Peter Thomas talks to Josie Gibson, FORWARD Fellow and co-founder at the catalyst network, a membership community of accomplished individuals who apply breakthrough thinking to complex business and community issues. 

Our starting point is that "culture conversations are a waste of time", a point that Josie connects to the need for effective collaboration. Culture is an output of repeated behaviours over time, says Josie, and rather than talk about culture, we should instead think about creating  a loosely held yet compelling vision, the co-creation of operating principles and practices and the fostering of an authorising environment and appetite for experimentation.

Transcript at
https://otter.ai/u/pc2pcryyRU_dkzIB_2OSewbzD9s

Josie Gibson - culture conversations

How do young people succeed in the face of setbacks, and what can we learn? 

The current and future drivers of our workforce are facing unprecedented obstacles – from completing schooling in a time of COVID-19, rapid changes in technology and worldwide increases in mental health challenges. In some cases, young people face extremely tough situations at home and school. 

In what ways can dealing with adversity increase resilience to change, and help with future success for students? In what situations can it be harmful and detrimental? What structures, supports and methods can support young people to use this resilience well, especially if they have high potential? 

Host Helen Babb Delia (Development Partner at RMIT FORWARD) discusses these questions and more with Martin Jellinek, General Manager, Learning Services at Skyline Foundation. 

Skyline Foundation’s vision is that VCE students who have high ability or are gifted become more resilient leaders in the face of social and economic adversity. Martin specialises in recognising high-ability students and supporting them to reach their full potential.  


Also read:

Change Resilience: skills for the future that we need right now

https://medium.com/rmit-forward/change-resilience-a-skillset-of-the-future-that-we-need-to-develop-right-now-dd2d86d3c231
 
About Skyline Education Foundation: https://skylinefoundation.org.au/about-us/


Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Martin Jellinek

Pete Cohen introduces FORWARD Senior Industry Fellow Jerry Michalski, who 24 years ago started feeding a mindmap which is today the world’s largest - which is reflective of his gift and commitment to connecting concepts, people and communities.

Jerry is a keynote speaker on topics including consumerisation and trust, and in this conversation he weaves the threads of these themes back to the skills and future of work context.

https://www.jerrymichalski.com 
https://www.jerrysbrain.com 
https://openglobalmind.com 
http://twitter.com/jerrymichalski

Transcript here
https://otter.ai/u/HDBirP7c14KL4E_wDGkZqR2hJVw

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Jerry Michalski

Development Partner Daniel Bluzer-Fry in conversation with FORWARD Senior Industry Fellow. Sarah Lorimer. 

Sarah is a cultural insight strategist with a background in brand strategy, and a focus on using futures to push brand and narrative growth. She is interested in how technology can illuminate predictive shifts in culture.

Beyond her experience conducting research and consulting, Sarah has been a mentor for CSIRO ON-accelerator, Co-authored ‘Disruptive Futures and Brands’ for Pause Festival (2017) and Contributed to 'Reconstructing Identity' (Palgrave MacMillan 2017) in a chapter titled ‘The Role of Narrative in the Creation of Brand Identity’.

In this conversation, Sarah shares her eclectic educational background, her passion and perspective around democratising futures and foresight, along with some key interests in the world of skills and workforce transformation.

Transcript here
https://otter.ai/u/F8tfS7ZtYmQd-XhHrRJnM9EDhYQ

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Sarah Lorimer

Pete Cohen introduces FORWARD Senior Industry Fellow Lene Rachel Andersen, author of several books on the topic of bildung and co-founder and president of the future lab Nordic Bildung. 

In this conversation Lene introduces the concept of bildung, which we are waving into several of our workstreams at FORWARD, and gives a rich overview of its history and applications in a skills context. 

“Bildung is moral and emotional maturity. Bildung is also to have the education and knowledge necessary to thrive in your society; bildung is to be deeply embedded in culture and community while having the autonomy to carve your own path in life. Bildung is always personal and unique.  Bildung is a German word that has no word in English. Beginning in the 1770s, German philosophers explored bildung as a secular form of inner development and it became popular among the bourgeoisie.” -from 'Bildung: Keep Growing'.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenerachelandersen/ 
https://www.globalbildung.net

Transcript of this conversation
https://otter.ai/u/iB3gGxS7FE-rtIfZ-n0mpcDGFb8

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Lene Rachel Andersen

Pete Cohen introduces FORWARD Senior Industry Fellow Stephen Bartlett, founder of the software application Precise, a Software as a Service (SaaS) product used by some of the leading tech consultancies in Australia to share profiles of their staff (similar to a private LinkedIn). This software includes a strong skills component, as this is the primary information (along with experience) which the product captures and conveys.

