Skills Over Roles: A New Approach with Rico Maranto of WM

In this episode, Rico Maranto, Senior Manager, Leadership Development of WM (formerly Waste Management), discusses the transition from command-and-control leadership to a human-centered mindset, and the role of AI in transforming employee development.

Rico shares his journey into leadership development, highlights workforce challenges and provides insights into how organizations can move toward a skills-based approach to employee training and project assignments.


Key Takeaways:

(03:30) Skills-based organization focuses on leveraging employees’ diverse skills across projects rather than limiting them to a specific role.
(06:07) Training in a skills-based organization will become more ad hoc, individualized and focused on just-in-time skill development for specific projects.
(10:20) Shifting from traditional job roles to a skills-based approach enables companies to better utilize their employees’ diverse abilities.
(11:31) The shift to a “catalog of skills” allows companies to maximize employee potential by breaking free from traditional job roles.
(14:56) A skills-based workforce model allows companies to respond more effectively to industry changes and reallocate talent as business needs evolve.
(17:19) The value of collaborating with peers through ATD forums and following industry leaders like Josh Bersin for insights.

Resources Mentioned:

“Training from the Back of the Room” - a course by Sharon Bowman

“Leadership and Self-Deception” by The Arbinger Institute

ATD (Association for Talent Development)

Josh Bersin's thought leadership on skills-based organizations

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