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/)

In this short “Three Big Questions” bonus episode of Talent in the Age of AI, host Jason Keese is joined by leadership and entrepreneur Bill Gallagher to discuss how leaders can build real AI capability on their teams without waiting for a definitive training program. Bill argues that traditional certification-style AI training is premature because tools and use cases change so quickly, and that teams build confidence through frequent experimentation, idea sharing, and the direct application of AI to everyday work. He describes what good AI use looks like in practice—using it for client planning, proposals, translation, purchasing decisions, and event planning—by trying it in the moment and switching tools when needed. Bill also warns that AI can worsen busyness by pulling people into endless “what if” rabbit holes, and emphasizes the importance of knowing when to stop, shift, and move on.

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:28 Meet Bill Gallagher - Founder and Scaling Coach

01:12 The Importance of Building AI Skills

03:31 AI in Daily Work

06:03 Avoiding the Busy Trap and Overthinking of AI

07:45 Practical Tool Mindset

08:51 Subscribe and Closing

Leaders don’t need perfect AI training programs—they need to start experimenting, learning in real time, and encouraging their teams to use AI in everyday work.

Credits:

Connect with the Guests;

Bill Gallagher;

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billgall/
2. Website: https://scalingcoach.com/

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/)

In this episode, we’re joined by Maiven Collective co-founders Emily Skeen and Kate Telge, who are on a mission to bridge the 20–25% gender gap in AI adoption. They discuss their holistic approach—combining AI literacy, business development, and nervous system support—to help women overcome adoption barriers like trust and security concerns while building the future of tech.

The conversation dives into Maiven’s "Founder Foundations Challenge," a six-week cohort that helps entrepreneurs validate ideas using AI automations, financial modeling, and custom AI accountability coaches. Emily and Kate also share practical advice on prompt quality ("crap in, crap out") and the importance of experimenting across different tools to ensure accuracy and security in a corporate setting.

Looking ahead, Maiven Collective aims to build a comprehensive ecosystem for women founders from ideation to exit, challenging traditional "growth-at-all-costs" models. They encourage listeners to lean into experimentation and visit maivencollective.com to learn more about their upcoming cohorts and the AI Ethics Social Club.

Episode Timestamps;

00:00 Podcast Intro

00:28 Meet Maiven Collective

02:08 Why Women In AI

03:27 The AI Adoption Gap

04:32 Trust And Mindset Barriers

05:55 Six Week Founder Challenge

07:22 Safe Cohort Community

08:21 AI Ethics For Corporations

13:06 Ad Break And Membership

13:42 Prompts And LLM Basics

18:05 Experimentation Builds Confidence

19:40 Founder Ecosystem And Exits

22:07 Closing, Thanks And Outro

Credits:

Connect with the Guests;

Emily Skeen

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-skeen/
2. Website: https://www.maivencollective.com/

Kate Telge

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-telge/
2. Website: https://www.maivencollective.com/

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/)

In this episode of the Talent in the Age of AI podcast, host Wendy interviews Dr. Jenny Murnane-Rainey, a professor of finance and management with a rich background in talent development. The discussion focuses on bridging the application of AI from the education sector to the workplace. Dr. Rainey shares her insights on how AI is revolutionizing both fields by enhancing critical thinking and emotional intelligence, despite the challenges and ethical considerations involved.

They explore how educational institutions and organizations can collaborate to better prepare students for the AI-enhanced work environment. The episode also delves into recent studies on AI's impact on neural engagement and the future job market, emphasizing the importance of human skills such as resilience, creative thinking, and adaptability alongside technical literacy.

Episode Timestamps;

00:00 Welcome to Talent in the Age of AI + Introducing Dr. Jenny Murnane-Rainey

02:23 Bridging AI from Education to the Workplace: The “Help Us Help You” Theme

06:25 Why Banning AI Doesn’t Work: Adoption, Policies, and Real-World Use

09:54 Internal/Private AI Models: Knowledge Bases, Trust, and Confidentiality

11:28 Prompting as a Skill: From Proposals to the Rise of the Prompt Engineer

13:52 Do Students Really ‘Get’ AI? Stereotypes, Creativity, and Better Prompts

17:11 The MIT 2025 Study: AI Use, Brain Engagement, and Critical Thinking Risks

20:44 Future of Jobs (WEF): The Human Skills That Matter Most in an AI World

23:14 Future-Proofing Through Partnerships: How HR & Higher Ed Can Meet in the Middle

29:22 Closing Thoughts + Next Steps: Webinar Plans and Final Thanks

As we navigate the intersection of human intuition and artificial intelligence, the conversation doesn’t have to end here. Connect with our guest and stay plugged into the future of talent at the links below.

Credits:

Connect with the Guests;

Dr. Jenny Murnane-Rainey

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifermurnane/

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/)

In this episode of Talent in the Age of AI, host Wendy Wiseman talks with Eric Strandt about his study on cross-cultural differences in AI acceptance. The discussion explores how leaders from Eastern and Western cultures differ in their motivation and ease of adopting AI. Eric highlights the importance of organizational support and social influence in the East, while ease of use and perceived usefulness are key drivers in the West. The episode also delves into the ethical considerations and the impact of AI on different levels of employee adoption. Tune in to gain insights into how organizations can effectively implement AI, considering these cultural nuances.

Episode Timestamps;

00:00 Introduction to Talent in the Age of AI

00:48 Meet Eric Strandt: AI Acceptance Across Cultures

03:06 Key Findings: Western vs. Eastern AI Adoption

07:02 Practical Implications for Organizations

11:11 Future Studies and Generational Differences

11:39 Addressing Common AI Concerns

19:43 Ethics, Privacy, and Human Oversight in AI

24:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Credits:

Connect with the Guests;

Eric Strandt:

1. Publication: https://bit.ly/4raypNa

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/)

In this episode of Talent in the Age of AI, host Wendy Weisman welcomes Dr. Sharon Spano, an executive coach and consultant specializing in maximizing human potential in business and life. The conversation dives into how AI can inform career trajectories, spur innovation, and aid in value and pricing strategies. Dr. Spano shares her personal experiences with AI, emphasizing its role as a brainstorming partner and confidence booster. The episode provides actionable insights for HR professionals and leaders on using AI to enhance communication, creativity, and employee development.

Episode Timestamps;

00:00 Introduction to Talent in the Age of AI

00:28 Meet Your Host and Today's Guest: Dr. Sharon Spano

01:12 Career Trajectory and AI

18:00 Innovation Through AI

27:05 Valuing Time and Strengths with AI

33:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, Follow, and Share!

Credits:

Connect with the Guests;

Dr. Sharon Spano

1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/
2. Website: https://sharonspano.com/

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/)