The Edge of Work

Yolanda Seals-Coffield is Chief People & Inclusion Officer at PwC US. In this episode, Yolanda discusses how one of the world's largest professional services firms is preparing its workforce for the age of AI. During this conversation, Yolanda shares PwC's approach to AI upskilling, why human skills are becoming an even greater competitive advantage, and how the firm is reimagining apprenticeship and early career development. 

They also explore the importance of culture, continuous learning, and equipping employees with the technical, AI, and human capabilities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace. 

Links

• Yolanda’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yolanda-seals-coffield/

In this solo episode of The Edge of Work, Al Dea reflects on the biggest leadership challenges emerging from his conversations with executives and organizations this year. From the unintended consequences of AI mandates to organizational whiplash, leading without certainty, and navigating growing workforce anxiety, Al unpacks the patterns shaping today's workplace. He introduces the idea of the "liminal space," the period between outdated ways of working and a future that has yet to fully take shape, and explains why leaders must resist waiting for clarity and instead create it through action. 

Links

• Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/
• Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/

Note: This is a replay of a previous popular episode

Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Author of Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead). In this episode, Tomas challenges the conventional wisdom that authenticity is always a virtue, especially in leadership. He explains why showing up as your “whole self” can backfire, and why striving to bring your best self is a more powerful approach. Along the way, Tomas connects these ideas to his broader research on technology, AI, and the future of work.

Links

• Website: https://www.drtomas.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtomaschamorro/
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Be-Yourself-Authenticity-Overrated/dp/1647829836
• HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2025/07/why-leaders-should-bring-their-best-self-not-their-whole-self-to-work 

Note: This is a replay of a live webinar on the topic of how to lead change.

Leading change has never been more complex. In this episode, Al Dea explores why today's workplace demands a new approach to change leadership and shares practical strategies for helping people navigate uncertainty. Learn why transformation efforts often stall, how to avoid common leadership pitfalls, and what it takes to build commitment, resilience, and momentum across your team. From balancing competing priorities to leading with clarity when the future is uncertain, this conversation offers actionable insights for leaders navigating organizational change, AI transformation, and the evolving world of work.

Links

• Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/
• Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/

Note: This is a replay of a previous popular episode

Greg Satell is the Author of Cascades: How to Create a Movement That Drives Transformational Change. In this episode of The Edge of Work, Greg joins Al Dea to explore why most organizational change efforts fail and how leaders can spark lasting transformation. Drawing from his front-row experience during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution and 15 years of research, Greg shares the power of “small groups, loosely connected, united by a shared purpose” to drive cultural and behavioral change. He explains why top-down, big-bang launches often trigger resistance, how to find early adopters, and the keys to creating the right conditions for change to spread.

Links

• Website: https://gregsatell.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregsatell/
• Book: https://gregsatell.com/cascades/

Note: This is a replay of a previous popular episode

Greg Shove is the CEO of Section AI, a company helping enterprises and teams become truly AI-enabled. In this episode of The Edge of Work, Greg shares his journey of pivoting Section from an online business school to an AI-powered transformation partner. He discusses why most companies are struggling to adopt AI, the mistakes leaders make when rolling it out, and why the challenge is less about technology and more about change management. Greg also explains how AI is reshaping knowledge work, what employees and leaders need to do to stay relevant, and why the future of learning will look more like personalized coaching than traditional training.

Links

• Newsletter: https://personalmath.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregshove/
• Website: https://www.sectionai.com/ 

David Chestnut is a Principal Director of Human+AI Talent Strategy. In this episode, David joins Al to explore how AI is changing the relationship between human expertise, effort, and work itself. Drawing on his experience helping organizations adopt AI, David explains why AI is not a technology adoption challenge but a human capability challenge. During this conversation, David shares insights on developing judgment, expertise, and critical thinking in an era where outputs are increasingly easy to generate, and discusses the implications for early-career talent, learning and development, and organizational design. 

David also explores why authenticity, trust, and uniquely human perspectives may become even more valuable as AI-generated content becomes more widespread.

Links

• David’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidchestnut/
• David’s Medium Page: https://medium.com/@chestnut.david

Robin Barbacane is the Head of Talent Development and Workforce Transformation at Rackspace. In this episode, Robin joins The Edge of Work  to discuss what it takes to move beyond AI experimentation and drive enterprise-wide workforce transformation. She shares how Rackspace has approached becoming an AI-first organization, including the development of AI-powered solutions, employee-led innovation programs, and new operating models designed to embed AI into everyday work. 

During the conversation, Robin also explains why successful AI adoption is fundamentally a change management challenge, how HR can play a more strategic role in transformation, and why organizations should focus on developing new ways of thinking and working rather than simply deploying new tools. 

Links

• Robin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinbarbacane/

Kelly Monahan is an Author, Speaker and Researcher. She is the Co-Founder of Beyond The Desk, where she researches the intersection of AI, leadership, and the future of work. In this episode, Kelly shares her perspective on how organizations are navigating the growing gap between AI investment and measurable business value. 

She shares insights from her work with executives and boards, including why many organizations lack a clear AI strategy, how leadership behaviors influence adoption, and what it will take to unlock value beyond individual productivity gains. Kelly also explores the changing nature of careers, the challenges facing early-career talent, and why organizations may need to rethink leadership and even the purpose of business as AI continues to reshape work.

Links

• Kelly’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-monahan-ph-d-18879413/
• Beyond the Desk: https://www.beyondthedesk.com/ 

Melody Wilding is the Author of Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge. In this episode, Melody and Al explore why managing up is not about pleasing your boss, but about creating the clarity, influence, and support you need to do your best work. She shares practical strategies for navigating workplace relationships, aligning priorities, setting boundaries, building visibility, and taking ownership without overstepping. 

Links

• Melody’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodywilding/
• Melody’s Website: https://melodywilding.com/
• Melody’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/psychology-at-work-career-success-leadership-communication/id1762458121
• Managing Up: https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Up-What-People-Charge-ebook/dp/B0CXLSH6Y6/