Melody Wilding is the Author of Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge. In this episode, Melody and Al explore why managing up is not about pleasing your boss, but about creating the clarity, influence, and support you need to do your best work. She shares practical strategies for navigating workplace relationships, aligning priorities, setting boundaries, building visibility, and taking ownership without overstepping.

Links

• Melody’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodywilding/
• Melody’s Website: https://melodywilding.com/
• Melody’s Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/psychology-at-work-career-success-leadership-communication/id1762458121
• Managing Up: https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Up-What-People-Charge-ebook/dp/B0CXLSH6Y6/

Dr. Jerry Kane is a Professor at the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. In this episode, Jerry joins The Edge of Work Podcast to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping work, learning, and leadership faster than most organizations can keep up.

Drawing on his work with students and executives, he shares why artificial intelligence is less about technology and more about building an entrepreneurial mindset that helps people experiment, adapt, and create value. Jerry also explains how organizations can move beyond fear and hype to build real AI fluency, why human skills will become even more valuable as automation grows, and what leaders can do now to help their teams prepare for what comes next.

Links

• Dr. Kane’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geraldckane/
• Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-take-jobs-question-misses-whats-actually-happening-gerald-kane-bssce/?trackingId=Ychj1h8FRAGHafoDDSbv4w%3D%3D

Charlene Li is the Author of Winning with AI: The 90-Day Blueprint for Success. In this episode, Charlene joins Al to break down what it really takes for organizations to move beyond AI experimentation and start creating real business value. She explains why companies should stop thinking about AI as a separate strategy and instead use it to strengthen their existing business goals. Charlene also shares practical advice on building AI fluency across teams, avoiding common adoption traps, and helping leaders guide their organizations through change.

Links

• Charlene’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleneli/
• Charlene’s Book: https://winningwithaibook.com/

In this solo episode of the Edge of Work, host Al Dea shares his perspective on what it means to lead through uncertainty in a world of work that refuses to stand still. Drawing from his research and work with leaders across industries, Al explores why traditional playbooks are falling short and what it takes to navigate constant change with confidence. He breaks down five key behaviors for leading at the edge of work, from focusing on your highest value contributions to building relationships, developing earned insight, and creating opportunities instead of waiting for them. This episode offers a practical framework for leaders who want to adapt, grow, and help shape what comes next.

Links

• Al Dea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsaldea/
• Al Dea’s Website: https://www.al-dea.com/

JD Dillon is a Speaker, Technologist, and Author of The Frontline Enablement Playbook, a new book focused on helping organizations better support frontline and deskless workers. In this conversation, JD shares why frontline managers are some of the most important and overlooked people in the workplace. He unpacks the challenges they face every day, from constant unpredictability to limited support, and explains why traditional leadership development often misses the mark. Finally, JD also explores what organizations can do differently to better enable frontline teams, build stronger workplace communities, and create environments where people can thrive.

Links

• JD’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jddillon/
• JD’s Book: https://jddillon.com/frontlinebook/

Dani Johnson is Co-Founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research, and returns to the show to unpack how learning and development is being reshaped in real time. Drawing on new research, she offers a different perspective on the centralized vs decentralization org structure and staffing model, and instead argues for more intentional, decision-based design. Dani also shares why Learning and Development’s pursuit of having a “Seat at the table” may be fading and why that might not be a bad thing. From the rise of workflow-based learning to the growing importance of data and change management, she outlines what it means to be tactically strategic.

Links

• https://redthreadresearch.com/redthread-summit-2026
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-johnson/

Mohit Jiwnani is the Director of Talent Development at Okta. In this episode, he shares how AI is reshaping leadership development and why traditional programs may no longer be enough as the nature of work changes. During this conversation, Mohit explores how organizations can shift from teaching leadership in classrooms to enabling leaders in the flow of work by redesigning workflows, clarifying what work humans should own versus AI, and helping teams operate differently.

Mohit also discusses practical approaches to AI adoption and empowering internal champions to drive change. Finally, he reflects on how leaders can embed AI into everyday moments like decision-making, coaching, and performance conversations.

Links

Mohit’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohitjiwnani/

Greg Pryor is a Founding Member of Connected Commons and a longtime leader in human capital and talent strategy. In this episode of Greg joins the podcast to discuss why social capital, the relationships and networks that connect people, plays such a major role in career success and organizational performance. He shares stories from his work in management consulting, talent leadership, and research on networks to explain how relationships shape influence, learning, and opportunity.

They also explore how organizations can identify key influencers, lead change more effectively, and avoid collaboration overload. The conversation closes with a discussion about how AI is changing the workplace and what it means for collaboration and leadership.

Links

• Greg’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-pryor-907920/