The Green Room: Questions That Matter Most In Business

Disruption isn't new. But right now, it feels different. Technology, economic pressures, geopolitical shifts, changing workforce expectations – they're all colliding at speed. And at the centre of it all is AI. The challenge isn't just how to respond - and in real time - but to rethink how businesses work. AI is central to this shift. It's already changing how work gets done, how decisions are made, and how value is created. So, the question is no longer "how do we use AI?" but "are organisations designed to fully realise its potential?" Because many aren't. But reinvention isn't easy. It requires leaders to challenge long-held assumptions, rethink how value is created, and close the gap between technology investment and workforce readiness. Because as access to AI becomes more widespread, it won't be the technology that sets organisations apart – it will be how it's used. So, how is AI reshaping work – and the way it gets done? What does good human and AI collaboration look like day to day? And if everyone has access to AI, what will truly differentiate businesses? That's what we're exploring in this episode of The Green Room with Bruce Daisley, best-selling author and future of work expert and Kate Sweeney, Human Capital Consulting Leader at Deloitte UK, as we ask: Are we planning enough for AI? Tune in to find out: Why we need to avoid worrying what others are doing The importance of experimentation in AI implementation How thinking differently and reinvention is vital for success Why 'agency' at work isn't just for AI agents This episode is part of The Green Room's series exploring the AI future for the UK. Listen to the full series now, starting with our 100th episode: What will be the last job on earth? Visit our website to learn more about this topic and find suggestions for other episodes: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about The Yard Scotland: theyardscotland.org.uk Guests: Bruce Daisley, future of work expert, Sunday Times bestselling author and former YouTube and Twitter exec. Kate Sweeney, Deloitte UK's Human Capital Consulting lead. Hosts: Oli Carpenter and Hannah Gowen Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 04.06.26

It's no longer a question of whether AI will change how we buy, but by how much? We're turning to AI for inspiration and advice - and soon, it may even guide or manage decisions for us. Not since the rise of e-commerce in the 1990s have we seen transformation at this scale – and how we discover, choose and engage with brands is being redefined. At the same time, the path to purchase has shifted from being one dimensional. We no longer access retailers solely in-store or via their websites. Instead, we're relying on platforms such as social media to buy too – all with an added want for personalisation. For brands, this creates opportunity, but also pressure. Showing up in the right places, with the right experience, requires new capabilities, new infrastructures and new ways of thinking. Because as technology becomes more accessible, it's no longer a differentiator in itself. So, what does it take to set businesses apart? What will define the brands that people choose in the future? Will human connection be replaced or become more valuable as time goes on? And if every organisation has access to the same tools, why do some experiences resonate more than others? In this episode of The Green Room, we ask: What makes us feel confident about what we buy? With Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, and Tom Astill, Director in Deloitte Digital. Tune in to find out: How the consumer journey is changing and why What we can learn from past shifts such as ecommerce How to balance AI solutions with human experience What will define the brands that people choose in the future This episode is part of The Green Room's series exploring the AI future for the UK. Listen to the full series now, starting with our 100th episode: What will be the last job on earth? Visit our website to learn more about this topic and find suggestions for other episodes: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about Young Women's Trust one of Deloitte UK's charity partners. Guests: Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, and Tom Astill, Director in Deloitte Digital Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Oli Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 18.05.26 - recorded in front of a live audience

The AI race is on. But what does it take to not just keep up, but to win? Even though we're using AI at work, at home and on-the-go, are we really ready to use it at scale as a country? Last year, the UK joined a growing list of countries setting out an ambitious vision for how AI could provide a better future. For those who succeed, the prize is significant. A future powered by AI could bring economic growth and increased productivity, improved public services, and new opportunities across society. But ambition alone isn't enough. To reap the rewards, we need the right foundations in place. Delivering digital skills and education to an entire nation. Redefining regulation and securing sufficient and sustained financial investment. Rebuilding our national infrastructure and providing access to cheap energy that can power dramatically increased AI usage. So, how do we turn an appealing vision of the future into reality? And what will it really take from individuals, businesses, governments and the public sector to bring a national AI strategy to life? That's what we're exploring with Sharon Hague, CEO of Pearson UK, and Oliver Seal, Partner and leader of the firm's Education Practice at Deloitte UK, as we ask: How do we turn AI ambition into a national advantage. Tune in to find out Why now is a critical juncture in the UK's AI journey The foundations we need to ensure the UK is ready for an AI-driven future How we make sure everyone has the access and skills they need to benefit from AI The role business can play in bringing a national AI strategy to life This episode is part of The Green Room's series exploring the AI future for the UK. Listen to the full series now, starting with our 100th episode: What will be the last job on earth? Visit our website to learn more about this topic and find suggestions for other episodes: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about Scope, one of Deloitte's national charity partners: scope.org.uk Guests: Sharon Hague, CEO of Pearson UK Oliver Seal, Partner at Deloitte UK Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs Oli Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 30.04.26

