Hot Takes

 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 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

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