Leadership Gap, AI Skills and Purpose at Work with Susan Hayman

In this episode of Workplus, we sit down with Susan Hayman, Engagement and Employer Solutions Manager at CIPD in Northern Ireland. With deep roots in fashion retail and a passion for building better workplaces, Susan shares her journey from Boston to Belfast and opens up about the urgent issues facing today’s employers. From the looming leadership gap to practical uses of AI, Susan brings a fresh, honest voice to the conversation around purpose, flexibility and rethinking what meaningful work looks like.

• Gen Z values impact over authority and autonomy over hierarchy
• Many millennials feel burned out by traditional leadership roles
• The leadership gap is widening across industries and regions
• Culture must start with a clear “why” that everyone can connect with
• Apprenticeships are underused but powerful talent pathways
• Retail taught Susan fast wins, clear values and purpose through experience
• AI skills are the new baseline, not optional add-ons
• Parents and carers have a powerful support role in career journeys
• Flexibility doesn’t always mean hybrid, it means options
• Education and workplace design must evolve together

BEST MOMENTS

00:02:27. “If you ever want to chat about selvage or twill weave and warp threads, I am your person.”

00:04:42. “If more organizations had a clear outline of their why and their purpose, they would see greater levels of excitement with their employees.”

00:08:00. “The purpose of my role is to improve the working worlds so that my kids have a better experience entering the job market than I did.”

00:11:22. “You don't have to work in HR to be a people professional.”

00:17:21. “If people actually want to walk down them, then we'll be focusing more on mentorship programs or reframing leadership beyond managing people.”

00:21:15. “AI… it's inescapable at this point. The implementation of it is massive.”

00:27:08. “I think the right point to start training people is when we're thinking about entering the workplace. So maybe in 14, 15, 16 plus.”

00:45:02. “You can be what you see.”

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