In this conversation, Stephen shares insights he has gained from helping several organisations navigate the complex terrain of categorising and communicating skills. He also shares his experience using OpenAI’s GPT3 artificial intelligence model to categorise skills, which he has also written about here.


https://www.linkedin.com/in/srbartlett/ 
https://srbartlett.substack.com
https://precise.io


Otter transcript of this conversation

Stephen Bartlett

Demystifying diversity, equity and inclusion – what does it really look like?

You might have heard the terms diversity, equity and inclusion at work, in newspapers or in conversations about leadership. 

But what might be harder to work out is what to do about it. Why does future-facing leadership require us to develop our inclusive leadership skills? What does doing a good job at diversity, equity and inclusion really look like? What principles and skills can we use to improve our workplaces, employee experiences and attract a diverse range of customers? 

Host Helen Babb Delia (Development Partner at RMIT FORWARD) discusses these questions and more with Khayshie Tilak Ramesh, Inclusion & Diversity Lead at Mecca, lawyer, board director, speaker and writer.

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Khayshie Tilak Ramesh

FORWARD development partner Daniel Bluzer-Fry in conversation with Senior Industry Fellow Sami Mäkeläinen.

Having spent his early career as a software engineer in both his native Finland and the US, Sami proceeded to work for Nokia, and recently finished 13 years as a leader in Telstra, in which he established the organisation’s strategic foresight practice. 

He has recently founded Transition Level to explore how society and organisations can manage the transition to a more automated civilization and mitigate the risks in and around that transition.

Sami has also served as an external expert evaluator for the European Commission, is a research fellow at the Institute for the Future think tank and a fellow at the Institute for Integrated Economic Research in Australia.

In this conversation, shares his background as a technologist with a fascination with ethics around innovation. Sami talks around his interests in automation, skill degradation and moral crumple zones:

“The moral crumple zone is a situation where humans are put in a position to essentially take the blame for something that isn’t their fault. In order to protect the system, the system doesn’t have to change or doesn’t have pressures to change. So we witnessed like low grade middle crumbles on whatever day, when your utility provider screws up your bill and you call the call centre, the poor agents there, it’s not their fault that your bill was wrong. Yet they cop the blame from the customers 24/7 Or hopefully, two hours, but they they end up taking the fall, they end up taking the blame for something that isn’t their problem, or isn’t their fault. So there’s this dichotomy between accountability and responsibility. This also takes place in more serious situations.”

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smakelainen/

Sami Mäkeläinen

Debuting at a recent event titled “Nothing is quite what you think it is: Stories from the future of work”, Diana Wu David has crafted a story that teleports us into a fictional future context that brings to life how the various innovations we are just hearing about today, such as DNA profiling and the metaverse, could reshape work and society as we know it.

In this episode of the podcast we hear Diana reading her story, followed with some reflection and commentary.

You can also watch it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3iuNluoTFo
Or read the transcript here: https://bit.ly/story-future-of-work-diana-wu-david-Oct-2022

Based in Hong-Kong, Diana is an author, Future of Work strategist, Financial Times Faculty member, TEDx speaker and an RMIT FORWARD Fellow. 

We featured Diana in Episode 5 which you can listen to here https://soundcloud.com/rmit-forward/rmit-forward-skillscast-s1e5-diana-wu-david

Image generated by DALL·E 2

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Stories from the Future of Work with Diana Wu David

Helen Babb-Delia, development partner at FORWARD, in conversation with Deanna Pantín Parrish, an experienced consultant, educator and dispute resolution professional. 

Deanna is currently a Lecturer at Harvard Law School, a Clinical Instructor at the Harvard Dispute System Design Clinic, and the Assistant Director of the HNP Negotiation Teaching Network.

Helen talks to Deanna about conflict resolution at work, active listening, inquiry and curiosity and empathy and how those skills relate to the future of work for workplaces and individual employees.

Transcript at:
https://otter.ai/u/5C8iGbgwEXE8eiMDa7AnROk0Ak8?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Deanna Pantín Parrish

FORWARD Development partner Sally McNamara in conversation with Senior Industry Fellow Matt Collier in part two of a conversation about the skills of change resilience.

Matt is an aerospace engineer by original training and has applied his skills in an incredibly diverse range of fields–including co-founding the first design-led innovation lab in the US government in the Obama administration.

