Episode of the SWP Podcast features Antoine Aubois, Founder and CEO of Akoya Consulting who helps me unpack the evolution and challenges of strategic workforce planning (SWP). From humble beginnings during the global financial crisis to advising multinational firms, Antoine shares Akoya’s mission to strengthen HR functions by integrating strategic, data-driven, and design-thinking approaches. Together we explore SWP’s ongoing maturity across Europe, the overreliance on tools over strategy, and the risks of disconnected planning across business hierarchies. Antoine offers candid reflections on AI's role, the delicate dance of aligning HR and business strategy, and the value of capability-building over repeat consulting. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating SWP’s complexities or struggling to embed it into business conversations. As Antoine says, SWP isn’t just about forecasting — it’s about cultivating conversations that bridge vision and execution.