Beautiful Mess

Josh Bersin is an analyst, author, educator, and thought leader focusing on the global talent market and the challenges and trends impacting business workforces around the world. He studies the world of work, HR and leadership practices, and the broad talent technology market. He is often cited as one of the leading HR and workplace industry analysts in the world.
He founded Bersin & Associates in 2001 to provide research and advisory services focused on corporate learning. Over the next ten years, he expanded the company’s coverage to encompass HR, talent management, talent acquisition, and leadership and became a recognized expert in the talent market. He sold the company to Deloitte in 2012, when it became known as Bersin™ by Deloitte. He currently sits on the board of UC Berkeley Executive Education.
Most recently, Bersin launched the Josh Bersin Academy, the world’s first global development academy for HR and talent professionals at all levels and across all industries. Serving as the Academy’s dean, Bersin guides its program offerings, interacts with members, and shares relevant research and insights to help HR and talent professionals stay current on the trends and practices needed to drive success in the modern world of work.
Bersin is frequently featured in talent and business publications such as Forbes, Harvard Business Review, HR Executive, FastCompany, The Wall Street Journal, and CLO Magazine. He is a regular keynote speaker at industry events and a popular blogger with more than 860,000 followers on LinkedIn.
Prior to founding Bersin & Associates, Josh spent 25 years in product development, product management, marketing, and sales of database, e-learning and other enterprise technologies. His education includes a BS in engineering from Cornell University, an MS in engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of three books, The Blended Learning Handbook and The Training Measurement Book, along with dozens of studies on corporate HR, learning, and talent technologies. His latest book, Irresistible: The Seven Secrets Of The World’s Most Enduring, Employee-Focused Organizations, is a best-seller on Amazon and The Best Indie Book Award (BIBA).  (More details on Irresistible here.)
Josh’s eminence as an analyst and thought leader has been globally recognized. During his time at Deloitte, Josh was the principal author and architect of the Deloitte Human Capital Trends, the world’s largest global study of HR, talent, and workplace trends. This report, which covers all major HR issues around the world, became one of Deloitte’s most widely read research studies and formed the basis for Deloitte’s global human capital consulting. His model for employee engagement, “Simply Irresistible,” was the most widely read research in the Deloitte Insights website.
His research on employee engagement, new models of performance management, and the ever-changing nature of HR and workplace technology is widely respected. He is often credited with the concepts of “high-impact corporate training,” “learning in the flow of work,” and hundreds of articles on the evolution of people analytics and the use of AI in the workplace.
Throughout his career in HR and HR technology, Josh has continued to focus on the needs of HR executives, HR teams, and the careers of HR professionals. He believes in the “craft” of human resources and is one of the profession’s most vocal advocates for the importance of HR in the ever-changing world of work.I have looked forward to this conversation for two years...and loved every moment of it. Josh Bersin site: https://joshbersin.com/Superpowered Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HMG8KD82?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbackLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/bersinGalileo ai: getgalileo.aiBlog: https://joshbersin.com/

I've known Vanesa for just over a year...and I'm so grateful for every day we've shared since. I'm also very proud to be a founding voice of her community "EmpowerHer" and I'm also now partnering with her incredible organisation NoBa Capital. Co-founded with Kevin Fuller.
I LOVED our conversation!!
Vanesa is the Founding Partner of NoBa Capital, an early-stage venture firm backing founders who are reshaping how we live and work.
From AI-driven workforce platforms to tools for wellbeing and inclusion, NoBa invest in ideas that are global from day one — and support founders hands-on as operators who’ve built, scaled, and learned themselves.
What defines Vanesa professionally: 💡 Entrepreneurial drive - having founded and grown businesses, I know the grit it takes. 🤝 Community building - whether through NoBa Connect, Elevate, or EmpowerHER, Vanesa believes in creating platforms where people can collaborate, learn, and belong. 📈 Backing women and underrepresented founders - ensuring capital, networks, and opportunities reach those too often overlooked. 🌍 Long-term vision - building ventures and communities that outlast us, leaving real impact. Vanesa's values:freedom and trust - they guide every decision she makes. 
 
