HRchat Podcast

In this episode, we ask why organizations need an offshore strategy to support their recruitment needs. Listen too, as we consider how businesses can maintain their company culture when working with outsourced employees. Bill's guest is Kal Kukadia , Chief Recruitment Officer at Cloudstaff . A seasoned strategist in talent development and recruitment, Kal has been tasked with establishing Clo...

In this performance coaching-focused HRchat episode, we consider ways to prepare for and run productive and outcome-focused 1on1s.  Our guest is Libby Stewart , the VP of Customer Experience & Revenue at Topicflow , a new tech platform designed to connect with your favorite calendar(s) to transform your 1on1s into powerful coaching conversations to potentially eradicate the need for performanc...

In this HRchat episode, Bill Banham talks with Karen Simpson , DEI expert, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, and founder at Hello Awesome Inc. Questions For Karen Include: You were awarded Canada’s #1 Recruiter in 2019. Why move away from Talent Acquisition?   Why do you think focusing on strengths is so important right now?  Let’s get into coaching, you’ve taken a unique approach at Hello Awesome...

Felicia Rickards, Principal Strategist at Felicia Rickards Solutions Limited is the guest in today's episode of the HRchat podcast. She is a Professional Development Coach, Strategic Direction Facilitator & Mediator.  Felicia works with corporate employees, business owners and athletes who are ready to actuate their next level of success. She is currently preparing to host the first Disru...

In this HRchat episode, we focus on employment law and a new solution designed to offer more accessible and transparent options for those seeking legal counsel and legal services for employees. Bill's guest today is Lena Vartanian, Founder of LawVo, a tech solution designed to connect legal professionals with customers via a fully virtual, transparent, convenient experience. LawVo provides an...

Around half the world’s population is projected to be myopic (or nearsighted) by 2050! Today's guest says that, far from being insurmountable, preventing or delaying the onset of myopia is possible. Dr. Debbie Jones recommends that group benefits administrators and wellness coordinators help their employees consider outdoor time and screen time plans for their children. She also describes a r...

Today's HRchat guest says that, instead of aiming for work-life balance, the goal should be what he calls 'work-life bloom'. Dan Pontefract is the founder and CEO of Pontefract Group, a firm that improves the state of leadership and organizational culture. He is the best-selling author of four books and a popular speaker. Dan has presented at four different TED events and also write...

The guest this time is Shay David , Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO at Retrain.ai , a talent intelligence platform designed to help enterprises hire, retain, and develop their workforce, intelligently. Questions For Shay Include: ChatGPT has put quite a spotlight on generative AI. Although it’s arguably the most impressive chatbot yet, how does it compare to other generative AI tools? How is it simil...

Last week, the HR Gazette team, along with the awesome folks at Bee Happy HR , The Women in Biz Network, and Times Change Women’s Employment Service , hosted a meetup in downtown Toronto . In the build-up to International Women's Day, the focus of the event was Empowering Women in Business. Held at the Xero office, the evening included lots of networking and talks by a bunch of folks focused...

HR leaders should encourage workforce education programs as a way to attract, retain, and develop top talent, address skills gaps, create a more diverse and inclusive workforce, and foster a culture of innovation and adaptability. By investing in workforce education programs, organizations can build a competitive workforce that is better equipped to meet the challenges of the future. As the nature...

Business is transforming at a faster pace than ever. It is no longer possible, says today's guest, to hire your way to success or to rely on the locked-in structures of roles and traditional career paths. To ensure your people and their capabilities evolve in support of your business needs you must look deeper and understand people at the level of their skill. Our guest this time is Steve Hol...

In this HRchat episode, we hear from Fermin Diez , Deputy CEO & Group Director at Sector Capability and Transformation Group about why now is an exciting time to be in HR and better ways to use your people data.  Dr. Fermin Diez has more than 35 years of experience in human resources, which includes consulting, corporate and academic roles in 40 countries in all continents. As a consultant, he...

