Practitioners Corner

From pulling weapons at Six Flags to scaling a global HR org, this is what happens when you chase people, not titles. Most careers don’t break. They drift. Jessica Kozak didn’t drift. She pivoted fast, learned what she hated early, and kept saying yes when it counted. From high-volume recruiting chaos to enterprise HR strategy, this is about ownership, risk, and building real leverage through peop...

Global payroll isn’t just cutting checks—it’s a minefield of compliance, cultural nuances, and ever-changing regulations. Mariah Hantis, Senior Director of Global People Operations at Deel, unpacks her journey from aspiring FBI agent to HR leader. From payroll anxiety to AI-driven solutions, she shares the realities of managing 5,000 employees across 110 countries. In this episode, we look at HR,...

Jill Larsen, Chief People Officer at Synopsys, shares her inspiring career journey from Division I athlete to HR leadership, emphasizing the power of mentorship, self-awareness, and building innovative talent strategies. She dives into navigating family and executive roles, the evolving workforce, and how technology and AI are reshaping talent acquisition. In this episode, we look at Jill’s approa...

Neil Lenane walks us through a remarkable 37-year career, from managing claims to shaping HR strategy at Progressive Insurance. In his journey, he emphasizes influence, adaptability, and empathy as essential skills for creating a unified employee experience. Neil’s insights into offboarding, technology in HR, and career resilience redefine what it means to build intentional employee and customer e...

Craig Lutz, Director of Learning and Development at Gannett, explores the future of learning and development, emphasizing the transformative power of digital tools and AI. He highlights the shift from traditional classroom training to personalized, technology-driven learning strategies, underscoring the need for organizations to foster curiosity and adaptability among employees. In this episode, w...

Gabrielle’s career journey highlights the balance between confidence and humility as she oversees multiple HR functions at 1Password. From cultural insights and the power of coffee to navigating remote work security, Gabrielle reflects on leadership development, parental support, and the critical role of asking questions in team success. In this episode, we look at cultural insights, HR, leadershi...

Melissa Thompson, Head of Global TA at Ford Motor Company, shares her no-nonsense approach to improving the hiring process. From coaching hiring managers on interviewing to aligning decisions with business strategy, she gives actionable insights to reshape your talent acquisition process and boost team collaboration. In this episode, we look at Melissa Thompson, Ford Motor Company, hiring process,...

In this episode, we look at Southwest Airlines, talent acquisition, company culture, candidate experience, internships, career guidance, and employee engagement. Greg Muccio highlights the importance of a people-first strategy, innovative ideas from employees, and creating awareness for career opportunities that ensure staffing success. Key Takeaways: Southwest Airlines prioritizes a people-first...

Carina Cortez, Chief People Officer at Cornerstone On Demand, shares her HR career journey from an entry-level role at Visa to leading strategic initiatives at PayPal. Mentorship, continuous learning, and passion drive her success. Cortez emphasizes the importance of HR business partners focusing on strategic initiatives and creating positive employee experiences. In this episode: We look at the H...

We talk with Rachel Dalboth from The Talent Labs. Rachel shares her 25-year journey in talent acquisition, discussing her experiences at Nokia, Unilever, and now leading TA excellence at The Talent Labs. In this episode, we look at the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, remote work strategies, HR tech innovations, talent management, rebranding efforts, and career growth. Rachel dishes on pr...

We look Richa Gupta's career journey, exploring her humble beginnings and rise in HR. We discuss parenting, personal reflections, and HR leadership. We talk about the importance of treating employees uniquely, finding CEOs with intellectual humility, and fostering cross-functional communication in manufacturing. We examine personal reflections, parenting, HR profession, treating employees differen...

We talk with Mandy Mekhail, Director of People and Chief of Staff at ClickUp about determination, family, and impact. Her story is inspiring (not cheesy) - a story that you can learn from. She opens up about her family, immigration, her role at ClickUp and self awareness. Here's what we discuss: How empathy directly impacts career Growing with intention How her father built 1 gas station and turne...

