Directionally Correct, A People Analytics Podcast #138 - Ross Sparkman - Strategic Workforce Planning, Star Teams, & The Nike Story
Aug 17, 2025
Ross Sparkman, Head of Workforce Planning at Nutrien and author of Strategic Workforce Planning, brings military logistics and Nike/Walmart experience to the table. He talks systems thinking in workforce planning. He explores AI timelines, task-level job analysis, and how agents will reshape teams. He also shares the story of building a people analytics “super team” at Nike.
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Pair Workforce Planning With AI Strategy
- Pair workforce planning with an explicit AI workforce strategy when building capability.
- Prioritize short-term wins and long-term operating model design to align leaders and HR.
Take A Systems View Of Workforce Choices
- Think in systems: link organizational purpose to workforce composition, costs, and skills.
- Use scenario models and contractor vs FTE mixes to optimize flexibility and value.
Boards Want Tangible AI Workforce Plans
- Boards now demand tangible plans for AI's financial and workforce impact because post-pandemic mistakes made leaders cautious.
- Strategic workforce planning frames AI as part of the workforce and links it to balance-sheet outcomes.
