Freeformers Unplugged

Everyone's talking about AI adoption. But how do we know whether it's actually happening?

Your employees have completed their AI training. They've signed the AI policy. You've rolled out the tools.

So why isn't everyone using them?

In this episode of Freeformers Unplugged, Toby Kheng and Emilie Forrest are joined by Aylia from our partners at Thrivea to explore the difference between introducing AI into an organisation and genuinely changing how people work.

We discuss:

• Why training completion doesn't equal AI adoption
• Why signing an AI policy doesn't mean people will follow it
• How leaders can create the confidence and conditions for employees to experiment with AI
• Why understanding the barriers to adoption matters more than simply rolling out more training
• How AI can enhance people's capabilities rather than simply replace their work
• What organisations should actually measure to understand whether AI is making a difference

Because successful AI adoption isn't about how many people have access to the technology. It's about what changes as a result.

And that means looking beyond the tools to the people, behaviours and working environments that determine whether AI delivers value.

Freeformers Unplugged is our weekly conversation about making the world of work better for everyone.

In partnership with Thrivea.

Human-centred design is supposed to start with people, not a wall full of sticky notes. In this episode of Freeformers Unplugged, Toby Kheng and Emilie Forrest unpack what discovery is really for, why so much employee research collapses into generic pain points, and why the most useful thing HR and L&D teams can do is simply talk to real users. They explore how many people you actually need to interview, where AI can help with research without replacing the human conversation, why surveys rarely explain the why behind behaviour, and how teams can build a more systematic discovery process. The episode also connects directly to the thinking behind InsightCon 2027, Freeformers’ human-centred event for senior HR and L&D leaders. InsightCon tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/insightcon-tickets-1999366942346

We’re officially launching InsightCon 2027.

On 18 March 2027, we’re bringing 100 HR and L&D leaders together in London for an event built around a simple idea: if we want to design better workplaces, we need to get much better at listening to the people actually experiencing them.

Instead of four panels of the usual thought leaders, our conversations will be led by employees and their lived experiences, exploring the real problems shaping work today.

In this Freeformers Unplugged, we're going to explore why we’re doing it, what we think is wrong with the traditional HR and L&D conference model, what InsightCon will look like, and what we hope happens when HR and L&D start designing from genuine employee insight rather than assumptions.

Is it possible to care about people and still run a profitable business? In this episode, Toby reunites with Emilie Forrest to explore their new framework: the Commerciality-to-Humanity Scale. It’s not just another feel-good model—it’s a radical rethinking of what leadership balance looks like. Drawing on personal insights and philosophical provocations, they dissect how leaders can navigate both bottom lines and human lives. Spoiler: it’s not a scale, it’s a spectrum—and most of us are stuck at the extremes. If you’ve ever felt caught between numbers and nuance, this one’s for you.

Surveys are out. Stories are in. In this episode, Toby sits down with Dib Rakshit and Sonia Moore to unpack why traditional employee insight tools are fundamentally flawed—and what’s emerging in their place. From AI-powered management tools to adaptive leadership coaching, this conversation dives deep into the messy middle between data and experience. It's not just about capturing how people feel—it’s about understanding why they feel that way and what to do next. Think less spreadsheet, more storybook

Get ready to bring your wrecking ball to work. In this episode, Toby is joined by Dan Dowman as they smash through outdated cultural norms that shackle innovation and suffocate authenticity. From HR’s obsession with conformity to the corporate addiction to bland sameness, they break down why culture needs a crush—not a cosy cuddle. Expect provocations, practical metaphors, and an unapologetic case for ditching legacy mindsets in favour of something real, raw, and radically human. If your workplace culture feels like a rerun of The Office, it’s time to rewrite the script.

In this episode of Freeformers Unplugged, Toby Kheng is joined by leadership strategist and former senior police officer Kul Mahay for a raw and reflective conversation about what it really means to lead with empathy. Together, they explore the emotional weight of leadership, challenge outdated expectations of toughness, and make the case for vulnerability as a strength—not a weakness.

If you’ve ever wondered how to put human-centred leadership into actual practice (beyond the posters and policies), this one’s for you.

Toby Kheng is joined by DisruptHR legend Calli for a special preview of DisruptHR Green Bay. From Packers fandom and the story behind how a UK-based HR rebel ended up running an event in Wisconsin, to the power of the Ignite talk format and why this year’s theme — Resist — couldn’t be more timely, this episode is packed with candour, laughs, and insights for anyone tired of doing HR the “normal” way.

Expect football banter, event planning chaos, and a rallying cry for more courageous conversations in our industry.