Future Proof HR

In this special live episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, recorded on the floor at Transform 2026 in Las Vegas, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Conor Sweeney, VP of People at Form Health , for a quick but packed conversation about what AI in HR actually looks like in practice at a fast-growing telehealth company. Form Health is the national leader in science-backed obesity care management and ca...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Jim Kanichirayil sits down with Katee Van Horn, Chief People Officer at Web Pros , to explore what it actually looks like to lead a people-first transformation inside a fast-moving, globally distributed organization and what happens when you layer AI on top of it. With team members across more than 51 countries and a growth strategy built heavily on...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Angelika Ivanov-Jackson, founder of IGR, a globally focused HR and recruitment agency, to explore what it really means to build HR infrastructure across borders and why the HR professionals who will thrive in the age of AI are the ones brave enough to own their value. With over a decade of experience spanning the US, EM...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Dorian Rhodes, Human Resources Director at Barton Associates , an architectural engineering firm with locations across Pennsylvania and North Carolina, to explore what it really means to build an HR function from the ground up. In a 60-year-old firm that had never had a formally trained HR leader before him. Coming from...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Jim Kanichirayil sits down with Kiley Ewing, Chief People Officer at McGuire Sponsel , a specialty tax consulting firm based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, to explore what it really takes to build an HR function from the ground up while staring down two of the most aggressive goals an organization can set: doubling headcount and tripling revenue by 20...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu, CEO of Cleary, sits down with Zane Zumbahlen, Chief People Officer at Wedgewood, to explore what it really means to lead HR through transformation from day one and why vulnerability might be the most underrated strategic tool a leader has. With a career spanning technology, finance, and healthcare, Zane brings a cross-functional pers...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu, CEO of Cleary, sits down with Amy Wang, Head of HR and Payroll Shared Services at Mercedes-Benz North America , to discuss how HR is changing as AI, shared services, and human leadership increasingly overlap. With experience across IT, procurement, operations, and HR, Amy brings a cross-functional perspective on what it takes to buil...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu, CEO of Cleary, sits down with Fernando Garcia,  Chief People and Legal Officer at Opta Group (at the time of recording), to unpack what HR leaders are getting wrong about AI, and what they should be doing instead. Fernando brings a rare blend of experience across HR, legal, compliance, and business strategy, and he makes a clear case...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Jim Kanichirayil, our podcast co-host and executive producer, sits down with Dominique Williams, Head of HR for North and South America at Forbo Movement Systems , to discuss the high-stakes transformation of HR in a manufacturing environment. Dominique shares her journey of walking into a "blank slate" organization—where the entire previous HR team...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu, CEO of Cleary, sits down with Adam McCoy, VP of HR at DMC Global Inc ., to discuss what AI really means for HR leaders navigating economic pressure, talent shifts, and rising expectations to do more without adding headcount. Adam explains why he is not asking for more HR headcount and how AI is changing the way teams prioritize, exec...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu, CEO of Cleary, sits down with Stefani Voorhees, Chief Human Resources Officer at Propio Language Services , to explore what it really takes to adopt AI across an organization without losing the human element. Stefani shares how executive alignment, transparency, and a clear philosophy that “AI makes people better, not replaced” shape...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu, CEO of Cleary, sits down with Chelly Conley, Director of Global HR and Inclusion at KnowBe4 , to discuss the raw reality of the HR industry in 2026. From navigating the toughest job market in over a decade to surviving the "Wild West" of AI adoption, Chelly shares a no-sugarcoat guide to staying resilient and relevant. Chelly opens u...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu, CEO of Cleary, sits down with Jennifer Albert, Chief People Officer at Extensiv , to explore what it really takes to lead through sustained change. From reorgs and acquisitions to AI adoption, Jennifer explains why trust and transparency are the difference between momentum and breakdown. Jennifer shares how her background in psycholo...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Jim Kanichirayil, our podcast co-host and executive producer, sits down with Amanda Woodard, Senior Director of HR at Submittable , to unpack what changes when talent acquisition goes hybrid, candidate pools explode, and AI makes it easier than ever for bad actors to slip into your pipeline. Amanda shares her unconventional path from customer success...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Lorena Scott, Chief People Officer and Head of Customer Experience at Relay , to explore how AI can be used to accelerate people and CX roadmaps without losing the human moments that matter most. Drawing on her dual mandate across People and Customer Experience, Lorena shares how Relay thinks about AI not as a replaceme...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Marlene Cosain, HR Director at Abby Connect, to explore what it really looks like when a human-centered company introduces AI into the core of its business without eroding trust or displacing its people. Drawing on her journey from receptionist to HR Director, Marlene shares how Abby Connect navigated the launch of an A...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Andy Martiniello, Chief People Officer at Equipment Ontario and Principal Coach at Martiniello Coaching & Consulting , to explore what it really means for HR to work at the intersection of people and strategy, not as separate disciplines, but in lockstep. Drawing on a career spanning sales leadership, executive coac...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Kendall Schultz, Chief People Officer at Triumph Behavior Support, to explore what it really takes for HR to move beyond a cost center and earn authority inside fast-growing, high-pressure organizations. With over 15 years of experience across venture-backed and private equity environments, Kendall shares how HR leaders...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Amaan Hussain, Director of HR at The Acquisition Group, to explore how HR leaders can adopt AI without sacrificing the human connection that defines their organization. With over a decade of experience leading HR strategy in high-growth, direct-to-consumer environments, Amaan shares how his team balances efficiency, emp...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Jamie Rivero, HR Director at MYCO Mechanical, Inc. , to explore what disciplined HR leadership looks like in a rapidly changing environment. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, retail, and construction, Jamie shares how HR leaders can navigate AI adoption and major sy...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Jessica DeLorenzo, Chief Human Resources Officer at Kimball Electronics , to explore how HR leaders can guide AI adoption as a business transformation, not just a technology rollout. Drawing from her non-traditional path into HR and nearly a decade inside a global, low-margin manufacturing organization, Jessica shares h...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Amy Johnston, Head of People and Capability at Orion New Zealand Ltd. , to explore what it really takes to future-proof HR inside a high-risk, highly regulated industry undergoing massive transformation. As electricity demand accelerates due to electrification, sustainability goals, and AI-driven data cen...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Diana Alvis, VP of HR at Crown Capital MGMT, to discuss what it actually takes to future-proof HR beyond tools, hype, and fear. With more than 20 years of experience across retail, public sector, healthcare, immigration law, and construction, Diana brings a grounded, operator-first perspective on learning, judgment, and...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Julie Fonzo, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Five Star Breaktime Solutions , to discuss how HR can move fast with AI while staying grounded in real human connection. With experience across startups, turnarounds, growth environments, and M&A, Julie brings a business operator mindset and a clear approach t...

In this episode of the Future Proof HR podcast, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Marta Vittini, Vice President of Human Resources at Renovation Brands , to explore the human skills HR leaders must protect as technology accelerates change across every part of the workplace. Drawing on experience leading acquisitions, shaping culture across distributed teams, and driving AI adoption from the inside, M...