Most recently, Matt led a global remit at a large insurance company to develop people and culture strategy and support the Board in establishing and monitoring culture.

In this second discussion, Sally and Matt talk about how Matt has been applying the skills of change resilience in real-time and the ups and downs of taking an intentional career break. We reflect on the discomfort of change and sitting in the unknown.

You can connect with Matt on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwcollier/

Transcript at:
https://otter.ai/u/sSN_YsThxSvHa36FaDzQon4MkJY?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Matt Collier, change resilience as an enabler of learning - part 2

FORWARD Development partner Sally McNamara in conversation with Renee Barnes, Founder of “The People Paradox”, advising companies on how to grow productive and engaged work cultures and importantly for this conversation – a mum of two.

At FORWARD, we are interested in exploring skills through many different lenses – and this is one of those more creative conversations. Because sometimes being future focussed can mean reframing how we currently see things, rather than creating something new. 

In this conversation, we talk about how there is huge learning and growth in the transition to motherhood and many transferable skills that could be more visible and valued upon returning to paid work. Instead of “time out” of the workforce, we want to reframe pregnancy and parental leave for what it is: a period of rapid upskilling.

We see this could boost women’s confidence and encourage more women to go for leadership roles post children – bringing many other benefits for workplace culture and well-being in particular. 

Learn more about Renee’s work here https://www.peopleparadoxhr.com/

Transcript at:
https://otter.ai/u/Ra0g9XFj7N91p1TbZh-DpSc05WQ?utm_source=copy_url

Production by Michael Donaldson https://8sided.blog/8sided-about/

Renee Barnes

Our inaugural guest is Stephen Bartlett who is an accomplished technologist, CTO at the interior designer tool Programa, and founder of Precise - a product used by consultancies to showcase the profiles of their team members

Stephen was an early adopter of AI. Shortly after its release in 2020, he incorporated GPT-3 into Precise. By incorporating this capability, he helped solve the “blank page” problem consultants faced when needing to write text to describe their skills and experience. For some of us it is hard to remember, but before ChatGPT came along, it was still a novel concept to have AI generate human-like text on demand.

As Programa's CTO, Stephen leads his team in utilising cutting-edge AI tools to streamline software development and enhance their product's value. For instance, they use GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted coding and Midjourney to generate design concepts and marketing materials. The team also explores open-source alternatives like Stable Diffusion for image generation, while leveraging ChatGPT for document creation and general assistance. By embracing these technologies, Stephen is fostering an innovative environment that not only improves the efficiency of their software development process but also enhances Programa's workflow tool for interior designers and architects.

Stephen's positive approach to AI emphasises education and awareness. He invests in his team to ensure they understand available tools and their applications, reflecting his proactive stance on the integration of AI into daily workflow.

Where to find and connect with Stephen:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/srbartlett/

Preceise (https://precise.io/) - Precise : Profiles and Portfolios for consulting teams

Programa (https://programa.design/) - Programa : Workflow tool for interior designers & architects

Tools mentioned during the conversation:
GitHub Copilot (https://github.com/features/copilot) - AI-powered code completion tool
Rewind AI (https://www.rewind.ai/) - Productivity tool for recording and indexing computer activity
Midjourney (https://www.midjourney.com/) - AI image generation tool
Stable Diffusion (https://stability.ai/stable-diffusion) - Open-source AI image generation tool
ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/) - AI language model for document creation and general assistance
Raycast (https://www.raycast.com/) - AI-enhanced spotlight tool for Mac
Superwhisper (https://www.superwhisper.com/) - Voice-to-text dictation tool
Linear (https://linear.app/) - Product management tool

Timestamps
00:14 Introduction of Stephen Bartlett
02:02 Early adoption of GPT-3 into the Precise
05:23 Discussion on paid vs free AI tools
05:53 Use of Midjourney and importance of open-source alternatives
07:59 Introduction to Rewind AI productivity tool
10:30 Explanation of GitHub Copilot for coding
13:08 Impact of AI tools on team dynamics in software development
16:06 Use of ChatGPT for document creation and assistance
18:00 Overview of Programa, workflow tool for interior designers
20:19 Current capabilities of AI in design and image generation
22:26 Challenges in integrating AI tools into user workflows
23:39 Importance of education in preparing for AI in the workplace
26:28 Discussion on human aspects of work AI can't replace
30:31 Recommendations for additional AI tools
31:53 Conclusion and wrap-up

AI Chronicles - S1E01 - Stephen Bartlett

The Platform University whitepaper explores transforming universities using Platform Organisation models. It proposes decentralising decision-making, empowering autonomous units, and fostering entrepreneurial culture to address challenges like financial instability and changing student expectations. The paper discusses benefits, inhibitors, and recommendations for implementing this model, drawing inspiration from successful corporate transformations like Bayer and Haier.

