Our guest line-up includes Nebel Crowhurst, a senior HR executive with hands-on experience guiding organisations through digital transformation; Carolyn Shepherd, founder and lead consultant at Emmeline AI, known for her focus on future skills; and Perry Timms, founder and chief energy officer at Perry Timms HR, who champions progressive approaches to talent.

Together with our host, Robin Adda, we explore real-world applications and pressing challenges facing HR, L&D, and business leaders today.

This episode explores the practical steps HR and L&D professionals can take to align their work with leadership priorities and show real impact. Our guests discuss how organisations can move beyond basic reporting, using data and storytelling to connect people initiatives with business performance. They emphasise the importance of collaboration, supporting middle managers, and embracing a coaching approach to learning rather than just delivering programmes on request.

We discuss:

• Why aligning HR and L&D initiatives with organisational goals makes a measurable difference

• How to move beyond traditional data points (like absence and turnover) to real measures of value

• The role of collaboration across stakeholders, especially the support needed for middle managers

• Approaches to designing people strategies that are integrated, not isolated, from business strategy

• The value of engaging employees and leaders in creating learning solutions that address both immediate challenges and long-term ambitions

• Practical ways to demonstrate the commercial impact of HR and learning investments

This is a grounded discussion for anyone involved in skills mapping, learning strategy, or workforce development. If you’re aiming to prove the ROI of talent initiatives and want to build a more skills-focused workplace, you’ll find plenty of relevant, real-world takeaways here.

Whether you’re an HR, L&D, Talent, or business leader, our goal is to equip you with practical insights and new perspectives to help your organisation thrive.

We’re glad to have you with us on When Skills Matter.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by AI, our tool is designed to help organisations in any sector pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a fast and scalable way.

Our intuitive dashboard was designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, bringing all the data and analytics together to make staff upskilling faster, simpler, and more focused.

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

We’re excited to bring you these conversations. Welcome to When Skills Matter.

In this conversation, we flip things around as Robins joins Neil C. Hughes, on his podcast, Tech Talks Daily, for a practical and timely discussion on how AI can transform job opportunities and workforce development.

Together, Robin and Neil explore the real challenges and opportunities facing leaders as technology rapidly reshapes the working world. Theye dive into how organisations and employees can successfully navigate skills gaps, build personalised training plans, and ensure that AI is a tool for growth - not just another headline about job loss.

They discuss:

• How AI-driven skills mapping reveals true capability and identifies practical learning needs

• Why personalised training is more effective than traditional, standardised approaches

• The importance of integrating human qualities like critical thinking, curiosity, and communication into skills strategies

• What causes anxiety about AI for employees, and how organisations can turn that concern into motivation for retraining

• The real-world impact of digital skills gaps across sectors - and practical ways to close them

• Strategies for future-proofing teams, including auditing skills frameworks and making learning more relevant

• The role AI can play in upskilling, improving productivity, and supporting economic growth

Our aim in this episode is to share insights that help HR, L&D, and business leaders make evidence-based decisions, align learning with business needs, and create organisations where people can thrive in the age of artificial intelligence.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, personalised learning pathways, or effective upskilling, you’ll find practical ideas for building a more agile, confident workforce.

We’re excited to bring you these conversations. Welcome to When Skills Matter.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by AI, this new tool is designed to aid organisations in any field to pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a quick and scaleable manner.

Using an intuitive dashboard principally designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, all the data including full analytics is contained and accessed in one place to make the task of staff upskilling quicker, simpler and easier to carry out.

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

Our guest line-up includes Nebel Crowhurst, a senior HR executive with hands-on experience guiding organisations through digital transformation; Carolyn Shepherd, founder and lead consultant at Emmeline AI, known for her focus on future skills; and Perry Timms, founder and chief energy officer at Perry Timms HR, who champions progressive approaches to talent.

Together with our host, Robin Adda, we explore real-world applications and pressing challenges facing HR, L&D, and business leaders today.

