Brenda Kowske: Strategic Workforce Planning in the Age of AI

Boston Scientific is looking at workforce planning in an entirely new way. We got the rare chance to hear all about it from Brenda Kowske, their Senior Director of Talent Analytics and Workforce Planning.

With 50,000 employees worldwide and a rapidly growing footprint, they’re navigating big challenges with fresh approaches.We talked with Brenda about how her team is breaking down traditional HR silos, integrating workforce planning into business decisions, and staying ahead of the curve with AI and skills-based planning.

She’s been in this space for over a decade and brings a sharp perspective on what works—and what doesn’t.From creating global talent pods to using unexpected data like happiness indexes, Brenda walked us through how Boston Scientific is balancing data, technology, and strategy to make workforce planning a true competitive advantage.

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

• Intro [0:00]
• How AI is changing jobs, skills, and how teams are truly built [1:44]
• Using location and happiness data to make better workforce choices [2:29]
• The challenge of moving from job-based to skill-based planning [7:00]
• How to keep workforce data private while still using it smartly [21:00]
• Why Boston Scientific keeps workforce planning “always on” [24:30]
• How AI could make it easier to help employees grow their skills [33:20]

Resources & People Mentioned

• GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation Overview
• Corporate Social Responsibility Directive (CSRD) – CSRD Information (European Commission)
• Anaplan – Anaplan Official Website

Connect with Brenda Kowske

• Brenda Kowske on LinkedIn

Connect With Red Thread Research

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

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