AI is changing the way we work, but it isn't going to solve your organization's skills gap on its own. In this episode, we're joined by Liz McLean, Strategic AI+KM Roadmap Advisor at Knosaic, who brings the knowledge management perspective, and Elissa Tucker, Lead Human Capital Management Researcher at APQC, who shares the HCM perspective. Together, they explore why KM and HR need to be working together—not in separate lanes. We talk about upskilling, reskilling, internal mobility, and what it really takes to help people move into new roles without losing critical knowledge along the way.

We also explore why onboarding is really a knowledge transfer challenge, how remote and hybrid work have changed the way we share what we know, and why building a culture of learning requires more than just good intentions. If you've ever wondered where KM fits into workforce planning, talent development, or AI strategy, this conversation connects the dots.

Show Notes:

Connect with Liz on LinkedIn

Connect with Elissa on LinkedIn

Free Resources from APQC:

Activate What You Learn: Closing the Gap Between Learning and Doing (webinar slides)

Activate What You Learn: Closing the Gap Between Learning and Doing (webinar recording)

Learning in the Age of AI Requires Better Knowledge Management

Research Insights: The Evolution of KM Amid Rising Business Expectations

What Is Upskilling, and How Can Organizations Keep Skills Current?

What Is Reskilling, and When Should Organizations Use It?

Learning & Development Blueprint for Success: Executive Summary

Here is a link referencing the Holocaust survivor interviews mentioned in the interview: https://sfi.usc.edu/dit

Do you have something to want to share? Hit us up at NAKMPOD@gmail.com

Thanks for listening

In this episode, Brittany and Rachel sit down with Tieska Jumbo, a knowledge management strategist whose journey from education to KM has shaped her people-first approach to helping organizations learn, share knowledge, and get results.

Together, they explore how strengths influence collaboration, knowledge sharing, and execution. Tieska challenges traditional KM thinking by highlighting the critical role of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and human connection in successful knowledge management.

The conversation dives into themes like responsibility, consistency, woo, and individualization, while exploring how strengths—and their blind spots—show up in both work and life. Along the way, they discuss what it means to build truly human-centered knowledge management practices and how understanding people can lead to better outcomes.

Tieska Jumbo is a knowledge management strategist and CliftonStrengths facilitator who helps organizations move from misalignment to execution. She works with teams to structure information, clarify priorities, and build systems that ensure decisions don’t get lost and work actually gets done. With over fifteen years of experience in fintech and global organizations, she brings a practical, systems-driven and strengths-based approach to turning strategy into progress.

Find Tieska on LinkedIn

In this episode, Brittany and Rachel sit down with Deb Scott, an Organizational Intelligence Architect, who brings a unique perspective to KM through her background in dance. We explore how observation, repetition, patience, and practice play a critical role in both teaching movement and helping organizations learn, adapt, and retain knowledge.

Our conversation dives into the human side of knowledge management—from building interest and buy-in to helping people navigate change and uncertainty. Deb also shares insights from the Work Smarter Philly initiative, the importance of introducing people to KM and AI in accessible ways, and why resilience may be one of the most overlooked outcomes of strong knowledge management practices.

Deb is the Founder & CEO of Knovera Consulting, LLC is believed to be the first consulting firm founded by a Black woman specializing in the integrated practice of Knowledge Management and Artificial Intelligence. In a field where this combination is not just rare but virtually unseen, Knovera stands as a pioneering force.

Check out knovera.co to learn more about Deb's work, the Work Smarter Philly initiative, the KM Practitioner Bootcamp, and her forthcoming KM Playbook.

From the moment it started feeling real to the beautiful messes along the way, this team reflects on what we built, what surprised us, and what we'd do differently next time.

Take a listen!

Things to take note of:

www.empowerKM.com

Our new fancy email: team@empowerKM.com

Save the Date for Next Year:

February 15-19, 2027

solid dates TBD - but we're planning a virtual day, in person days and professional development workshops!

Links in the Show Notes:

Links by Stan:

https://sikm.groups.io/g/main

https://stangarfield.medium.com/16-suggestions-from-a-pragmatic-km-curmudgeon-3f99902c7bdc

Tailors: https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/apr/11/tailoring-is-a-shrinking-field/

The KM CoP Playbook Example

The unofficial Tattoo shop of NAKM in Dublin

Knowledge Summit Dublin

In this episode, she shares what that journey taught her about KM in the real world. Not the polished version, the human one.

Brittany and Rachel dig into why organizations are still defaulting to websites, repositories, and webinars in 2026. The honest answer? They’re easy to measure, easy to fund, and easy to explain.

They also get into:

• The gap between knowledge products and actual knowledge flow
• Why KM still gets treated like information management
• The role of culture, context, and access in global work
• What it really takes to build trust and connection across teams

The throughline is simple. KM doesn’t move because of tools. It moves because people decide it matters.

A grounded conversation that cuts through the noise and brings KM back to what it’s always been about: people, relationships, and making the work actually work.

