The Human Side of Data: Building Culture Through People Analytics with Al Adamsen
The Human Side of Data: Building Culture Through People Analytics
In this episode of Culture Conversations, Craig Forman sits down with longtime friend and industry pioneer Al Adamsen—a name synonymous with the evolution of people analytics. From his early work at Gap Inc. to executive leadership at Perceptyx and his current role as founding partner of Future of Work Advisors, Al has been at the epicenter of how organizations use data to understand and transform the employee experience.
Together, Craig and Al explore:
- The origin story of people analytics—and why the term “employee insights” still matters.
- How culture, leadership, and data intersect to drive both performance and human well-being.
- The challenges of continuous disruption—AI, globalization, organizational change—and what this means for the next generation of workers.
- Why too many leaders treat listening as a checkbox exercise—and how to move from data collection to sustainable action.
- Practical advice for HR practitioners: how to contextualize insights, craft stories that resonate with executives, and influence change even in smaller organizations.
Al leaves us with a powerful reminder: employees everywhere want three things—to be seen, to be heard, and to be empowered. When organizations get this right, they unlock not just productivity, but purpose and performance that lasts.
📌 Resources & Mentions
• I, Human by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
• Al’s website: https://aladamsen.com/
• Connect with Al on LinkedIn