People and Strategy

Chris Rackow was both a special agent in the FBI and a Navy SEAL. Today, he’s vice president for global security and resilience services at Google, as well as and president of the board of directors for the International Security Management Association (ISMA). In this episode of People and Strategy, Rackow speaks with host Tony Lee on the growing role of CHROs in corporate security, overlooked met...

Tawanda Starms’ career in HR began when she learned that the chief people officer of Taco Bell needed an executive assistant. Today, she’s vice president of talent and culture at Chipotle Mexican Grill, overseeing a wide range of talent strategies, from recruiting to talent development to company culture, DE&I and organizational design. In this episode of People and Strategy, Starms speaks with ho...

SHRM CHRO Jim Link started his HR career writing the company newsletter and responding to union grievances before advancing to HR leadership roles at organizations including Porsche and Randstad. In this episode of People and Strategy, he speaks with host Tony Lee about identifying solutions to talent shortages, the relationship between compensation and employee engagement and how to think about H...

Successful leaders acknowledge while they can’t prevent adverse events (e.g. a global pandemic), what persists is leaders’ ability to choose how they and their organizations respond to those difficult situations by enacting meaningful change. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Tony Lee speaks with Ian Ziskin, president of the EXec EXcel Group and co-founder of the Business inSITE Group,...

Beth Benevenia is the leader of HR in the Global Manufacturing and Commercial Division of LIXIL, a global enterprise and manufacturer of water and housing products with 60,000 employees in more than 150 countries. She speaks with host Tony Lee about how organizations can make returning to the office appealing for employees, the role of culture in attracting and retaining talent during The Great Re...

Melissa Thompson is the Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Ford Motor Company. In this interview with host Tony Lee, Thompson discusses how to attract and retain talent in today's competitive market and the role culture plays in talent acquisition. This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by ADP.

Cordell Carter, Esq., is Founding Executive Director of the Project on Belonging and Executive Director of the Socrates Program, both at the Aspen Institute. He is also a commissioner of The President's Commission on White House Fellowships. In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Carter dives deep into how societies and organizational cultures must cultivate thriving a...

Stephanie Rawitt, an attorney at Clark Hill PLC, discusses the Supreme Court ruling that stayed the OSHA’s Vaccination and Testing Emergency Standard (OSHA ETS). The ETS is on hold pending the review of the merits of the issue before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit or further action by the Biden Administration. In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Raw...

Jeff Lindeman, SHRM-SCP, is the CHRO and Vice President, Organizational Development at WD-40 Company. In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Lindeman describes the unique WD-40 culture and its reliance on company values and belonging. (length 20:15)

Brian Reaves is the Senior Vice President, Chief Belonging, Diversity, and Equity Officer at UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group). In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Reaves explains that diversity, equity and inclusion are business imperatives and impact business as much as any other strategy. (length 18:08)

Richard Lui, News Anchor with MSNBC and NBC News, is also the author of Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness. In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Lui explains how selflessness and positivity can influence the workplace for the better, starting with leadership. (length 27:25)

Matthew Owenby, Chief Human Resources Officer at Aflac Inc., dives into company culture and talent management in our current business climate. In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Owenby discusses hiring employees for life, the role of digitalization and skills learned from the pandemic. (length 31:39)

Judy Samuelson, founder and executive director of the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program and author of Six New Rules of Business: Creating Real Value in a Changing World, explores the role of leadership in today's world. In this interview with Ira Bedzow, director of the Biomedical Ethics and Humanities Program at New York Medical College and the Senior Scholar of the Aspen Center for So...

Craig Wallace, Ph. D., organizational psychologist and Department Head of Management in the College of Business at Clemson University, dives into data and analytics in the HR realm. In this interview with Deborah Stadtler, managing editor of the SHRM Executive Network, Wallace discusses how to solve for the right problem and the future of analytics.(length 38:29)

Tracey Marsh, VP of Human Resources for the ESCO Division of The Weir Group, gives a detailed look at scenario planning and how to apply that method to workforce planning. In this interview with Judith Scimone, editor-at-large on the People + Strategy editorial board and SVP and Chief Talent Officer at MetLife, Marsh dives into the role of data and how to balance flexibility and discipline in stra...

Matt Breitfelder, global head of human capital and senior partner of Apollo Global Management, dives into how to modernize the role of CHRO. In this interview with Deb Bubb, associate editor of the People + Strategy editorial board and SVP and chief talent officer with UnitedHealth Group, Breitfelder talks about prioritizing and taking risks to become a future-minded CHRO. (length 36:09)

Frances Frei and Anne Morriss are co-authors of "Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader's Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You" and "Uncommon Service: How to Win by Putting Customers at the Core of Your Business." In this interview with Lisa Connell, The SHRM Executive Network advisor, Frei and Morriss explain that leadership isn't about you--it's about building others up. (length 30:10)

Jonathan McBride, former global head of inclusion and diversity at BlackRock and advisor to boards, CEOs and executive teams, dives into the thorny issues surrounding diversity and inclusion. In this interview with Eric Severson, EVP and Chief People Officer of Neiman Marcus, McBride gives concrete actions to move the needle on equity and inclusion in your organization. (length 35:59)

Bob Johansen, Ph. D., author and Distinguished Fellow at the Institute for the Future, explores what the future of work looks like. In this interview with Deb Bubb, Vice President of HR and the Chief Leadership, Learning and Inclusion Officer at IBM and Associate Editor for People + Strategy, Johansen discusses the intersection of humans and technology, digital transformation and supermind skills....

Nigel Travis, chairman of the board for Dunkin' Brands, had led several iconic brands as CEO and on the board. In this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of SHRM's Executive Network, HR People + Strategy, he draws on his roots in HR and discusses why businesses need pushback and a challenge culture. (length 24:57)

Rob Chesnut, former Chief Ethics Officer of Airbnb, thinks business is in need of an ethical revolution. By promoting intentional integrity and making ethics personal, leaders can move their company forward. In this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of SHRM's Executive Network, HR People + Strategy, Chesnut explains why ethics matter more today than even before. (length 22:48)

Aaron Hurst, CEO and co-founder of Imperative and author of The Purpose Economy, believes that purpose and resilience can help employees combat burnout in the face of recent challenges. Hurst talks about social innovation and the future of work in this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of HR People + Strategy. (length 24:08)

Lisa Shalett, founder of Extraordinary Women on Boards and an experienced board director, explains why trust is so critical in today's business climate. In this interview with David Reimer, CEO Americas at Merryck & Co. and Executive Editor of People + Strategy, Shalett discusses how boards can explore the levels of trust that surround an organization. (length 41:55)

Stephanie Crouppen, Partner Happiness Executive and commercial lead for Diversity & Inclusion at Humu, discusses how great cultures are a balance of autonomy and structure. In this interview with David Reimer, CEO Americas at Merryck & Co. and Executive Editor of People + Strategy, Crouppen explores how nudges can lead to lasting culture change. (length 27:58)

Rahul Varma, Senior Managing Director and Chief Talent Officer, Accenture Technology, explores the human-centric organization. In this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of SHRM's Executive Network, HR People + Strategy, Varma dives into the importance of a human-focused company, especially during this time of crisis. (length 21:38)