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Attract, Retain, and Develop: Shaping a Skilled Workforce for the Future
From an award-winning chef turned workforce practitioner, the fresh approach to hiring and retention that you hunger for.
As a hiring manager or business owner, you feel the strain of technology-driven skill transformations, economic uncertainty, and generational shifts. Now more than ever, leaders must close the gap between what companies need to be efficient and what employees need for meaningful work-life harmony.
Attract, Retain, and Develop is a recipe for holistic workforce development. Fusing his experience in world-class kitchens with real-world business acumen, author Nick Wyman offers key ingredients for redefining the future of work, inviting you
Disrupt. Discover how and why you should embrace change through disrupting common workplace patterns.
Thrive. Create a work environment where innovation and well-being go hand-in-hand.
Evolve. Explore the merits of fostering team development of new skills.
Connect. Attract, Retain, and Develop reminds us that human connection is irreplaceable and that it is possible to forge real, lasting relationships in the workplace.
Work should be a place where everyone thrives. Wyman champions tactics like mentorship, apprenticeship, and agile adaptation of technology, providing you with the tools to build a workplace where employees feel heard, challenged, and passionately connected to their roles.
As a hiring manager or business owner, you feel the strain of technology-driven skill transformations, economic uncertainty, and generational shifts. Now more than ever, leaders must close the gap between what companies need to be efficient and what employees need for meaningful work-life harmony.
Attract, Retain, and Develop is a recipe for holistic workforce development. Fusing his experience in world-class kitchens with real-world business acumen, author Nick Wyman offers key ingredients for redefining the future of work, inviting you
Disrupt. Discover how and why you should embrace change through disrupting common workplace patterns.
Thrive. Create a work environment where innovation and well-being go hand-in-hand.
Evolve. Explore the merits of fostering team development of new skills.
Connect. Attract, Retain, and Develop reminds us that human connection is irreplaceable and that it is possible to forge real, lasting relationships in the workplace.
Work should be a place where everyone thrives. Wyman champions tactics like mentorship, apprenticeship, and agile adaptation of technology, providing you with the tools to build a workplace where employees feel heard, challenged, and passionately connected to their roles.
268 pages, Hardcover
Published April 8, 2025
2 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Wyman
2 books33 followersNicholas “Nick” Wyman began his career as an award-winning chef. Transitioning from the culinary arts to the business world, Nick leveraged his leadership experience to become a globally recognized workforce practitioner. As the CEO of the Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation Group (IWSI), he redefines career pathways, transforming how the modern world views skills and success. Under his leadership, IWSI has ignited over twenty thousand skill-based career paths. Nick is the author of two books and contributes to Forbes, Fast Company, the MIT Press Journal, and CNBC.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 20, 2025
Attract, Retain, and Develop is a thoughtful, practical, and refreshingly human centered guide to workforce leadership in an era defined by rapid change. Drawing on his uncommon background as an award winning chef turned workforce practitioner, Nicholas Wyman brings a grounded, experience driven perspective to one of today’s most urgent business challenges: building teams that are both skilled and genuinely engaged.
What sets this book apart is its holistic approach. Rather than relying on buzzwords or rigid frameworks, Wyman emphasizes connection, adaptability, and long term development. His focus on mentorship, apprenticeship, and skills evolution feels especially relevant as organizations struggle to balance technological advancement with employee well-being. The structure Disrupt, Thrive, Evolve, Connect creates a clear, actionable roadmap without oversimplifying the complexity of modern work environments.
Wyman’s insights resonate because they are rooted in real world application. He understands the pressures facing hiring managers and leaders, and he offers realistic strategies that prioritize dignity, growth, and mutual value. Attract, Retain, and Develop is not just a leadership book it’s a call to reimagine work as a place where people and organizations can grow together.
What sets this book apart is its holistic approach. Rather than relying on buzzwords or rigid frameworks, Wyman emphasizes connection, adaptability, and long term development. His focus on mentorship, apprenticeship, and skills evolution feels especially relevant as organizations struggle to balance technological advancement with employee well-being. The structure Disrupt, Thrive, Evolve, Connect creates a clear, actionable roadmap without oversimplifying the complexity of modern work environments.
Wyman’s insights resonate because they are rooted in real world application. He understands the pressures facing hiring managers and leaders, and he offers realistic strategies that prioritize dignity, growth, and mutual value. Attract, Retain, and Develop is not just a leadership book it’s a call to reimagine work as a place where people and organizations can grow together.
September 20, 2025
I listened to the audiobook through NetGalley.
This book has some good points about hiring, keeping, and growing employees, with examples that are easy to follow. A lot of it felt like a repeat of things I already do or believe, but I think it would be really helpful for someone who is newer to management or HR.
I especially liked Wyman’s take on the “coffee mug test” and other trick interview questions. I’ve always thought those were a waste of time, so it was nice to hear him call that out.
Since Wyman comes from the food and beverage world, his advice might hit even harder for people working in or moving from that industry. He definitely brings a real-world, practical lens to it.
The narrator was good, clear, steady, and easy to listen to. I usually listen at 1.5x speed, and it didn’t affect the quality at all.
Overall, I liked the book, even if it mostly reinforced things I already practice. For me, this was a solid 3-star read.
This book has some good points about hiring, keeping, and growing employees, with examples that are easy to follow. A lot of it felt like a repeat of things I already do or believe, but I think it would be really helpful for someone who is newer to management or HR.
I especially liked Wyman’s take on the “coffee mug test” and other trick interview questions. I’ve always thought those were a waste of time, so it was nice to hear him call that out.
Since Wyman comes from the food and beverage world, his advice might hit even harder for people working in or moving from that industry. He definitely brings a real-world, practical lens to it.
The narrator was good, clear, steady, and easy to listen to. I usually listen at 1.5x speed, and it didn’t affect the quality at all.
Overall, I liked the book, even if it mostly reinforced things I already practice. For me, this was a solid 3-star read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews