Future of Work Visionary | Co-founder of Work3 Institute | HR Transformation & AI Expert | International Keynote Speaker | Co-author of Employment is Dead (HBR, 2025)
MEET JOSH
Josh Drean is Co-founder & Senior Partner at The Work3 Institute, and Co-author of Employment is Dead (Harvard Business Review Press, 2025). He is an HR Transformation and AI expert who marries web3 technologies with workplace strategies. As Co-founder of The Work3 Institute, a research, and consulting agency focused on human-centric digital transformation, Josh’s aim is to help companies thrive in the rapidly changing world of work. Josh’s work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Fast Company, and The Economist and he has made appearances on The Today Show, NBC, and FOX Business. He speaks internationally to bring workforce trends to digital-first leaders. Josh earned his undergraduate degree in I/O psychology and a masters degree at Harvard University, where he incubated and sold an HR Tech startup pioneering sentiment analysis in real-time.
TOPICS
Your Competitive Advantage: Making Work MORE HUMAN + MORE DIGITAL
HR TECH
The future of work demands more than incremental improvements—it requires a reimagination of how we connect, collaborate, and innovate. In this keynote, Josh makes the case that emerging technologies are catalysts for deeper human connection and more meaningful work. By integrating these principles into HR tech and people operations, organizations can create environments where employees feel truly valued, trusted, and engaged. This session offers a compelling roadmap for using these emerging technologies to enhance workplace culture, improve employee satisfaction, and secure a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. DEEPLY CONNECTED WORKPLACES WILL THRIVE IN THE FUTURE OF WORK Disruptive technologies are poised to transform HR tech and people operations by enabling unprecedented levels of transparency, accountability, and autonomy. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this keynote, participants will understand the transformative potential of Web3 and decentralized technologies and leave equipped with actionable strategies to enhance people operations and workplace culture. 1. Understanding Web3 and Its Impact on People Operations Leaders will learn the core concepts of decentralized technologies and their implications for HR tech, including how these tools enhance transparency, trust, and collaboration in the workplace. 2. Strategies for Improving Employee Satisfaction and Engagement Attendees will gain practical insights into how Web3 technologies can foster autonomy, improve work-life balance, and strengthen employee loyalty. This includes real-world examples of organizations leveraging these tools to drive meaningful change. 3. Implementing Decentralized Solutions in HR Tech Participants will explore frameworks for integrating Web3 into people operations while addressing key challenges such as privacy, security, and organizational readiness. They’ll leave with an actionable plan to embrace these technologies responsibly and effectively.
THE ERA OF HUMAN+ Leveraging AI to Augment Human Potential at Work
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Generative AI has the ability to create and accelerate data driven decision-making. This shift brings new opportunities and challenges, but embracing change will help to drive better creativity, strategic thinking, and efficiency. AI has the power to relieve us from tasks that are mundane and repetitive, but to replace humans with automation is a fundamentally flawed approach for many companies who focus solely on the bottom-line rather than the potential for top-line growth. In this keynote, Josh reveals that by focusing on systems that amplify, rather than replace human capabilities, we can bridge the gap between the speed of technology and the pace of human adaptability. AI isn’t here to render us redundant; rather, it supercharges our capacity to do work that requires the human touch. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this keynote, participants will understand how to use AI as a force multiplier for human potential and leave equipped with actionable strategies to implement in their organizations. 1. Understanding the Role of AI in Enhancing Human Potential Attendees will explore how AI can eliminate repetitive tasks and empower employees to focus on higher-value work that requires creativity, empathy, and innovation. This includes real-life examples of how AI tools are driving growth and transformation across industries. 2. Frameworks for AI-Driven Decision Making and Employee Experience Leaders will learn practical frameworks for using AI to make data-driven decisions while improving employee experience. This includes ways to leverage AI tools to streamline processes, personalize work experiences, and foster organizational culture. 3. Actionable Strategies for AI Adoption Participants will leave with a clear plan for integrating AI into their organizations, including how to balance automation with the human touch, prioritize ethical considerations, and align AI strategies with business objectives.
