People and Strategy

In this episode of People + Strategy, Bob Goodwin, president of Career Club, unpacks why HR leaders must speak the language of CEOs and CFOs to secure influence in the boardroom. Drawing on research, case studies, and his work with executives, Bob reveals how financial fluency, business acumen, and data-driven storytelling can elevate HR from a “soft” function to a strategic driver of growth. Lear...

What does it take to create a thriving, low-ego culture in a global organization with 24,000 employees? Paulo Pisano, CHRO of Booking Holdings and CPO of Booking.com, shares how he connects culture to strategy, leverages customer dashboards and engagement metrics to benchmark success, and drives alignment across international teams. Discover why resisting the influence of the HiPPO (highest paid p...

In this episode of People + Strategy, Velisha Haddox shares her journey from commercial litigator to CHRO of the Cook County Government in Illinois, revealing the critical role of consistency, transparency, and executive support in driving change. Hear how Cook County’s HR team reduced attrition, modernized job architecture, and enhanced employee benefits to attract top talent. Discover actionable...

In this episode of People + Strategy, Stephen Childs, CHRO at Panasonic Automotive discusses the importance of embracing risk in the workplace, especially as the HR role continues to grow. Childs shares how he built influence across the C-suite and how volunteering for tough assignments throughout his career accelerated his development. Discover how Panasonic Automotive scaled from 400 to 8,000 em...

In this episode of People + Strategy, labor relations expert David Rittof discusses why employees seek union representation and how organizations can respond. Discover the warning signs of union activity, common management mistakes, and the evolving attitudes of Gen Z toward unions. Rittof offers practical advice for CHROs, CEOs, and supervisors on fostering employee involvement and adapting to ne...

In this episode of People and Strategy at SHRM25 in San Diego, Thanh Giddarie, director of HR for MIT Health at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discusses how organizations can leverage data to communicate the value of HR. Giddarie shares her journey from marketing to HR, the importance of annual HR reports and trending analyses, and how quantitative and qualitative metrics can demonstra...

In this episode of People and Strategy, join Lori Monfiletto, CHRO at Los Alamos National Laboratory, as she discusses her journey into HR and the transformative initiatives she has led over the past five years. Monfiletto shares how Los Alamos revamped its benefits, compensation systems, and service delivery model to align with a new mission and double its workforce during the Great Resignation....

In this episode of People and Strategy recorded at SHRM25 in San Diego, Dennis A. Davis, national director of client training at Ogletree Deakins, explores the complexities of employee terminations. From legal considerations to psychological safety, Davis shares actionable insights on how to conduct employee termination meetings with dignity, including the best time of day for a firing and how to...

In this episode of People and Strategy recorded at SHRM25 in San Diego, Jordan Quigley, North American VP at Robert Half, explores the evolving role of emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) in leadership and workforce development. Drawing from Robert Half’s hiring research and real-world examples, Quigley discusses how HR leaders can nurture rising talent, bridge skills gaps, and embrace technology...

In this episode of People and Strategy, Kathleen Pearson, CHRO at McDermott Will & Emery, shares AI use cases for HR professionals. Pearson shares her unique career journey from marketing to HR leadership, offers her three pillars for building high-performing teams, and shares how her team has implemented AI to enable deeper human connections in the workplace. Plus, she discusses how she’s using A...

How can CHROs ensure a strong return on investment in the face of rising HR costs? In this episode, guests James Atkinson, VP of thought leadership at SHRM, and Chris Courneen, senior VP and global head of HR at MS International, dive into SHRM's 2025 CHRO Benchmarking Data Brief, unpacking trends such as increased HR spending, wage inflation, and investments in workforce technology. Discover stra...

Lauren Fast, chief people officer at iS Clinical, highlights the critical role of feedback, empathy, and trust in today’s workplace. Fast discusses how HR leaders can navigate challenges like layoffs, cost reductions, and employee disengagement while maintaining cultural alignment. She also shares a compelling story about how transparent communication and employee empowerment helped her organizati...

