Reviewing our 2023 episodes, we provide themes from the year, offering insights for those interested in the intersection of upskilling, AI, and business growth.

In episode 19 of series 4 of the Make it Work Podcast, Angela Connell-Richards, CEO of Vivacity, joins Karen Kirton and Lachy Gray to explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the training industry. Drawing on her experiences, Angela discusses the integration of generative AI, specifically ChatGPT, in education, emphasizing its role in writing materials, creating presentations, and enhancing productivity.

She shares insights on making AI personal, addresses concerns such as plagiarism, and predicts significant changes in the next 12 months. Angela underscores the importance of educators adapting to AI and highlights the need for responsible legislation to address potential misuse. Her valuable perspective offers guidance for those navigating the evolving landscape of AI in education.

Skills-based hiring and development is reshaping the way organisations attract and retain talent. By embracing skills-based roles, organisations can not only access a broader pool of talent but also foster diversity, reduce unconscious bias, and prioritise employee development and retention.

In the fast-paced world of modern workplaces, the mental health and well-being of our teams are increasingly important. Today Lachy and Karen delved into the intricacies of workplace mental health, discussing anxiety, stress, and burnout.

Discover actionable strategies for closing the gender pay gap in small businesses. To tackle this issue, we emphasise the importance of pay equity and transparency, unconscious bias, and adopting structured interviews and involving diverse perspectives in hiring decisions.

This week Lachy and Karen talk to Mark Eggers, co-founder and head of sales of Yarno, a team-based gamified learning platform that embeds information to improve your team's performance in a fun and engaging way. They discuss how Yarno embeds and reinforces information to support upskilling teams and the challenges around defining learning success.

Join the conversation

Karen and Lachy revisit one of the most popular episodes from season 3 which was about what kindness looks like in the workplace (from March 2022). They talk about what behaviors to expect in a kind workplace culture, from open and transparent conversations to empathy, respect, and consideration for others.

Learn how Outsourcing Angel empowers their team members, preventing burnout and fostering growth. Richard shares his invaluable insights on recruitment, communication, and the transformative power of progress over results.

In this episode, Lachy and Karen discuss how smaller businesses can develop their team members and consider career pathways. They highlight the importance of attracting and retaining great employees, and the value of having career conversations with employees to understand their motivations and aspirations.

How do you encourage employee development in your workplace?

Join the conversation

Both Lachy and Karen are avid readers, and set up their own book club! The first book they selected was Machines Behaving Badly by Toby Walsh, and it is the topic of discussion for today's episode. The book is about ethics and mortality in AI, a topical choice given the 'chat' around AI, right now.