Future of HR

How can differentiating talent result in real business impact? Why is asking the right questions in workforce analytics so critical? My guest on this episode is Mark Huselid, Distinguished Professor of Workforce Analytics at Northeastern University During our conversation Mark and I discuss: Why most companies do not treat people data as rigorously as financial data—and why they should. The evolut...

How can AI unlock HR’s potential?  Why is it important that HR leaders are agile now and in the future? My guest on this episode is Christy Pambianchi, CHRO, Caterpillar Inc. During our conversation Christy and I discuss: How her early career at Pepsi taught her the importance of servant leadership and shaped her approach to HR Why it’s important for an organization to stay focused and never lose...

How do you create, shape, and strengthen your career brand? Why is showing up in the small moments is key to creating a strong presence? My guest on this episode is Lorraine Lee, Author of “Unforgettable Presence,” Keynote Speaker, Instructor at LinkedIn Learning and Stanford During our conversation Lorraine and I discuss: How she transitioned from her corporate career in tech to becoming an award...

Due to the US holiday, 4th of July, I am re-publishing one of our greatest hits and most popular episodes. The “Best of 2024” episode features sixteen don’t miss moments from HR executives and thought leaders who… So, who can you expect to learn from on this episode? Rhonda Morris, CHRO, Chevron Jeffrey Pfeffer, Professor Stanford University and Author of 16 books including the “7 Rules of Power K...

How can you build your brand on LinkedIn while being true to who you are? Why should you be transparent about performance expectations with new hires? My guest on this episode is Melanie Naranjo, Chief People Officer at Ethena During our conversation Melanie and I discuss: What it’s like to lead HR at an HR tech company and why Melanie recommends the experience to other HR professionals. How she b...

How can you create a people strategy that aligns to and drives your business strategy? What is a People P&L and why does your organization need one? My guest on this episode is Anita Graham, EVP & CHRO for Labcorp. During our conversation Anita and I discuss: Why taking initiative matters for your career and how early-career professionals can develop this skill. Why you should be intention...

How can you find your “green zone” and stay grounded during times of stress? Why does leadership quality matter — especially during transformations? My guest on this episode is Dianne Armstrong, President, Armstrong Performance Consulting During our conversation Dianne and I discuss: Why leadership gaps matter and how overlooking poor leadership can cost organizations dearly. Why leadership develo...

What does it mean to be a business leader with HR expertise? How can you reinforce and shape a people-first culture at scale? My guest on this episode is Tim Hourigan, recently retired Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Home Depot. During our conversation Tim and I discuss: How a curiosity for the “people side” of the business changed the course of Tim’s career Why HR le...

How is AI redefining the way we learn? Why are simulations a powerful tool to close skill gaps? My guest on this episode is John Sangimino, Associate Director, Learning Design Center of Excellence at McKinsey & Company During our conversation John and I discuss: The three essential truths of learning design—and why all learning is experiential The behavioral science behind why people don’t alw...

How can HR lead transformations that stick? Why are “soft skills” the new “power skills”? My guest on this episode is Laura Cushing, Chief People Experience Officer, Pacific Life During our conversation Laura and I discuss: Why HR leaders need to be “comfortable, being uncomfortable” and how it can accelerate your career. How HR can play a critical role in defining the “from/to” of organizational...

How will digital coaching impact the future of work? How can HR leaders leverage digital coaching to accelerate development? My guest on this episode is Anna Tavis, Department Chair, NYU, Human Capital Management & co-author, The Digital Coaching Revolution During our conversation Anna and I discuss: How the four essential pillars of modern coaching—personalization, democratization, access, an...

How can focusing on health and capabilities drive productivity? What can Ted Lasso teach us about the Future of HR? My guest on this episode is Jason LaRue, National Managing Partner, Talent & Culture at KPMG US. During our conversation Jason and I discuss: How embracing the initial learning curve—what Jason calls the "hockey stick" effect—helps leaders succeed in unfamiliar roles. How health...

