HR Bytes

AI, People Ops & Keeping the Human Touch in HR featuring Njon Sanders About Your Host & Guest Jay Polaki is the Founder and CEO of HR Geckos, bringing 25+ years of global experience transforming HR functions across diverse industries. Jay's mission is to automate HR processes while keeping the human touch — focusing on what matters most: people. A regular contributor to HR Brew, Forbes, an...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), sits down with Ann Osten, a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of experience spanning nonprofits, for-profits, education, military environments, and consulting. Currently serving as the sole HR professional at Consortium — an 80-person organization operating across multiple states — Ann brings a grounded, practical perspect...

In this episode of the HR Bytes podcast, host Jay Polaki interviews Mary Williams, an HR influencer, about her journey within the HR field and the impact of technology on HR practices. Mary shares her insights on the evolution of HR, the role of AI and automation in improving work processes, and the importance of maintaining a human touch in a tech-driven environment. She provides practical exampl...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), sits with Jon-Paul Ales-Barnicoat, CHRO at AliveCor, a global health tech startup, where, as CHRO, he set the stage for next-stage growth. We cover why AI is best used to enhance—not replace—your unique leadership voice, how to truly map career journeys with tech, and what it means to keep the “human” at the center of human resource...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), sits with Kandi Gongora—Chief Transformation and People Officer at Goodway Group and now CHRO at The Car Group, a visionary HR leader with over 20 years of global experience. In this episode, Kandi shares a practical approach to embracing AI in HR: start with curiosity, experiment with small processes, and seek learning opportunitie...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), engages in a fascinating conversation with Margaret Ruvoldt. Margaret shares her excitement about the evolving role of AI and automation in HR. She emphasizes the importance of understanding AI fundamentals and encourages her team to utilize generative AI in everyday tasks to become familiar with its capabilities. Margaret discusses...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), engages in a fascinating conversation with Geri Murphy. Geri shares insights into her journey into HR leadership, emphasizing the excitement and challenges of pioneering HR initiatives in a dynamic organization. She discusses her unexpected path to becoming Head of HR at Temporal, driven by the innovative vision of the company's fir...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), engages in a fascinating conversation with Alena Reva. Alena highlighted the need for strategic thinking before adopting new technologies, stressing the importance of identifying specific pain points and selecting solutions that genuinely address them. Drawing from her experiences, she discussed successful implementations of automat...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), engages in insightful conversations with Albert Loyola, a seasoned global consultant specializing in human capital and artificial intelligence. Albert Loyola discusses a strategic approach to integrating AI into HR processes, outlining four essential phases. First, organizations must prepare by raising awareness and conducting educa...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), engages in an insightful conversation with Velia Murillo. Velia Murillo serves as the Global Head of People at Treble Music, a music application company, where she is a pivotal member of the executive leadership team. As the first HR hire, Velia has pioneered the establishment of HR operations from the ground up, overseeing a divers...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos (https://hrgeckos.com/), engages in a fascinating conversation with Mike Cilla, a Data-driven HR Leader with expertise in HR Strategy, Analytics, and HR Consulting. Throughout the discussion, Mike delves into strategies for optimizing HR data infrastructure to ensure accuracy and relevance, enhancing the utilization of machine learning and automation tools....

In this episode of HR Bytes, Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos, explores a thought-provoking conversation with Joyeta Samanta, an Innovative People Leader and Culture Catalyst with extensive experience in HR and technology. Joyeta examines the transformative potential of AI in HR, highlighting its ability to automate tasks and enhance strategic decision-making across recruitment, employee e...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com/ ), engages in an insightful conversation with Ify Etuokwu, a seasoned HR manager with over ten years of experience. Ify shares her journey from special education teaching to HR, and her deep passion for creating inclusive workplaces and empowering employees. Throughout the conversation, Ify provides valuable insights on the importanc...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com/ ) engages in a fascinating conversation with Meg Bear, former President and Chief Product Officer at SAP Success Factors. Meg shares her insights on HR technology, the impact of automation and AI, and the importance of maintaining a human touch amidst technological advancements. She discusses her current sabbatical, focusing on innov...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com/) , in conversation with Angela Cheng-Cimini, Senior Vice President of Talent and CHRO at Harvard Business Publishing. Angela brings extensive expertise to the table, showcasing her dedication to enhancing the intersection of people and technology within organizations. Her commitment lies in leveraging systems and data to drive organi...

HR Bytes S3E7: Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com/) , in conversation with Tim Whitley, Director of HR Technology at Oklahoma State University. Tim is passionate about the intersection of people and tech and the opportunity to make systems and data work for the organization. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, three kids, and their dog; reading; an...

HR Bytes S3E6: Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com/) , in conversation with Stela Lupushor. Stela is a thought leader, speaker, educator, and futurist on a mission to humanize the workplace. She advises startups, venture funds, and mature enterprises on using design thinking, technology, and analytics to create inclusive workplaces. Stela works with the Conference Board...

HR Bytes S3E5: Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com/) , in conversation with Anna Turner, Vice President of Product at Paycor. Anna is a visionary leader with over two decades of experience in the HR tech industry. What sets Anna apart is her unique journey, having begun her career as an HR practitioner. This background has instilled in her a deep understanding of the ne...

HR Bytes S3E4: Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com/ ), in conversation with Rajamma Krishnamurthy, Senior Director, AI Center of Excellence, Microsoft. Rajamma's extensive experience in HR technology spans over 23 years, working with organizations like Monsanto, Pharmacia & Upjohn, and now, Microsoft. She emphasizes her continued passion for learning and the evolvin...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com ), in conversation with Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, an international authority in people analytics, talent management, leadership development, and the Human-AI interface. He is the Chief Innovation Officer at Manpower Group, co-founder of Deeper Signals and Metaprofiling, and Professor of Business Psychology at both University Colleg...

Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com ), in conversation with Aradhya (Ardy) Srivastava, Group Product Leader at Intuit. Ardy is a product and technology thought leader with extensive experience and expertise in leading people/HR technology products from inception to shipping. He has a dual passion for people and technology, and HR tech is a blend of the two. Ardy is pass...

HR Bytes S3E1: Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com ), in conversation with Duane Bray, Chief Product Officer at Groopit. Duane Bray is based in New York, and he is passionate about workplace innovation, helping leaders solve complex challenges in today's environment, and how to align business needs with talent capabilities. Duane brings both a user experience and leader...

HR Bytes S2 Bonus: Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com ), in conversation with Marc S. Miller. Marc is a nationally known independent consultant on all aspects of technology solutions for Human Resources.  His consulting firm, a sole proprietorship, now in its 35th year, and his industry visibility and New Yorker attitude, has made Marc S. Miller one of the HR Technolog...

HR Bytes S2E5: Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com ), in conversation with Renuka Iyer, Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at PhRMA. Renuka is a certified human resources leader with about three decades of global experience in people practices leading diverse teams and working with 20 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Renuka has globa...

Season 2 Episode 4: Jay Polaki, Founder and CEO of HR Geckos ( https://hrgeckos.com ), in conversation with Rosemary Shapiro, a dynamic and innovative Human Resources Leader with 20 years’ experience. Her most recent experience was with BullsEye Telecom, where she oversaw all areas of HR.    Visit #HRBytes' Web Home at https://hrgeckos.com Reach Jay on Social:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/i...