HR unConfidential

Tickets for our 100th Episode Celebration are now on sale! The event will be held on Tuesday August 25th, 2026 from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. Tell your friends! Tell your colleagues. The link to purchase tickets can be found via our website, hrunconfidential.com , or by clicking right here to go directly to Eventbrite .

In March, we discussed the alarming exodus of Black women from the workforce with economist, Katica Roy. In this episode we're going deeper into the lived experience behind those numbers. We're joined by Laura Knights, founder of Knights Consulting Group and creator of Black Woman Leading®, to discuss what she's learned from years of running leadership development programs for Black women, how to...

Save the date for the HR unConfidential 100th episode celebration. The celebration will take place Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 5:30-8PM in Chicago. Details on tickets sales are coming soon. Follow HR unConfidential for updates.

For the first time ever, five generations are working side by side and early career professionals are entering a workforce shaped by COVID, economic uncertainty, and rapidly shifting norms. In this episode, we talk directly to three young professionals across corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial paths about what work has actually felt like so far. Where were they misled? What makes them stay...

Behavioral and personality assessments are everywhere at work but are we actually using them well? In this episode, we're joined by Erich Kurschat, founder of Harmony Insights and DiSC expert, to break down what DiSC really is (and what it's not), how its use has evolved alongside the many changes in the workplace, and why personality frameworks should spark better conversations, not put people in...

In this powerful episode, Turiya and Gina are joined by gender economist, speaker, and founder/CEO of Pipeline to unpack the alarming rise in Black women exiting the U.S. workforce and what it reveals about the state of work today. We explore the data behind the trend, the workplace dynamics driving it, and why this is more than a diversity issue but also a business and economic one. From burnout...

HR is one of the most visible functions at work and one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, Gina and Turiya are joined by Kim Zubrickas, Chief Human Resources Officer at Carl Buddig & Company, to explore how employees, leaders, and even other HR professionals perceive the function differently. We unpack why HR is often seen as enforcers or policy police, why leaders underutilize HR strateg...

Introverts make up a huge part of the workforce — yet most workplaces are still designed for extroverts. In this episode, we're joined by Jeri Bingham, founder of HushLoudly: Introverts Redefined, to unpack what introversion really is (and isn't), the extra labor introverts often carry at work, and how leaders and HR teams can create environments where both introverts and extroverts thrive. We als...

In the last episode of 2025, Gina & Turiya reflect on 2025 and share what's on the horizon for HR unConfidential in 2026. Spoiler alert: we'll hit the amazing milestone of our 100th episode in August 2026 and are planning an in-person celebration in the Chicago area. Please let us know your episode ideas for 2026. We'd also love to know if you'd be excited to attend and hang out with us at a 100th...

In this very special episode of HR unConfidential, Gina and Turiya sit down in person at a studio in Chicago for an intimate conversation about their recent career trajectory. This informative, sometimes humorous and sometimes rather vulnerable chat offers an insight into what happens when seasoned HR professionals find themselves Open to Work for longer than expected, and how they have been best...

Facts & figures inform but stories inspire. In this episode, we chat with Jill Pollack, Chief Story Wrangler and founder of StoryStudio Chicago Words for Work, about why storytelling might be HR's most powerful and untapped skill. If you've ever struggled to get others to really understand your message or wondered why your beautifully written HR strategy deck just didn't land, this one's for you....

In this follow-up to our Private Equity 101 episode, we're joined by Sarah Purlee, Head of HR at S&S Truck Parts, to explore what it's really like to lead HR inside a PE-backed company. We dig into how HR creates value in private equity, what makes the environment unique, and what HR pros should know if they're working in — or curious about — the PE space. Be sure to leave us a review and rating w...

AI is moving fast and we can't afford to sit on the sidelines, especially in HR. In this episode, we're joined by Malvika Jethmalani, founder of Women Shaping AI, for a real talk on the ethical use of AI, how HR can be front & center of the integration of AI into the workplace, and what it means for jobs, skills, and the human side of work. We also discuss the urgency of ensuring women don't conti...

