From Davos to the Workplace: Practical AI, Radical Uncertainty, and Talent Transformation with Yelena Mammadova, EdD

On the Workestration podcast, hosts Donna Scarola and Stela Lupushor speak with Yelena Mammadova Ed.D, fresh from Davos, about three themes shaping the 2026 AI trajectory: more grounded, pragmatic AI discussions (constraints like energy and ROI, plus societal impact), leadership in “radical uncertainty,” and the widening gap between technology advancement and people readiness. Yelena argues AI value must be judged by society, not just tech companies, and emphasizes that adoption requires workflow redesign, transparency, explainability, and safe space to experiment and fail forward. She describes her role at Microsoft at the intersection of product strategy and workforce transformation, building “people products” that interpret talent using observed, declared, and increasingly powerful inferred skills from work activity signals. The conversation covers intentional talent mobility, challenges of becoming truly skills-based, and Yelena’s personal AI use via a Researcher agent while writing a book.

00:00 Introduction to the Workestration Podcast

01:25 Insights from Davos: AI and Leadership

04:53 The Role of HR in AI Transformation

08:52 Yelena's Career Journey and Role

10:37 Building AI-Powered Tools for the Workforce

18:19 AI and Skills Data: Observations and Challenges

31:40 The Future of Skills-Based Organizations

34:21 Personal Use of AI and Final Thoughts

40:10 Conclusion and Forward-Looking Statements