In this episode of the HRchat show, we hear from Jennifer Paxton , co-founder of Jamyr , a video content platform that helps companies engage and attract candidates. Questions for Jennifer Include:   How does video help the candidate experience and the employer brand?  stats around video content Employer Brand- what trends are you seeing in EB that are working really well right now? What are you s...

Social impact branding and marketing is critical to HR as it helps attract and retain top talent, enhance employee engagement and motivation, and align employees with the organization's values and purpose. Companies that prioritize social impact branding and marketing can create a more attractive employer brand, enhance employee satisfaction and productivity, and foster a strong company cultu...

Building an organizational learning culture requires a concerted effort from HR and L&D professionals. A growth mindset, clear learning goals, regular feedback and coaching, and a supportive learning environment are key factors that can help to create an organizational learning culture. By implementing these strategies, HR and L&D professionals can help to create an environment where emplo...

HR plays a critical role in promoting ESG considerations within companies. Specifically, HR departments can help ensure that a company's internal policies and practices align with its ESG goals. For example, HR can help to implement diversity and inclusion initiatives, develop employee training programs on environmental sustainability, and ensure that employee compensation and incentive struc...

Our guest in this episode of the HRchat pod is Natal Dank , Agile HR Author, Co-founder at PXO Culture, and Chief HR Trendwatcher at the HR Trend Institute Recognized as a pioneer in Agile HR and business agility, Natal heads up Learning, Consultancy & Coaching at PXO Culture and is the Chief Trendwatcher at the HR Trend Institute. Following decades in senior Human Resources, Talent and Organi...

In this episode of the HRchat podcast, we consider the employee experience and ask: Are we getting worse at communicating?  Bill's guest this time is Yuri Kruman , Chief Executive Officer / Head of Remote at HR, Talent & Systems , a full-service HR Consultancy, focused on building out robust HR functions for fast-growth companies. Yuri is a sought-after speaker and expert on HR, Digital T...

A well-designed benefits program can help employees manage their health and financial wellbeing, which can improve their overall wellness and quality of life. When employees have a clear understanding of their benefits and can utilize them effectively, it can lead to increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and lower healthcare costs. A positive employee benefits experience is important to an...

Employers in the US, Canada and elsewhere are faced with a very broad range of laws that govern the relationship between employers and employees. The US, for example, is a country that is based on states' rights and on a federal system. And what that means is that not only does the federal government have different regulations on employer-employee relationships, but in many cases, different s...

In this episode of the HRchat show, we’ll be talking about the role of the employer brand in 2023 and ways to maximize your company's chances of standing out from the competition. Joining Bill Banham on the show are Japneet Gill and Stacy Parker from Toronto-based Blu Ivy Group . Questions For Stacy and Japneet Include: Let's start with ensuring that we are all on the same page about an...

Global technology-focused investment bank Drake Star recently released the Talent Acquisition Software Report , which provides an in-depth analysis of the industry’s year-to-date M&A and funding activity, share price movements and sector valuations, as well as key industry news and emerging trends. According to the report, M&A activity in the talent acquisition software industry remained s...

In this episode of the HRchat show, we consider ways to streamline everything from recruitment to retirement and where tech will fit in over the next few years. The guest this time is Prashant Khambekar , SVP at Harbinger Group , a global technology company that builds products and solutions aiming to transform the way people work and learn. For 30 years, the firm has been innovating alongside org...

Our guest this time is Andrew Graft , Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Access Development and Access Perks , a company committed to making the workplace a better place through its network of exclusive discounts from over 1 million of the world’s best brands. Andrew's responsibilities include overseeing the company's B2B, B2C, and loyalty marketing efforts, growing company revenue...

Our guest this time is Rita Sookrit , Canada Learning Lead at Hemsley Fraser . Rita is a globally-experienced L&D leader. Skilled in aligning business goals with L&D strategy, she helps companies implement innovative solutions using technology, tools, and frameworks. She also combines business acumen with portfolio skills to build trust, align stakeholders, tackle challenges, and inspire c...