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Directionally Correct, A People Analytics Podcast

Directionally Correct, A People Analytics Podcast

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Directionally Correct is the #1 people analytics podcast in the world. Hosted by Cole Napper, the podcast dives into people analytics, workforce planning, behavioral science, and talent intelligence, helping leaders navigate the future of AI in the workplace with insight and a dash of fun. To find out more, check out colenapper.comAll rights reserved by WRKdefined Economics Management Management & Leadership Science
Episodes
  • People Insights at HP & The Value of Data Security - Amy Stevenson - #176

    People Insights at HP & The Value of Data Security - Amy Stevenson - #176
    Jun 8 2026
    Thanks to HRBench for powering this episode. To find out more about the company building the future of people intelligence, reach out to book a demo at hrbench.com/directionallycorrect ! Check out this episode of the #1 people analytics podcast with special guest, Amy Stevenson, Senior Director People Insights at HP! In this wide-ranging and highly practical conversation, Cole Napper welcomes back Amy Stevenson for a discussion that spans the evolution of people analytics, the realities of building enterprise-scale analytics capabilities, the future of AI in HR, and the leadership lessons that come from spending years turning strategy into execution. Amy reflects on her journey building and scaling HP’s People Insights function over more than five years, sharing what it takes to create a sustainable analytics organization capable of delivering value in a rapidly changing business environment. Drawing on experience across multiple industries and leadership roles, she explains why successful people analytics teams must think beyond dashboards and reporting and instead focus on long-term capability building, organizational influence, and business impact. A major theme throughout the discussion is the challenge of balancing innovation with governance. Amy provides a thoughtful perspective on the realities of working with sensitive workforce data, discussing the distinctions between privacy and security, the complexities of role-based access, and why HR data presents unique challenges compared with other enterprise data domains. She also explains why partnerships with legal, privacy, cybersecurity, IT, finance, and enterprise technology teams are becoming increasingly important as organizations develop broader AI and data strategies. The conversation explores one of the most debated questions facing analytics leaders today: build versus buy. Amy shares how HP approached developing internal capabilities, the role of proprietary intellectual property, and how leaders can evaluate whether internally developed tools and methodologies truly create strategic advantage. She also discusses the importance of peer networks, professional communities, and trusted relationships in helping analytics leaders validate ideas, exchange knowledge, and avoid common pitfalls. Cole and Amy spend significant time examining the impact of generative AI on people analytics. They discuss governance models, emerging organizational structures for AI oversight, the challenges of integrating HR data into enterprise AI ecosystems, and how leaders can responsibly explore new use cases while maintaining ethical standards and stakeholder trust. Amy argues that while AI will undoubtedly transform work, its greatest value may come from freeing professionals to spend more time on deeper thinking, creativity, and problem solving. Beyond technology, the discussion repeatedly returns to leadership. Amy emphasizes the importance of relationships, credibility, and organizational trust as the foundations of successful analytics programs. She shares insights on gaining recognition for analytics work, influencing stakeholders, navigating enterprise transformation efforts, and ensuring that people analytics functions become trusted strategic partners rather than simply technical support teams. The episode also ventures into talent, learning, and career development. Amy and Cole debate hiring for potential versus hiring for immediate qualifications, discuss what distinguishes exceptional performers, and explore how broad experiences often create stronger leaders than narrow specialization. They also examine the future career paths available to analytics professionals and why developing business breadth may be just as important as deep technical expertise. As always, the conversation blends practical advice, intellectual curiosity, humor, and reflection, offering valuable lessons for analytics practitioners, HR leaders, and anyone interested in how organizations can better use data, technology, and human insight to make better decisions. If you like this episode, you’d also love exploring prior episodes—visit colenapper.com for the full archive and show links.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • The Power of Us & Social Identity at Work - Jay Van Bavel - #175

