In this solo episode of The Edge of Work, Al Dea explores what it really takes to lead change in today’s fast-moving workplace. Drawing from over 25 interviews with senior talent and learning leaders, Al shares six practical, people-centered practices to help leaders guide change more effectively. Whether it's launching a new initiative, navigating a transformation, or adapting to constant disruption, Al walks through a handful of tactical ways to lead with empathy, clarity, and confidence to lead change during uncertain times.

Links

• Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/
• Work With Al Dea: https://al-dea.com/speaking/

Tasha Eurich is a Principal of The Eurich Group, a New York Times bestselling author, and an executive coach to top leaders around the world. In this episode of The Edge of Work, Tasha joins Al Dea to discuss her latest book, Shatterproof: How to Thrive in a World of Constant Chaos and Why Resilience Alone Isn’t Enough. They explore why the traditional notion of resilience falls short in today’s workplace, how grit gaslighting holds high performers back, and why self-awareness and purpose are critical for navigating constant change. Tasha also introduces the “shatterproof” framework, a science-backed, four-step roadmap for not just surviving chaos, but growing through it.

Links

• Website: https://www.tashaeurich.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashaeurich/
• Book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/tasha-eurich/shatterproof/9780316566551/

Jayney Howson is the Senior Vice President and Head of Global Learning & Development at ServiceNow, where she leads ServiceNow University, an innovative, AI-powered learning platform designed to unlock skill development at scale. In this episode Jayney joins Al Dea to discuss how learning is evolving in the age of AI, why human transformation is essential to business transformation, and how ServiceNow is reimagining learning across its entire ecosystem of employees, customers, and partners.

Links

• Jayney Howson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayney-howson-05677a23/
• Al Dea: https://www.al-dea.com/ 
• ServiceNow University: https://learning.servicenow.com/now/lxp/home

In this solo episode of The Edge of Work, Al Dea shares early insights from his summer research interviews with 20+ senior talent and learning leaders at Fortune 1000 companies. He reveals four key themes shaping their top priorities today: leadership and manager development, AI-driven enablement, change and transformation, and systemic talent and learning. Al also shares insights into what leaders explores what leaders wish they could prioritize and what outdated practices they’re ready to sunset. 

Links

• Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/
• Work With Al Dea: https://al-dea.com/speaking/

Note: This is a replay of one of our most popular episodes from this year

Dani Johnson is the Co-Founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research. During this conversation, Dani shares some of her observations and insights from some of her recent conversations and research on the topic of L&D Strategy, the shifting role L&D has within organizations and the implications for learning and talent leaders. Dani also shares some of her thoughts on the potential implications of AI, the ever-present but evolving conversation about the importance of aligning learning to business needs, and the potential impact of AI on learning and the workplace. Finally, Dani also shares some of her thoughts on what’s new and next within the learning tech startup ecosystem.

Links

• Redthread Research: https://redthreadresearch.com/home
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-johnson/
• Dani’s LinkedIn Post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7249051389455138816/#

Note: This is a replay of one of the most popular episodes of 2025

Conor Grennan is the Dean of Students at NYU Stern and the Co-Founder and CEO of AI Mindset, an AI consulting firm. In this episode, Conor shares his insights on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace, leadership, and talent development. 

With a unique perspective from both academia and the corporate world, he discusses why AI adoption is more about mindset than technical skill, the role of HR and talent leaders in AI transformation, and how leaders can navigate this shift.

• Website: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorgrennan/

Note: This is a replay episode of one of our most popular episodes of 2025

In this solo episode of The Edge of Work podcast, host Al Dea introduces a new approach to leadership: becoming developers of talent. Al explores how managers and leaders can embrace their roles in fostering employee growth and development in the day-to-day workflow, beyond formal training programs. By offering practical strategies, lightweight tools, and actionable insights, this episode provides listeners with a fresh perspective on embedding development into their management style, empowering their teams, and boosting organizational performance. Discover how small moments can create big impacts in talent development and retention.

Links

• Al’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/
• Article: https://alsnewsletter.substack.com/p/turning-leaders-into-developers-of

Note: This is a replay episode of one of the most popular episodes from the past year

Charlene Li is an Entrepreneur, Consultant, Best-Selling Author and Keynote Speaker. As a longtime expert in studying emerging technologies and their impacts on society, business and leadership, Charlene has a keen eye for what’s new and next and it’s implications for business.

In this episode, Charlene shares her insights on AI, emphasizing its role in commoditizing knowledge and fostering innovation. They delve into the challenges of digital transformation, comparing it to past shifts driven by social media. Charlene also offers insight into where she is seeing organizations make progress in incorporating AI into their work, and highlights the importance of how leaders can think about leading during uncertain and evolving times. 

Links

• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleneli/
• Website: https://charleneli.com/

In this solo episode of The Edge of Work, Al Dea unpacks a critical skill for today’s workplace: cultivating influence. Whether you're leading a bold change initiative or simply trying to align your team around a shared goal, your ability to influence others—without formal authority—is essential. Drawing from his experience as a facilitator and consultant, Al shares a practical framework of four principles: earning trust, demonstrating credibility, navigating organizational dynamics, and engaging with empathy. 

Links

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/
• Website: https://www.al-dea.com/

Maya Razon drives Learning & Leadership Development at the Google School for Leaders. In this episode of The Edge of Work, Maya shares how her team designs transformative learning experiences for Google’s global leaders. She explores how the “inner game” of leadership, physical space, and AI integration are reshaping how leaders learn and grow in a rapidly changing world. From leveraging neuroaesthetics in learning environments to adapting leadership programs for social impact innovators, Maya discusses Google’s human-centered, research-informed approach to developing leaders.

Links:

• Maya’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maya-razon-a894343/
• ReWork Article: https://rework.withgoogle.com/en/guides/learning-development-using-science-to-enhance-learning-outcomes