Thriving in the Age of Disruption: Where Innovation Meets Humanity
HR TECH + FUTURE OF WORK
The world of work is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. From advancements in AI to shifting employee expectations, the traditional employment model is rapidly evolving. In this keynote, Josh draws insights from his book Employment is Dead to explore how leaders can reimagine work to meet the demands of the modern workforce and thrive in a decentralized, technology-driven era. The traditional employment model is no longer sufficient. This isn’t just about keeping pace with change—it’s about seizing the opportunity to lead it. In this session, we’ll explore what the future of work looks like and how leaders can create resilient, human-centric organizations in this era of profound transformation. EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE WORK Join Josh in diving into the key forces reshaping the workplace and offering a roadmap for navigating these changes. Participants will examine the critical trends that are redefining employment, such as the rise of the gig economy, the integration of emerging technologies, and the cultural shift toward autonomy and decentralized work. Leaders will gain insights into how these trends are opportunities to create better, more inclusive workplaces. By prioritizing both innovation and the human experience, we’ll uncover how organizations can adapt and thrive. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this keynote, attendees will have a clear understanding of the key forces reshaping the workplace and the strategies needed to lead effectively through transformation. Leaders will leave with practical tools and an inspired vision for the future of work. 1. Understand the Impact of Emerging Technologies on Work Attendees will gain insight into how AI, blockchain, and web3 are revolutionizing traditional employment models. Through real-world examples, they’ll explore how these technologies create new opportunities for innovation, redefine roles, and shape the dynamics of the modern workforce. 2. Learn Practical Strategies for Leading Through Change Leaders will learn actionable approaches to foster adaptability, enhance employee engagement, and manage distributed teams in an increasingly digital-first, decentralized environment. This includes strategies to align technological integration with organizational goals while prioritizing people-centric leadership. 3. Balance Innovation with Ethics and Employee Advocacy Participants will explore the ethical considerations of leveraging emerging technologies, including equity, fairness, and employee well-being. They’ll discover ways to ensure that advancements enhance human potential, foster inclusivity, and uphold the organization’s values.
Thriving in the Age of Disruption: Where Innovation Meets Humanity
HR TECH + FUTURE OF WORK
The world of work is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. From advancements in AI to shifting employee expectations, the traditional employment model is rapidly evolving. In this keynote, Josh draws insights from his book Employment is Dead to explore how leaders can reimagine work to meet the demands of the modern workforce and thrive in a decentralized, technology-driven era. The traditional employment model is no longer sufficient. This isn’t just about keeping pace with change—it’s about seizing the opportunity to lead it. In this session, we’ll explore what the future of work looks like and how leaders can create resilient, human-centric organizations in this era of profound transformation. EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES ARE CHANGING THE WAY WE WORK Join Josh in diving into the key forces reshaping the workplace and offering a roadmap for navigating these changes. Participants will examine the critical trends that are redefining employment, such as the rise of the gig economy, the integration of emerging technologies, and the cultural shift toward autonomy and decentralized work. Leaders will gain insights into how these trends are opportunities to create better, more inclusive workplaces. By prioritizing both innovation and the human experience, we’ll uncover how organizations can adapt and thrive. Learning Outcomes: By the end of this keynote, attendees will have a clear understanding of the key forces reshaping the workplace and the strategies needed to lead effectively through transformation. Leaders will leave with practical tools and an inspired vision for the future of work. 1. Understand the Impact of Emerging Technologies on Work Attendees will gain insight into how AI, blockchain, and web3 are revolutionizing traditional employment models. Through real-world examples, they’ll explore how these technologies create new opportunities for innovation, redefine roles, and shape the dynamics of the modern workforce. 2. Learn Practical Strategies for Leading Through Change Leaders will learn actionable approaches to foster adaptability, enhance employee engagement, and manage distributed teams in an increasingly digital-first, decentralized environment. This includes strategies to align technological integration with organizational goals while prioritizing people-centric leadership. 3. Balance Innovation with Ethics and Employee Advocacy Participants will explore the ethical considerations of leveraging emerging technologies, including equity, fairness, and employee well-being. They’ll discover ways to ensure that advancements enhance human potential, foster inclusivity, and uphold the organization’s values.
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