The new shape of work

In this episode, Gord Frost and Jess Von Bank dive deep into how AI is reshaping Total Rewards and HR, emphasizing that true transformation requires more than just technology—it demands a cultural and leadership mindset shift. They highlight the critical need for robust, well-managed data and strategic alignment with business goals to harness AI’s full potential. Listeners will gain practical insi...

In this episode, Kate Bravery, Talent Advisory Leader, hosts a discussion with three Mercer experts, Will Self, Katerina Psychopaida and Sean Connelly, on managing costs in a challenging economic environment. They explore the importance of strategic, data-driven decision-making to uncover cost-saving opportunities without sacrificing employee experience or engagement. They emphasize the value of i...

In this episode, Gordon Frost, Mercer’s Global Rewards Solution Leader, is joined by two colleagues, Peter Boreham, European Executive Compensation Practice Leader, and David Thieke, Head of US and Canada Executive Rewards Practice. They discuss the effects of current economic uncertainty and market volatility and how companies are adjusting their executive reward plans to keep pace with the rapid...

In this episode, Kate Bravery, Global Leader of Talent Advisory at Mercer, is joined by Dr. Andrew Tay, Chief Wellbeing Officer at the National University of Singapore (NUS). They discuss the role of the Chief Wellbeing Officer and the evolving mental health challenges faced by NUS students, including insights into the value of in-person collaboration. Additionally, they explore the implications o...

Kate Bravery, Global Leader of Talent Advisory at Mercer, is joined by Ravin Jesuthasan, Mercer’s Global Transformation Leader, and Tanuj Kapilashrami, Chief Strategy and People Officer at Standard Chartered Bank, to discuss The Skills- Powered Organization: The Journey to the Next-Generation Enterprise , their recently released book. Together, they explore the concept of skills-powered organizati...

In this episode, Gordon Frost, Mercer’s Global Rewards Solution Leader, emphasizes the importance of using data to improve pay fairness and transparency within organizations. He is joined by Deena Harvanek, Change and Communication Leader at Mercer, and Will Self, Workforce Strategy and Analytics Leader at Mercer. Together, they discuss the rising awareness of pay disparities, recent legislative c...

In this episode, Kate Bravery, Talent Advisory Leader, interviews Tim Walker-Jones, Chief Learning Officer at Anglo American, about the evolving role of the Chief Learning Officer and the future of work. They discuss the increasing importance of talent agility and the need for continuous learning in response to rapid changes in the workforce and technology. Tim shares the significance of a long-te...

Join Kate Bravery and Gord Frost and they share a preview of the results from both Mercer’s 2024-2025 Global Talent Trends survey report and 2025 Executive Outlook survey. They cover the evolving landscape of human resources, focusing on the critical role of employee engagement and retention, the importance of harnessing data-driven insights to create a thriving workplace culture that attracts top...

The demands on the total rewards function are quickly changing. Listen as Kate Bravery and Gordon Frost discuss the increasing challenges HR professionals face as they navigate pay transparency, economic uncertainty, and the integration of AI in total rewards strategies. They highlight the importance of addressing pay gaps, aligning compensation with organizational philosophy, and preparing for up...

HR professionals are moving along the AI adoption path to focus on the practical application for their teams and workforces. In this discussion, Kate Bravery is joined by Susan Youngblood, founder and CEO of Chief People Solutions for a discussion about the training needed to adjust to the fast-moving changes in GenAI, how the role of HR is shifting and becoming more appealing, and the opportuniti...

AI is evolving quickly, and organizations are trying to keep up. It seems that everyone is on the Generative AI journey, but there's a broad distribution of maturity along the path. In this episode, Kate Bravery is joined by Jason Tamara Widjaja, Executive Director of Artificial Intelligence at MSD, to discuss the benefit of thinking about the quick evolution of generative AI and the benefit of vi...

The Middle East and India have tremendous growth ambition and are making great strides toward their goals. But fast growth also comes with talent management challenges. In this episode, Lisa Lyons, Mercer’s Regional Transformation Center for Excellence Lead for Middle East, India and Africa talks about workforce trends, challenges and opportunities in the market. Through the conversation they disc...

While organizations have been exploring how AI can support their productivity and growth across many functions, one area that has been taking a more cautious approach is the Total Rewards function. With a variety of confidential data about employees managed by this team, there is an understandable hesitance to jump in too quickly. But there is also a risk of not being at the table to help shape ho...

In this episode, Kate Bravery and Gordon Frost of Mercer explore how employee expectations and legislative imperatives are reshaping total reward strategies with the shift to pay fairness and transparency.

Janine Vos of Rabobank shares the challenges and opportunities on the path to becoming an agile HR team, and the mindset shift that is crucial to the transformation.

Are we positioned to access the full potential of AI-driven productivity gains when 82% of employees feel at risk of burnout?

Wanda Wallace shares the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, knowing when it is time to move on, and building supportive relationships in your organization.

In this episode, we speak with Martin Smit, Head of Global Compensation Solutions at Takeda, about Generative AI in the rewards function, the opportunities for GenAI to improve efficiency and productivity, as well as ideas to help employees become more comfortable with AI tools. 

Hanna Fager shares how the focus on long-term employment and investing in people’s development supports performance and culture at Volvo Cars.

In this episode, we are sharing practical guidance for making sustainable people mangement work in today's global economy. The advice shared comes from a new book from called Work Different: 10 Truths for Winning in the People Age .

The use of generative AI can enable HR teams to work more efficiently with data, find talent with future-fit skills, and enhance the employee experience. What steps are employers taking to embrace this transformation?

The conversation around well-being is expanding from health into new areas including financial well-being, job quality and even social isolation. Workplaces can be powerful communities to influence improved well-being outcomes. How are employers tapping into the opportunity?

The fast pace of change has employees exhausted, but adding AI into the HR digital transformation has the potential to enhance jobs in the future. Jason Averbook joins our podcast to share three pressing trends for the future of HR.

How did HR and IT at Novo Nordisk collaborated to elevate DEI as a critical piece of the business transformation agenda? Listen to the journey they took and what they see moving forward.

Transforming total rewards programs to create consistent and cost effective benefits offerings for employees can be an effective way to attract and retain top employees. In this episode we share the total rewards transformation journey Ericsson has taken to enhance employee experience while reducing benefit costs and risk. Read here for more information about New Shape of Work.