Work Matters S7 E10: Andy Spence - The Future of Work

Everyone is talking about the future of work. But much of the conversation is filled with buzzwords, vendor language, and overly simple predictions about what AI will do to jobs, organizations, and HR. In this episode of Work Matters, Thomas Bertels speaks with Andy Spence about what is real, what is hype, and what leaders should actually be paying attention to as AI changes the way work gets done. The conversation starts with a lightning round on some of today’s most common future-of-work ideas: agentic recruiting, skills-based organizations, talent marketplaces, and leaderless organizations. Andy argues that some of these ideas are real, but none of them should be accepted uncritically. Agentic recruiting, for example, is not entirely new. It is part of a longer history of using chatbots, algorithms, video tools, and data in hiring. Skills-based organizations are useful in some contexts, but skills are only one factor in determining whether someone will succeed in a role, team, or organization. From there, Thomas and Andy explore AI’s impact on work and the labor market. Andy argues that it is too simplistic to look at one task that AI can perform and conclude that an entire job or profession will disappear. Work is more complex than that. Tasks get unbundled and rebundled in new ways across employees, freelancers, platforms, automation, agents, and external partners. That rebundling process may be one of the most important shifts leaders need to understand. The episode then turns to work design. Andy and Thomas discuss how the discipline of organization design and work design has faded in many companies — just when it is needed most. Traditional org charts and spreadsheets are not enough to answer today’s questions about how work should be structured, sourced, automated, coordinated, and measured. As organizations introduce AI, agentic systems, internal talent marketplaces, freelancers, and new operating models, leaders need a much broader view of work design. The conversation also explores HR transformation. Andy argues that reducing administration does not automatically make HR strategic. Without proactive changes to the people, skills, mindset, and capabilities inside HR, the function often ends up with less admin but not necessarily more strategic impact. Ultimately, this episode is about how leaders can move beyond the AI hype and think more seriously about the future of work. Technology will matter. But the organizations that succeed will be the ones that redesign work intentionally, build the right human capabilities, use data wisely, and connect HR strategy directly to business outcomes. In This Episode, We Discuss • Why agentic recruiting is real, but not entirely new • The limits of skills-based organizations and skills taxonomies • The promise and mixed results of internal talent marketplaces • Why leaderless organizations are unlikely to eliminate the need for human accountability • How AI is forcing us to rethink what leadership actually is • Why work design may be due for a renaissance • How HR technology can reinforce outdated work models • Why “AI adoption” is the wrong goal for organizations • Why HR transformation requires more than automation and admin reduction • What capabilities HR leaders need to build now • How successful HR functions enable self-empowered teams Key Themes AI and work, future of work, agentic recruiting, skills-based organization, talent marketplaces, work design, organization design, HR transformation, CHRO strategy, HR technology. Guest Bio Andy Spence is a leading voice in workforce and talent strategy, with more than 20 years of experience advising global organizations and the C-suite on how to build people-centric, future-ready organizations. His career spans Big 4 consultancies, start-ups, and his own advisory firm, working with clients including the NHS, John Lewis Partnership, Novartis, Deloitte, and CIPD. Andy publishes the Work 3 Newsletter, read by more than 30,000 professionals each week. Known for turning global megatrends into practical insight, Andy helps HR leaders design talent models fit for a rapidly changing world. Connect with Andy Work 3 Newsletter: https://wrk3.substack.com LinkedIn Profile:   / andrewspencehrtransformation   Future of Work Speaker Profile: https://workforcefuturist.substack.co... 00:00 AI Adoption Is Not The Goal 02:13 Lightning Round 05:32 What Future Of Work Means 09:08 AI Myths And Human Value 13:57 Work Design Renaissance 16:53 Why HR Tech Is Outdated 19:19 CHRO Capabilities And Megatrends 23:37 Resetting The People Function 27:34 What Makes HR Transformation Work 30:51 People Analytics Ethics And KPIs