals in this captivating conversation, what initially appeared disastrous ultimately became advantageous.

"Not every disaster is a disaster," Doug shares, explaining how multiple postponements created extended marketing windows that drove registrations. By the time the event finally happened in 2021, it had completely sold out. Even a venue cancellation one month before the show transformed into a blessing when they secured the prestigious Brewery venue at a discount, accommodating their larger-than-expected audience.

The discussion dives into the current people analytics landscape, revealing surprising disparities in implementation maturity. While some organizations operate sophisticated systems seeking marginal improvements, others – including unexpectedly large companies – still rely heavily on Excel. Doug offers a memorable analogy: "Big companies are oil tankers, small companies are speedboats," explaining why smaller, more agile organizations often implement modern analytics solutions more efficiently than their enterprise counterparts struggling with legacy systems.

Artificial intelligence emerges as a central theme throughout the conversation. Doug and Bill highlight the significant challenge organizations face when implementing AI: employee skepticism and fear of replacement. The discussion ventures into thought-provoking territory when addressing Bill Gates' recent prediction that AI might enable two-day workweeks. While acknowledging the potential benefits, Doug raises important questions about economic implications, as he imagines shareholders saying: "If we can get away with having two days a week work, why should we be paying people for five days?"

Connect with Doug on LinkedIn or at hranalyticssummit.com to learn more about his work transforming the people analytics landscape.

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