In this milestone 100th episode of People and Strategy with special guest Johnny C. Taylor Jr., CEO of SHRM, we dive into the intersection of technology and human capital, exploring how AI is reshaping HR practices and the workplace. Taylor reflects on his leadership philosophy, the critical CEO-CHRO relationship, and shares strategies to address talent shortages through skills-first hiring. Disco...

Learn how HR leaders can assess skills, complexity capacity, temperament, and role requirements to make better talent decisions and reduce costly mismatches. In this episode, host Mo Fathelbab sits down with Susan Schmitt Winchester, former CHRO and author of Healing at Work. Susan introduces the Suitability Model, a game-changing framework for smarter hiring, succession planning, and talent align...

How do you respond to trauma and violence in the workplace? In this deeply moving episode of People and Strategy, Liz Cotner, director of human resources at Foster Swift Collins and Smith PC, and Marjorie Morrison, SHRM’s mental health executive in residence explore the profound impact of workplace violence and mental health challenges. Morrison offers the clinical perspective, while Cotner shares...

What does it take to build a workplace where employees feel valued and engaged? In this episode, we speak with Susan Podlogar, former CHRO at MetLife, and independent board director at Tevogen Bio and LivaNova. Podlogar shares the essential role of HR in navigating workforce transformation, supporting employees, and driving strategic impact. Learn how organizations can future-proof their people st...

Whether you're learning to fly a plane or you're learning to lead a CEO succession, situational awareness and risk management is key. Kevin Cox, president of LKC Advisory is a seasoned HR leader, CEO succession expert, and pilot in training, who joins us to explore the intricacies of leadership transitions and offer practical takeaways to help steer organizations toward success. Leveraging his exp...

HR leaders often face the challenge of supporting others while managing their own emotional and mental health. In this insightful conversation, Leah Marone, corporate mental wellness consultant and clinical instructor at Yale, shares insights on how leaders can recognize burnout, set boundaries, and practice mindfulness. Marone also introduces the concept of validation and explains how it can tran...

Resilience is crucial to overcoming adversity and thriving under pressure. In this episode, Marjorie Morrison, mental health executive in residence at SHRM explores the evolution of mental health in the workplace and shares her tips on how to build resilience. She provides practical insights to enhance both personal and professional growth, enabling you to face challenges with confidence.   Episod...

Women tend to be over mentored, but under sponsored. Learn more critical leadership takeaways from Lori Marcus, executive coach, corporate board director, and Co-Founder of the Band of Sisters. From her 24 years at PepsiCo to her dedicated efforts in advancing workplace inclusion, Lori reveals the importance of creating feedback forward cultures that empower people to thrive. Learn about Lori’s th...

As we mark he first 100 days of the presidential administration, we sit down with Emily M. Dickens, chief of staff, head of government affairs, and corporate secretary for SHRM. The discussion highlights the pressing issues HR professionals face today, including the impact of executive orders, immigration policies, workforce education gaps, and the importance of inclusive hiring practices. Emily s...

Kelly Jones, chief people officer, shares her incredible leadership journey spanning 18 years at Cisco and discusses the values that shaped her success. She shares first-hand examples of how she uses AI, explains how technology is transforming HR, and offers lessons for leaders on how to build trust with their teams.  Episode Transcript Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest epis...

How can HR leaders balance people strategy, risk management, and community impact? In this episode of People and Strategy, host Mo Fathelbab speaks with Jinah Chernivec, CHRO and Risk Officer at Goodwill Industries. Chernivec shares insights on the power of active listening, the connection between HR and workplace safety, and the role of civic engagement in effective leadership through her people-...

Great leaders often ask themselves: “Could the opposite be true?” Maureen Cawley, HR leader of the luxury sleep solutions brand Saatva, shares a framework for looking at workplace challenges from a new perspective. In this week’s episode, learn best practices for navigating turbulent times, enhancing workplace stability, and supporting your team through meaningful conversations about wellness and...

Did you know that 80% of transformations fail on average? This episode focuses on how to stay the course during organizational change and how to successfully bring your employees along for the journey. SHRM’s Andy Biladeau, chief transformation officer, shares the lessons he’s learned from leading change at PwC and Target.   Episode Transcript   People + Strategy, brought to you by The SHRM Execut...