Change and transformation is the theme for 2025. 53% of CEOs believe their company will not exist in ten years, with iconic brands like Starbucks, Boeing, Nike, Intel, Southwest, and Target going through turnarounds. And 93% of CEOs believe AI will totally transform their operating model. (PwC CEO Survey.)

At the same time we’re witnessing a massive “change management” push in the US Federal Government, driven by 200+ executive orders and other communications. The big issue i discuss is “will this form of change even work?” Do “Executive Orders” help people understand and embrace mandates for change?

While political change is not the right model for business, I want to point out how risky this approach may be. Putting aside political issues themselves, I think we’re about to learn a big lesson on “how to create enduring change.” Yes, sometimes things have to happen fast, but in most cases culture is built over years and individuals must be included in the process.

And that goes for AI transformation too, as I discuss in the podcast.

If you want to learn more about the topic of change, I encourage you to check out our Josh Bersin Academy program “Change Agility.”

And please read my book Irresistible, which is now one of the highest rated business books on Amazon.

Additional Information

Despite Political Firestorm, Diversity Investments Are Alive And Well

The Rise Of The Superworker: Delivering On The Promise of AI

Elevating Equity: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

Get Galileo®, The Essential AI Assistant For Everything HR

Jim Hemgen, Director of Talent Development at Booz Allen Hamilton, talks with Kathi Enderes about how the company creates validated skills across hundreds of domains, including AI.

This success story defines the journey for every company. Using skills validation provided by Workera, and content from Udemy and HackerRank, Booz Allen has created a highly trusted, validated skills process that credentials employees in a trusted and verified manner. And Jim explains how he works with these vendors to put together a powerful, working solution.

As you’ll hear, the key to success is engaging managers (and employees) to encourage learning and focus on the most important new skills. Jim also describes how story-telling and rewards contribute to the company’s success in ongoing skills development. Today more than one third of Booz Allen staff have completed validated credentials for their career.

Sign up today for our newest course “Building a Skills Strategy that Works,” filled with case studies and a step-by-step guide to skills-based learning, recruiting, development, and career management.

Additional Information

How To Take A Pragmatic (and winning) Approach To Skills

The Rise of the Superworker: Delivering On The Promise Of AI

AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

In this conversation, I discuss the DEI firestorm, the evolution and current state of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the corporate world, the alarming decline in trust towards businesses, and the necessity for companies to reinvent themselves in the face of changing market dynamics and the rise of the ‘super worker’. I also explain how much of our HR research is now clearly playing out in the PwC CEO Survey, which puts a financial picture on much of our HR and workplace research.

Takeaways

Important Resources

The Rise Of The Superworker: Delivering On The Promise of AI

January 28 Predictions Webinar

Edelman Trust Barometer 2025

PwC 2025 CEO Survey

Get Galileo®, The Essential AI Assistant For Everything HR

In this podcast I explain the four-stages of AI transformation and detail why and how “AI Pacesetters” will far outperform others in their AI business transformations. The Rise of the Superworker research explains this in more detail.

The Rise of the Superworker predictions report is available to all users of Galileo, The Josh Bersin Academy, or Corporate Members. (A Galileo Pro membership is only $39 per month, and JBA membership is $49 per month.)

If you want to learn more and follow our ongoing case studies, briefs, and AI tools, download the Rise of the Superworker Overview today. You will be registered for regular updates. And please register for our launch webinar where I will detail this entire story.

Chapters

00:00 The Super Worker Effect and AI Transformation

Additional Information

Digital Twins, Digital Employees, And Agents Everywhere

AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

How do you deliver on the promise of AI in your team, your company, and your career? Welcome to The Rise of the Superworker, our new research on the organizational adoption of AI. This research explains how organizations and leaders can redesign work, jobs, and customer experiences to deliver on the promise of AI.

And as you’ll hear, job opportunities will expand for everyone. AI is not a technology to eliminate jobs, rather its a platform to empower every role. And the result will be orders of magnitude improvements in revenue, productivity, service, and creativity.

Download the Infographic overview here.

You can get the detailed report by subscribing to our AI platform Galileo, joining The Josh Bersin Academy, or our joining our Corporate Membership.

Additional Information

The Rise of the Superworker: In-Depth Article

AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

Galileo Professional, The AI Assistant for Everything HR

How do you build precision leadership skills at scale? Kendra Goldbas, Global Head of Learning & Development at PayPal, describes the world-class new manager development program at PayPal, MAPS (Managing at PayPal Successfully).

During the pandemic PayPal grew rapidly and needed a world-class leadership development program for remote leaders. The MAPS program, which is based on “learn | practice | teach,” builds managerial skills quickly.

