Vantage Influencers Podcast

We often hear organizations say they're investing more in people, better pay, broader benefits, and more perks on paper. Yet burnout and disengagement are still everywhere. Somewhere between what's offered and how employees actually feel, something isn't landing. That's where I want to start today, by exploring what's missing and what needs to change for total rewards to truly support well-being....

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast,  Aatmada  Singh, Total Rewards Leader at Visteon Corporation , shares practical insights on how AI is transforming total rewards into a more personalized and employee-centric experience. The conversation explores how organizations can use data, automation, and intelligent HR systems to move beyond standardized reward models and design offering...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Jeri Doris,  Chief People Officer at Just Works , shares valuable insights on how motherhood and marathons shape compassionate leadership in HR. The conversation delves into the  personal experiences  that inspire empathy, resilience, and a people-first approach to leadership. Jeri discusses how  these life  lessons influence her leadership st...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Karie Willyerd, Head of Strategic Engagements at GP Strategies Corporation, shares valuable insights on how AI transformations can be aligned with organizational goals. The conversation delves into the key strategies organizations can adopt to ensure AI adoption enhances overall business performance, culture, and employee engagement.  

The more we look at how work is evolving, the more obvious it becomes that tech  isn't  just something HR uses anymore.  It's   basically shaping  decisions, workflows, and even culture in real time. And HRBPs are  kind of right  at the crossroads of all of this.  Their role has shifted from being mostly people-focused to this  really interesting  mix of strategy, data fluency, and emotional intel...

W e talk a lot about fairness at work ,  equal opportunities, unbiased pay, all the right things. But somehow, even with all the progress and policies, the numbers still tell a different story. The pay gap lingers quietly, but persistently.   And it really makes  us  wonder ,  if  we already have audits, data, and so many conversations around pay equity,  what's  still holding organizations back f...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast,  Kriti Mehrotra, Senior Lead – Total Rewards at Synamedia,  shares practical insights on how Total Rewards strategies are evolving to meet the demands of hybrid and remote work. The conversation explores how organizations are  rethinking compensation, benefits, well-being, recognition, and flexibility to remain relevant in a distributed workfo...

Acquisitions look great on paper.  But most of them fail where it actually matters - people, culture, and execution.   And that's where HR is usually brought in  too late . More  as a support function, not a strategic one.     Today's conversation is about flipping that narrative.   W e're  talking about why HR should lead integration and performance after an acquisition.   J oining  us for this c...

For a long time, HR has been seen as the function that manages policies and paperwork. But what if HR could actually influence how fast a business grows, how well teams perform, and how sustainable that growth really is? As expectations from HR continue to rise, the real question is:  what needs to change for HR to move from a support role to a business growth driver? To unpack this shift, I'm joi...

In this episode of the Vantage Influencers Podcast , we will be discussing HR's real role in acquisitions, not as a support function, but as a strategic force driving integration, culture, and performance turnarounds.  Host Shabana is joined by Maher Sabbagh , a leader who has not only witnessed acquisitions, but also led people transformations across some of the most complex markets in the world....

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Host Shabana is joined by Srijith Nair , who draws on nearly three decades of his professional experience, and busts the most prominent myths about 'leadership' in the corporate world. Whether you're an HR leader or a decision-maker, this episode offers actionable insights to optimize your leadership strategy and drive success within your orga...

In this episode of the  Vantage HR Influencers Podcast ,  Pooja Malhotra ,  Head HR India at  StoneX  Group Inc.,  shares  practical insights on how employee feedback can be  leveraged to shape effective policies and enhance engagement. She discusses the growing importance of structured feedback systems in understanding employee needs, building trust, and creating policies that reflect real workpl...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast,  Kiran Steven,  COE - Talent Management at Jockey & Speedo,  shares valuable insights on how leadership architecture is a key driver of organizational success. He discusses the critical role of designing effective leadership models that foster a strong company culture, enhance decision-making, and build high-performing teams. Kiran Steven high...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast,  John  Sansoucie,  Chairman  and CEO of  CogNet , shares valuable insights on how  back office outsourcing is quietly redefining the way HR teams work. He discusses the significant impact of outsourcing non-core HR functions, enabling HR leaders to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and focus on more strategic priorities. John highligh...

We're talking about burnout in healthcare, not just the long hours and exhaustion we always hear, but the deeper layers that often go unnoticed. And more importantly, how resilience can move from being a crisis response to something  that's  genuinely built into the culture.     To help us explore this,  I'm  joined by someone  who's  been  closely involved  in understanding these challenges and s...

Frontline hiring has always been fast-paced , but lately it feels like  we're  in the middle of a complete reset. Candidates are choosing jobs  differently,  expectations are shifting, and the old playbooks really  aren't holding up anymore. Even with better tools, more data, and smarter strategies, companies are still struggling to attract and keep frontline talent. So clearly, something deeper i...

Mentoring and coaching, two words often used interchangeably, yet they shape workplace culture in profoundly different ways. When you look closer, the nuances reveal powerful insights into how organizations can drive equity, nurture belonging, and boost retention. To dive into this layered conversation, I'm joined by Lindiwe Davis — Founder of FutureState Collective Group and The Couch Coach. She...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, David Hanrahan, Senior Vice President of People Success at SolarWinds, shares valuable insights on how embedding mental health into company culture drives business success and long-term resilience. He discusses how HR leaders can create a supportive environment that enhances employee engagement, productivity, and overall organizational well-be...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Jason  Desentz , Chief Human Resource Officer at Toshiba, shares valuable insights on how listening, learning, and vulnerability help build trust in HR leadership. He discusses how HR leaders can foster deeper connections with their teams and navigate change with empathy and authenticity. With his vast experience in leading HR functions global...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast,  Shubhra Singh , Head HRBP – Global Business at  Sonata Software ,  shares  insights on the skills leaders need to stay relevant in the age of transformation.   She discusses how leaders can stay credible and human as technology, teams, and business expectations continue to shift. With her extensive experience in shaping global  people  strate...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast,  Surobheet  Bhowmik ,  an HR leader with a decade of cross-industry experience , shares his insights on building a  talent strategy that aligns with business goals . He  discusses how HR leaders can bridge the gap between people, performance, and purpose to drive sustainable growth.  Holding  experience s  across MNCs, Indian conglomerates, an...

Whenever we talk about the future of work, technology  almost always  takes center stage ,  AI, data, automation, all of it. But there's one important question: if everything becomes digital, then where does the  human  side of work fit in? Because at the end of the day, what makes work meaningful  isn't  just the tools we  use ,   it's  how we feel, how we connect, and how we grow.   And  that's...

HR is more than just policies and paperwork— it's about people, purpose, and performance coming together to create workplaces where everyone wants to show up.   Joining host Shabana in this episode is Ayesha Tallat , Founder of LinkedUp , sharing how a human-first HR approach transforms workplace culture, boosts engagement, and drives real business results. Discover how recognition, empathy, and a...

In this episode of the Vantage HR Influencers Podcast, Courtney King, Senior Vice President of People & Culture at  BeatBox , discusses how recognition plays a crucial role in scaling company culture without losing its authenticity. She shares how HR leaders can drive growth while preserving core values during periods of hyper-growth, ensuring culture stays strong from the inside out.  

You know, we often talk about company culture like it's this one big, unified thing. But the reality inside most organizations is way more nuanced. Sometimes, what you feel in one team is completely different from what you'd experience in another, even though they're technically part of the same company. T hat's where the idea of micro-culture becomes really interesting —and honestly, really impor...