Your Digital Twin Wants to Review You with Kevin Oakes

Episode notes

AI is forcing a question many leaders would rather avoid: are we improving work — or quietly deleting it? In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, Bill Banham is joined by Kevin Oakes , CEO and co-founder of the Institute for Corporate Productivity and author of Culture Renovation , to cut through the hype and explore what’s actually changing inside organisations right now. Together, they compare the current AI moment to the early internet era — but with one critical difference: speed. Kevin explains why many organisations start with efficiency and ROI conversations before addressing workforce design, and why that sequence is starting to break down as AI reshapes roles, entry-level pathways, and management structures. The conversation also explores emerging use cases such as digital twins, the growing importance of skills readiness, and why HR is increasingly stepping into a central role in shaping AI strategy. With examples from companies like ServiceNow and IBM, Kevin outlines how leading organisations are approaching workforce redesign, internal mobility, and culture in a more intentional, data-driven way.