Kelly Jones is the Chief People Officer at Cisco, where she is shaping the future of work and redefining HR in the age of AI. In this episode, Kelly shares insights from her recent blog post on the four transformative trends shaping HR in 2025, including hyper-personalized employee experiences, continuous learning, soft skills as power skills, and well-being as a business imperative. 

During this conversation, Kelly discusses the evolving role of HR leaders in driving AI adoption, fostering resilient workforces, and redefining leadership in a hybrid world of humans and AI. Finally, Kelly also offers practical advice for HR professionals on how to bring leaders along in change efforts and ensure people remain at the center of transformation.

Links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellykjones/
• https://blogs.cisco.com/news/four-transformative-trends-shaping-hr-in-2025

Heather Dunn is the Chief People Officer at Brex, a modern day financial platform. In this conversation, Heather shares her insights from participating at Transform on the "Next Gen Leader" panel and how Brex is rethinking leadership development, prioritizing mindsets over traditional skill rubrics. 

During this conversation, Heather shares the company’s shift toward simplification, differentiated talent strategies, and how they’re supporting high-potential employees through top talent programs. Heather also offers a sneak peek into Brex’s evolving talent flywheel, and how the flywheel supports Brex’s employee value proposition in both attracting and retaining talent.

Links

• Heather Dunn's Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hedunn/
• Transform: https://transform.us/

Tina Gupta is the SVP of Talent Management at New York Life Insurance Company, where she leads efforts to transform how employees develop and grow within the organization. In this episode of The Edge of Work, Tina shares insights into New York Life’s ongoing transformation and the role of talent in driving change. She discusses the company’s Career Hub initiative, which leverages AI to help employees navigate career growth, upskilling, and internal mobility. Tina also highlights the evolving role of managers, the importance of a connected talent strategy, and how AI is shaping the future of work.

Links

• Tina’s LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-gupta-4616b49/

Brian Elliott is the CEO of Work Forward and an expert in the workplace strategy space. In this conversation, Brian shares insights from his work with organizations on flexible work, the ongoing return-to-office debate, and how trust impacts productivity and adoption of generative AI. 

We also explore how companies are intentionally designing in-person gatherings and why aligning on outcomes—not just activity—is essential for success in the modern workplace. A timely, thought-provoking conversation on what it takes to lead and work effectively in 2025 and beyond.

Links

• Newsletter: https://theworkforward.substack.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belliott/
• Transform: https://transform.us/

Betsy Summers is a Principal Research Analyst at Forrester Research, covering HR and the future of work. In this episode, Betsy joins host Al Dea to explore the rapidly evolving workplace landscape, from AI’s impact on jobs to the shifting role of HR as a strategic driver of business success. They discuss the challenges HR leaders face in adapting to AI, the growing demand for leadership and management skills, and how organizations can better align talent strategies with business needs. Betsy also shares insights from her research on skills intelligence, workforce planning, and the future of coaching in an AI-driven world.

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsyasummers/ 
• Forrester: https://www.forrester.com/analyst-bio/betsy-summers/BIO16384 

Jenny Wood is a former Google Executive and the author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It. In this episode, Jenny shares her inspiring journey of launching the groundbreaking "Own Your Career" initiative at Google, a movement that empowered thousands of employees to take charge of their professional paths. 

During the conversation, Jenny shares some key career advice from the book including, including redefining traits like courage, influence, and authenticity to advance in a competitive workplace. Jenny also shares practical strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating office dynamics, and standing out through bold actions. 

Links

• Website: https://itsjennywood.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyilles/
• Book: https://itsjennywood.com/book

This week, we are live in Las Vegas with 4,000 other professionals across the HR and people ecosystem at the Transform Conference. In this episode, we share two of our interviews with leaders across the HR Ecosystem to find out what’s on their mind and what’s going on in the world of work. Listen in to this conversation to hear perspectives from Kyle Forrest (Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP) and Rebecca Stern (Senior Director, Leadership Development and Interim CLO, Udemy.)

Links

• Kyle Forrest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleforrest/
• Rebecca Stern: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccastern12/
• Transform: https://transform.us/

In this special episode of The Edge of Work, host Al Dea launches a new segment called Work in Progress. In this episode, he is joined by returning guests Shonna Waters and Angela Cheng-Cimini to explore the intersection of AI and leadership development. Together, they discuss the latest research and insights on how AI is shaping leadership, the challenges of adoption, and the opportunities it presents for developing leaders. From personalized learning to AI-driven coaching, they unpack what’s happening now and what’s ahead. Plus, they debate the risks of over-reliance on AI and its impact on critical thinking. Don’t miss this insightful conversation on the future of leadership in an AI-driven world.

Links

• Angela’s Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-cheng-cimini/
• Shonna’s Profile:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shonna-waters/ 
• Article 1: https://brandonhall.com/how-to-leverage-ai-technology-to-improve-leadership-development-effectiveness/
• Article 2: https://time.com/charter/7210141/davos-ai-leadership/
• Article 3: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/uploads/prod/2025/01/lee_2025_ai_critical_thinking_survey.pdf

David Burkus is a Leadership and Teamwork expert, keynote speaker, and author of Best Team Ever. During this conversation, David shares key insights from his book Best Team Ever on what makes teams thrive in today's workplace. We explore the science behind high-performing teams, the critical role of psychological safety, and why work is increasingly about collaboration. Plus, David breaks down practical strategies for leading cross-functional teams, building social capital, and fostering a culture where everyone contributes their best. 

• Website:https://davidburkus.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidburkus/

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/