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WorkTech Podcast

WorkTech Podcast

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 The WorkTech Podcast explores the critical trends shaping the future of work and HR tech. George LaRocque of WorkTech, drawing from years of advising top innovators, investors, and enterprises, guides you through market deals, issues, opportunities, and trends—all through a strategic, actionable lens.All rights reserved by WRKdefined Careers Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Success
Episodes
  • The New Rules of Strategic Workforce Planning: Why Work Tech is Finally Growing Up

    The New Rules of Strategic Workforce Planning: Why Work Tech is Finally Growing Up
    Mar 3 2026
    In this episode, George LaRocque breaks down why 2026 marks a turning point for Work Tech, driven by architectural rigor, agentic AI, and a shift away from generic wrappers toward real business value. He explores the evolution of strategic workforce planning, the rise of autonomous agents as part of workforce capacity, and the escalating risks tied to agent complexity. George also outlines the four categories of high‑conviction innovation WorkTech is actively seeking from founders and investors. In this episode we look at workforce planning, agentic AI, HR Tech innovation, WorkTech trends, skills intelligence, autonomous agents, and the future of work. Key Takeaways Strategic workforce planning is shifting from aspiration to execution, powered by agentic AI and predictive workforce intelligence. Autonomous agents are now part of workforce capacity, requiring new models for skills, tasks, and output planning. Architectural rigor is the new market standard, replacing the experimental AI phase with measurable business value. Agent complexity introduces new risks, especially one‑to‑many agent connections that create compliance and security liabilities. Investors are demanding verticalized agentic models, business connective tissue, voice agent innovation, and global payroll infrastructure. The flight to quality is accelerating, rewarding founders who solve well‑defined problems with clear ICPs and scalable architectures. Get more insights on these topics and more at 1worktech.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    15 mins
  • Up Next @ WorkTech: Reverse Recruiting, Risky Agents, and the Rise of AI Native HR Tech

    Up Next @ WorkTech: Reverse Recruiting, Risky Agents, and the Rise of AI Native HR Tech
    Feb 27 2026
    A fast-moving conversation on AI‑driven promotions, frontline automation, agent security risks, reverse recruiting, and the funding wave reshaping HR Tech in 2026. In this episode, George and Kate unpack how AI is reshaping work—from Accenture tying promotions to AI usage (“use of our key tools will be a visible input to talent discussions.”) to Burger King’s voice agent Patty tracking upsells and friendliness scores. They explore Google’s internal AI push, the security risks of OpenClaw (“30,000 compromised installations”), and the rise of “AI native” as 2026’s dominant narrative. The conversation closes with reverse recruiting, new funding rounds, and emerging HR Tech trends. In this episode, George and Kate look at AI adoption, HR technology, agentic AI, workforce automation, recruiting technology, future of work trends, HR Tech funding. Key Takeaways: AI‑Driven Performance Management: Accenture’s plan to tie promotions to AI usage raises questions about leadership, culture, and the future of performance metrics. Frontline Automation Expands: Burger King’s “Patty” agent shows how voice‑based AI is entering hourly work, tracking upsells, sentiment, and shift performance. AI Ethics & Internal Adoption: Google’s internal AI mandates highlight ongoing tensions between innovation, employee trust, and past AI ethics controversies. Agent Security Risks Grow: OpenClaw’s rapid adoption led to “30,000 compromised installations,” exposing how vulnerable agent ecosystems and marketplaces remain. Reverse Recruiting Surges: Candidates paying for job‑hunting help reveals market vulnerability and the rise of predatory AI‑driven services. HR Tech Funding Accelerates: New capital flows to AI native platforms, cognitive assessments, integrations, and hyper‑local job boards signal where Work Tech innovation is heading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Vibe Coding, Agentic AI, and the HR Tech Risk No One Sees Coming

    Vibe Coding, Agentic AI, and the HR Tech Risk No One Sees Coming
    Feb 11 2026
    In this episode, George LaRocque unpacks new data from the 2025 Global WorkTech Report, revealing why investment capital continues to rise even as deal volume declines. He explains the “squeezed middle” dynamic affecting growth‑stage vendors, the surge in early‑stage AI innovation, and the strategic bets shaping the market. George also breaks down the hype and hidden risks of vibe coding and warns HR leaders about the escalating legal exposure tied to AI explainability and transparency. In this episode we look at workforce intelligence, agentic AI, HR technology, WorkTech investment trends, CHRO strategy, AI governance, future of work. Key Takeaways Global WorkTech investment rose to $6.24B in 2025, even as deal volume fell 16%, signaling a shift toward high‑conviction, AI‑forward bets. Early‑stage innovation is surging, with 136 pre‑seed, seed, and Series A deals capturing $1.1B in capital. The “squeezed middle” is real, as growth‑stage vendors struggle to raise amid investor discipline and platform consolidation. Agentic AI and workforce intelligence are top acquisition targets, replacing standalone tools with infrastructure‑level capabilities. Vibe coding creates false confidence, delivering prototypes but failing to meet enterprise‑grade HR tech requirements at scale. AI explainability is now a legal tail risk, with black‑box systems threatening vendor valuations, enterprise adoption, and regulatory compliance. Get the report and "Vibe Coding vs the CHRO" at 1worktech.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    21 mins
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