Podcast · Business

McKinsey Talks Talent

by McKinsey People & Organizational Performance · English · Business

Listen in to learn how to navigate a fast-changing business landscape and prepare for the future of work by turning talent into competitive advantage. McKinsey talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock lead discussions with globally recognized experts and thought leaders on talent, transfor

New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 24 min
Latest: 29 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

29 Sep 2026 · 33 min

Leading when change feels threatening

Leaders love to talk about resistance to change, but, as McKinsey research shows, resistance isn’t the full story. Fear of loss is a huge part of transformation, too, when roles, routines, and relationships are meaningfully redefined. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , McKinsey Partner Johanne Lavoie shares her latest research on on how leaders can support their teams through times of strain with Senior Partner Brooke Weddle , Partner Bryan Hancock , and Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly. They discuss why leaders who understand fear, rather than punish it, end up with…

Play episode WhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

26 Aug 2026 · 30 min

Your AI agents need performance management, too

Agents: Everybody’s got them. But who’s managing them? And what happens to the human talent working alongside them—and being asked to show up differently as a result? “The rise of AI doesn’t mean we all suddenly devolve our responsibilities for quality control and critical thinking,” says Kate Smaje , McKinsey’s global leader of technology and AI and coauthor of the recent book Rewired . “That’s not the world we live in. There’s a premium on those capabilities now.” In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , Smaje joins Senior…
31 Jul 2026 · 31 min

Is the AI productivity story at a turning point?

"Is my generation doomed?" That’s what one Stanford graduating senior asked Professor Erik Brynjolfsson, economist and director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. The professor had seen the data, so he didn’t dismiss the question. But as productivity gains begin to emerge, Brynjolfsson argues that the biggest opportunity lies not in replacing workers but in redesigning work. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent , Brynjolfsson joins McKinsey leaders Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock , as well as Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, to discuss what’s changing,…
29 Apr 2026 · 17 min

What it takes to build “genius at scale”

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…
25 Mar 2026 · 24 min

The problem with ‘bringing your whole self to work’

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…
27 Feb 2026 · 22 min

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

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…
29 Jan 2026 · 24 min

How smart people end up in the wrong careers

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…
10 Dec 2025 · 12 min

What leaders can learn from Homeboy Industries

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…
29 Oct 2025 · 25 min

Building a talent pipeline for the AI era

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…
23 Sep 2025 · 19 min

Talent wins: the growing business of women’s sports

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
29 Jul 2025 · 24 min

How the right operating model can close your performance gap

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…
25 Jun 2025 · 26 min

What the labor market isn’t telling you—yet

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.…
3 Jun 2025 · 35 min

The future of work is agentic

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…
26 Mar 2025 · 24 min

The surprising state of employee health

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…
6 Feb 2025 · 23 min

How to get return to office right

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. See…
18 Dec 2024 · 20 min

The value of generosity in leadership

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. See…
19 Nov 2024 · 21 min

What works—and doesn’t—in performance management

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for…
30 Oct 2024 · 24 min

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

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
13 Sep 2024 · 21 min

Understanding what neurodivergent employees need to succeed

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.…
26 Jul 2024 · 25 min

Managing in the era of gen AI

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
31 May 2024 · 25 min

Workers wanted: How to fill the skilled-trade shortage

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
1 May 2024 · 26 min

Why so many bad bosses still rise to the top

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…
29 Mar 2024 · 24 min

Rethinking organizational health for the new world of work

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
28 Feb 2024 · 34 min

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

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…
18 Jan 2024 · 27 min

The shape of talent in 2023 and 2024

Trends like generative AI shaped last year's talent landscape and are poised to redefine its contours in 2024.
11 Dec 2023 · 24 min

Human-centered AI: The power of putting people first

A people-focused approach to AI can transform jobs for the better—and improve performance, too
24 Oct 2023 · 27 min

Right skills, right person, right role

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
9 Aug 2023 · 29 min

The future of middle management

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy…
6 Jul 2023 · 22 min

Making sense of generational stereotypes at work

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
5 Jun 2023 · 26 min

Generative AI and the future of HR

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. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

About McKinsey Talks Talent

McKinsey Talks Talent is a English business podcast from McKinsey People & Organizational Performance. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: McKinsey People & Organizational Performance
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Monthly
Typical length: 24 min
Latest episode: 29 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1491112396
Rights: 2026 McKinsey People & Organizational Performance

RSS feed Apple Podcasts

More English business 6

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.