Notes:
Check out this great webinar by Jana and her team - https://www.gefislands.org/webinar/islands-forum-setting-bar-synergized-sids-knowledge-chemicals-and-waste

They unpack common KM buzzwords, the real impact of AI, and the ongoing tension between technology and human connection. The conversation also dives into community, trust, and why KM works best when it centers people, not just systems.

After almost 40 years of corporate life as both a consultant and functional head Rob is now an AI trainer and KM consultant as www.AIxKM.co.uk

Rob will be speaking at KM World Europe in April 2026 https://www.kmworld.com/Europe/2026 on “Getting back to the core of community”

If you’re in London, UK then contact Rob about joining a friendly group of KMers who meet up every couple of months: Rob@AIxKM.co.uk

They dig into scenario planning, storytelling as a strategic tool, and why getting comfortable with uncertainty might be one of the most practical skills in today’s work. The conversation also touches on learning through play, engaging audiences who do not think they care about KM yet, and making foresight feel more human and accessible.

Plus, Brittany and Rachel share a behind-the-scenes look at Empower KM, what they set out to build, what they learned, and why it continues to feel like community disguised as a conference.

If you are thinking about what comes next and how KM can help you get there, this episode is for you.

Here are some of the resources mentioned in today's show:
Ramírez and Ravetz on feral futures - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0016328710002880

The Oxford Scenario Planning Approach - https://mh.bmj.com/content/early/2026/02/20/medhum-2025-013691

Ludi Price's work on fan taxonomies - https://blogs.city.ac.uk/ludiprice/2019/01/30/a-model-of-fan-information-behaviour/

Elizabeth Salzberger-Wittenberg on endings and beginnings - https://www.routledge.com/Experiencing-Endings-and-Beginnings-From-Birth-to-Old-Age/Wittenberg/p/book/9781032264660

They explore why interpersonal skills are core KM capabilities, not “nice to have” extras. From building trust and practicing active listening to navigating layoffs and organizational change, this conversation centers on the human side of knowledge work.

Maggie shares insight on resilience, the emotional weight KM professionals often carry, and why the value of KM isn’t always immediately visible — but is absolutely critical to long-term business success. They also dig into the impact of AI, the challenges of knowledge transfer, and what it means to protect expertise when people move on.

If you care about trust, connection, and making knowledge work actually work — this one’s for you.

They unpack what it is really like to practice KM inside a large federal system, where information exists everywhere but is not always accessible in ways that truly empower people. Angela shares candid reflections on operational onboarding gaps, lack of standardization, records management inconsistencies, and ongoing IT challenges that made knowledge flow harder than it needed to be.

But this conversation goes beyond systems and structure.

It is about transformation.

Angela reflects on how her experience at USAID sharpened her systems thinking, strengthened her leadership skills, and ultimately shaped her transition into holistic health advocacy. Brittany and Rachel explore the throughline running beneath it all: information is power.

Whether navigating global development structures or advocating for your own health, access to clear, organized, trustworthy knowledge changes outcomes. In her current work, Angela applies core KM principles such as clarity, accessibility, governance, and empowerment to help women better understand their bodies, their options, and their agency within healthcare systems.

In this episode, Brittany and Rachel discuss:

• The realities of knowledge management inside large institutions
• Operational onboarding and standardization challenges
• Records management and IT barriers
• How KM skills translate across industries
• The connection between knowledge access and empowerment
• Supporting women through holistic health advocacy

If you believe KM is more than repositories and documentation, if you see it as a vehicle for confidence, agency, and access, this episode will resonate.

Because when knowledge flows, people flourish.

Learn more and connect with Robust Health Advocacy
Phone - 240-997-3995
Email - forestang@mail (not Gmail)
WhatsApp - @AD Trees
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelaforest/
Alignable - https://www.alignable.com/bowie-md/robust-health-advocacy-healthy-gut-phenomenal-life?user=3638379 

They dig into where Knowledge Management (KM) and Organizational Development (OD) overlap, where they diverge, and why the lines between them can feel blurry at best. They talk definitions, common misconceptions, and the ongoing identity struggle that seems to follow OD around. More importantly, explore how both disciplines show up in real organizations and what happens when they are practiced intentionally.

Finally, they also get into experiential learning, systems thinking, and why change does not stick without clarity, structure, and shared understanding.

Smart. Honest. A little nerdy. Exactly how we like it.

Takeaways

• Knowledge management careers are often stumbled upon rather than intentionally pursued
• Knowledge management can be practiced in any sector and does not necessarily require formal education or certification KM is a gift for connecting people and solving problems
• The importance of clear communication in explaining knowledge management

Chapters

• The Journey to Knowledge Management
• Rachel's Journey to KM
• Brittany's Journey to KM
• The Human Side of KM

Takeaways

• KM is about capturing, organizing, and sharing knowledge
• KM is often misunderstood but is also kind of magical

Music by Chase Tremaine