Bob sits down with Cole Napper, VP of Research, Innovation & Talent Insights at Lightcast, to unpack the complex and rapidly evolving world of people analytics. From his eclectic career across industries to his recent book release and his co-hosting role on the very popular people analytics podcast, Directionally Correct, Cole shares practical insights and hard-earned wisdom on topics like AI readiness, org network analysis, and the intersection of data, influence, and leadership. Bob and Cole explore the paradoxes of the HR tech ecosystem, the stubborn persistence of unsolved problems, and why storytelling with data is really about persuasion. Cole also gets candid about the ethical responsibilities facing those who wield data, and why the future of workforce planning demands a complete rethink of how we study work itself.
Keywords
people analytics, talent intelligence, workforce planning, organizational network analysis, Lightcast, HR tech, Gen AI, quality of hire, job analysis, data storytelling, ethical AI, talent metrics, innovation, influence and persuasion, data infrastructure, Directionally Correct podcast
Takeaways
People analytics is only valuable when it influences decisions.
Evolution of HR tech is moving from digitization to “value-first” intelligence.
Effective storytelling with data is about persuasion and influence, not charts.
Despite its maturity, organizational network analysis (ONA) remains underutilized.
Most companies are underinvesting in data infrastructure, even as they chase AI initiatives.
A flexible framework for measuring quality of hire is more useful than a rigid definition.
Job analysis is having a renaissance as AI demands a deeper understanding of work.
Ethics in people analytics isn't just about governance — it's about virtue and trust.
Quotes
“People analytics that doesn't influence decision-making is just overhead.”
“We’re still digitizing HR — we haven’t even started to optimize it.”
“Smart people assume their conclusions are self-evident, but that’s not how decisions are made.”
“We need storytelling with data, but what we really need is persuasion with data.”
“AI’s biggest challenge in HR isn’t capability — it’s data infrastructure and context.”
“There’s no one watching the watchmen — ethics starts with the person in the seat.”
“The study of work isn’t sexy, but it’s suddenly essential again.”
Chapters
00:02 - Welcome and Intro to Cole Napper
00:55 - Cole’s Career Journey
03:29 - Patterns Across Industries and the Illusion of Uniqueness
06:51 - Community, Knowledge Sharing, and Power of Consortiums
08:57 - Why Smart People Still Struggle to Influence with Data
11:33 - From HR Tech to People Analytics: Digitization vs. Value Creation
13:51 - Data vs. Self-Interest: Why Decisions Get Blocked
15:49 - Untapped Potential of Org Network Analysis
18:54 - Use Cases: Building Teams, Referrals, and AI-Enhanced Sourcing
25:17 - Cole’s Book: Why Now, and What It’s About
28:13 - Shifting from Cost Center to Profit Center in People Analytics
32:22 - People Analytics Leading AI Adoption in HR
35:31 - Probabilistic Thinking, Determinism, and Predictive Pitfalls
36:55 - Measuring Quality of Hire: Frameworks vs. Definitions
40:41 - AI Assistants, Prescriptive Insights, and Reinforcement Learning
44:26 - Data Infrastructure as the Real AI Unlock
48:25 - Strategic Work Planning in an AI-Enabled World
52:25 - Who Will Watch the Watchmen? Ethics and Virtue in Analytics
55:28 - Predictions vs. Deductions and Parting Thoughts
Cole Napper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colenapper
Directionally Correct: https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/directionally-correct
"People Analytics": https://www.colenapper.com/book
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