Download the whitepaper and find out more here:
https://rmit-forward.org/platform-university/

This audio overview was generated by artificial intelligence through NotebookLM.

The Platform University - An audio overview generated by NotebookLM

In this episode of AI Chronicles, Pete Cohen talks with Christian Ulstrup, a founder, product manager, and CEO advisor, about AI adoption in the workplace and its implications for the future of work.

Christian introduces a three-level maturity model for AI adoption, progressing from single-player to multiplayer mode. He shares real-world examples of integrating AI into core workflows for clients, highlighting his commitment to consistent, hands-on experimentation.

The discussion delves into approaches to AI tooling and investment, exploring the use of advanced models like OpenAI's o1 Pro and their impact on output quality. Christian is investing more than most people in his AI tooling, and we get to hear his insights on the benefits of using high-performance AI models for various tasks.

Christian introduces Powerline, a product he's developing that functions as an "AI Chief of Staff." This tool analyses meeting transcripts to provide insights for CEOs and helps maintain connections between leadership and teams, showcasing practical applications of AI in organisational management. We also get insight into how one person with limited coding knowledge can leverage AI tools to develop, launch and maintain a software product.

Looking to the future, Christian and Pete discuss the anticipated shift towards more remote, asynchronous, and AI-mediated work environments, with practical advice on adapting to these changes and leveraging AI tools to enhance productivity and collaboration.

Throughout the episode, Christian emphasises the importance of experimentation and hands-on experience with AI tools, encouraging listeners to explore and integrate AI into their workflows.

Recommended writing of Christian's to read:

Accelerated AI Adoption: A Three-Level Maturity Model and How to Make the Shift From Single-Player to Multiplayer Mode - https://bit.ly/3Wm7u3n

Learning through doing - https://bit.ly/42ehHT5

Where to find and connect with Christian:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianulstrup/
GSD at Work: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gsd-at-work
Powerline: https://powerline.bot

Tools and resources mentioned:

ChatGPT and GPT-4 (https://chat.openai.com/) - Conversational AI models for general-purpose text generation and assistance, with GPT-4 offering enhanced reasoning capabilities.

Claude (https://www.anthropic.com/) - Advanced AI language model offering versatile capabilities for various tasks.

Superwhisper (https://www.superwhisper.com/) - Voice-to-text dictation tool utilizing AI for accurate transcription.

Loom (https://www.loom.com/) - Video messaging tool for asynchronous communication and collaboration.

Replit (https://replit.com/) - Online integrated development environment (IDE) and collaboration platform for coding.

Powerline (https://powerline.bot) - AI chief of staff tool developed by Christian Ulstrup for analysing meeting transcripts and providing insights.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction of Christian Ulstrup
02:30 Christian's background and professional journey
05:15 Discussion on AI adoption and maturity model
08:30 Explanation of single-player to multiplayer mode in AI usage
11:45 Importance of experimentation in AI adoption
15:20 Challenges of AI adoption in large organizations
18:45 Shadow IT use and formal policies for AI tools in enterprises
22:30 Introduction to o1 Pro and its capabilities
27:15 Jevons paradox applied to AI technology
29:30 Overview of Powerline, Christian's "AI Chief of Staff" product
34:45 Examples of Powerline's practical applications
38:15 Christian's journey in learning programming through AI
41:00 Future of work predictions: remote, asynchronous, and AI-mediated
45:30 The shift towards fractional and gig economy work
48:45 Advice for adapting to the changing work landscape
52:30 Final tips and resources for getting started with AI tools

Al Chronicles - S104 - Christian Ulstrup

 In a world dominated by AI and automation, do soft skills still matter? 

Peter Thomas from RMIT FORWARD, Alex Young, Innovation Manager at Lifeblood, Josie Gibson, Director of The Catalyst Network and Diana Wu David, futurist and CEO of Future Proof Lab unpacking why creativity, empathy, and leadership aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential for the future of work. 

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to 

https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes: Do soft skills still matter?

