Level Up HR [EN]

If culture isn’t measured, it isn’t managed... and leaders know it. Quinn Slaughter , Owner of Total Solutions First, explains why culture breaks down when it’s treated as a value statement instead of a leadership system. Most companies can describe their culture, but struggle to enforce it. The impact shows up in places leaders often misread: early talent leaving just as they become valuable, inc...

AI can give you answers instantly. But what if your people lose the ability to question them? Host James Weier speaks to Ryan Simmons , Vice President of Human Resources at Colorado College, about why AI transformation is less about technology and more about how work is designed. As organizations rush to automate tasks and increase productivity, a deeper risk emerges: the erosion of critical think...

If “fun at work” makes you roll your eyes, you’re just using the wrong definition. Host James Weier speaks with Acey Holmes , Founder and CEO of BoredLess and an expert in Playful Work Design, about why play has become one of the most misunderstood ideas in today’s workplaces. Acey challenges the assumption that play is about games or team events. Instead, she reframes it as a way of working that...

Every question you ask as an HR leader is a chance to earn trust and shape real transformation. In this episode, host James Weier sits down with Katie Biancalana , an HR thought leader with over 20 years of experience, for a compelling conversation on leading through change with creativity and empathy. Having worked in HR across various industries and through major organizational shifts, Katie sha...

What if adopting AI was the key to keeping your organization truly human? In this episode, host James Weier sits down with Annie Korenjak , Human Resources Director at CCIG, to talk about what happens when HR meets AI and why the future of people leadership depends on how we use it. Annie shares how embracing AI with intention can take the busywork off HR’s plate and make room for what really matt...

Being a rebel in HR isn’t about breaking rules. It’s about having the courage to question them, and the wisdom to know when and how. In this episode, host James Weier sits down with Debra Corey , Chief Pay It Forward Officer at Step It Up HR and six-time best-selling author known for reimagining people practices with human-first thinking. Debra brings her “rebel cape” to the table and shares how l...

What happens when return-to-office mandates collide with real-world complexity and the realities of people’s lives? In this episode, host James Weier sits down with Veronica Bruner , Senior Human Resources Manager, for a candid conversation on the true impact of RTO decisions in a post-pandemic world. With a decade in tech HR, Veronica exposes the hidden costs of rigid RTO mandates, the burden on...

When HR leads with impact, every employee feels the difference, especially during transformation. In this episode, host James Weier welcomes Alison Jeske , Director of Total Rewards at Propelled Brands, for an inside look at what it takes to build an HR function that keeps pace with change and growth. Alison shares how steering an HRIS rollout after a major acquisition demanded not only technical...

What does it take to hire 1,000 people in a year—and still keep your team energized and your culture intact? In this episode of the Level Up HR podcast, host James Weier welcomes Brittney Bahre , Senior Director of Talent Acquisition at E2 Optics, for a candid look at leading through hypergrowth. In just 12 months, Brittney’s team expanded from 4 to 22 recruiters and hired over 1,000 employees, al...

When a workplace becomes a true community, strategy and culture grow stronger. In the first episode of the English edition of the Level Up HR podcast, host James Weier welcomes Sarah Diamond , Chief People & Culture Officer at BOA, for a conversation on building a thriving workplace from the inside out. Sarah shares how true transformation at BOA is anchored in lived values, and how connecting...