We talk through how AI is shaping the skills landscape, why fear and uncertainty often accompany new technology, and the steps leaders can take to build credibility and trust while navigating change.

We discuss:

• Where AI can support upskilling and strengthen the value of HR and L&D

• How credibility may be damaged by over-reliance on AI-generated content, and ways to avoid this trap

• The importance of context, personalisation, and reflection in learning strategy

• Lessons from past workplace technology shifts, from Google to social media and beyond

• The need to break away from orthodoxy, experiment, and evolve learning practices

• How business flexibility and entrepreneurial thinking are reshaping job roles and descriptions

Our guests offer practical insights and examples that help make sense of both opportunities and risks as AI transforms the way organisations approach learning and talent development.

Whether you work in HR, L&D, Talent, or business leadership, you’ll find ideas in this episode you can apply right away.

We’re glad to have you with us on When Skills Matter.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by AI, our tool is designed to help organisations in any sector pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a fast and scalable way.

Our intuitive dashboard was designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, bringing all the data and analytics together to make staff upskilling faster, simpler, and more focused.

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

We’re excited to bring you these conversations. Welcome to When Skills Matter.

In this conversation, we share a special interview between our own Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, and Ben Geoghegan, host of A Better HR Business podcast. Robin Adda brings decades of entrepreneurial experience in learning, workforce development, and EdTech. His perspective is shaped by building and scaling multiple businesses, with a focus on addressing the real skills challenges facing organisations today.

Together, we discuss how leaders can move past outdated training models and use skills assessment, data, and AI to make workforce upskilling more effective and measurable. The conversation covers essential lessons from building businesses, practical approaches to closing skills gaps, and the changing landscape of learning and development.

We explore:

• Why resilience and adaptability are essential for today’s leaders

• How practical skills assessment can drive personalised learning pathways

• Where traditional training often falls short - and how to address it

• The role of AI in diagnosing skills gaps and supporting continuous workforce development

• What L&D and HR leaders should look for in assessment tools that align with business goals

• Ways to ensure your upskilling strategy is flexible, people-focused, and future-ready

This episode is relevant for anyone looking to make better people decisions, align training with business priorities, or make learning investment go further. You’ll hear first-hand insights on selecting the right tools, integrating assessment and development, and preparing your workforce for what’s next.

Our goal is to help you close skills gaps, improve training effectiveness, and shape a more adaptable organisation - one that’s ready for tomorrow’s challenges.

We’re glad to have you with us on When Skills Matter.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by AI, our tool is designed to help organisations in any sector pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a fast and scalable way.

Our intuitive dashboard was designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, bringing all the data and analytics together to make staff upskilling faster, simpler, and more focused.

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

We’re excited to bring you these conversations. Welcome to When Skills Matter.

Together with our host Robin Adda, we explore practical, real-world issues facing today’s HR, L&D, and business leaders. Our discussion focuses on closing skills gaps, using data to make better people decisions, and embracing new technology in a way that balances digital transformation with human strengths.

We discuss:

• Why skills and talent strategies are top-of-mind for business performance, especially as the pace of change accelerates

• How Devyani’s journey from HR leadership to AI entrepreneurship is reshaping practical approaches to skills development

• The challenges boards and senior leaders face in adopting AI - and why it’s both an opportunity and a disruption

• Practical ways organisations can assess skills gaps using data and evidence, not guesswork

• The rise of personalised, just-in-time learning, and how AI enables training to match individual needs and business priorities

• Balancing digital skills with critical human capabilities such as creativity, judgment, and collaboration

• The importance of culture and planned investment in upskilling everyone, not just leaders, through the transition to more AI-driven roles

Whether you’re working to strengthen skills mapping, refine your learning strategy, or measure the impact of training, this episode brings you actionable insights and honest perspectives from a leader who has sat at the boardroom and on the front lines of workforce development.

Our goal is to help you make smarter skill decisions and prepare your teams for whatever comes next.

