'Navigating the Future of Work' with Peter Brown

Welcome to another exciting episode of The Connected Leadership Podcast, where we are exploring the future of work, the role of leadership in navigating these changes, and how to seize future opportunities instead of fearing them. Our guest today is PwC's Global Workforce Leader, Peter Brown. Pete leads a team of over 10,000 professionals supporting businesses with their workforce challenges. Pete has over 25 years of global experience of advising clients around a number of workforce disciplines. He also sponsors PwC’s Global Centre for Transformative Leadership. In the discussion, Andy and Pete examine how the pace of change in our workplace is accelerating, shaped by phenomena such as social media and AI’s rapid evolution. Peter shares how platforms like TikTok and Gen AI amassed an unprecedented number of users within months of launching, pointing to a speedier, high-tech future. Andy also explores with Pete, the impact of global macro trends like climate change and disruptive technologies as well as the importance of human capacity to adapt and learn. Pete stresses the need for urgency to deal with pressing issues such as the climate crisis. He suggests that technology is not an enemy but a powerful tool that can be harnessed for efficiency and productivity and highlights the necessity to protect people, not jobs, since the workforce must adapt and evolve as technology does. Andy and Pete further discuss the concerns and opportunities that AI brings to different professions. Technology and humans can work in harmony, complementing each other's abilities. Also, he emphasises that innate human skills such as critical thinking, networking, leadership, and interpersonal skills remain crucial. How can leaders guide their teams through these changes? Pete suggests that the central role of leaders is to clarify their stance on technology adoption and then equip their teams with the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in a technologically advanced landscape. How we confront these changes, will shape the labour landscape for generations to come.  Andy and Pete explore the seismic shifts in the workplace and leadership amidst the remote work revolution. They look at the differences between companies fully embracing remote work, those adhering to traditional office-based roles, and ones leaning toward a hybrid model. The conversation also looks at the impact of the pandemic on highlighting the importance of mental health and work-life balance and the transformation from time-based to a productivity-centric work culture. Trust and flexibility emerge as crucial factors, particularly in a global market experiencing skills scarcity. Looking towards the future, Pete sees the hybrid work model persisting in various forms. He advocates empowering employee mobility within organisations and prioritising skills development. This episode provides foresight into the acceleration of existing work trends and emerging ones to anticipate in the global workplace environment. Tune into the Connected Leadership Podcast, where we continue to explore these issues and more weekly. Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with Peter Brown LinkedIn