    The Power of Us & Social Identity at Work - Jay Van Bavel - #175
    Jun 1 2026
    Thanks to HRBench for powering this episode. To find out more about the company building the future of people intelligence, reach out to book a demo at hrbench.com/directionallycorrect ! Check out this episode of the #1 people analytics podcast with special guest, Jay Van Bavel, Professor of Psychology & Neural Science at NYU and Author of “The Power of Us”! In this wide-ranging and deeply thought-provoking conversation, Cole Napper sits down with Jay Van Bavel to unpack one of the most important—and often misunderstood—forces shaping organizations, workplaces, and society today: identity. Drawing from decades of research in psychology, neuroscience, group behavior, and conflict, Jay explains why identity is far more than an academic concept—it shapes how we think, what we value, who we trust, and how organizations succeed or fail. At the center of the discussion is a powerful idea: we are shaped by the groups we join. Jay explains how identities act like lenses through which we interpret the world, influencing behavior, priorities, and even morality. Whether in workplaces, families, professional communities, or social groups, the identities we adopt quietly shape our decisions and relationships in ways most people underestimate. Cole and Jay explore one of the defining workplace challenges of the modern era: rising polarization, incivility, and declining trust. Jay shares research on why remote work, shrinking social circles, and fragmented organizational identities may be contributing to lower cooperation and weaker connections at work. The discussion reframes psychological safety—not as avoiding conflict, but as creating environments where people can challenge ideas, disagree productively, and take interpersonal risks without fear. The episode also dives into inclusion, bias, and organizational performance. Jay explains why diverse teams only outperform when paired with shared identity, inclusive norms, and psychological safety. He offers a nuanced perspective on why some approaches to DEI created backlash, what organizations misunderstood, and how leaders can foster inclusion in ways grounded in science rather than ideology. Cole and Jay examine the hidden power of dissent, asking why organizations often punish the very people who care most about the group. Jay shares practical strategies for avoiding groupthink, encouraging constructive disagreement, and building cultures where dissent strengthens decision-making rather than undermining cohesion. The conversation also explores why social skills may matter more than technical skills in the future of work, how Gen Z’s changing relationship with in-person interaction is affecting workplaces, and why relationship-building may become one of the most valuable capabilities in an AI-driven world. Along the way, they discuss conformity, culture fit, social media, moralization, and even the surprising story behind the rivalry that created Adidas and Puma as a lesson in identity and belonging. If you work in HR, people analytics, organizational psychology, talent management, or simply want to better understand why people behave the way they do inside groups, this conversation offers practical, research-backed insights for building healthier and higher-performing organizations. If you like this episode, you’d also love exploring prior episodes—visit colenapper.com for the full archive and show links.
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    58 mins
  • The Strategic Workforce Planning Handbook - David Edwards - #174

    The Strategic Workforce Planning Handbook - David Edwards - #174
    May 25 2026
    Thanks to HRBench for powering this episode. To find out more about the company building the future of people intelligence, reach out to book a demo at hrbench.com/directionallycorrect ! Check out this episode of the #1 people analytics podcast with special guest, David Edwards, Chief Workforce Strategist at Dark Artistry, Author of "The Strategic Workforce Planning Handbook"! In this wide-ranging and deeply practical conversation, Cole Napper sits down with David Edwards to unpack one of the most important—and often misunderstood—disciplines shaping the future of work: strategic workforce planning. Drawing from decades of experience across HR, workforce strategy, and organizational transformation, David explains why workforce planning is far more than forecasting headcount. Instead, it is about ensuring organizations have a workforce fit for future business purpose—and understanding the risks that emerge when they do not. David reflects on publishing The Strategic Workforce Planning Handbook and the challenge of writing in a field evolving at breakneck speed. He candidly shares how rapidly advancing AI capabilities made parts of the book feel outdated almost immediately, highlighting just how quickly workforce realities are shifting and why practitioners must constantly adapt. A major theme of the conversation is the relationship between business strategy, workforce demand, and workforce risk. David explains why organizations often misunderstand “strategy,” arguing that workforce planning only becomes meaningful when deeply connected to business objectives. Through practical examples, he demonstrates how hidden vulnerabilities—aging talent populations, concentrated expertise, succession gaps, and critical capability shortages—can quietly threaten organizational performance if left unaddressed. The discussion also explores the increasingly inseparable relationship between people analytics and workforce planning. David argues that workforce planning cannot exist without evidence, while analytics alone often lacks the context necessary to influence business decisions. Together, the two disciplines help leaders identify which parts of the workforce are truly strategic, where risks exist, and how talent decisions shape long-term business outcomes. Cole and David spend significant time discussing AI’s accelerating impact on workforce planning itself. Rather than viewing planning as a static annual process, David envisions a future where AI enables more dynamic analysis of workforce risk, capability gaps, and changing work structures. The conversation moves beyond simple headcount questions to larger issues: How will AI reshape work? Which capabilities will become more valuable? And how should organizations prepare for a future changing faster than traditional planning cycles can handle? Beyond strategy and frameworks, the episode takes a surprisingly personal turn as David reflects on his career journey—from volunteering as a teacher in Kenya at age eighteen to singing in a seventeen-piece soul band and helping redeploy employees at risk of losing their jobs. Those experiences shaped a deeply people-centered philosophy rooted not just in business outcomes, but in helping people navigate transitions and continue meaningful careers. Cole’s Corner brings provocative debates on management quality, aging workforces, mentorship, knowledge transfer, and what organizations should do with long-tenured employees whose performance no longer matches evolving business needs. The episode closes with a thoughtful reflection on technological disruption, history, and human resilience as Cole and David consider whether today’s AI-driven transformation mirrors other moments of dramatic societal change. If you like this episode, you’d also love exploring prior episodes—visit colenapper.com for the full archive and show links.
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    1 hr and 6 mins
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