As organizations rapidly adopt AI, how do leaders ensure they don’t lose sight of the most important element—the learner?

In this episode of Talent and the Age of AI, host Jason Keese sits down with Deidre Alves, Chief Learning and Leadership Officer at ExuLAB™ Global, to explore how leaders can thoughtfully navigate AI adoption while staying grounded in how people actually learn.

Deidre highlights a growing challenge: many organizations are rushing into AI tools and learning technologies without first understanding the fundamentals of human learning. She explains why experiential learning—briefing, experience, and reflection—is critical and must remain the foundation before layering in AI.

The conversation also explores the uneven pace of AI adoption across organizations and why leaders must create intentional space to pause, reflect, and assess what’s truly working.

Deidre emphasizes the importance of AI literacy—not full technical fluency—and why leaders should focus on helping teams understand how AI works, including ethical considerations and bias awareness.

She also introduces a powerful concept: avoiding “data absolutism.” While metrics and ROI matter, leaders must balance data with human experience, creativity, and the intangible “magic” that drives meaningful learning and performance outcomes.

Through real-world examples, including a powerful story about redesigning pediatric MRI experiences, this episode challenges leaders to think differently about AI, learning, and what success really looks like.

Timestamps;

00:00 Welcome & Introduction to AI in Learning and Development

02:02 Keeping the Learner First in the Rush to AI Adoption

07:59 Why Human Learning Must Come Before AI Strategy

09:20 Experiential Learning Framework: Brief, Experience, Reflect

13:31 The Shift to Contextual Learning in the Age of AI

15:38 Why AI Is Putting Human Skills Back in the Spotlight

20:08 Sponsor Break

20:39 AI Literacy vs Fluency: What Leaders Really Need to Know

24:56 AI Ethics, Bias, and Safe Experimentation Strategies

29:24 The Risk of Data Absolutism in AI Decision-Making

33:18 Metrics vs Magic: The MRI Story and Human-Centered Design

36:51 Educating Leaders on the Limits of AI Data and Metrics

39:32 Key Takeaways on AI, Learning, and Leadership + Closing

Credits:

Connect with the Guests;

Deidre Alves

• Website: https://exulab.com/

Connect with the Talent in the Age of AI;

• Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/
• Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/

Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)

What does it really take to prepare your workforce for an AI-driven future?

In this episode of Talent in the Age of AI, Wendy Wiseman sits down with Rich Douglas, principal of Rich Douglas Consulting and former Executive Director of the Human Capital Lab, to explore how AI is reshaping workforce development, learning, and leadership.

Rich brings a deep perspective from years in corporate training and talent development, tackling one of the biggest questions leaders face: How do we know employees are truly learning—and applying—new skills in an AI-powered world?

As AI continues to evolve, Rich explains that organizations must move beyond traditional learning models and rethink how they measure knowledge, build capability, and prepare employees for real-world application.

The conversation highlights how AI is not just a tool for efficiency but a catalyst for transforming how people learn, solve problems, and contribute strategically within organizations.

Episode Timestamps;

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:50 Meet Rich Douglas

01:42 Training Evaluation Problem

03:34 AI Raises Learning Bar

05:23 Why AI Is Transformative

07:42 End of Classroom Basics

08:48 Sponsor Break

09:17 Self-Serve Learning Shift

11:44 Prompts And Data Keys

14:02 Developmental Evaluation Loop

15:55 Managers Under Pressure

17:44 Rethinking Assessment For Creativity

19:53 Leading Through Complexity

22:28 Business Model Lessons

23:34 What Leaders Must Do Now

24:57 Lead With Curiosity

25:33 Bring Problems Together

26:55 Stop Blocking AI

27:30 From Learning To Performance

29:05 Rethink Credential Testing

32:11 Personal Agency With AI

35:29 AI As Confidence Coach

38:53 Global And Cultural Insight

41:44 Level The Playing Field

44:42 Beyond AI Job Titles

47:13 One Eyed Advantage

Key Takeaway

AI is forcing organizations to shift from knowledge-based learning to application-based capability, requiring leaders to rethink how they develop and measure talent.

Credits:

Connect with the Guests;

Rich Douglas:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-douglas-92b71b52/
• Website: https://richdouglasconsulting.com/

Connect with the Talent in the Age of AI;

• Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/
• Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/

Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)

How can organizations responsibly integrate AI into talent development while still preserving the human side of leadership?

In this episode of Talent in the Age of AI, host Wendy Wiseman sits down with Sarah Truchard, Manager of Talent and Leadership Development at CITGO. Sarah shares how her team is thoughtfully incorporating AI tools into leadership development, succession planning, and employee training across a workforce of more than 3,000 employees.

Rather than viewing AI as a replacement for people, Sarah explains how her team is using it to amplify leadership capabilities, improve communication, and empower employees to think more strategically.

Sarah also shares insights from CITGO’s leadership development program, Fueling Good Leaders, which combines proven leadership frameworks with practical AI experimentation to help managers navigate complex workplace conversations and performance challenges.

From AI-powered leadership simulations to real-world applications such as improving performance feedback and goal setting, Sarah explains how organizations can move beyond fear and begin experimenting with AI in practical ways.

Episode Timestamps;

00:00 Welcome to the Talent in the Age of AI podcast

00:28 Meet Sarah Truchard

02:36 CITGO Talent Scope

03:36 Why Embrace AI

04:33 Governance and Tools

05:22 CliftonStrengths with AI

07:40 Fueling Good Leaders

11:19 AI in Leadership Practice

13:13 Culture Shift and Trust

16:05 Productivity and Validation

20:14 Adoption and Goal Setting

23:22 Scaling Across Workforce

26:33 Key Takeaways and Wrap

29:06 Outro and Subscribe

Credits:

Connect with the Guests; Sarah Truchard:

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cooper-truchard-shrm-scp-acc-33983417/

Connect with the Talent in the Age of AI;

1. Website: https://talentintheageofai.com/
2. Interested in Being a Guest? https://talentintheageofai.com/contact-us/

Production: What's Good Productions: (https://whatsgood-productions.com/)