Dear HR Diary - The Unfiltered Truth You Wish They Taught in Management School

Send us Fan Mail It’s the most wonderful time of the year… unless you’re in HR. In this episode of Dear HR Diary , Dawn pulls back the tinsel to talk about the holiday party—why companies keep having them, why HR loses sleep over them, and how to survive one without becoming next year’s training scenario. From holiday party dilemmas to unspoken etiquette, this episode serves up practical advice, h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Dawn Hart sits down with Josh Hart to unpack the real meaning of workplace culture—beyond the free snacks and casual dress codes. Together, they dig into how intentional leadership, clear communication, and genuine respect for employees can shape a culture that actually works. Josh doesn’t hold back when discussing common missteps organizations make, includin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dear HR Diary , I sit down with Diane Yarbrough , founder of Castaway and Company , to talk about her incredible career journey starting with Disney and how those experiences shaped her approach to culture, communication, and leadership. We explore some powerful management and HR practices you can use right now, including: Re-Recruiting & Re-Onboarding : Why...

Send us Fan Mail This one’s for the foremen, office heroes, and HR pros who are juggling flaming chainsaws (aka people). Traci Austin joins me to unpack transformative leadership in the trades —how to turn gripes into clear requests , shift HR from “policy police” to strategic partner , and use positive framing to calm the chaos. We also dig into managing difficult personalities , practical tools...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Michael Neal takes us from the five-star rigor of Four Seasons and the magic-meets-operations world of Disney to a practical, modern blueprint for hiring. We get into how to redefine your hiring process , automate candidate assessment without losing the human touch , and stack your roster with true A-Team players —the ones who raise the bar for everyone else (...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dear HR Diary , I sat down with Scott Trumpolt to explore the world of compensation, career growth, and the role of managers in shaping employee success. Scott shared his journey into HR and compensation, offering a candid look at how pay transparency, employee development, and passion can transform the workplace. What We Covered Scott’s career journey into HR a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dear HR Diary , Dawn sits down with Sara Taylor to get real about workplace civility—what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s the foundation of healthy culture. We dig into cultural competence , how polarization is showing up at work, and a powerful mindset shift— assuming differences —that helps leaders communicate across identities, generations, and viewpoints....

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dawn sits down with Juan Alvarado, Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths® Coach. They discuss his journey into strengths coaching, the four domains (a.k.a. quadrants) of talent, how to apply strengths at work, and why intentional leadership beats accidental management every time.  Most teams operate on autopilot. Juan argues for the opposite: intentional leadership th...

Send us Fan Mail This episode dives into the nitty-gritty of leadership, delegation, and team culture with Eric Williams , an entrepreneur who successfully transitioned into corporate leadership. Eric shares his insights on how managers shape team culture, the art of streamlining workloads, and the importance of communication and delegation (yes, even when it feels terrifying to let go of control)...

Send us Fan Mail Mentoring isn’t just coffee chats and “pick your brain” DMs—it’s a performance accelerant. In this episode, Thompson Dickerson and I dig into why mentoring matters, how to find the right mentor (not just the most famous one), the difference between formal programs and informal “choose-your-own-adventure” mentoring, and the underrated superpower of receiving feedback with grace. Th...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid conversation, Dawn and guest Kelsey Neff unpack what makes a workplace truly toxic (hint: it’s not just one cranky manager), share personal experiences from the trenches, and lay out practical ways employees and leaders can identify, interrupt, and repair unhealthy dynamics. We cover the cost of toxicity—on people, culture, and the bottom line—plus how to navigate c...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode of Dear HR Diary , I sit down with attorney Brian Williams ⚖️ to unpack a growing workplace concern: bullying and the liability employers face when it goes unchecked 🚨. Brian takes us through his fascinating career journey, including his decision to “switch sides” 🔄 — giving him a unique perspective on both employer defense and employee advocacy. Toge...

