Global Skills Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Mike Byrne, NIIT’s VP of Sales for EMEA and a seasoned EdTech leader, together with Dylan Stokes, NIIT’s Global Head of HCM Technology Practice. We explore what’s really happening inside enterprise L&D right now—from the rise of GenAI-enabled learning to the shift away from one-size-fits-all content toward deeply personalized, skills-first workforce development. Mike and Dylan share powerful insights from decades in learning, talent technologies, and large-scale transformation, including why companies can no longer afford to wait when it comes to understanding and predicting skills gaps.

We also highlight NIIT’s exciting collaboration with Abodoo, a partnership built on shared values around skills, access, employability, and enabling people to thrive through intelligent learning. Together, we discuss how organizations are using skills analytics, talent mobility, and rapid AI-driven implementations to future-proof their workforce. Whether you’re leading L&D, navigating transformation, or planning your 2025 skills strategy, this episode offers clear, practical direction—and a glimpse into what the next three years of learning innovation will look like.

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I’m joined by Deepti Palluri, Head of Learning and Organisational Development at Commonwealth Secretariat, for a deeply insightful conversation on skills, learning, and leadership in an age of constant disruption. We explore how professionals—especially those in L&D—can help individuals navigate the noise around AI by separating personal upskilling goals from organisational needs, and by asking better, more strategic questions about capability, impact, and relevance.

Deepti shares her “crooked career” journey into L&D, why learning now has a permanent seat at the leadership table, and how evidence-based approaches are reshaping how organisations measure value beyond completion rates. We also unpack the importance of a shared skills language across talent acquisition, learning, and leadership, the risks of poorly calibrated AI-driven hiring systems, and why collaboration between industry and universities is critical to future-proofing talent. This episode is a must-listen for L&D leaders, HR professionals, and anyone thinking seriously about skills, resilience, and human capability in a rapidly changing world.

Connect With  Deepti Palluri

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deeptipelluri

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn

• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com

• Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com

In this episode I sit down with Helen Burns — Global Talent Director at Owkin — to trace her truly non-linear journey: from freelance consulting and contract roles to leading talent acquisition at a cutting-edge AI/biotech firm. Helen shares how her background working across different sectors and countries taught her to value adaptability, curiosity and human connection above all, and how those qualities help her build resilient, human-centred talent strategies in a fast-changing industry.

We dive into themes of lifelong learning, embracing uncertainty, and the role of transferable skills in redefining career paths. Helen also opens up about navigating imposter syndrome, the importance of employer value propositions, and why building company culture now matters more than ever. Her story is a reminder that careers don’t need to follow a straight line — and that sometimes curiosity and courage can lead you exactly where you belong.

Connect With Helen Burns

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenburns/

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn

• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com

• Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, we have an enlightening conversation with Kobi Ampoma, a veteran in talent acquisition with over twenty years of experience. Currently leading recruitment for Heineken in the Netherlands, Kobi is renowned for his dedication to inclusive hiring and his ability to shape diverse, high-performing teams. Throughout the episode, Kobi shares his deep insights into the evolving world of recruitment, highlighting the importance of bridging skill gaps, fostering diversity, and adapting to new challenges in the talent landscape.

Kobi's passion for empowering emerging talent and his commitment to inclusive hiring practices offer valuable lessons for organizations looking to build a more inclusive and dynamic workforce. Tune in to discover how forward-thinking talent acquisition can shape the future of work.

Connect With Kobi Ampoma

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/kobiampoma/

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn

• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com

Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com

In this episode of the Global Skills Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Maria Nadeem, Director of Learning and Development at the London Institute of Skills Development and board member of The Royal Club UK. Dr. Nadeem brings extensive experience in professional education, organisational development, and global skills transformation, offering clear insight into the rising importance of lifelong learning and CPD.

We also explore her work in shaping international networks, strengthening leadership capability, and driving alignment between academia and industry. Her global perspective and commitment to ESG principles highlight the future direction of workforce development and strategic skills readiness.

Connect with Dr Maria Nadeem

• Connect with Dr Maria Nadeem https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mariya-h-nad-2285aa113/

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn

• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com

• Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com

In this episode, I sit down with Jake Kimber, an international TA leader whose career journey from selling concrete to leading global talent teams ,perfectly captures how unpredictably we often discover our true path. Jake opens up about falling into recruitment, shifting from agency to in-house, and why empathy, creativity, and real human connection still matter more than ever in today’s AI-driven hiring landscape.