In this episode we speak with Maggie Smith SVP, HR at Traliant on how she navigates company culture in the midst of multiple and ongoing acquisitions. We talk deeply about the challenges she has faced and the strategies that she has deployed covering the integrating compensation strategies, managing benefits, and soliciting employee feedback. Takeaways The importance of understanding and integrati...

In this episode we speak with Jeri Hawthorne, SVP and CHRO at Aflac about the global HR challenges and strategies she is confronted with as she leads the worlds #1 provider of supplemental health insurance products. We learn about her career journey and her insights on the impact of technology, employee wellness, AI's impact on HR and how to ensure continuity with human touch. Takeaways Insights i...

"Corporate trust is low and employees are more focused on their own skill growth and career advancement" - This is what we dissect today in our conversation with @RealestRecruiter, Joel Lalgee. Nothing is off limits - we talk culture, loyalty, skill growth, the fractional mindset, compensation, why employers hate side hustles, toxic work environments... We cover it all. Takeaways Corporate trust i...

In this episode we speak with Jean Bays, Head of People at Neat to explore the critical role of internships, effective communication, and global experience in attracting and retaining top talent. We look at fair treatment of employees, and strategies for fostering an inclusive workplace. We answer the question: How do these elements combined create a thriving, innovative company culture? Here's wh...

In this conversation, Tiffani Martinez from Otter PR discusses her career journey and her role as the Head of HR. We discuss overcrowded applicant pools, the lack of empathy, and what role emotional intelligence plays in today's version of HR. The role of HR has evolved to become a driver of business, impacting revenue and employee well-being. Where does your company fall on this spectrum? Takeawa...

Tara Fournier, Chief People Officer tackles change management and employee retention, communication, access, and caring. We ask hard the hard questions to understand where HR should fall as it relates to support. Should HR be an advocate for the employee or should they be an advocate for the betterment of the company? It's a fine line. Here's the story. Takeaways The role of a Chief People Officer...

In this episode, we speak with industry veteran Amy Miller who shares her thoughts about what keeps her up at night. We get into it all - staffing vs. corporate, agency hustle vs. navigating corporate politics, being your candidates advocate, and knowing when to say enough is enough when the hiring manager oversteps. Here's what we covered: Recruiting is challenging and unpredictable Humor and per...

In this episode Katie Breault, Chief Delivery Officer at YUPRO shares her story of mentorship and her work as a skills-first placement firm connecting nonprofit workforce development training program graduates with corporate partners. We explore how investing in peoples potential from internships to mentorships changes how employees connect with their employer. Takeaways YUPRO is a skills-first pl...

In this episode, we talk with Lisa Sterling, Chief People Officer at Perceptix. We explore Lisa's journey and uncover her triumphs and the hurdles she overcame on her path to the C-Suite. Lisa candidly discusses workplace dynamics, leadership transitions, the essence of corporate culture, and the pitfalls of silencing one's voice, emphasizing its impact on personal growth. She reflects on the visi...

In this episode we speak with Amy Mosher, Chief People Officer with isolved to learn about her journey from HR Generalist to Chief People Officer for one of the industry's most loved workplaces. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we sit down with Anthony Pacilio, VP of Neurodiverse Solutions at CAI, to explore neurodiversity in the workplace and how employers can work to accommodate neurodiverse talent. Neurodiversity is about recognizing and valuing the unique perspectives and abilities of individuals who think differently and process information in a different way. Takeaways Neurodiversity is about recogn...

Charlie Judy, Chief People and Culture Officer at Intelligent Medical Objects, discusses his unconventional journey from accounting to HR, and later to tech innovation. With insights from his 13-year tenure at Deloitte and international assignments, he shares perspectives on workplace culture, remote work challenges, and career transitions. From redefining job hopping to embracing risks, Judy refl...

In this episode, Ryan Leary and William Tincup chat with Laura Mazzullo, founder of Eastside Staffing, about the nuances of talent acquisition. They tackle recruiter therapy, setting boundaries for both hiring managers and candidates, and the pivotal role of external staffing firms as companies scale. Takeaways Working with HR clients can be challenging due to the embarrassment factor and the perc...