In Episode 6 of The B Continued podcast, we are joined by Jacky Simmonds, Chief People Officer at Experian. With a career leading people strategies at giants like EasyJet, TUI, and VEON, Jacky brings unparalleled experience in navigating large-scale digital and technological transformations.

In this episode, Jacky joins Jess Hilton and Ralph Tribe to discuss the evolving role of HR in a world of constant disruption. From the "rebalancing" of hybrid work and inclusion initiatives to the rapid adoption of Generative AI, Jacky shares how leaders can remain "human-centered" while embracing the speed of modern technology.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The Leadership Test: Why being comfortable with "not knowing" is now a core requirement for modern leaders.

The AI Dual Role: How HR must simultaneously help the organization embrace AI while transforming its own internal function.

The Speed of Change: Why Generative AI is moving faster than any previous technological shift.

Augmentation over Replacement: Why human judgment, EQ, and insight will become even more valuable as transactional work is automated.

The 2030 Vision: Why keeping people at the center of the organization remains the most critical mission for HR leaders.

Chapter Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: The new test of leadership in an uncertain world.

00:54 – Jacky’s background: From travel sectors to data technology at Experian.

02:04 – The 5-year shift: Putting people and mental health back at the center of business.

03:59 – Rebalancing the scales: Personal views on hybrid work and inclusion initiatives.

05:32 – Leading in a BANI world: Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible.

07:56 – The "Human-Centered" leader: Why ambiguity requires more humanity, not less.

11:51 – Leadership without all the answers: Learning from non-exec board experiences.

14:41 – The adoption of AI: Why this technological shift is faster than anything before it.

17:21 – Meet Nadia: Experian’s AI-powered leadership and goal-setting coach.

20:19 – HR Transformation: Which operational tasks will be augmented or replaced?.

24:30 – Leveling the playing field: How AI tools can remove inherent biases in recruitment.

31:00 – The importance of human judgment: Avoiding the trap of AI hallucinations.

35:34 – Launching a Talent Marketplace: Using AI to personalize the employee experience.

39:41 – Is AI optional? Why People Leaders can't afford to be left behind.

43:51 – HR in 2030: Ensuring trust and integrity remain the heart of the profession.