McKinsey Talks Talent

What it takes to build “genius at scale”

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:30:00 +0000

That elusive Eureka moment: Every leader strives for it—but it can’t be forced. And as Harvard Business School Professor Linda Hill argues in her new book Genius at Scale: How Great Leaders Drive Innovation (Harvard Business Publishing, March 2026), innovation is less about a flash of insight than about creating the conditions for breakthrough ideas to take hold and scale. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Hill speaks with McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock, along with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, about the roles and capabilities that successful innovators share—and about how to create a culture that encourages everyone to undertake the hard, risky work of innovation to drive organizational performance.

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The problem with ‘bringing your whole self to work’

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Being yourself at work has become a corporate mantra—and it certainly started in a well-meaning way. But it can also have significant downsides, according to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead). In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Chamorro-Premuzic joins McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock, as well as Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, to explore what authenticity really means in the workplace, when it helps and hurts, and what may matter more for employees looking to accelerate their leadership trajectory in the age of AI.

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US manufacturing’s next test: Building a workforce for a new era

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Manufacturing is back at the center of the US economic agenda. Yet the sector faces a persistent talent shortage—and to bridge it, leaders will need to rethink how they attract, train, and retain a new generation of manufacturing employees. “Manufacturers need to be driving the conversation, not waiting for the workforce ecosystem to arrive at their door,” says Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director of the Manufacturing Institute (MI). On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Lee joins McKinsey leaders Brooke Weddle, Bryan Hancock, and Tyler Freeman, along with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, to talk about what needs to change, as automation advances and employees’ expectations evolve, to enable US manufacturing to thrive in the age of AI.

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How smart people end up in the wrong careers

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Many high performers think they’re doing everything right—yet still feel somehow wrong about their day-to-day. And the advent of AI means work-related decision-making is more complex than ever. As job uncertainty ups the ante, more employees might be tempted to settle for the “B+ life,” in the words of Suzy Welch, author of Becoming You: The Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career (HarperCollins, May 2025). In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Welch talks to McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock, as well as Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, about where so many successful people go awry—and more important, about how to discover work that you value, that’s economically viable, and that you’re genuinely wired to do.

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What leaders can learn from Homeboy Industries

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 01:52:51 +0000

In the US, many companies still struggle to fill essential roles. What if part of the solution involves talent that has traditionally been overlooked?

Take Johanna Carbajal, who spent her adolescence shuttling between juvenile hall, foster care, and the streets before landing in prison at 18. After her release, Johanna made her way to Homeboy Industries, the Los Angeles–based organization founded by Father Greg Boyle to help formerly incarcerated and gang-involved individuals heal, find stability, and build meaningful careers.

For Johanna, finding Homeboy was a watershed moment. On this special holiday episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, you’ll hear her—as well as Father Greg, in conversation with McKinsey talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock, and Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly—talking about what leaders can learn from the Homeboy philosophy, including the impact of thinking differently about hiring, developing skills, and creating a culture where employees feel not just safe but seen.

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Building a talent pipeline for the AI era

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 16:39:37 +0000

AI is ushering in a new era of work, and smart employers are staying ahead of the curve by rethinking how to cultivate the skills their organizations need to thrive. The best leaders realize they won’t be able to do it alone, according to Beth Cobert, president of affiliates and strategic partnerships at Strada Education Foundation. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Cobert joins McKinsey talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock, along with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, to discuss the kinds of cross-sector collaborations that help businesses and workers develop skills for the future—and connect education more directly to high-quality jobs.

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Talent wins: the growing business of women’s sports

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 18:58:53 +0000

On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, McKinsey talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock join Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly for a conversation with Jason Wright, managing partner and head of investments at Project Level and former president of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Together, they explore how women’s sports is scaling rapidly—and what it takes to build an industry with lasting economic and social impact.

