TIDES Ep 43: Build Adversity Intelligence, Not Just Skills | ft. Ali Uren

What if the real competitive advantage isn’t skills — but adversity intelligence?In this episode of TIDES, Shveta Malhan sits down with Ali Uren, founder of Kiikstart and creator of The Circular Workplace, to challenge the status quo of L&D, HR, and the myth of futureproofing.🔥 Why futureproofing is a lie🔁 What “Return on Skills” (ROS) really means💥 Why L&D doesn’t belong in HR🧠 How to build durable teams that can adapt and deliverIf you’re in HR, L&D, or org design — this episode is a must-watch.About our guest:Ali Uren is the founder of Kiikstart and the creator of The Circular Workplace, a bold, future-ready approach to learning and capability development. With over 200 brand partnerships across industries, Ali helps organizations stop talent leaks, build adversity intelligence, and turn learning into a commercial growth driver — not a cost center. Known for challenging the status quo, she works at the intersection of people, strategy, and performance.👤 Guest: Ali Uren🔗 Connect with Ali: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliuren/🌐 Learn more about Kiickstart: ww.kiikstart.com🌐 https://www.kiikstart.com/what-is-ros-and-how-is-it-measured/🌐 https://www.kiikstart.com/durable-learning-demonstrable-business-impact/💡 About TIDES:TIDES brings together voices from across industries to explore how technology—especially AI—is reshaping work, skills, and the human experience.👥 TIDES on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/tides-by-yenza3/ 💡 About YENZA3:Yenza3 helps HR and business leaders adapt, adopt & thrive in the age of AI.👥 Connect with Shveta Malhan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shvetamalhan/🌐 Learn more about Yenza3: https://yenza3.com  @TIDESByYenza3  00:00 – Intro: Why Adversity Intelligence is more than Skills01:35 – The Myth of Futureproofing05:24 – What’s Wrong with Traditional L&D10:00 – What is a Circular Workplace?14:00 – Capturing Wisdom & IP Inside Teams18:32 – Redesigning Learning in the Flow of Work22:32 – Real-World Results from 200+ Organizations25:13 – Adversity Intelligence Explained30:06 – Return on Skills vs ROI37:59 – How to Measure ROS39:41 – The Uncomfortable Truth HR Needs to Admit44:00 – Why Quick Wins Hold Us Back45:07 – Becoming Co-Creators of Business Impact46:56 – Final Thoughts + Wrap#AdversityIntelligence #FutureOfWork #PeopleDevelopment #ReturnOnSkills #TIDESPodcast #HRTransformation