The Sovereign Career Hub Podcast

Live with Danielle Shroyer

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carolynshepherd.substack.com [https://carolynshepherd.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 05: The Return on Investment Gap with Valerie Merrill

In this episode (Ep 05), Carolyn is joined by Valerie Merrill, a London-based learning and development specialist, consultant and trainer with over 35 years’ experience across IT training , business transformation and leadership development. As Director of Merrill Consultants Ltd, she works with organisations to design and deliver bespoke learning interventions across Microsoft technologies, change programmes and people skills. An LPI Fellow (FLPI), Valerie is recognised for her contribution to the learning profession and is an active voice within the L&D community. This conversation moves beyond the question of whether to use AI, and into what happens once it’s already in place. Drawing on her experience working directly with teams, managers and leaders, Valerie shares what it looks like when AI meets real organisational conditions - where access, licensing, data and day-to-day workflows don’t always align in the way people expect. Together, they explore: Why ROI from AI can feel difficult to measure in practice How uneven access and licensing shape the experience of using AI The emergence of “shadow AI” as people find their own ways of working What happens when tools are in place, but the value isn’t landing evenly The importance of being thoughtful about how AI is used, not just that it is used Rather than offering a framework, this episode surfaces the reality of adoption as it is happening now — uneven, evolving, and often difficult to see clearly. It raises a simple but important question: If AI is already in place, what is the value actually aligned to? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carolynshepherd.substack.com [https://carolynshepherd.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 04: Solving the problem first. Letting AI follow (not lead)

This week’s episode with transformation consultant and founder of People Efficient [https://www.peopleefficient.co.uk/], Kate Maddison-Greenwell [https://substack.com/profile/129381746-kate-maddison-greenwell], explores what AI adoption really looks like inside organisations, beyond the headlines and into the operational realities teams are navigating every day. As part of this week’s theme, I’ll be zooming in on just one thread from that conversation: where organisations actually need to start, so look out for the deep dive article on Monday and the companion resource to help you get to grips with Kate’s advice. What comes through clearly from Kate’s experience is that many organisations begin in the wrong place. Letting AI lead the agenda is a common starting point. More effective progress begins with understanding what is getting in people’s way. From overloaded HR teams to fragmented decision-making and the quiet growth of “shadow AI”, she describes how progress happens when you focus on real problems, involve the people closest to them, and build practical solutions that free up time and rebuild trust. I’m looking forward to exploring this with you, and if you’d like these posts straight to your inbox, you’re very welcome to subscribe. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carolynshepherd.substack.com [https://carolynshepherd.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Week 03: Small decisions, real judgement.

In this short audio, we’re focusing on a single moment that’s becoming more common in our work -deciding whether AI should be involved in a task at all, and if so, how far. The companion resource introduces a simple way to approach that decision.It starts from the idea that AI doesn’t remove decisions - it shifts them, and that most of us are still developing the judgement to know where AI is helpful, where it’s risky, and where it’s unnecessary. What you’ll hear here is a walkthrough of that resource - not as a set of rules, but as a way to help you notice those moments of hesitation, pause, and make a more deliberate call. The focus isn’t accuracy.It’s building your judgement, one decision at a time. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carolynshepherd.substack.com [https://carolynshepherd.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ep 03: A Conversation About Control