We’re excited to bring you these conversations. Welcome to When Skills Matter.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by AI, this new tool is designed to aid organisations in any field to pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a quick and scaleable manner.

Using an intuitive dashboard principally designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, all the data including full analytics is contained and accessed in one place to make the task of staff upskilling quicker, simpler and easier to carry out.

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

Our guests are Perry Timms, a leading voice on progressive HR and organisational transformation, and Nebel Crowhurst, a senior people executive with firsthand insight into how workforce expectations and skills needs are changing.

Hosted by Robin Adda, the discussion explores the root causes behind lagging skills strategies and shares practical ideas for building a more agile, future-ready workforce.

Together, we discuss what needs to shift in the way organisations structure, develop, and support skills—from the frameworks we use, to the technologies we embrace, to the cultural changes driving new approaches to work.

We discuss:

• How traditional education and skills models no longer fit today’s longer, more varied career journeys

• The confusion between competencies, skills, and capabilities, and why clarity in these areas is essential for progress

• Why measuring proficiency and impact matters more than simply tracking productivity

• How AI can support, not replace, human judgement in learning and workforce development

• The impact of technology on work-life blend, and how changing expectations shape new models for working and learning

• What needs to change in organisational infrastructure to keep up with shifting skills demands and longer working lives

Whether you are grappling with how to identify skills gaps, improve learning impact, or prepare your workforce for a changing future, this episode provides clear, practical insights you can apply right away.

We’re excited to bring you these conversations. Welcome to When Skills Matter.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by AI, this new tool is designed to aid organisations in any field to pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a quick and scaleable manner.

Using an intuitive dashboard principally designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, all the data including full analytics is contained and accessed in one place to make the task of staff upskilling quicker, simpler and easier to carry out.

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

In this conversation, we sit down with Nebel Crowhurst, a fractional Chief People Officer, board advisor, investor, and international speaker who brings decades of experience helping businesses align people strategy with overall organisational goals. Nebel’s practical approach and deep HR perspective make her insights particularly valuable for anyone focused on workforce development and skills strategy.

Together, host Robin Adda and Nebel explore how taking a skills-based approach to people strategy is essential for not only closing workforce gaps but also helping businesses adapt to rapid change and set themselves up for long-term success.

Nebel offers her first-hand experience working with high-growth companies, discussing how HR leaders can move from a reactive posture to a more strategic, evidence-based way of planning, resourcing, and upskilling teams.

They discuss:

• Why HR professionals are rethinking their roles and the challenges driving change in the field

• How business agility and strategic skills mapping support organisational growth and adaptability

• Practical strategies for involving HR in early-stage, business-critical conversations

• The importance of personalised learning pathways over one-size-fits-all approaches

• The growing impact of AI on HR, learning, and skills assessment—and how to use new technologies responsibly

• How to start small, use data to prioritise, and iterate workforce planning for meaningful results

• Advice for HR and L&D leaders looking to place skills at the centre of their people strategy

Our goal with this podcast is to share actionable insights and real experiences from those shaping workforce development. Whether you work in HR, L&D, Talent, or business leadership, you’ll find ideas here to help you make measurable impact with your people and your skills strategy.

We’re excited to bring you these conversations. Welcome to When Skills Matter.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by AI, this new tool is designed to aid organisations in any field to pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a quick and scaleable manner.

Using an intuitive dashboard principally designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, all the data including full analytics is contained and accessed in one place to make the task of staff upskilling quicker, simpler and easier to carry out.

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

In today’s conversation, we’re joined by Natal Dank, Executive Director and Principal Consultant at PXO Culture, and a recognized leader in the global Agile HR movement. Natal’s work focuses on helping organizations build adaptability, develop future-ready skills, and use evidence-based approaches to drive real outcomes in HR, learning, and people strategy.

Together, we explore how agility isn’t just a buzzword, but a truly practical approach for HR and L&D teams who want to keep pace with rapid change and deliver lasting value. Natal shares actionable insights from her book, Agile L&D, and offers a clear perspective on what it takes to align learning and skills development with actual business priorities.

