Global Skills Podcast

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Dave Hockham, Associate Head of School at the University of Greenwich, National Teaching Fellow, researcher, and education leader, to explore why creativity and human-centered skills are becoming more valuable than ever in the age of AI. Dave shares his remarkable journey from studying theatre and clowning to leading transformational...

I'm joined today by Mark Ramos, a global learning and AI transformation leader who has held senior roles at Google, Novartis, and Cornerstone, and is a Fellow at Harvard's Graduate School of Education Learning Innovation Laboratory. We talk about why human agency might be the resource under the most threat in the workplace right now, and what happens to skills, careers, and middle management as AI...

In this special solo episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I wanted to step away from my usual guest interviews and explore a question that has been sitting with me for years: if employers say they can’t find skilled people, and job seekers say they can’t find opportunities, what’s really going wrong? Drawing on my experience in recruitment, workforce transformation, and skills intelligence, I sha...

In this episode, I sit down with Thom Staight, General Manager of Global Talent Acquisition for EMEA and Asia at Microsoft, to explore how AI is reshaping hiring, careers, and the future of work. Thom shares his journey from studying history and philosophy, into recruitment, and eventually leading talent strategy inside one of the world’s biggest tech companies. We talk about the shift from tradit...

In this episode, I’m joined by Clare Dygert, a learning systems architect and chief learning strategist at SweetRush, now part of the NIIT group. We explore how AI is transforming learning, why personalized and adaptive learning is becoming essential, and what organizations need to do to truly close the skills gap. Clare shares her incredible career journey from wanting to become a school teacher...

In this episode, I’m joined by Josh Chernikoff, who has spent more than two decades (20+ years) working alongside education founders, edtech innovators, and learning leaders. Together, we explore what it really takes to turn great ideas into real impact—getting solutions not just built, but into the hands of the learners who need them most. Josh shares his unconventional journey—from struggling in...

In this episode, I sit down with Franz Gilbert, who operates at the intersection of talent, technology, and transformation. Franz shares his unconventional career journey into HR and how it shaped his perspective on building human-centered business models. We explore how learning and development is evolving beyond silos and becoming embedded directly into the flow of work, powered by AI and real-t...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Jon Allen, Head of Learning, Innovation and Research at the British Parking Association. We explore Jon’s unconventional career journey — from aspiring actor and English teacher in Brazil to recruitment, learning innovation, and shaping professional pathways in a highly complex sector. Our conversation dives into the power of transferab...

In this episode, I sit down with Oonagh Kelly, Chief People Officer at the National Treasury Management Agency, to explore what it really takes to build a future-ready career and organization. From her early career choices rooted in passion and curiosity to leading large-scale transformation in complex environments, Oonagh shares how combining what you love with what you're good at can shape a mea...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I’m joined by John O'Halloran, President of University College Cork, for a powerful conversation on the future of education, leadership, and skills. John shares his journey from being a first-generation student with a passion for zoology to leading one of Ireland’s most forward-thinking universities. What stood out for me was his deep belief that educa...

On the Global Skills Podcast, I’m joined by Valentina Olivieri, Head of Learning Technology at Shooter’s Hill Sixth Form College, where she leads digital innovation across AI, immersive tech, and inclusive design. With a background in edtech leadership, product development, and strategic innovation—alongside an MSc in Psychology and Learning Disability—Valentina is on a mission to create future-re...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Joe Morrison, employee engagement expert and Founder of Cheer At Work, to explore why 90% of employees are disengaged and what leaders can realistically do about it. Joe shares powerful insights from both talent acquisition and internal culture strategy, explaining why communication, leadership skills, and clarity of purpose matter more...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Paul Bird, Head of Learning at the Lighthouse Charity, to explore what it really means to put people first in one of the UK’s most vital industries — construction. Paul shares his powerful journey from teaching English and media to leading learning and wellbeing initiatives across construction, driven by a deep personal connection to th...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Simon Lambert, former Chief Learning Officer at Microsoft UK, who spent nearly three decades at the heart of Microsoft navigating every major wave of transformation from the rise of the internet to cloud computing and now the acceleration of AI. We explore what organisations are getting wrong about skills, why most businesses are not fu...

EPISODE SUMMARY Andrej Karpathy — AI researcher, former head of AI at Tesla and founding team at OpenAI — recently published a visualisation of the entire US job market scored by AI exposure. 342 occupations. 143 million jobs. Every one rated 0–10 on how much AI will reshape it. The number that stopped Vanessa in her tracks: $3.7 trillion in annual wages sitting in jobs scoring 7 or above on AI ex...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I’m joined by Breda O’Toole, Head of Client Talent Development & Digitalisation at IDA Ireland. Breda brings more than two decades of experience supporting Ireland’s enterprise and investment ecosystem, and she shares a fascinating perspective on how the country has evolved into a global hub for multinational companies, innovation, and high-value c...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Adam Gordon, serial HR tech founder and CEO of PoetryHR, to unpack what is really happening inside talent acquisition right now. With over 20 years in recruitment technology and a successful exit of Candidate ID to iCIMS, Adam shares his honest journey from agency recruiter to tech founder and what building, scaling, and selling a globa...

In this episodeGlobal Skills Podcast, I sit down with Polly Boardman, Senior Global Learning and Talent Leader, Learning and Talent Director at Collaboradoodle, and Advisory Board Member at Marlin Environmental Services. Polly shares her journey from working in social and economic regeneration programs to leading global learning, talent, OD, EDI, and AI-enabled development strategies. We explore h...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Ben Sewell, Senior Talent Acquisition Leader in Hospitality Recruitment and Co-Founder & Podcast Host of Talking Talent, to explore the realities of hiring in today’s hospitality sector. With experience leading recruitment across casual dining, premium restaurants, and experiential brands, Ben shares insights on high attrition, labo...

In this episode, I’m joined by Daniella Freeman, who works in leadership development at Google and is also an accomplished executive coach supporting senior leaders through complexity, transformation, and rapid change. Daniella sits at the intersection of leadership, humanity, and high performance, and brings a deeply human lens to how leaders grow, adapt, and make decisions—especially in the age...

In this episode, I’m joined by Federico Menna, CEO of 28 Digital, for a wide-ranging conversation on Europe’s digital future, skills transformation, and the power of ecosystems. Federico shares his journey from telecommunications engineering at Vodafone to leading one of Europe’s most influential digital innovation networks, explaining why bridging education, research, and industry is critical to...

In this episode, I’m joined by Phil Smith, Chair of Skills England, for a wide-ranging and deeply human conversation about skills, leadership, and the future of work. Phil shares his unexpected journey from studying microbiology to leading global technology organisations, representing Team GB as a triathlete, and now helping shape the UK’s national skills agenda. His story is a powerful reminder t...

In this episode of The Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Sonal, a senior talent acquisition leader whose career spans India and the UK across major tech and consulting companies. We explore her journey from India to the UK, how recruitment differs across both regions, and why scale, mobility, and high-volume tech talent define the Indian hiring landscape. Sonal shares why UK talent still face...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Mike Byrne, NIIT’s VP of Sales for EMEA and a seasoned EdTech leader, together with Dylan Stokes, NIIT’s Global Head of HCM Technology Practice. We explore what’s really happening inside enterprise L&D right now—from the rise of GenAI-enabled learning to the shift away from one-size-fits-all content toward deeply personalized, skill...

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I’m joined by Deepti Palluri, Head of Learning and Organisational Development at Commonwealth Secretariat, for a deeply insightful conversation on skills, learning, and leadership in an age of constant disruption. We explore how professionals—especially those in L&D—can help individuals navigate the noise around AI by separating personal upskilling...