Gen Z Falling Behind, Amazon's Odd AI "Teammates," & the UK's $965M Bet on Skills
December 9, 2025: Today's episode brings together the biggest shifts shaping work right now: a global Gen Z unemployment crisis pushing the UK into a $965M skills investment, Amazon's surprising move to position AI agents as "teammates," Jamie Dimon's latest prediction on how AI will reshape jobs and society, new research showing young professionals falling behind in remote roles, fresh data revealing that ChatGPT Enterprise is saving employees nearly an hour a day, and Apple's market boost as investors grow tired of AI hype. These stories together reveal where work is breaking, where it's evolving, and what leaders need to pay attention to in order to stay future-ready. ---------- Quick heads-up: my new book, The 8 Laws of Employee Experience, is a practical playbook for building an environment where people do their best work—preorder a copy here: 8EXlaws.com
--------
20:56
--------
20:56
The CHRO of a $50B Tech Giant Reveals the One Strategy That Will Outlast AI
Automation and AI are rewriting the rules of work, leaving CHROs grappling with a challenge to preserve humanity that fuels innovation. When technology starts moving faster than people, the real test of leadership begins. In this episode, CHRO Katie Watson shares how she's leading an AI revolution without losing the heart of business at Western Digital, a 55-year-old tech company powering the world's data. We explore how Western Digital is modernizing every corner of its workforce—from fully automated "lights-out" factories in Thailand to AI-assisted engineering and HR systems—while protecting what makes work meaningful. Katie shares how upskilling programs have helped thousands of employees transition into higher-value roles, why "AI champions" are key to driving adoption, and how human connection must remain at the center of digital change. She also discusses how HR and business leaders can govern AI responsibly, build comfort with experimentation, and help employees see technology as a collaborator rather than a threat. The tension between innovation and humanity begins as the AI takeover lingers, but the future of work isn't about choosing between people or technology, but learning how they can grow stronger together. ________________ Start your day with the world's top leaders by joining thousands of others at Great Leadership on Substack. Just enter your email: https://greatleadership.substack.com/ Future-ready organizations are built, not hoped for. My latest book, -The 8 Laws of Employee Experience shows how. Preorder here: 8EXLaws.com
--------
50:43
--------
50:43
AI Is Reshaping Careers, Remote Work Is Stalling Growth, and Layoffs Are Surging
December 5, 2025: SHRM reports that AI is accelerating the collapse of traditional entry-level roles, forcing companies to rethink how they develop early-career talent. A WIRED investigation reveals what happened when a startup tried replacing employees with AI agents—and why it quickly fell apart. The CEO of NTT DATA tells Reuters that the current AI bubble will be short-lived before a much larger wave of transformation. A new Times of India story shows that young remote workers are losing career momentum due to reduced visibility and fewer opportunities for mentorship. The Hechinger Report uncovers why "no degree required" is still largely a myth as employers continue to favor credentialed candidates. And a new Challenger report finds more than 71,000 layoffs as companies restructure around evolving skill needs. ---------- Stop patching problems and start designing an intentional workplace. The 8 Laws of Employee Experience gives you the how. Preorder your copy: 8EXlaws.com
December 4, 2025: In today's episode of Future Ready Today, I break down six major stories shaping the future of work. Nvidia's Jensen Huang pushes back on AI job doom while Geoffrey Hinton warns that massive unemployment may be unavoidable. AI is quietly restructuring the rhythm of the workweek, RTO mandates are tightening as employees turn to "microshifting," Microsoft moves aggressively toward an AI-native workforce, and Accenture partners with OpenAI to transform consulting at scale. Each story includes a futurist lens to help leaders decode the signals behind the headlines and build a truly future-ready organization. ---------- If you lead people, you design experiences—do it on purpose with The 8 Laws of Employee Experience. Preorder now: 8EXlaws.com
--------
18:49
--------
18:49
TikTok Baristas, Robot Labs, Career Minimalism, and the 5-Day Office Comeback
December 3, 2025: Today's episode breaks down six major shifts shaping the future of work: companies turning frontline employees into TikTok influencers, robotics transforming scientific labs into fully automated discovery engines, and the rapid rise of career minimalism as workers reject traditional career ladders. Instagram orders a full five-day return to the office while eliminating recurring meetings, Sundar Pichai warns that AI will disrupt every profession—including his own—and new research from Anthropic reveals how AI is reshaping engineering work from the inside. These stories show how culture, technology, and talent expectations are being rewritten in real time. ---------- Looking for what actually moves the needle on performance and retention? It's in The 8 Laws of Employee Experience. Preorder here: 8EXlaws.com
Are you ready to lead in the future of work? Most leaders aren't! Join 5x best-selling author & futurist Jacob Morgan as he interviews the world's top CEOs, best-selling authors, and leading thinkers to bring you the insights, strategies, and tools you need to become a future ready leader. Guests include CEOs from Best Buy, Netflix, Hyatt, and GE as well as leading thinkers like Seth Godin, Dan Pink, Yuval Harari, and Marshall Goldsmith. This is the world's #1 podcast to lead in the future of work!
Watch the videos on Youtube: bit.ly/406fmFP
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jacobmorgan8/
LI: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobmorgan8
TW: https://twitter.com/jacobm
W: https://thefutureorganization.com/