HRchat Podcast

In this episode, we highlight the amazing efforts made at Make-A-Wish. Our guest is Betsy Biern , a non-profit executive with over 20 years of organizational leadership experience in strategy, management, and fundraising. In 2016 she joined Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area as president and CEO, where she collaborates closely with the Board of Directors to further the organization’s mission of granting...

Mental health and substance abuse cost US businesses between $80 and $100 billion annually. Another study showed that serious mental illness costs America up to $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year. Depression is thought to count for up to 400 million lost workdays annually. Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S - that’s 18.5% of the population - experience mental illness each year Research s...

In this episode, we'll consider why its vital to present authentic branding in times of high unemployment. Our guest is Kerris Hougardy , Vice President, People Services North America at Colliers International. Kerris leads Colliers International's North American People Services group for Canada and the USA. She coaches, mentors, and manages a high-performing team of 80+ HR professionals...

In this episode we hear from Van Le , Director of HR at Lighthouse Labs about her career pivot into HR and how leaders can help employees to learn new skills to be more competitive in the jobs market. Van has 12+ years of progressive HR leadership experience in both BC and Ontario within the non-profit, technology, finance, and cannabis industries. She's been a part of many change management...

In this HRchat interview, David Osborne returns to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the workplace and why providing employees with wellbeing programs is vital in the new normal. Listen and discover: How companies can integrate workforce wellness into their day-to-day activities What steps HR professionals should take to ensure a successful and safe return to work How employers can begin to revive...

In this HRchat interview, we consider how mindfulness can be used by HR and leaders to address mental health, help build mental agility and better respond to stress and anxiety. Our guest this time is Dr. Geoff Soloway , Founder and Chief Training Officer at MindWell-U , a health tech firm that delivers research-backed e-mental health tools that are shown to increase resilience, lower stress, and...

In episode 180, we hear from Ryan Tahmassebi , a business psychologist and the Director of People Science at Hive - an employee feedback platform and strategic partner.  Listen as Ryan shares his insights into using employee data to help drive lasting cultural changes in the workplace. In his role at Hive, Ryan steers thought around people analytics and leads Hive’s team of people scientists, who...

In this HRchat episode, Bill Banham talks with Elizabeth M. Adams , Stanford University Fellow: Race & Technology and Co-Chair of the Black Employee Network about the impact of artificial intelligence at work. Elizabeth is a Diversity & Inclusion in Artificial Intelligence practitioner, advisor, consultant, speaker, writer, and author. She has facilitated Diversity & Inclusion learning...

In this episode of the HRchat podcast, we'll delve into what it means to have powerful conversations and build authentic business relationships. Our guest this time is Stuart Knight . Stuart will be a speaker at the 3rd InnovateWork virtual event happening on May 26th. Stuart's presentation will teach the InnovateWork audience how to build powerful human relationships with those they int...

In this episode, we look ahead to the HR Voice Virtual Summit with its creator, Martin Fretwell . Martin shares his inspiration for the event and provides an overview of the speakers and format. The event starts on May 19th and will present 20+ senior HR Leaders offering their personal experiences in areas such as learning, leadership, talent, wellbeing, and company culture. Check out the free eve...

In HRchat 176, Dave Ulrich talks about ways leaders and employees can come through the Covid-19 crisis with greater resilience and new skills. Throughout the crisis, Dave has remained an optimist; emphasizing the opportunities available to professionals willing to use this time as a chance to learn and grow. Questions asked of Dave include: What are some ways that leaders can deliver hope and purp...

In this HRchat interview, we hear from Alysha Campbell , an accomplished and respected Strategic HR Leader about why trust is so important in the workplace and ways HR and leaders can rebuild relationships with their employees following the difficult decisions made during the COVID-19 crisis. Alysha recently presented at the first InnovateWork Online Summit . Her topic was called Building Trust in...

In this HRchat interview, we hear from James Lord , Sales Director at Xref.com Americas about how reference checking should be conducted to ensure essential workers are placed into roles that can help those needing care during the crisis. James will be a speaker at the Hacking HR Toronto online event on May 14. Questions in this interview include:  How much more difficult is it to have a resume th...

