In this episode, culture expert and experienced people leader Justine Whitaker joins Luke Fisher to unpack the transformation of the talent space by Artificial Intelligence (AI). With experience spanning various people leadership roles, Justine shares how she's studied AI through the lens of human-centered design.

The core message is a call for humans to be "crew, not passengers" on the AI journey, emphasizing the need for questioning, accountability, and active collaboration. Justine discusses the immense value of AI applications that break down organisational silos, aggregate real-time data from across the business (like customer and employee experience), and demonstrate tangible ROI.

The conversation addresses major hurdles in AI adoption, focusing less on technical gaps and more on philosophical, ethical, and trust-related challenges. They explore the risks of human dependency and the psychological bias of "algorithmic aversion" (being more critical of machine mistakes). Ultimately, Justine suggests the Chief People Officer (CPO) role should evolve, collaborating closely with technology leaders to leverage AI for predictive strategic work. The episode closes with a practical habit: spending a non-negotiable 15 minutes daily exploring AI to future-proof one's career.

Justine Whitaker – Experienced People Leader & Culture Strategist Justine Whitaker is an experienced people leader and culture strategist who has been diving deep into how AI is transforming the talent space, focusing on human-centered design and collaboration.

Episode Outline

• Crew, Not Passengers Why humans must be accountable and proactive in the AI journey, not passive participants.
• The AI Deep Dive Justine’s focus on studying AI through the lens of human-centered design.
• Silo-Breaking Applications The value of AI that aggregates data (e.g., CX and PX) to prove business impact.
• Trust, Risk, and the Black Box Addressing ethical and philosophical challenges, including human dependency and "algorithmic aversion."
• Building Trust in AI The importance of a good first impression and using AI to solve "a problem that really matters."
• The Future CPO A vision for a hybridized CPO/CTO role and leveraging AI for strategic, predictive work.
• AI as Collaborator How AI automates mundane tasks and augments human intelligence, giving people more autonomy.
• Great Employee Use Cases Examples like instantaneous skills framework creation versus the traditional 12-month effort.
• The 15-Minute Rule The non-negotiable daily habit for future-proofing your career with AI.

Host & Show Info

Host Name: Luke Fisher

About the Host: Luke Fisher is the CEO of Mo, a platform that's all about helping teams create workplaces where people genuinely want to be. Luke's on a mission to show that brilliant company culture isn't just a nice-to-have but what makes teams thrive, feel connected, and do brilliant work together. Mo helps organisations around the world turn their values from poster-board promises into real, everyday habits that bring teams closer and give everyone a sense of purpose. It's culture you can actually see and feel in action.

Podcast Website: Culture in Action

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