Send us Fan Mail Burnout isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a full-blown workforce crisis. In this episode of Dear HR Diary , I sit down with Nina Nesdoly , workplace well-being researcher and speaker, to dive deep into the neuroscience behind stress and burnout and how managers can recognize, prevent, and address it. What We Discussed: 🧠 The Neuroscience of Stress & Burnout – why our brains and bodi...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Mickie Kennedy , founder of eReleases , to explore his fascinating journey from writing poetry to building a successful press release distribution company. Mickie shares candid insights into his personal evolution as a leader—opening up about his early struggles as a micromanager and the steps he took to overcome it. We dive into how he l...

Send us Fan Mail Middle management – it's not the glamorous corner office, and it's not the boots-on-the-ground work anymore… it’s the in-between zone where careers either take off or burn out. In this episode, I’m joined by Jeff Sigel , an accomplished leader, middle management expert, and author of "The Middle Manager Mindset." We dig into the messy, magnificent role of middl...

Send us Fan Mail Let’s be honest—if your hiring strategy starts with “I’ve got a good feeling about them,” you’re probably gambling with your company’s time, budget, and retention rate. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Mark Smith , talent psychologist and author of A Better Choice: The Manager’s Guide to Skills-First Hiring , to challenge outdated hiring practices and explore how skills-first...

Send us Fan Mail In this compelling episode, we dive into the realities—and opportunities—of aging in today’s workforce. HR expert Deborah Heiser, Applied Developmental Psychologist and CEO/Founder of The Mentor Project, shares insights on why thriving in later career stages isn’t just vital—it’s purposeful. 🔍 Topics We Covered Aging, Work & Purpose Deborah highlights how finding purpose in w...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered why some people naturally take charge while others thrive as team players? Or why certain colleagues seem more diplomatic, creative, or perfection-driven? Turns out, your birth order might have something to do with it! In this fascinating episode of Dear HR Diary , I sit down with Dr. Bob Hurst , an expert on personality and workplace dynamics, to explore ho...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspiring episode of Dear HR Diary , Dawn Hart sits down with Ken Kunken , a powerhouse of resilience, purpose, and advocacy. Ken’s journey from a life-altering accident to a successful career in law is nothing short of extraordinary. Through his story, we explore the realities of disability in the workplace—and more importantly, how we can all be agents of change. Ken sha...

Send us Fan Mail In this eye-opening episode (or ear-opening), we're diving deep into the generational divide—and how to bridge it—with none other than communication coach and generational whisperer, Geoff Weinstein . We explore: 📣 Why communication is the #1 source of frustration between generations at work 🧠 How Generation Z is boldly advocating for mental health and authentic expression...

Send us Fan Mail Grab your coffee—and maybe a calculator—because we’re getting real about retirement. In this episode, I sit down with retirement plan whisperer Courtenay Shipley to chat about all things 401(k), from why this benefit is more than just a line item to how we really need to be talking about it with our employees. Whether you’re a manager, an HR pro, or someone who just keeps “set up...

Send us Fan Mail Raise your hand if you’ve ever silently asked, “Is this all there is?” at work. 🙋‍♀️ In this soul-refreshing episode of Dear HR Diary , I am joined by Anthony Kuo , Career Satisfaction Coach, to dive deep into the topic that’s been whispering (or screaming) in so many people’s heads: career satisfaction . We’re going beyond “just be grateful you have a job” and exploring how to b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I sit down with renowned organizational designer and author Jurriaan Kamer to explore the high-impact concept of psychological safety —a key ingredient for healthy teams and effective leadership that often gets lip service but little follow-through. Psychological safety isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the bedrock of trust, collaboration, and innovation. So why do so man...

Send us Fan Mail Startups are sexy—until you realize they run on caffeine, chaos, and people who are trying to do five jobs at once . In this episode of Dear HR Diary , I chat with the brilliant Isar Bhattacharjee , startup whisperer, culture builder, and people strategist, about the beautiful, messy, fast-paced world of startups—and the very real people challenges they face. Isar and I unpack the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dear HR Diary , I sit down with Michelle Merritt—Chief Strategy Officer at D&S Executive Career Management, Board & Executive Career Coach, and all-around StrengthsFinder guru—to unpack how understanding and owning your strengths can completely transform your work, your relationships, and even your job search. (Spoiler alert: It's not about fixing y...