HPC hosted the first HPC Talks events of 2026, bringing together leaders from Learning, Talent and Organisational Development to explore a critical question facing organisations today: how do we develop the human capabilities required to unlock the full potential of AI and digital transformation?
The theme of the session — Developing Creativity to Drive Your AI and Digital Agenda — reflects a growing recognition that technology alone will not deliver sustainable advantage. As organisations accelerate investment in AI, automation and data, the differentiator is increasingly human: the ability to think creatively, adapt quickly and apply judgement in complex, evolving environments.
Recent insights from the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 reinforce this reality. While demand for technical skills in AI, data and digital infrastructure continues to rise, so too does the need for human‑centred capabilities such as creativity, adaptability and design thinking. Between now and 2030, success will depend not only on what technology can do, but on people who can question assumptions, imagine new possibilities and innovate alongside it.
During the session, HPC’s Head of Research, Justin Kinnear, shared insights from his work designing and delivering creativity‑focused interventions with client teams. He explored why creativity — often viewed as a ‘nice to have’ — is now a critical organisational capability, particularly in environments characterised by uncertainty, complexity and rapid change.
Justin also examined some of the reasons creativity can stall inside organisations. In many cases, people are not lacking ideas; instead, they are constrained by internal blockers, habits of thinking and a lack of confidence in their creative ability. Just as importantly, many organisations fail to provide a clear structure or process to support creative thinking — leaving creativity to chance rather than treating it as a deliberate, repeatable practice.
A central theme of the discussion was the power of structure in enabling creativity. Far from limiting innovation, simple frameworks and consistent practices can help teams move beyond blank‑page paralysis, generate better ideas more quickly and build confidence in their creative capability. When creativity is embedded as a regular habit — rather than a one‑off workshop or brainstorming session — it becomes a practical driver of progress rather than an abstract concept.
The session also highlighted the importance of balance: combining human creativity with digital and AI capability rather than treating them as competing forces. It is this “power of both” that enables organisations to move faster, make better decisions and create solutions that are not only technically sound, but meaningful and human‑centred.
HPC Talks is designed as a space for dialogue, reflection and shared learning — bringing research, practical experience and real organisational challenges into the same conversation. This first session of the year set the tone for 2026: a year where learning, creativity and human judgement will be central to how organisations realise the value of their digital and AI ambitions.
The HPC team — Julie Ann McLean, Justin Kinnear, Kevin Hannigan, Jennifer McConnell and Katrina Dowling — would like to thank everyone who joined us and contributed to a thoughtful and engaging discussion.