HR can be a lonely job — but it doesn't have to be. In this episode, we're joined by Tim Schumm and Amy Dordek Dolinsky, co-founders of The People Collective (TPC) , a growing community for senior HR professionals. We talk about the importance of connection in the HR world, what it takes to build and sustain a meaningful community, and how spaces like TPC are helping leaders learn, grow, and suppo...

Private equity... it's a phrase we hear a lot these days, but what does it really mean? Gina & Turiya are joined by Gregg Kaplan, CEO of Dentologie and founder/former CEO of Redbox to break it down. Listen as we define private equity and discuss key differences & similarities between private equity and other types of companies in areas like business strategy & goals, measures of success, and leade...

Organizations are facing increasing risks of workplace violence, information security threats, and other factors that can destabilize their business as well as create safety concerns for employees. In this episode Gina & Turiya are joined by security expert, Ken Wheatley, Founder & Principal Advisor of Royal Security Group, LLC, to discuss the steps companies can take to de-risk their business. Li...

How alike or different is the workplace across the globe? How do these similarities or differences influence HR strategies and practices? We're joined by two amazing global HR executives, Amrita Bhaumik and Martha Nelson Trott, to discuss all things global HR. Listen as we discuss the strategic, cultural, and operational considerations HR pros and leaders must consider to achive and sustain global...

There's been a noticeable uptick in HR professionals transtioning to the world of fractional. Why is this the case? What is fractional and what are the pros & cons? When is fractional HR the best or worst fit for a company? Answers to these questions and more are discussed with special guest, Elles Skony, founder of Organized Chaos Consulting and the Fractional People People. Follow Fractional Peo...

In the first episode of 2025, Gina & Turiya dig into the world of Design Thinking. They are joined by two pioneers of Design Thinking in the HR space, Nicole Dessain, founder of talent.imperative and author of the Design Thinking for HR newsletter, and Nancy Harris of Restart Consulting and the Intersection podcast. Listen as they breakdown what design thinking is and ways it can be used in HR to...

Where is the best place to apply for a job? Should I have the open to work banner on my LinkedIn profile? What's the secret to standing out in a crowd when there are so many applicants? Join Gina & Turiya and their special guest as they discuss all these questions and more. We're joined by Cassie Sturdevant, AVP of Talent Acquisition at The Chartis Group, to chat about the challenging job market w...

What first comes to mind when you hear we need more play at work? Gina and Turiya are joined by Jeff Harry, founder of Rediscover Your Play, to discuss the importance of play and psychological safety to make work suck less for humans while also enabling stronger business performance. Listen as we discuss what play at work actually means, ways companies can integrate play into the workplace, and th...

Gina and Turiya first discussed burnout in a May 2019 episode titled "Burnout Intervention". Listen in as they revisit this very necessary and even more prevalent topic with special guest, Melissa Swift, VP, workforce and Organizational Change at Capgemini Invent. Melissa shares her research backed insights into what causes burnout and how organizations and individuals can recognize burnout and st...

What is AI? What are we excited and/or concerned about as it relates to AI & ChatGPT? What should companies and HR professionals be doing to support readiness of this evolving technology in their workplace? All this and more is discussed with our very special guest, Allyson Carter, SVP, Talent Management at The CARA Group and an early adopter of AI. Connect w/ Allyson on LinkedIn Learn more about...

Gina & Turiya are joined by Michelle Silverthorn, Founder & CEO of Inclusion Nation. Listen as they discuss the state of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) almost 4 years post the murder of George Floyd, the importance of staying the course to ensure everyone has a safe and fulfilling workplace, and the practical actions everyone can take to advance progress. Learn more about Michelle and Inclu...

Gina and Turiya are joined by Candyce Penteado and Michelle Newman, authors of Finding Your Z: An A-Z Roadmap for Realizing Your Ideal Life. Listen as they discuss a different approach to navigating life & career choices through a framework and guided reflection on what might fulfill your whole self. They also discuss how companies and leaders should evolve their thinking and approach to career na...