What does it mean to be a "Next-Gen Disruptor" in HR? Find out in this special episode of "Future of HR" podcast where I'm introducing our new series called "Next-Gen Disruptors!” This series focuses on next-gen HR leaders who are making a difference in their organizations with their innovative approaches to talent and their impressive results. Today, we are fortunate to have three next-gen HR lea...

How can you create a more employee centric culture? Why do companies that invest in employee experience consistently outperform their competitors? My guest on this episode is Stephan Meier, Professor at Columbia Business School & author of 'The Employee Advantage: How Putting Workers First Help Business Thrive'. During our conversation Stephan and I discuss: Why employees care about more than...

How can skills power internal mobility and personalized development? When it comes to recoding your culture, why is it important to measure both the “what” and the “how?” My guests on this episode are Lucrecia Borgonovo, Chief Talent and Organizational Effectiveness Officer, Mastercard & Michael Lennartz, Executive Vice President, Total Rewards, Mastercard During our conversation Lucrecia, Mic...

How can you take a human-first approach to skills-based learning? Why should you have a clear business case before implementing skills-based talent initiatives? My guest on this episode is Christina Norris-Watts, Head of Assessment & People Practices at Johnson & Johnson During our conversation Christina and I discuss: Why Christina says transitioning to a skills-based organization is like...

How can you build a fit for purpose company? Why should you get comfortable asking for help? My guest on this episode is Lisa Chang, EVP & Chief People Officer, The Coca-Cola Company During our conversation Lisa and I discuss: How asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather sign of strength. Why HR leaders must focus on creating value through talent and organizational capabilities. H...

How can you help leaders recognize and overcome their blind spots? What is a "signature voice” and why it is important in developing executive presence? My guest on this episode is Muriel Wilkins, CEO Advisor & Executive Coach, Host of HBR podcast - Coaching Real Leaders, Founder Paravis Partners During our conversation Muriel and I discuss: The biggest challenges highly successful executives...

How can you establish credibility and build trusting relationships in your first 90 days? What separates HR leaders who secure board seats from those who don't? My guest on this episode is Marcia Avedon, 3X CHRO, Board Director, Human Capital Expert, and Executive Coach During our conversation Marcia and I discuss: Why great leaders spot potential in others before they see it in themselves. How th...

How do you get certain in an uncertain world? Why is seeking out variance in your life the key to personal and professional growth? My guest on this episode is the one and only Dave Ulrich, Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and a partner at The RBL Group In our conversation, Dave opens up about his personal journey and shares insights that have guided his influential...

How does the combination of pressure and power impact a leader’s behavior? What can HR leaders do to help their managers to be better bosses? My guest on this episode is Sabina Nawaz, Executive Coach and author, “You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)” During our conversation Sabina and I discuss: Why pressure, not power alone, makes leaders behave poorly and what lea...

How do we want our leaders, our organizations, and HR to be augmented by AI? Why is generative AI an historic opportunity for HR leaders to shape the future of work and leadership? My guests on this episode are Bob Johansen, Distinguished Fellow at Institute for the Future (IFTF), Gabe Cervantes, Director, Scalable Foresight, IFTF, and Jeremy Kirshbaum, CEO, Handshake, a generative AI consultancy...

How can you embrace an Agile HR mindset? Why is Agile HR a better approach to delivering value than our traditional methodologies? My guest on this episode is Riina Hellström, Founder, Agile HR Community During our conversation Riina and I discuss: How Agile HR can revolutionizing HR's approach to value delivery How small-scale pilots before full rollouts leads to better HR solutions that actually...

How do the most effective leadership teams really make decisions? Why do traditional approaches to team effectiveness often fail? My guests on this episode are Wanda Wallace, Managing Partner of Leadership Forum and Darren Overfield, EVP, Coaching & Consulting at Kaiser Leadership Solutions During our conversation Wanda, Darren and I discuss: Why traditional ideas about executive team effectiv...

How can you create a culture that embraces change? Why is it critical to build leaders at levels of your organization? My guest on this episode is Monique Herena, Chief Colleague Experience Officer at American Express. During our conversation Monique and I discuss: Monique's philosophy on taking career leaps and the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. Why American Express refers to th...