In this week’s episode of the Human in the Loop podcast, I sit down with Nikki, Managing Director of Ferox Partners, to explore what AI really means for recruitment, leadership, and the future of work.

We unpack how AI can drive speed and efficiency in hiring without losing the human relationships that build trust, culture, and performance. From cultural fit versus skill set, to offshoring, early-career development, and burnout in lean teams.

We then delve into the need for businesses to adapt to continuous change and the critical role of resilience and adaptability in maintaining high performance without leading to burnout.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Lunch at Lashings

02:30 – Ferox Partners & Running Lean with AI

06:00 – AI in Recruitment: Efficiency vs Human Judgment

10:30 – Cultural Fit vs Skillset: What Really Matters?

14:45 – Will AI Replace Human Roles?

19:30 – Trust, Emotion & The “Bad Sandwich” Analogy

23:30 – On-Site Client Work & The Value of Human Insight

29:00 – Offshoring vs AI: The Future of Recruitment Models

36:00 – Entry-Level Jobs & The Impact of AI on Early Careers

41:30 – Education, MBAs & Preparing Graduates for AI-First Workplaces

47:00 – Parental Responsibility & Work Ethic in the Next Generation

52:00 – Burnout, Lean Teams & Manager Capability

57:00 – Risk, Development & The Future of Leadership

Connect with Nikki - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-foster-21014223/

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode I sit down with Lily Kyriacou to discuss the challenges of reactive fixes in business, particularly in the context of team dynamics and performance. Lily shares her experiences at Amdaris, where she observed that traditional approaches to problem-solving were inadequate in a rapidly changing environment.

We then delve into the need for businesses to adapt to continuous change and the critical role of resilience and adaptability in maintaining high performance without leading to burnout.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Business Challenges

01:23 The Impact of Reactive Fixes

05:32 Understanding Team Dynamics

10:18 The Importance of Adaptability

12:13 Exploring Solutions for Resilience

19:52 Identifying Key Behaviors in Teams

25:34 The Shift from Skills to Job Identities

30:08 Reinventing How We Approach Our People

Connect with Lilly - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilykyriacou

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Ruth and I discuss the importance of strategic planning for 2026, emphasising the need for business leaders to reflect on past performance and set clear goals. We explore the integration of AI in the construction industry, highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency and safety. Ruth also addresses the challenges of adopting AI, advocating for treating it as a team member and ensuring proper training for employees.

Chapters

00:00 Strategic Planning for the New Year

03:13 AI in the Construction Industry

10:01 Integrating AI as a Team Member

16:59 Enhancing Project Management with AI

21:20 The Future of AI in Construction

30:21 Transforming Construction Through Data and Automation

Connect with Ruth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-oates-864b2b3/?originalSubdomain=uk

Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.com

Connect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.