Can we balance AI-driven innovation with ethical responsibility? Peter Thomas is  joined by Daniel Layne, CEO of QV Systems; Sami Mäkeläinen, Founder of Transition Level; and David Cordover, Entrepreneur, Mentor, and Angel Investor.  Together we dive into the risks and opportunities as AI reshapes the workplace. 

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes: Can we balance AI-driven innovation with ethical responsibility

We’re tackling a critical question: Can companies keep up with employee expectations? From hybrid work to leadership transparency, workers are demanding more from their employers than ever before. But are organisations evolving fast enough to meet these shifting expectations?  With Megan Davies, specialist in storytelling and Founder of Spendlove and Lamb,  Josie Gibson, founder of The Catalyst Network and Peter Thomas explore the complexity of workplace hierarchies, the significance of fulfilment and purpose, the role of storytelling, how emotional regulation is a quantum superpower and the hierarchical versus collaborative frameworks. 

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes: The Future of Organisational Culture

We're focusing on a sector facing intense and sustained pressure: community services.

Community service organisations play a vital role in supporting the health, safety, inclusion, and wellbeing of individuals and communities, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, and are essential to the social and economic fabric of society. From workforce shortages and rising demand, to tightening budgets and growing regulatory complexity, many community services organisations are entering a period of contraction in order to survive. But what if this moment of constraint could be something more than a crisis? What if it’s a turning point

Julie Kun, from Julie Khun consulting with 20 years of experience in the community sector, and Antony McMullen, director and secretary of cooperative bonds, a cooperative development agency, join Peter Thomas to explore purpose, mission, new ways of operating, what can be learned from the cooperative movement and how it’s essential to cooperate for success. 

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org


Hot Takes: Community Services – Managing Contraction for Growth and Sustainability

We're exploring one of the biggest opportunities and challenges of the future workplace: how we can reclaim human agency in the age of AI. As AI advances and automation transforms how work gets done, the potential grows for humans to move beyond routine tasks and focus on judgment, creativity, and strategy. But are we designing organisations that truly empower people—or are we still clinging to control, mistrust, and outdated structures?

Peter Thomas, along with Lisa Talia Moretti, a digital sociologist and tech ethics expert, Diana Wu David, global futurist, author, and strategic advisor and Matt Collier, innovation leader and advocate for human-centric AI futures, explore what real agency looks like, how organisations can foster it, why trust is critical, and how the future of work demands more flexible, human-centered systems.

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes: Reclaiming Human Judgment in the Age of AI

In this episode of RMIT University FORWARD Hot Takes, we explore narrative intelligence, a crucial leadership capability that extends beyond communication. 

In an era marked by disruption, complexity, and rapid change, facts alone aren't sufficient for effective leadership. While data informs decisions, it's stories that inspire action. 

Peter Thomas talks to RMIT FORWARD Fellow Cass Spong of Entheos Consulting and Megan Davis of Spendlove and Lamb about how narrative intelligence can reshape leadership and facilitate meaningful change within organizations. 

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes: Narrative Intelligence

In this episode of Hot Takes, Peter Thomas talks to RMIT's Professor Chris Speed about regenerative futures. 

Moving beyond traditional sustainability, regenerative futures focuses on not just minimizing harm but actively repairing and strengthening systems. 

Chris talks about careers, organizations, and economies that leave positive impacts on people, communities, and ecosystems, how to teach and implement regenerative principles, the importance of collaboration, the paradigm shift from isolated value chains to interconnected value constellations, and educational models that foster interdisciplinary collaboration and life-wide learning.

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org



Hot Takes: Beyond Sustainability – What Does a Regenerative Future Look Like?

In this episode of RMIT University FORWARD Hot Takes, Peter Thomas talks to RMIT Industry Fellows Serafina Maiorano, global leadership strategist and founder of Our Global Table, and Stowe Boyd, work ecologist and founder of Work Futures, about what happens when the centre of opportunity for skilled work shifts—not just away from traditional industries, but away from the West entirely. 

For decades, high-value jobs in sectors like engineering, tech, and finance were concentrated in cities like Sydney, Boston, and London. But that’s changing. Companies aren’t just outsourcing anymore: they’re building their workforces where the talent already is - in  places like India, where over a million engineers graduate each year.

In the last few years, tech giants have expanded their presence in Indian cities because of access to skilled talent at scale, which many Western countries are struggling to provide. Meanwhile, immigration policies have tightened, making it increasingly difficult for foreign professionals to relocate to the West. Are we witnessing a global inversion of opportunity? Could it soon make more sense for young professionals to study and work in Bangalore, not Boston?