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Loved this conversation with Kelly!! Although a few months have passed since we recoreded (I hold myself completley accountable for the gap!)...this topic is live and kicking throughout generations of work places and the people within them...Kelly is in demand!Kelly Swingler  has an amazing story to share and I was so excited to have her share it on "Beautiful Mess"...As Kelly herself says,
"I'm daring to imagine a world of work where Burnout is no longer a badge of honour. Where leaders actually lead - without sacrificing themselves.  Where coaches are Burnout Aware and Trauma Informed. And where success is measured by impact, not exhaustion.
My work in the field of Burnout and Burnoutology isn’t a trend.
This is the future".Linkedin

This conversation with Ruth is such an inspirational insight into what can happen when we build our work out of our intrinsic sense of purpose whilst giving others that very "human permission" to change too. (we're also both passionate marathon runneres!)With over a decade of dedicated experience in education and wellbeing, Ruth has honed her expertise in crafting and leading initiatives that promote holistic health. As the Founder and Director of Looking After Me, Ruth's mission resonates with the organisation's ethos of nurturing individual wellness.Ruth's work is driven by a commitment to innovation in health education, ensuring her strategies align with her culture of care and empowerment.At Looking After Me, Ruth has been pioneering wellness programs since January 2022, leveraging her background in nutrition and sports science.Her role encompasses designing and implementing comprehensive wellbeing curricula, drawing on her previous experience. Her team's approach is rooted in evidence-based practices, aiming to transform lives through personalised support and education.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed creating it!Linkedin Looking After Me

Pete Markey's stats are extremely impressive!! Pete is a results driven commercial leader responsible for driving 17 quarters of consecutive market share growth, a +3m increase in the loyalty base and a 10 fold profit increase in retail media. Drove a 30% improvement in profit ROI to over £2.50 for every pound spent. Winner of five Marketer of the Year awards, two marketing team of the year awards, three diversity champion awards, an Honorary Doctorate from Solent University and a Fellow of The Marketing Academy, CIM and The Marketing Society. Pete is also an amazing leader and class A human! Having the opportunity to share a "Beautiful Mess" conversation with Pete was such a highlight for me...I hope you enjoy tuning in. 
So many gems here... 

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This conversation was such a privelege to host. Most moments are a mic drop!

James is an exceptional leader and there is so much incredible insight in all he shares.
Namely the "51%" belief...this alone is AMAZING!

I'm very grateful to the team at Campfire for introducing me to Digistream, and so... to James Gamble and his legacy as a leader. 

Tune in and enjoy!
(ps. Please invite James to more podcasts ...he is a dream guest!!)

James Gamble

I cannot think of a better episode to release to the world for Christmas 2025...not only has Robert just become a dad!! ...he is one of the most inspriring, real and courageous humans I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with.This beautiful mess conversation speaks for itself ... catasrophic injury, faith, recovery, the power of mindset, the relationships in our lives that lift us up and day by day relentless dertermination and beyond incredible spirit to move forsward.Robert's websiteRobert's bookLinkedin

Michelle is on a mission to be the HR person she never had and use her experience to transform HR teams from beige to brilliant. She believes in HR with a passion, and wants to share that passion with the world in the form of coaching and mentoring, and human resources training.I loved our conversation, and learnt so much about her passion for HR, her experience of how critical it is to have fun at work, her deep learning from her experience of burn out ...and her drive to make a difference.Enjoy!! WebsiteLinkedin

Emily first discovered rowing through the British Indoor Rowing Championships at the age of 12.
After winning a silver medal she decided to go to her local rowing club, Bewl Bridge Rowing Club, and almost immediately set her sights on competing at the Olympics one day.
Emily first represented GB at the U23 World Championships in 2013 whilst studying History of Art, winning bronze in the lightweight quadruple sculls. After completing a Masters in East Asian Art in 2015, Emily joined the senior GB Rowing Team full time. She made her Olympic debut at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games in the lightweight women’s double sculls, setting a World Best Time in the heats but missing the podium in an agonising 0.01 second photo finish, the picture of which has been on her wall as a driving force ever since.
Already a three times World Champion and two times European Champion, Emily became Olympic Champion at Paris 2024, in the Lightweight Women’s double sculls with Imogen Grant.
I am extremely excited to share this conversation with the world and so grateful to Emily for giving me her time to share these phenomenal insights into her Olympic amd every day mindset.
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-craig-oly-mbe-890421223?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Phil Wilkinson and I only met for the first time two months ago.
Phil is a highly talented and dedicated global PR and communications professional and mental fitness coach.
As Head of PR and Communications at World Rugby for the past seven years, Phil was responsible for implementing and driving World Rugby’s communications strategy, as the sport seeks to continue its successful growth and inspire a new generation of fans. 
He has worked across external and internal communications, events and fan-engagement in a leading Olympic sport with a global fanbase of over 800 million.
Wilkinson was previously employed by the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee, where, as International Media Manager, he led the development and execution of an international communications strategy to engage a global audience of over four billion.
Previous to these roles, he's had highly influential and senior roles within the world of international sport.
Our conversation just fizzed along!! 

I loved hearing Phil's perspective on beautiful mess his own experience with mental health and his passion about empowering others with this same deeper level of awareness around mental fitness.
Enjoy, share and tell us what you loved!