What if the real challenge with AI is not the technology, but how humans respond to change?

In this episode, Jason Averbook sits down with Al Dea, Founder of The Edge of Work, to unpack what talent, learning, and HR leaders are really experiencing as AI, transformation, and constant change collide in today’s workplace.

Drawing from dozens of deep conversations with senior talent and learning leaders, Al shares what is top of mind right now. From change fatigue and fear, to middle manager overload, to why most organizations are using AI for efficiency instead of redesigning work itself. They explore why humans are wired to survive rather than thrive during change, why mindset matters more than tools, and what leaders must focus on to build resilient, human-centered organizations in an AI-driven world.

This conversation goes beyond hype to examine leadership, agency, curiosity, and the deeply human skills that will matter most as work continues to evolve.

In this timely solo episode of Now to Next, Jason Averbook takes on a feeling many people are struggling to name. A sense that the usual paths around education, careers, and work no longer feel clear, especially as families come together during the holidays.

Drawing from conversations with executives, parents, students, and mid career professionals, Jason explains why this moment is not about jobs disappearing or people falling behind. It is about the loss of a shared map for how we plan our futures.

Questions that once had straightforward answers no longer do. What should I study? Is college still the right choice? Am I behind, or just early? Instead of framing this uncertainty as a problem, Jason reframes it as awareness. A sign that people are paying attention to how work is really changing.

He argues that the biggest gap today is not skills. It is agency. The ability to notice what is shifting, make informed choices, and move forward without waiting for permission.

What if your organization is already running on a new operating model—and no one realizes it yet?

In this third solo episode, Jason unpacks two major reports from OpenAI and NTT Data and explains why they signal the biggest shift in how work gets done since the internet. He breaks down the invisible rewiring happening across enterprise workflows, the widening gap emerging between workers who use AI and those who don’t, and why HR must now become the architects of augmented work. This episode is a practical, urgent call for leaders to rethink how they design work, empower their people, and build momentum in an AI-shaped world.

What if the most important shift in education isn’t more degrees — but earlier, real-world experience?

In this conversation, Jason sits down with Alexandra Levit, renowned futurist and author, and Stephanie Loeck, VP of Strategic Development at GPS Education Partners, to discuss their groundbreaking new book, Make School Work.

From redefining what “success” looks like to bridging the broken signal between schools and employers, this conversation uncovers why the traditional college-or-bust mindset is becoming obsolete, how students can build confidence and agency through real-world experiences, and what needs to change—urgently—to prepare the next generation for the world ahead.

Is the world of work experiencing a normal cycle—or are we in the middle of a true workforce reckoning?

In this solo episode of Now to Next, Jason Averbook breaks down the four converging forces that are reshaping work faster than organizations can respond: collapsing workforce engagement, real-time job and skills restructuring, and the breakdown of the early-career pipeline.

Jason calls this moment the “November 2025 Reckoning”—not because of hype, but because the data, signals, and lived experiences from leaders around the world show that organizations are hitting a wall. And it’s not AI causing the storm; AI is only accelerating cracks that were already forming.

Speaking directly and candidly, Jason offers clarity on what’s happening, why it matters, and what leaders must do now to prepare their workforce for what’s coming next.

As technology and AI reshape how organizations work, what happens when we react too late?

In this episode of Now to Next, Jason Averbook sits down with Alexandra Zea, HR Digital Transformation Leader at Mercer, to talk about the danger of waiting for certainty before acting — and how to make sure people don’t become the collateral of change.

Drawing on her experience helping organizations rethink HR strategy, operating models, and digital transformation, Alex shares why readiness isn’t about speed alone — it’s about balance, governance, and leading with humanity as technology accelerates.

As organizations everywhere race to adopt AI, what does it take to lead with humanity at the center?

In this episode of Now to Next, Jason Averbook sits down with Patricia Frost, Chief People and Places Officer at Seagate Technology, to discuss how leaders can build trust, courage, and connection in an era defined by technology.

Drawing from her 32-year career in the U.S. Army and her leadership of Seagate’s 30,000+ global employees, Patricia shares her lessons on leading with empathy through uncertainty — and how Seagate is helping every employee embrace the power of AI, without losing the human touch.

What happens when curiosity becomes the most powerful skill of the future?

In this episode of Now to Next, Jason sits down with Chris Maurio, Vice President of Solutions at Argano, to explore how AI is reshaping the way we work, parent, and think. From building his first database in HR to helping his six-year-old son design an app, Chris shares a deeply human perspective on innovation, digital literacy, and trust in an AI-powered world.

When the world changes faster than ever before — do we truly want exponential change, or are we still thinking in increments?

In this conversation, Jason Averbook sits down with Adam Holton, Chief People Officer at GE HealthCare, to explore what it really means to lead, coach, and stay human in an age defined by artificial intelligence. From his days as a Marine and basketball coach to his role leading one of the world’s most impactful healthcare organizations, Adam shares how curiosity, courage, and a willingness to “get dirty” with new technology are shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

How do we move from AI hype to real, useful change at work?

In this episode, Jason sits down with Johannes Sundlo, HR practitioner, speaker, and creator of FullStack HR, to unpack what “practical AI” really means for the future of work. A former HR leader at Spotify, Johannes shares how small, low-risk experiments can create big impact — and why curiosity is the most underrated skill for navigating constant change. From reskilling and automation to leading with experimentation, this episode offers a playbook for turning AI anxiety into action.