We discuss:

• The five core principles of Agile L&D—and how they help teams continuously upskill and reskill workforces

• Why starting with the business challenge, not just a list of skills, leads to better outcomes

• How skills mapping, T-shaped skills, and practical assessments can uncover real capability gaps

• The increasing role of AI, automation, and agentic technologies—and what that means for workforce planning

• Why evidence-based, incremental learning programs get better results than traditional big-bang training approaches

• The growing importance of “transversal” skills like adaptability, critical thinking, and communication—alongside digital capabilities

• How HR and L&D leaders can build more elastic, resilient organizations by focusing on learning agility and continuous experimentation

• Challenges of keeping skills frameworks, inventories, and learning programs up to date as technology and job requirements shift

Our aim with this episode is to give you grounded, practical ideas for making learning more relevant, targeted, and impactful. Whether you’re shaping L&D strategy, redesigning job roles, or simply trying to future-proof your teams, you’ll find plenty of takeaways for your own organization.

We’re excited to bring you these conversations. Welcome to When Skills Matter.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by AI, this new tool is designed to aid organisations in any field to pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a quick and scaleable manner.

Using an intuitive dashboard principally designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, all the data including full analytics is contained and accessed in one place to make the task of staff upskilling quicker, simpler and easier to carry out.

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

Carolyn shares her “river” metaphor for navigating change, why adaptability and critical thinking are more valuable than ever, and how HR and L&D leaders can support their people through AI transformation.

From lived experience to new technical capabilities, Carolyn explains why organizations need to focus on building both human and AI-ready skills if they want their workforce to thrive.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by Ai, this new tool is designed to aid organisations in any field to pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a quick and scaleable manner.

Using an intuitive dashboard principally designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, all the data including full analytics is contained and accessed in one place to make the task of staff upskilling quicker, simpler and easier to carry out. 

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

Paul shares candid insights on how HR and learning leaders can close skills gaps without overwhelming employees, why productivity and focus are at the heart of capability building, and how AI should be seen as an enabler rather than a replacement.

From the attention economy to skills shortages, Paul explains how organizations can reclaim time, upskill effectively, and create resilient teams in the AI era.

The When Skills Matter podcast is where forward-thinking HR, L&D, and business leaders come together to share practical ideas and fresh perspectives on workforce development, learning, and performance.

Hosted by Robin Adda, founder and CEO of SkillsAssess, the show dives into real-world strategies for closing skills gaps, developing leaders, aligning HR and L&D with business priorities, and making smarter people decisions that drive measurable impact.

You’ll hear from experienced practitioners and innovators as they explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to navigate the challenges of change, digital disruption, and the evolving world of work.

Whether you’re focused on skills mapping, learning strategy, or talent development, this podcast will give you valuable insights you can use right away.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by Ai, this new tool is designed to aid organisations in any field to pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a quick and scaleable manner.

Using an intuitive dashboard principally designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, all the data including full analytics is contained and accessed in one place to make the task of staff upskilling quicker, simpler and easier to carry out. 

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.

You’ll hear about the kinds of guests and topics that will feature on the show, from AI in L&D to closing skills gaps, aligning people strategy with business goals, and unlocking the full potential of your teams.

Robin also gives a quick overview of what SkillsAssess does and how it supports smarter people decisions using AI-powered skills mapping and personalised learning pathways.

Learn more at SkillsAssess.ai/podcast.

By providing comprehensive data analytics, SkillsAssess shows where skills gaps are within organisations by department, job role and individual, providing recommendations for learners to upskill only where needed.

Powered by Ai, this new tool is designed to aid organisations in any field to pinpoint skill gaps and increase productivity in a quick and scaleable manner.

Using an intuitive dashboard principally designed for HR and L&D managers and administrators, all the data including full analytics is contained and accessed in one place to make the task of staff upskilling quicker, simpler and easier to carry out. 

Learn more at www.SkillsAssess.ai.