Research Brief
A recording for this session isn't published. Below is the BPI editorial brief — key takeaways, an in-depth summary, and FAQs drawn from the original session materials and the presenter's body of work.
Presenter
Josh Greenwald
Description
In light of COVID-19 and the sudden change in the current work environment, talent reviews are being looked at in a different way. During this session, led by Josh Greenwald, Chief Talent Management Officer at TIAA, we will come together to share our current thinking, strategies, and plans around how we will approach Talent Reviews in 2020. Specifically, we will address the following questions together:
Learning Points
- Are you continuing with talent reviews in a “business as usual” approach or a “business continuity” one?
- How are you accounting for potential lost productivity and/or measurements of a virtual workforce in your 2020 talent reviews?
- Have you started, or planned to start, infusing more business activities into your talent review process or are you still taking it month to month? When did they, or will they be starting?
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered how organizations operated, necessitating a complete re-evaluation of established HR processes, particularly talent reviews. This session explores the critical adjustments made to traditional talent management strategies to ensure fairness, accuracy, and continued development during unprecedented disruption.
What you'll learn
- Strategies for adapting traditional talent review processes to a rapidly changing and often remote work environment.
- Key considerations for assessing performance and potential when business priorities shifted unexpectedly.
- Methods for maintaining employee engagement and development pathways despite economic uncertainties.
- Insights into how companies leveraged technology to facilitate talent discussions and decisions flexibly.
- The importance of empathy and support in performance conversations during a global crisis.
Who this webinar is for
This session is ideal for:
- HR professionals, including CHROs, HR VPs, and Talent Acquisition leaders.
- Organizational Development practitioners.
- Business leaders and managers responsible for team performance and individual growth.
- Anyone interested in the evolution of performance management and talent strategy during periods of significant change.
Why it matters now
The lessons learned from adapting HR practices during the 2020 pandemic remain highly relevant today. Organizations continue to face dynamic operating environments, whether due to economic shifts, technological advancements, or geopolitical changes. Understanding how to conduct agile and effective talent reviews under pressure is crucial for building resilient workforces and maintaining competitive advantage. The focus on adaptability and human-centric approaches discussed by Josh Greenwald continues to be a cornerstone of modern talent management.
How leaders can apply this
Leaders can apply the insights from this session by:
- Re-evaluating current talent review metrics and processes to ensure they are flexible and forward-looking.
- Prioritizing continuous feedback and development over annual, static assessments.
- Training managers to conduct empathetic and performance-oriented conversations, especially in remote or hybrid settings.
- Leveraging data and technology to gain deeper insights into employee potential and development needs.
- Fostering a culture of psychological safety where employees feel supported and can openly discuss their performance and career aspirations, even during turbulent times.
About this session
Key takeaways
Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on workplace culture. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Josh Greenwald's direct experience.
Who this is for
CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for workplace culture inside their organization.
Why it matters now
Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about workplace culture.
How to apply it
Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.