We explore how AI is reshaping the recruiter’s day, the rising importance of soft skills, and the overdue marriage between talent acquisition and talent management. Jake shares candid insights on internal mobility, skills development, and the responsibility organizations and universities share in preparing people for the future of work. His honesty, optimism, and data-backed perspective make this a conversation that will stay with you long after you listen.

Connect With Jake Kimber

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobkimber/

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn

• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com

• Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com

If you’re a student or recent grad trying to build a career in a world moving at lightning speed — this episode of the Global Skills Podcast is absolutely for you.

I sit down with rising tech leader Usama Arif, who landed his first role before graduating by doing what every super-graduate needs today:

• Building strong soft skills
• Leading communities and taking initiative
• Staying curious across AI, tech & communication

We dive into the reality so many graduates feel right now — unprepared, lacking confidence, unsure where to start — and how Usama’s project AIBridge is helping close the gap between what students learn and what employers actually need.

In this episode, Usama breaks down:

• The must-have skills for graduates entering the 2025 job market
•  How to rebuild confidence if you missed key developmental years during the pandemic
• Practical ways to boost communication, leadership & career readiness even without experience
• Why AI literacy will be essential across every profession by 2030 (yes, every!)

This conversation is full of hope, clarity and real-world advice designed to help you step into the market not just as a graduate — but as a super-graduate.

Connect with Usama Arif

• http://linkedin.com/in/usamaarifali

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn
• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com
• Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com

In this episode I sit down with Joe Gagnon to explore what it really means to build a meaningful career in a world that’s changing faster than ever. From leaving a high-paying corporate role to taking a 90% pay cut so he could breathe again, Joe shares how he rebuilt his life, his identity, and his purpose from the ground up. His story reminds me why conversations like this matter—because so many people today feel stuck, disconnected from their work, and unsure of what comes next.

Joe talks openly about the soullessness that can exist inside large organisations, and why so many of us end up following systems instead of our own purpose. One of the most powerful threads throughout this conversation is Joe’s belief that thriving requires disruption. From running six marathons on six continents in six days to writing every day for over 4,700 days, he shows what becomes possible when we choose growth over survival. He also reminds us that the real risk is staying where we are, not moving forward.

Joe shares how he’s building his current company from hiring curious thinkers to creating an environment rooted in respect, nurturing, boldness, positivity and teamwork. We also talk about the realities of scaling, how AI is transforming small-business sales, and why the best candidates aren’t always the most technical, they're often the ones who show genuine curiosity and bring unexpected insight.

Connect With Joe Gagnon

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/joegagnon/

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn

• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com

Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com

In this episode, I sit down with Edmund Monk to explore what leadership really looks like in a world shaped by rapid technological change. This was one of those conversations that stays with you long after it ends. We dig into humility, learning, and the power of pairing human intelligence with artificial intelligence.

I share my own observations on leadership across generations, and Ed breaks down why curiosity, continuous learning, and self-awareness matter now more than ever. This episode is all about becoming the kind of leader who can navigate complexity without losing the human element.

Whether you are navigating leadership, team dynamics, generational shifts, or the impact of AI on the workplace, this episode will speak directly to you.

Connect with Edmund Monk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmonk/

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn

• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com

• Check out our  GSP Newsletter

Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com

In this episode, I sit down with Revda Sari, Talent Manager at Compilio Health and Associate Member of the CIPD, to explore the urgent skills challenges in the healthcare industry. Revda shares her inspiring journey from marketing into recruitment and how her passion for connecting people led her to build a decade-long career in healthcare.

We talk about the realities behind the talent shortage in the NHS and private sector, the importance of learning and development, and why healthcare needs more investment in people, digital tools, and education partnerships to close the growing skills gap. Revda also shares her vision for the future — one where AI supports healthcare professionals, younger generations are encouraged into the field, and companies focus on purpose as much as performance.

This is a powerful conversation about the people behind the system, the purpose that drives them, and what it will take to build a sustainable future for global healthcare.

Connect With Revda Sari

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/revdacelem/

Connect with the Global Skills Podcast

• Connect with the Host Vanessa Wainwright LinkedIn

• Visit Our Website https://www.globalskillspodcast.com

• Check out our  GSP Newsletter

• Send us an email at editor@globalskillspodcast.com