Workplace Stories by RedThread Research cover art

Workplace Stories by RedThread Research

Workplace Stories by RedThread Research

By: Stacia Garr & Dani Johnson
Listen for free

About this listen

 At RedThread, we love data—but we know stories are what stick. That’s why we bring together thinkers, writers, leaders, and practitioners to share real-world insights about what works in the workplace, what they’ve learned, and where the future of work is headed. We keep it insightful, thought-provoking, and maybe even a little irreverent.

But we don’t stop at conversations. Our research, events, and community turn insights into action, helping organizations and individuals navigate the changing world of work.

Want to be part of the conversation? Join our community for free and connect with others shaping the future of work.

Learn more about RedThread Research here: https://redthreadresearch.com/homeRedThread Research 2024 Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Believability: The Secret to AI Adoption in Learning

    Believability: The Secret to AI Adoption in Learning
    Oct 15 2025
    Artificial Intelligence is transforming corporate learning, but not every organization is doing it in ways that employees actually trust. In this episode of Workplace Stories, we talk with Peter Manniche Riber, Head of New Tech Digital Learning Solutions at Novo Nordisk, about how his team built AI-powered learning tools that employees truly believe in.

    From creating the “Dilemma Coach” and “IDP Coach” to redefining personalization and data privacy, Peter demonstrates what happens when innovation is combined with practicality, and why sometimes the smartest move is to build, rather than buy.

    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
    • [00:00] Why “believability” is the key to AI adoption.
    • [04:50] How Novo Nordisk’s “Dilemma Coach” and “IDP Coach” came to life.
    • [09:00] Why less data, and the right data, creates better personalization.
    • [17:00] Balancing privacy, ethics, and personalization in AI learning.
    • [25:30] Working with works councils and data regulators early.
    • [33:00] Scaling learning equity and access across global teams.
    • [39:40] What AI means for strategic workforce planning.
    • [41:30] Peter’s advice for L&D leaders ready to experiment with AI.

    The Power of “Believability” in AI Learning
    At Novo Nordisk, Peter’s team coined a simple but powerful concept, believability. It means people will only engage with AI tools if they recognize themselves and their context in the experience. Through hundreds of user tests, they found that when an AI response feels personal and relevant, adoption skyrockets.Rather than hoarding corporate data, they ask employees directly about their goals, challenges, and career aspirations. This approach not only keeps data secure but also ensures every interaction feels real, human, and trustworthy.

    Why Novo Nordisk Built Its Own AI Tools
    When it came to designing learning applications, Peter’s team decided to build rather than buy. The reason? Control, context, and compliance. Off-the-shelf tools couldn’t meet Novo Nordisk’s strict privacy standards or reflect its unique leadership culture. By developing internally, the team could train AI on company-specific frameworks, design intuitive UX guardrails, and maintain full ownership of their data, while spending less than a handful of traditional e-learning modules would cost.

    Redefining Data and Trust
    Instead of scraping internal systems, Peter’s philosophy is simple: ask people. Employees willingly provide fresh, accurate context when they understand how it’s used. Transparency and consent are baked into the process, with large-font screens explaining how data is handled and why it matters.The result? Nearly 90% of employees feel completely safe using these tools, a remarkable trust level for AI-driven systems inside a regulated, global company.

    The Future of L&D and AI Experimentation
    Peter’s message to learning leaders: stop waiting for perfection and start experimenting. You don’t need a massive budget or a team of data scientists to create meaningful AI applications. What you need is curiosity, clear hypotheses, and the courage to learn by doing.AI won’t replace thoughtful design or human judgment, but it can unlock a new era of personalized, scalable, and believable learning.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • Novo Nordisk
    Connect with Peter Manniche Riber
    • LinkedIn: Peter Manniche Riber

    Connect With Red Thread Research

    • Website: Red Thread Research
    • On LinkedIn
    • On Facebook
    • On Twitter

    Subscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
  • Moving HR from Support to Strategic Driver with Nadia Uberoi

    Moving HR from Support to Strategic Driver with Nadia Uberoi
    Sep 24 2025
    On the show this week, Nadia Uberoi, Head of People at Garner Health, joins us to explore how HR can move beyond compliance to become a solution-centric and outcome-driven function, aligning closely with the business’s mission and deliverables.

    Nadia shares practical details on how Garner Health has developed agile people systems and cultivated a high-candor culture rooted in real-time feedback and organizational transparency. We discuss how conscious alignment between HR and business strategy depends on both robust systems and hiring people with the right agile mindset.

    You’ll hear more about Nadia’s unique approach to performance management, Garner’s decision to publicly share 360 feedback, and how a culture of candor empowers everyone, not just HR, to take ownership of change. Nadia also offers an inside look at the mechanics of building and scaling an intentional organizational culture, and the lessons she’s learned from fast-growing companies.

    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

    • [05:16] Aligning HR with business strategy and high candor cultures.
    • [07:28] Seeking CEO buy-in for strategic alignment.
    • [10:37] Balance short-term solutions and long-term infrastructure planning.
    • [13:48] Focus on continuous improvement and clarity of responsibilities.
    • [21:23] Quarterly planning with smaller, manageable initiatives enables better adaptability and faster impact.
    • [29:04] Real-time feedback improved HR-business alignment by enabling quick adjustments.
    • [33:31] Real-time feedback and collaboration enable immediate improvements.
    • [48:22] Intentionally build and systematize culture for business impact.
    Resources & People Mentioned

    • Principles by Ray Dalio
    • Lattice
    • Garner Health

    Connect with Nadia Uberoi

    • Nadia Uberoi on LinkedIn
    Connect With Red Thread Research

    • Website: Red Thread Research
    • On LinkedIn
    • On Facebook
    • On Twitter

    Subscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES
    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • Making Skills the Currency of Opportunity with Haley Glover

    Making Skills the Currency of Opportunity with Haley Glover
    Aug 27 2025
    Haley Glover, Senior Director of UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute, is on a mission to build a world where skills—not degrees or pedigrees—are the primary currency of career opportunity.

    In this expansive conversation, she challenges organizations to think bigger, arguing that investing in frontline workers isn't just a corporate responsibility but a societal imperative that strengthens communities and economies alike.

    Glover shares her vision for a future where "all learning counts," and individuals own their skills data, freeing it from the silos of employers and academic institutions.

    Listen in for a dose of realistic optimism on one of the most complex—and human—challenges in the world of work today.

    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
    • [00:00] Intro.
    • [03:34] Why skills are a societal issue, not just a corporate one.
    • [13:31] Building a realistic ROI case for skills investments.
    • [19:32] The "All Learning Counts" vision for skills recognition.
    • [24:01] Why the next decade of skills innovation will be "messy."
    • [27:56] The cultural blockades preventing a skills-first hiring revolution.
    • [36:11] The evolving role and responsibility of the employer.
    • [42:25] A real-world example of a company getting it right.

    Resources & People Mentioned
    • UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute
    • James By Percival Everett
    • The Brothers K by David James Duncan

    Connect with Haley Glover
    • Haley Glover on LinkedIn

    Connect With Red Thread Research
    • Website: Red Thread Research
    • On LinkedIn
    • On Facebook
    • On Twitter

    Subscribe to WORKPLACE STORIES
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.