Bold Agendas Podcast

Bold Agendas Podcast

Over three decades of collaboration with some of the brightest minds in business reveals the simple truth that the most influential principals and policy makers consistently use innovative approaches to drive transformative change, while also reimagining and redefining human work.This series features forward-looking, provocative 360-degree conversations with industry experts on the digital transformation that continues to disrupt companies and the marketplace. We focus on organizational, leadership, and labor challenges as technology reshapes organizations and redefines human work.

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May 29, 2025

From Headcount to Human Capabilities: Rethinking Workforce Strategy

Show Notes

In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, workforce strategy is no longer just about filling roles—it’s about building capabilities that drive agility, innovation, and long-term value. In this episode of Bold Agendas, host Mimi Brooks sits down with Dr. Beverly Tarulli, a seasoned HR strategist, educator, and expert in people and analytics. Beverly offers a sharp, forward-looking view of how organizations must evolve their workforce planning approach. Together, Mimi and Beverly explore the shift from job-based planning to capability-driven strategy, the growing role of analytics in decision-making, and how HR can become a true strategic partner in times of disruption and change.

Foundations & Frameworks
00:00:00 – From Headcount to Human Capabilities: Introducing Dr. Beverly Tarulli and the Future of Workforce Strategy
00:01:55 – Beverly Tarulli’s Career in People Analytics: Curiosity, Data, and Leadership
00:05:21 - Rethinking HR’s Role: Why People Analytics Matters in Workforce Strategy
00:12:55 – What Is Strategic Workforce Planning? A Capability-Driven Approach for Transforming Organizations
00:18:35 – The Strategic Role of HR: Facilitating Capability-Driven Workforce Planning
00:21:15 – Start with Capabilities, Not Skills: A Smarter Approach to Workforce Planning

AI, Ethics, & Strategy
00:26:00 – AI in Workforce Planning: Automation, Augmentation, and the Future of Work
00:28:46 – HR and the Ethics of AI: Asking the Right Questions in Workforce Decisions
00:31:48 – Strategic Foresight: HR’s Role in Scenario Planning
00:37:04 – How Today’s HR Students Are Driving the Future of People Analytics
00:42:32 – From Data to Insight: Rethinking People Analytics in HR
00:48:27 – The HR–IT Partnership: Turning Work Data into Strategic Insight
00:53:42 – Governance, Explainability, and HR’s Role in AI-Driven Decisions

The Human Factor & Looking Forward
00:57:23 – The New Employee Advocate: HR’s Role in Ethics and People-Centered Decision Making
01:00:01 – Advice for Leaders: Two Ways to Make HR a Strategic Partner