HR Happy Hour 316 - Thinking about AI and Personalized Experiences with IBM

Sponsored by Virgin Pulse

Host: Steve Boese

Guest Host: Madeline Laurano

Guests: Bob Schultz, IBM; Gail Blum, NBCUniversal

This week on the HR Happy Hour Show, Steve recorded live at IBM's Think Conference in Las Vegas, a massive event that brings together over 30K IBM customers, partners, and employees to talk and 'Think' about the future of work, business, and technology. In Part 1 of the podcast, Steve talks with Bob Schultz, General Manager of IBM's Watson Talent Business, to discuss what IBM is working on in the HR technology space - with a heavy dose of their AI intelligent Watson technology. We also talked about how AI can actually help create more personal, human, and tailored experiences for employees and candidates at scale. IBM has some of the most interesting technology in the space, and it was enlightening to catch up on what they've been doing.

In Part 2 of the podcast, Steve welcomes guest host Madeline Laurano to talk with Gail Blum from NBCUniversal (the organization behind many of your favorite TV networks, shows, and more), about talent attraction, talent branding, and creating personal and meaningful candidate experiences. Even the world's most well-known and desirable brands like NBCUniversal have to compete hard for talent, and with the increased digitization of their business, they are now competing against more (especially tech) companies for talent. Gail shared some great insights about how they are approaching these challenges.

We also talked Top Chef, This Is Us, and the Winter Olympics, and knitting.

This was a fun show - thanks to IBM for having us out at Think.

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