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How the right operating model can close your performance gap

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 21:52:56 +0000

A smart strategy is vital—but in today’s fast-changing world, it isn’t enough. Our research suggests that even high-performing companies fail to deliver on the potential of their strategy, to the tune of about 30 percent. But the right operating model can change all that. “The opportunity that comes from closing the 30 percent gap between strategy and performance is real,” according to McKinsey Partner Dickie Steele. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Dickie joins McKinsey Senior Partner Brooke Weddle, Partner Bryan Hancock, and Global Editorial Director and Deputy Publisher Lucia Rahilly to share a new system for reexamining your operating model to create unique competitive advantage.

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What the labor market isn’t telling you—yet

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:47:46 +0000

AI is fast transforming work as we’ve known it—and the latest data on jobs doesn’t always reflect the changes underway. “One word sums it up best: ‘uncertainty,’” says Svenja Gudell, chief economist of global employment platform Indeed. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Svenja joins McKinsey talent leaders Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock, along with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, to help leaders make sense of the current collision of labor market trends: generative AI, agentic AI, an aging workforce, shifting priorities, and more.

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The future of work is agentic

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:43:40 +0000

Think about your org chart. Now imagine it features both your current colleagues—humans, if you’re like most of us—and AI agents. That’s not science fiction; it’s happening—and it’s happening relatively quickly, according to McKinsey Senior Partner Jorge Amar. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Jorge joins McKinsey talent leaders Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock and Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly to talk about what these AI agents are, how they’re being used, and how leaders can prepare now for the workforce of the not-too-distant future.

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The surprising state of employee health

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:25:25 +0000

Leaders have long recognized the importance of a healthy workforce to driving economic productivity. But they might be surprised at the value at stake—and at the size of the employee population in less-than-fine fettle. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, McKinsey talent leaders and Global Leader of the McKinsey Health Institute Lucy Pérez speak with Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly about new research on employee health: what it means, its vital link to value, and the steps leaders can take to create workplaces where employees thrive—and competitive advantage rises.

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How to get return to office right

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:05:00 +0000

Return to office (RTO) is on the rise. But in the words of McKinsey partner and talent expert Bryan Hancock, “It doesn’t matter where you ask someone to be. What matters is what you do with them once they’re there.” On this episode of , Hancock and McKinsey senior partner Brooke Weddle speak with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about surprising soon-to-be-published research on the opportunities and challenges of RTO—and about how leaders can make the most of this transition to drive productivity, collaboration, and innovation successfully.

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The value of generosity in leadership

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Time is finite and leadership pressures are legion, particularly in the throes of change. Nevertheless, the best leaders persist in cultivating generosity with their teams—and they see a range of advantages as a result. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle, Bryan Hancock, and Dana Maor speak with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about why—and how—to invest in generosity at work, as well as about the overarching benefits of shifting to a mindset of abundance, versus one of scarcity, for aspiring leaders.

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What works—and doesn’t—in performance management

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:01:00 +0000

New research reveals what employees find fair, what motivates them to perform, and where many organizations go wrong when it comes to feedback, compensation, and annual ratings and reviews. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, talent experts Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle speak with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about new research on what drives performance: what motivates employees most, what matters less than you think, and the changes organizations need to make to ensure their feedback, ratings, and review processes are on track.

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Why being in HR is getting tougher—and how to break through

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 07:01:00 +0000

Everybody hurts sometimes, R.E.M. once famously sang. And if you’re in human resources, your job is to help. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock join Wendy Miller, McKinsey’s chief people officer for North America, as well as global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to discuss the dynamics that are making HR tougher than ever—as well as what leaders can do differently to begin turning morale around.

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Understanding what neurodivergent employees need to succeed

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 21:00:00 +0000

Neurodivergent people make up a substantial percentage of the global population. How can companies best put their distinctive capabilities to work? On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, McKinsey senior partner Brooke Weddle, partner Bryan Hancock, and global editorial director Lucia Rahilly speak with Dr. Lawrence Fung, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Neurodiversity Project, about the productivity and creativity that neurodivergent employees can bring to organizations—and how employers can support them.

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Managing in the era of gen AI

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 07:01:00 +0000

Middle management was already a tough gig. Then generative AI (gen AI) entered the fray. A year after the publication of their book Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work (Harvard Business Review Press, July 2023), McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Emily Field join global editorial director Lucia Rahilly to revisit whether and why middle managers matter, what leaders could do differently to make more of the managers on their team, and how gen AI could change middle managers’ jobs—for the better.

