On the Workestration podcast, hosts Donna Scarola and Stela Lupushor speak with Yelena Mammadova Ed.D, fresh from Davos, about three themes shaping the 2026 AI trajectory: more grounded, pragmatic AI discussions (constraints like energy and ROI, plus societal impact), leadership in “radical uncertainty,” and the widening gap between technology advancement and people readiness. Yelena argues AI value must be judged by society, not just tech companies, and emphasizes that adoption requires workflow redesign, transparency, explainability, and safe space to experiment and fail forward. She describes her role at Microsoft at the intersection of product strategy and workforce transformation, building “people products” that interpret talent using observed, declared, and increasingly powerful inferred skills from work activity signals. The conversation covers intentional talent mobility, challenges of becoming truly skills-based, and Yelena’s personal AI use via a Researcher agent while writing a book.

00:00 Introduction to the Workestration Podcast

01:25 Insights from Davos: AI and Leadership

04:53 The Role of HR in AI Transformation

08:52 Yelena's Career Journey and Role

10:37 Building AI-Powered Tools for the Workforce

18:19 AI and Skills Data: Observations and Challenges

31:40 The Future of Skills-Based Organizations

34:21 Personal Use of AI and Final Thoughts

40:10 Conclusion and Forward-Looking Statements

In this episode of the Workestration podcast, hosts Donna and Stela welcome Steve Garguilo, CEO and Founder of Cultivate, a boutique consultancy that helps science-led companies build thriving cultures. Steve draws on 15 years of experience at global giants like Johnson & Johnson, Chevron, and Mars to discuss how organizations can navigate the intersection of human behavior and emerging technology. The conversation dives deep into why culture is the prerequisite for successful AI integration and how leadership must shift from a "scarcity" to an "abundance" mindset.

In this episode of the Workestration podcast, hosts Donna and Stela welcome Douglas Rushkoff and Amar Bakshi, co-founders of Andus Labs. The conversation explores the evolving nature of work in the AI era, touching on themes such as the historical control over labor, the future of meaningful work, and the societal implications of artificial intelligence. Douglas and Amar discuss the potential for AI to restore human-centric, value-based work environments and the importance of collective action. They also reflect on how HR leaders can navigate these changes and the innovative approaches of Andus Labs in fostering a generative mindset within organizations. The discussion emphasizes the need for authenticity, human connection, and the re-imagination of value in the workplace.00:00 Team Human? Team Machine? And Us (p2) w/Douglas Rushkoff & Amar Bakshi co-founders of Andus Labs02:28 Introduction and Welcome02:38 The Changing Meaning of Work03:45 Reconnecting Work with Human Needs05:34 The Role of AI in the Future of Work06:30 Shared Studios and the Importance of Purpose10:05 The Impact of Automation on Jobs16:16 The Future of AI and Human Collaboration27:02 Building a Generative Mindset37:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mentioned in the episode is Civic: A system for public data, built on public collaboration; Technics and Civilization book by Lewis Mumford 

Douglas' Books: Team Human, Survival of the Richest, Present Shock, Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus and his Team Human podcast.

Amar's other ventures: Shared Studios, Noro, MIT center for constructive communication.

And their joint venture - Andus Labs.

In this episode of the Workestration podcast, Donna and Stela chat with Jennifer McTiernan and Chris Perry of Andus Labs, a generative AI strategy and leadership advisory firm.

Throughout the episode, the co-founders discuss their backgrounds and the personal and professional experiences that led them to establish Andus Labs. They share insights on the importance of human agency and creativity in integrating AI into the workplace, the necessity of a proactive approach to AI deployment, and the concept of generative thinking as essential for the modern work environment.

Emphasizing change management, equity, and the creation of safe spaces for innovation, this episode offers a comprehensive exploration of how to thoughtfully implement AI technologies in organizations.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:31 Meet the Co-Founders of Andus Labs

03:21 The Genesis of Andus Labs

06:25 The Role of AI in Business Transformation

12:42 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Adoption

31:18 The Importance of Generative Thinking

36:54 HR's Role in the AI Era

43:16 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

In this episode of the new season of the Workestration podcast, hosts Stela and Donna interview David Evans, founder of ArcSyne. David discusses his extensive background in B2B information services, including stints at the Corporate Executive Board, CoStar, and the White House. He details the origin of ArcSyne, a native AI-based forecasting tool designed to help strategists, planners, and analysts handle the increasing macro uncertainty facing businesses today. The conversation spans topics such as the transformative impact of AI, the changing nature of strategic planning, and the critical importance of understanding and preparing for near-horizon futures. David highlights the need for leaders to take advantage of AI for better decision-making and not discounting the need to maintain human judgment - a critical component for the unpredictable world we live in.

In this episode, Donna and Stela reconnect after a three-year hiatus, rebranding from 'An Internet of People' to 'Workestration.' The discussion focuses on the changes in work dynamics spurred by AI, including the diminishing need for entry-level jobs and the challenges of delayering management structures. The hosts explore the implications of AI on job training and the importance of human-machine collaboration. They introduce their new podcast format, aiming to bring together doers, builders, and shapers to discuss the emerging future (or should we say, present?) of work. Key topics include the controversy around automating jobs, middle management stress, and the potential for holocracy in modern workplaces. The episode closes with insights on recent AI advancements and their broader societal impacts.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back

00:33 Rebranding to Workestration

01:48 Exploring the Conductors of Work

03:29 Entry-Level Job Collapse and AI Impact

09:03 Delayering and Middle Management Challenges

14:59 Future of Work and Performance Management

19:41 Team Human vs. Team Machine

24:12 Conclusion and Call to Action