Companies are investing more than ever in technology to transform their businesses. But the full impact isn't being felt. Most organisations believe they are missing out on up to 50% of the returns they expect from digital transformation. So, what's the missing piece? Do firms need to invest more or does the answer lie in their leadership and culture? From AI to cloud platforms, organisations are undertaking digital transformation in the search for added efficiency, growth and competitive advantage. But change doesn't just happen to systems, it affects people too. If technology is a tool for transformation, is it the people and culture who drive real change? Behind every platform rollout and process redesign are employees being asked to adapt to and buy into a new way of working. And without a culture enabling people to embrace this change, nearly half of leaders say their success will be hindered. So, what role do people have in unlocking tech potential? What does a culture that can supercharge the impact of technology investments actually look like? What foundations need to be built when designing transformation plans? And how can organisations stay future-ready but people-centric? That's what we're exploring in this episode of The Green Room with Kate O'Neill, author and Founder of KO Insights, and Mike Manby, Technology & Transformation Consumer Industry Lead at Deloitte, as we ask: Are people the superpower that drives transformation? Tune in to find out: The role of leadership in driving transformational and culture change How the right culture can supercharge the impact of technology The foundations that need to be built when designing transformation plans How organisations can stay future-ready but people-centric This episode is part of The Green Room's series exploring the AI future for the UK. Listen to the full series now, starting with our 100th episode: What will be the last job on earth? Visit our website to learn more about this topic and find suggestions for other episodes: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about The Yard, one of Deloitte's charity partners here: The Yard Charity | Supporting disabled children and young people Guests: Kate O'Neill, 'The Tech Humanist', author, and Founder of KO Insights, and Mike Manby, Technology & Transformation Consumer Industry Lead at Deloitte Hosts: Annie Wong and Oli Carpenter Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 25.02.26

Seven years ago, we were yet to experience a pandemic. Some of us were just discovering podcasts – and were yet to discover an air fryer. And Artificial Intelligence was, for many of us, something we only saw on the big screen. And in The Green Room's very first episode, we were asking 'What will be the last job on earth?' It was a year before GPT-3 changed the GenAI landscape, nearly four years before ChatGPT hit the mainstream and five years before regulation caught up and the world's first legal framework for AI would be passed. A lot has changed since then. But that first big question matters more than ever. AI has transformed our lives in ways that we couldn't have predicted. It's performing tasks, making decisions for us and helping us to create new things. And so, after years of experimenting with it, working with it, and investing in it, are we closer to understanding how AI will really impact the future of work? Some of us will go on to do jobs that don't yet exist, so how do we prepare for that? What skills do we need to learn now to prepare for the future – and what skills are essential to retain? Beyond our own careers, what changes need to be made at a societal level to ensure everyone has the right knowledge, experience and access to prosper in the future? And what role do businesses have to play in leading these changes in a way that benefits everyone? In our 100th episode of The Green Room podcast, we return to the question that started it all: What will be the last job on earth? With guests Ben Legg, CEO and co-founder of The Portfolio Collective, and Anne-Marie Malley, Vice Chair at Deloitte UK. Tune in to find out: What significant changes have impacted how we work over the past seven years How the increased use of AI is affecting hiring and talent, and what new roles are emerging The new skills we need to learn to be prepared for the future of work The role of business in ensuring everyone has the right skills and access to prosper in the future Enjoyed this episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: deloitte.co.uk/greenroompodcasts Find out more about Deloitte's Five Million Futures: https://www.deloitte.com/uk/en/about/story/impact/social-impact.html Guests: Ben Legg, CEO and co-founder of The Portfolio Collective Anne-Marie Malley, Vice Chair at Deloitte UK Hosts: Stephanie Dobbs and Annie Wong Original music: Ali Barrett Recording date and location: London, 02.04.26