How the analytics revolution will transform the way companies value human capital with Cole Napper

Cole Napper explores how people analytics can transform from a support function to the future center of HR itself. Drawing from his extensive experience across major corporations and his upcoming book, he challenges traditional thinking about workforce planning in an era of demographic shifts and AI disruption.

• Connecting internal workforce analytics with external labuor market intelligence is crucial for meaningful insights
• Two economies exist simultaneously: knowledge workers facing wage pressure and blue-collar workers seeing unprecedented wage growth
• Demographic shifts and labour shortages aren't predictions but inevitabilities that organizations must plan for
• Cole's new book offers a provocative roadmap for people analytics professionals to lead business transformation
• Four operating principles for analytics teams: alignment, innovation, credibility, and accountability
• HR leaders must make concrete financial commitments about their value ($50M+ ROI)
• Workforce planning must balance quarterly business needs with 5-20 year talent development horizons
• The future of HR could be analytical, with people analytics professionals becoming the strategic drivers

Pre-order Cole's book "People Analytics: Using Generative AI and Data-Driven HR to Make Business Impact" coming August 2025 from Kogan Page or Amazon.

People Analytics: Using data driven HR and Gen AI as a business Asset | Kogan Page

The Reimagined Workforce podcast is brought to you by Workforce Transformations Australia Pty. Ltd.
All opinions expressed are the speaker's and not the organisations they represent.
If you have a story about a workforce transformation to share and would like to be a guest on this podcast, please contact us at kathhume@workforcetransformations.com.au.
Connect with Kath Hume on LinkedIn

Purchase Kath's book Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world:
Learn Solve Thrive: Making a difference that matters in a fast and complex world : Hume, Kathryn Lee: Amazon.com.au: Books

Chapters

• 0:00 Understanding What Leaders Really Care About
• 0:22 Cole's Four Career Phases in Analytics
• 5:32 Internal vs External Labor Market Insights
• 9:45 Reimagining the Workforce with Curiosity
• 16:17 A New Book on People Analytics
• 24:30 Business Value and AI's Impact
• 34:36 Four Operating Principles for Analytics Teams
• 38:48 Optimizing Human Capital Investment