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Workers wanted: How to fill the skilled-trade shortage

Fri, 31 May 2024 07:01:00 +0000

Plumbers, carpenters, builders, and engineers are in short supply. What will it take to meet the demand for these skills in the United States and globally? In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock join host Lucia Rahilly to discuss how to attract—and keep—people in these roles and drive productivity. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.

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Why so many bad bosses still rise to the top

Wed, 01 May 2024 07:01:00 +0000

Narcissism. Overconfidence. Low EQ. Why do we persist in selecting for leadership traits that hamper organizational progress—and leave the right potential leaders in the wrong roles? In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders?: (And How to Fix It) (Harvard Business Review Press, March 2019), joins McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, as well as global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to discuss why the traits that propel us to the top seem to diverge so widely from those that make us great leaders—as well as how to choose stronger, more successful, and more diverse candidates for leadership roles.

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Rethinking organizational health for the new world of work

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:01:00 +0000

Yes, organizational health still drives long-term performance—but the way leaders measure and diagnose health should change, new research shows. McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle join global editorial director Lucia Rahilly to discuss McKinsey’s recently updated Organizational Health Index: how it works, what has changed, and why it’s still among the best predictors of whether your company will thrive over the long term.

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It’s cool to be kind: The value of empathy at work

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:01:00 +0000

Empathy: we all aspire to it, but does it really make a performance difference in the workplace? Definitely, according to Jamil Zaki, a research psychologist at Stanford University and author of The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World (Crown, June 2019). In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Jamil joins McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to make the case for investing in empathic behavior—for reasons including higher productivity, a stronger workplace culture, and better organizational health—as well as to discuss how to go about cultivating kindness at work.

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The shape of talent in 2023 and 2024

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:01:00 +0000

As the impetus of New Year’s resolutions starts to fade, the year’s real work begins. What
can the dizzying pace of change in 2023 teach us about what’s next? Join McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, in conversation with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, as they speak about the trends that shaped last year’s talent landscape—and those poised to redefine its contours in 2024.

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Human-centered AI: The power of putting people first

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 08:05:00 +0000

‘Humans in the loop’: It’s the angst-ameliorating mantra for the new age of generative AI. But what does it really mean? In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Stanford University professor Melissa Valentine joins McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and Brooke Weddle, along with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly, to discuss human-centered artificial intelligence: what it is, how it improves performance, and how it can help shift skittish employees’ mindsets from “ugh” to “wow.”

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Right skills, right person, right role

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:00:00 +0000

With the rise of more technical roles across industries and sectors, and a shortage of people to fill them, skills-based hiring could help organizations access new talent pools. McKinsey partners Bryan Hancock and new co-host Brooke Weddle join global editorial director Lucia Rahilly in conversation.

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The future of middle management

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:51:29 +0000

Most of us don’t exactly dream about becoming a middle manager. But in fact, middle managers play a pivotal role in organizational success, according to the new book Power to the Middle: Why Managers Hold the Keys to the Future of Work (Harvard Business Review Press, July 2023). On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, authors Emily Field, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger talk with global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about the benefits the best managers can bring—and about how to rethink middle management roles for maximum ROI.

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Making sense of generational stereotypes at work

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Look around. If you’re like many of us, your workplace comprises members of four, possibly even five, generations—and attention to age-based differences is mounting. On this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk to global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about new research on generational preferences at work: what’s myth, what matters, and how to manage the new multigenerational team.

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Generative AI and the future of HR

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 16:48:38 +0000

Generative AI: it’s powerful. It’s accessible. And it’s poised to change the way we work. On this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk with McKinsey Technology Council chair Lareina Yee and global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about the promise and pitfalls of using gen AI in HR—from recruiting to performance management to chatbot-enabled professional growth.

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Workplace rituals: Recapturing the power of what we’ve lost

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Office rituals matter—and in a range of ways. But the pandemic has made many rituals moot, at a time when employees need them most. In this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger talk to global editorial director Lucia Rahilly about how to develop rituals for the changing world of work—and what all of us stand to lose unless rituals are revitalized.