The Sovereign Career Hub [https://substack.com/@thesovereigncareerhub] is all about humans at work in the Age of AI. This podcast and its companion resources can be found at https://substack.com/@thesovereigncareerhub [https://substack.com/@thesovereigncareerhub] Your Host is Carolyn Shepherd, AI 100 UK Leader, HR Most Influential Thinker #12, LinkedIn AI Tutor (25K learners) published author and creator of Jobscaping (TM). Carolyn works from her rural home in the Lincolnshire Wolds where she continues to work on the patent pending 'Shift Signals for measuring learning' (AKA the 'Holy Grail'). She is a former Barrister and senior HR Indie. This Week's Guest is John Helmer, podcast producer and host with four learning-focused shows currently in production: the Learning Hack Podcast - ranked in the top 5% globally for listens by Listen Notes - Great Minds on Learning, Learning Leaders in association with NIIT, and Tech Imaginarium launching on 22nd May 2026: How Science Fiction Made the Modern World. With deep roots in the UK learning industry, including Head of Marketing roles with numerous learntech providers and extensive consulting work, John's particular interest lies at the intersection of learning, technology, and culture. He is also a published author of literary fiction, and quite a long while ago, a top ten recording artist. Links mentioned in the show Empire of AI — Karen Hao (author site) [https://karendhao.com/] [ [https://karendhao.com/]karendhao.com [http://karendhao.com]] [https://karendhao.com/] The Learning Hack (official site) [https://learninghackpodcast.com/] [learningha... [https://learninghackpodcast.com/]odcast.com [http://odcast.com]] [https://learninghackpodcast.com/] Tech Imaginarium / “How Science Fiction Made the Modern World” See The Learning Hack pages for launch details. Learning News: Learning Hack opens new season (mentions “Sci‑fi and the Tech Imaginarium”) [https://learningnews.com/news/the-learning-hack/2026/learning-hack-opens-new-season-with-bold-2026-agenda] [ [https://learningnews.com/news/the-learning-hack/2026/learning-hack-opens-new-season-with-bold-2026-agenda]learningnews.com [http://learningnews.com]] [https://learningnews.com/news/the-learning-hack/2026/learning-hack-opens-new-season-with-bold-2026-agenda] Great Minds on Learning (official show page) [https://learninghackpodcast.com/shows/great-minds-on-learning/] [learningha... [https://learninghackpodcast.com/shows/great-minds-on-learning/]odcast.com [http://odcast.com]] [https://learninghackpodcast.com/shows/great-minds-on-learning/] Josh Bersin (official site) [https://joshbersin.com/] [ [https://joshbersin.com/]joshbersin.com [http://joshbersin.com]] [https://joshbersin.com/] Nick Chater (Warwick profile) [https://profiles.warwick.ac.uk/bssjcv-nicholas-chater] [profiles.w... [https://profiles.warwick.ac.uk/bssjcv-nicholas-chater]wick.ac.uk [http://wick.ac.uk]] [https://profiles.warwick.ac.uk/bssjcv-nicholas-chater] Dr Ashwin Mehta appointed Chief AI Strategist (Learning News / LPI) [https://learningnews.com/news/learning-and-performance-institute/2024/lpi-appoints-dr-ashwin-mehta-as-chief-ai-strategist] [ [https://learningnews.com/news/learning-and-performance-institute/2024/lpi-appoints-dr-ashwin-mehta-as-chief-ai-strategist]learningnews.com [http://learningnews.com]] [https://learningnews.com/news/learning-and-performance-institute/2024/lpi-appoints-dr-ashwin-mehta-as-chief-ai-strategist] Erica Farmer (World of Learning speaker page) [https://www.learnevents.com/erica-farmer-2/] [ [https://www.learnevents.com/erica-farmer-2/]learnevents.com [http://learnevents.com]] [https://www.learnevents.com/erica-farmer-2/] Erica Farmer (official site) [https://ericafarmer.ai/] [ [https://ericafarmer.ai/]ericafarmer.ai [http://ericafarmer.ai]] [https://ericafarmer.ai/] Industry references World of Learning (official site) [https://www.learnevents.com/] [ [https://www.learnevents.com/]learnevents.com [http://learnevents.com]] [https://www.learnevents.com/] Global Sentiment Survey 2026 (Donald H. Taylor – report page) [https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2026/] [ [https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2026/]donaldhtaylor.co.uk [http://donaldhtaylor.co.uk]] [https://donaldhtaylor.co.uk/research_base/global-sentiment-survey-2026/] Cultural references (films) I, Robot (20th Century Studios official page) [https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/i-robot] [20thcentur... [https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/i-robot]tudios.com [http://tudios.com]] [https://www.20thcenturystudios.com/movies/i-robot] Day for Night (The Criterion Collection page) [https://www.criterion.com/films/28698-day-for-night] [ [https://www.criterion.com/films/28698-day-for-night]criterion.com [http://criterion.com]] [https://www.criterion.com/films/28698-day-for-night] Tools explicitly mentioned in the transcript (optional show-notes links) Pixelmator Pro (Apple) [https://www.apple.com/pixelmator-pro/] [ [https://www.apple.com/pixelmator-pro/]apple.com [http://apple.com]] [https://www.apple.com/pixelmator-pro/] Final Cut Pro (Apple) [https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/] [ [https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/]apple.com [http://apple.com]] [https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/] Thank you for tuning in! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carolynshepherd.substack.com [https://carolynshepherd.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]