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes: The Future of Global Talent and The Shifting Geography of Work

In this episode of Hot Takes, host Peter Thomas, director of RMIT FORWARD, is joined by digital sociologist and ethicist Lisa Talia Moretti and Andrew Spence, author of the Work 3 Substack newsletter, to talk about the integration of AI into daily workflows and the implications for work culture and productivity.  The conversation delves into whether AI is supporting or reshaping the workforce,  the relevance of traditional notions of productivity and qualifications, accountability in a human-AI hybrid workforce, the need for the intentional redesign of workplaces to adapt to AI. 

Hot Takes: Meet your AI Co-worker

Design fiction invites us to prototype the future - not through predictions, but through artefacts and provocations. It helps organisations rehearse what could be, challenge their assumptions, and expand the boundaries of what they think is possible. And it’s showing up in real places: in policy labs, boardrooms, learning environments, and innovation teams.

Peter Thomas talks to Patrick Pittman, writer, editor, and researcher with deep experience crafting speculative narratives, cultural strategy, and tactical media for brands, cities and creative organisations; and Su Lim, global managing director and master planner of experience-led transformation with a focus on shaping future-ready environments, to talk about how design fiction goes beyond traditional scenario planning by using artifacts to prototype plausible futures and how it can aid in complex decision-making processes. 

Hot Takes: How design Fiction is Shaping Strategy Today

In this episode of Hot Takes, Peter Thomas discusses AI assistants and their impact on human attention with RMIT FORWARD Industry Fellows Sam Spurlin, an organization design strategist from The Ready, and Aaron McEwan, a workplace futurist at Gartner. We tak about the benefits and potential pitfalls of AI assistants, from enhancing focus during meetings to the risk of increased cognitive overload from poorly implemented tools. We discuss why Bring Your Own AI (BYOAI) might change the adoption and value of AI  in the workplace.

To learn more about RMIT University FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes: Zoom Fatigue Was Just the Start – What’s the Long-Term Impact of AI Assistants?

In this episode of Hot Takes, Peter Thomas from RMIT Forward, discusses the intricacies of trust in distributed work. The conversation features insights from FORWARD Fellows Jerry Michalski, founder of Open Global Mind, and Matt Collier, an innovation leader in leadership strategy and transformation. 

They explore how trust, traditionally built through proximity and visibility in the workplace, needs to be re-envisioned in distributed teams. The discussion covers the role of leadership, the inadequacies of current collaboration tools, the nuances of designing for trust, and the importance of small daily actions and authentic interactions in building a trust-based work environment.

To learn more about RMIT University FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes: The Future of Trust in Distributed Work

In this episode of Hot Takes, Peter Thomas from RMIT Forward leads a discussion on the challenges and solutions in scaling reskilling programs. He is joined by experts Josie Gibson, founder of Catalyst; Alex Young, Head of Innovation at Lifeblood; and Mish Eastman, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Vocational Education at RMIT University.  They explore earn and learn models, the necessity for policy and funding changes, and the role of ethical considerations in adapting to new technologies like AI.  The conversation also emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach involving government, industry, and educational institutions to create effective and sustainable reskilling environments.

To learn more about RMIT FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to 

https://rmit-forward.org



Hot Takes: Reskilling at Scale

We’re in a world where five-year plans don’t last five months, market dynamics shift overnight and AI rewrites the rules weekly. 

Traditional strategy-making is cracking under pressure. The question isn’t whether we need strategy, but how to make it resilient, dynamic, and alive. What if strategy wasn’t a static document, but an ongoing practice of adaptation, sensemaking, and navigation?

I’m joined by RMIT FORWARD Fellows Marc Chataigner,  strategist and service designer with 20 years of international experience, and Peter Creeden , global supply chain leader maritime logistics specialist, to talk about what nimble, flexible strategy might look like, why it’s important to align strategy, what happens when there are human and non-human actors working together - and what sailing can teach us about strategy.

.
00:58 Navigating Complexity in Global Supply Chains
02:31 The Evolving Definition of Strategy
04:20 Adapting Corporate Strategy to Modern Challenges
07:35 Strategic Failures 


For the full video and show notes, head here: https://vimeo.com/1105696515


To learn more about RMIT University FORWARD, and our 50+ global ecosystem of world-class Industry Fellows who we assemble into fluid teams to work as strategic partners with organisations to ensure they have the right help when they need it, head to https://rmit-forward.org

Hot Takes - is strategy dead?

FORWARD is RMIT University's Centre for Future Skills and Workforce Transformation.

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