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Talent in a changing market: What now?

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 11:00:00 +0000

What should leaders implement to gain traction in a volatile talent landscape? For one–flexibility in all its myriad forms–is key. Talent experts Bonnie Dowling, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger weigh in with McKinsey global editorial director, Lucia Rahilly.

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Quiet quitting and performance management

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 14:02:32 +0000

Churn is up. Engagement is down. And year-end reviews are here. Are you worried giving feedback will make workers feel worse?

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The office of the future: A whole new (floor) plan

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Read more >
Listen to the podcast (duration: 27:06) > In this episode of the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast, McKinsey talent leaders Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger speak with senior expert Phil Kirschner about the office space of the future: what workers want, what employers need, and how workplaces will need to change accordingly.

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Stave off attrition with an internal talent marketplace

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 11:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 17:27) > There’s a talent shortage and many jobs to fill. By using an internal talent marketplace, organizations can hire from within. The result is win-win. Emily Field, expert associate partner joins talent partners Bryan Hancock, Bill Schaninger, and McKinsey's global editorial director, Lucia Rahilly, to discuss.

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Is worker power on the rise?

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 11:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 21:44) > Quitting is up, and so are wages. As the Great Attrition persists, employer–employee dynamics appear to be changing. But who actually benefits—and how durably? Hear talent experts Bill Schaninger and Bryan Hancock share their thoughts on who has power, who doesn't – and why.

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Talent at a turning point: How people analytics can help

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 25:11) > Rising resignations. Hybrid work. The diversity imperative. Leaders are navigating a talent market in flux. Today, hear from David Green, coauthor (with Jonathan Ferrar) of Excellence in People Analytics. He speaks with McKinsey’s Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger about a talent market in the throes of changes—and how HR leaders can use people analytics to navigate the current inflection point successfully.

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How business should move forward in 2022 as the pandemic persists

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 12:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 25:47) > In a wide-ranging discussion, hear Bryan and Bill discuss the Great Attrition, employee mental health and the significance of thoughtful middle managers as the pandemic persists.

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LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 11:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 40:45) > Too often, LGBTQ+ workers are "the only" in the office, which can lead to feelings of isolation. Diana Ellsworth, McKinsey partner and leader of our work on diversity, equity, and inclusion, talks with McKinsey talent experts Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger about our latest research on how to better support our LGBTQ+ colleagues -- not just during Pride month, but year-round.

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Culture in the hybrid workplace

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 11:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 34:34) > Hybrid is happening. Is your culture ready? Hear from McKinsey talent experts Bryan Hancock, Bill Schaninger and Brooke Weddle on the need to radically reshape culture for the hybrid workplace— and on how to get started.

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Grabbing hold of the new future of work

Thu, 13 May 2021 11:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 34:56) > The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped existing workforce trends and catalyzed new ones. Here’s what’s next—and what to do about it.

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The elusive inclusive workplace

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 33:07) > You’ve committed to fast progress on diversity. Are your talent practices helping--or hindering?

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The vanishing middle manager

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 28:44) > In the COVID-19 pandemic, middle management is once more under assault. But what do we stand to lose in a flatter future?

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Grief, loss, burnout: Talking about complex feelings at work

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:00:11 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 36:33) > The COVID-19 crisis has unleashed emotions at unprecedented scale and intensity. Here’s how to help.

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Today’s skills, tomorrow’s jobs: The reskilling imperative

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:00:52 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 35:18) > Automation will leave few roles untouched. McKinsey’s Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger on how to ensure you and your team thrive in the future of work.

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Next-level sales talent: HR’s message to the CEO

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:00:57 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 32:24) > McKinsey’s Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger on how the right data-driven approach can bolster sales-force performance -- and help HR draw a direct line from talent to value with the CEO.

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The new science of talent: From roles to returns

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 18:00:00 +0000

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Listen to the podcast (duration: 26:17) > McKinsey’s Bryan Hancock and Bill Schaninger on the new technologies that help get the right people into the right roles fast -- generating higher returns, happier employees, and potentially, more women in the C-suite in the bargain.

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