The program starts with a 6-week cohort based learning experience covering technical and leadership topics, and then encourages leaders to focus on a six-month precision development journey. By encouraging leaders to focus on “one major skill,” the company creates a high level of accountability and continuous growth.

The company uses Growthspace’s precision development platform to personalize leadership skills across the entire company.

Additional Information

The Surprising Facts About Leadership Development, Human-Centered Leadership,

Why Are Some Companies More Dynamic Than Others?

Leading with impact: How PayPal is shaping its new managers with Growthspace

Welcome to 2025, where I discuss the five big challenges ahead. These include (1) economic uncertainties, bifurcated labor market, (2) the impact of AI on the workforce and the Rise of Superworkers, (3) the new “soup” of issues in employee experience, which lands in HR’s lap, (4) the changing nature of leadership and leadership development, and (5) the urgent need to HR transformation from the inside out.

Every CEO, CHRO, and individual HR professional is going to deal with these five challenges, and I hope this roadmap helps you prioritize your time in the year ahead. Remember that Galileo, The Josh Bersin Academy, and our corporate membership services are here to help!

Additional Resources

A Tumultuous Year Behind: A Challenging, Important 2025 (the 2025 article in detail)

Introducing The AI Trailblazers! HR Technology Outlook 2025.

AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

Introducing Systemic HR®

The Road to AI-Powered Productivity: Four Stages of Transformation

Galileo Professional, The AI Assistant for Everything HR

Systemic HR and Galileo are registered trademarks of The Josh Bersin Company.

Welcome to 2025. Today I give you a sneak preview of Galileo as a voice assistant, powered by our upcoming mobile app. And I give you a preview of your enormous 2025 role in embracing, adopting, and optimizing the use of AI in your company.

I highlight three major themes for the year. First, the use of intelligent agents in your own work throughout HR; second, the new world of “productivity-based job design,” which will create enormous changes in job titles, roles, structures, and skills; third, the exciting new dynamic cultural shifts required in organizations to facilitate this transformation.

Throughout this conversation I discuss many of the “100 Use Cases for Galileo in HR” which details many of the exciting innovations you can bring to your company this year.

And at the end I share a brief conversation I had with Galileo, the AI-Powered Assistant for Everything HR.

Additional Resources

How AI Will Revolutionize The HR Department, In Detail. E205 (Podcast)

Digital Twins, Digital Employees, And Agents Everywhere

Introducing The AI Trailblazers! HR Technology Outlook 2025.

Can AI Do Performance Reviews? Rippling Says Yes.

AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

Galileo Professional, The Essential AI Assistant for Everything HR

In this discussion I reflect on the significant events and trends of 2024, highlighting the impact of global conflicts, economic change, labor market dynamics, and the transformative role of AI in organizations.

What has changed? I discuss the evolving nature of DEI, the new model of leadership which emerged, and the transformation of HR into a more integrated and essential function within businesses.

I also describe the two-edged labor market, with severe labor shortages in hourly and blue collar work yet a lack of opportunities in white collar jobs. In fact I argue that our employment situation is not as happy as one may believe: the hyper low unemployment at the low end is masking unemployment fears among white collar workers.  And as I discuss, 77% of employees are now fearful that AI could negatively impact their jobs and careers.

I also point out the enormous opportunity for AI-driven change in 2025, which will not be easy or simple for companies to adopt. And I celebrate the central role of HR, moving to the Systemic HR© model ahead.

To all our listeners: stay tuned for our major report on “The Rise of the Superworker” coming in January, an in-depth discussion about the 15 imperatives for change and AI transformation in 2025.

This groundbreaking report and related tools will be available to Galileo users and our corporate members. Sign up for Galileo today.

Key Points

Chapters

Additional Resources

100 Amazing Use-Cases for Galileo, The AI-Powered Assistant For Everything HR

AI in HR: Certificate Program in The Josh Bersin Academy

The Road to AI-Powered Productivity: Four Stages of Transformation

Digital Twins, Digital Employees, And Agents Everywhere

Adecco: Adapting to an AI-Driven World of Work

Note: Systemic HR© is now a registered trademark of The Josh Bersin Company.

How has Deel grown from zero to 4,500 employees in 100 countries in less than five years? It’s an amazing story of hyperscale growth and passionate customer focus. In today’s podcast Alex Bouaziz, CEO of Deel, talks with Kathi Enderes about his own journey from environmental engineer to founder of an HR tech company.

Alex explains how he started Deel as an EOR (Employer of Record) company, and how the company has expanded into HCM and payroll around the world. He explains the EOR market and what global employment providers do, and also discusses their AI assistant, Deel AI, which can help answer any question by pulling from Deel’s knowledge base.

Additional Information

EOR Provider Deel Expands into HCM

HR Tech Workshop Certificate Program | Josh Bersin Academy

AI HR Tech Trailblazers, 2025 HR Tech Outlook