In this HRchat episode, we consider the employee experience, mental wellbeing at work and rewards and recognition. Our guest this time is Gethin Nadin . Gethin is a psychology graduate who has been helping some of the world’s largest organizations to improve their employee experience and wellbeing for almost two decades. The last 8 years have been spent working as part of the senior leadership tea...

In this HRchat episode, we hear from Dr. Bill Howatt ,  Chief of Research, Workforce Productivity, Conference Board of Canada about the stresses put on essential-service workers and others who are putting their lives at risk by continuing customer-facing roles during the pandemic. Bill is the former chief research and development officer for workforce productivity, Morneau Shepell, and founder of...

In this HRchat interview, Raghavan Menon , CTO, Head of Product and Co-Founder at Espresa, discusses how gamification and employee resource groups can help businesses better engage with their employees.  Listen to the show and discover:  How gamification can encourage employees to connect with company goals The role of employee resource groups in larger organizations Who partners with Espresa and...

In this HRchat episode, we hear from Mario Baril , Ombudsman of Mental Health and Employee Well-Being at the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, a federal public service that embraces authentic, open and stigma-free dialogue on mental health issues based on compassion. Mario will also be a panelist at the April 29 InnovateWork Online Summit .  Mario Baril joined ISED in Oct...

In episode 169, Dr. Michael Mousseau , National Wellbeing & Engagement and Chris Lee , Employee Communications at Gallagher discuss ways to support the wellness and engagement needs of leaders and employees throughout the pandemic and its aftermath. Michael supports the wellbeing & engagement needs of Gallagher's Canadian clients and prospects. His background and expertise in neurosci...

In this HRchat interview, Bill Banham is joined by Raghavan Menon , CTO, Head of Product and Co-Founder at Espresa, the culture benefits platform based in the Bay Area.  Raghavan is an entrepreneur with two decades of startup and management expertise. Most recently, Raghavan was Co-Founder at Odysee, acquired by Google, and before that at Ingot Systems, acquired by Virage logic. He also holds 11 p...

In this episode of the HRchat podcast, Tim Baker talks with Marc Pavlopoulos , a Silicon Valley software executive and Founder of Syndesus . Syndesus Canada Inc is a PEO (Professional Employer Organization), builds engineering teams in Canada for US tech companies. Listen to this HRchat episode and discover: How a PEO provides immediate opportunities for US tech companies that have been affected b...

In this HRchat episode, we hear from Zahid Mubarik about HCM and how ISO Human Resources Standards could help shape the new normal of a post-Covid-19 business world. Zahid Mubarik is the CEO of HR Metrics and SHRM Partner in Pakistan. He is a global expert in human capital measurement metrics/analytics. Zahid is the only HR Leader from Asia to become member of ISO Technical Committee 260 for devel...

In this HRchat interview, we consider President Trump's plans to remove funding for the World Health Organization, what it will take to get us to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic and when we can hope to get back to work. Our guest is Dr. Adrian Hyzler,  Chief Medical Officer at Healix International , a leading provider of international medical, security and travel assistance services....

In this episode, Bill interviews Guy Ellis , Director at Courageous Workplaces Limited, a professional services company that provides interim management, consultancy and development services. Guy is a skilled presenter and facilitator. He regularly runs public workshops on master-class HR and Compliance topics. He has published numerous blogs, articles, chapters and books, and has appeared on BBC’...

In this HRchat episode, we chat with Gregory F Simpson , Managing Director, Agent In Engagement LLC an employee experience consultancy focused on helping companies and their employees succeed. Gregory believes that an engaged workforce is the foundation of organizational success and is on a mission to help companies and their employees succeed. He has created award-winning workplace experiences fo...

In HRchat 162 we consider how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the ways we work right now and the possible longer-term impact on workplace collaboration, the role of HR and leaders, and the role of AI and Virtual Reality as a training tool. Our guest is Jeanne Meister, Founding Partner at Future Workplace , an HR Advisory and Research firm dedicated to educating HR leaders on what's next in...