Guerrilla HR

Is your company culture just slogans on a wall, or does it actually drive business results? In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast, Becky sits down with Adriana Vaccaro, CEO and founder of Culture Redesign and bestselling author of Culture Minded: Six Tools to Transform Organizational Culture and Empower Humanity. With a background spanning Six Sigma, Lean, business operations, and organizati...

Why do employees really walk out the door? In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast, Becky Drozdz sits down with leadership consultant, author, and researcher Bryan Hughes to uncover the real mechanics of workplace culture, accountability, and employee retention. Brian draws from 30+ years of operational experience overseeing 4,000+ employees and $750M in P&L, along with his doctoral resear...

Is growth slowing your organization down? In this episode of the Guerrilla HR podcast, Becky sits down with Lilith Christiansen. Lilith is a growth alignment architect, founder of HumanGenuity , and co-author of Successful Onboarding. Together, they explore the concept of organizational drag—the hidden friction that causes decision-making to stall, creates rework, and frustrates teams as companies...

Why do some teams thrive while others struggle even when they have top talent and abundant resources? In this episode of The Guerrilla HR Podcast , host Becky Drozdz sits down with David Lengyel, founder of Venture Up . With over four decades of experience leading experiential training programs and reaching more than 400,000 participants, David shares how extreme sports, mountaineering, and hands-...

In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast , Becky sits down with DeeAnne Palin, Founder and CEO of OnPoint Business Solutions . Deanne shares why managing people is often the hardest part of running a company and explains what she calls the "Million Dollar Mistake", the massive operational, turnover, and revenue leaks businesses suffer when people strategy is neglected. Becky and DeeAn...

In this episode of the Guerilla HR Podcast , host Becky Drozdz sits down with business owner, staffing specialist, consultant, bodybuilder, and author Nina Burris . Nina shares how she transformed a single cleaning business started in 2001 into a multi-faceted operation by leveraging core-value hiring and situational group interviews to virtually eliminate employee turnover. From her early days ma...

In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast, Becky sits down with Coby Skonord, founder and CEO of Ideawake , an idea management platform designed to help organizations crowdsource innovation from their employees. Coby shares his journey from walking away from a Big Four accounting firm on his first day of training to building a software solution used by major companies to turn employee feedback i...

What if more PTO and salary increases aren't the cure for employee burnout? In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast , Becky sits down with Chemeeka Sparks from Travel Nation to challenge the traditional corporate retreat layout of shabby hotels and awkward trust falls. Chemeeka shares her journey from individual trip planning to crafting high-touch corporate offsites and bucket-list incent...

What happens when a demanding full-time career collides with the responsibility of caring for aging parents? In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast , host Becky Drozdz dives into the complex realities facing the "sandwich generation"—working professionals balancing children and full-time jobs while managing the care of senior family members. Becky is joined by Cindy Hall, a senior l...

Are leaders born or are they made? I'm talking to strategist, speaker, and author Jim Carlough to explore his core philosophy: leaders aren't born, they are developed. Drawing from over 30 years of experience transforming teams and mentoring professionals, Jim discusses his book, The Six Pillars of Effective Leadership: A Roadmap to Success . He shares real-world stories and actionable ins...

We're exploring a topic becoming increasingly central to modern workplace dynamics: the intersection of professional leadership and the responsibilities of caring for aging parents. Becky is joined by Janice Goldmintz , founder of Talk About Aging and author of Getting Older But Not Old , to discuss the unique challenges faced by the "sandwich generation"—those balancing the needs of...

In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast , host Becky Drozdz sits down with Ivonne Ferneaux , founder of EmpowerUp Consulting , to explore why diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are facing a significant backlash and how organizations can move toward more pragmatic, structural success. Ivonne introduces her powerful concept of "Ghost Gaps" —the invisible organizational...

I'm sitting down with Sandra Coker , founder and CEO of Human Power Solutions and author of People Profit . Together, they dive into the critical role of employee development within the total rewards framework and discuss why traditional leadership often fails to retain top talent. Sandra shares her "boots on the ground" philosophy, arguing that leadership isn't just about style—...

We dive into the shifting landscape of the 2026 workplace. While recent reports show that fewer employees are planning to leave their organizations, only a fraction actually feel energized by their work. I'm joined by Dr. David Shar , a consultant and University of Maryland researcher who specializes in why people fall out of love with their careers and how to rekindle that passion. David shares h...

"Forced fun is never fun." In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast , host Becky sits down with Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins , whose career path is anything but ordinary. From being the youngest professional bass fisherman in the U.S. to reaching the C-suite in higher education, Mickey explains why she walked away from it all to focus on the future of Learning and Development (L&D). W...

We're tackling the sobering reality of financial stability in 2026. Opening with data from the Bank of America Institute and Bankrate, Becky highlights that nearly a quarter of households are living paycheck to paycheck, with pessimism about the economic future reaching new highs. Becky is joined by Brenton Harrison , a certified financial planner and founder of New Money, New Problems , to discus...

In this episode of the Guerrilla HR podcast, Becky is joined by Traci Austin , Chief Strategy Consultant and owner of Elevated Talent Consulting. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of the workforce—specifically the rise of "new collar" jobs—and how organizations can identify and develop leadership potential in traditionally overlooked roles. Key Discussion Points *The Rise of...

Becky is joined by Joni Hough , owner of Rise Up Consignments , to discuss how to dress for interviews in a changing workplace landscape. From "size-inclusive" professional wear to the nuances of tech vs. corporate attire, Joni shares expert advice on how to look your best without breaking the bank. The duo also covers the do's and don'ts of accessories, makeup, and even how to dress for your prof...

In this episode of the Guerrilla HR podcast, host Becky Drozdz sits down with Barry Wolfe, founder of Argos HR Solutions and author of It's All in Your Head . They challenge traditional HR "doom and gloom" by discussing why psychology-based tools often fail employees and why leadership should focus on "nouns" (deliverables) rather than "verbs" (tasks). From drivin...

In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast , Becky Drozdz is joined by IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) expert Michael Bach to challenge traditional approaches to diversity work. Michael explains why moving from a "social justice" or "moral" justification to a data-driven business case is the key to making organizational change truly "sticky". F...

While many professionals are familiar with the "5 Love Languages," applying these concepts to a professional setting is a game-changer for retention and culture. In this episode of the Guerrilla HR Podcast , Becky Drozdz sits down with Dr. Paul White to discuss how managers can move beyond vague "good job" emails and connect with their teams on a deeper level. From navigating a...

Becky Drozdz sits down with Anu Jassal, owner and president of TeamLogic IT, to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing organizations today: data security. From rising benefits costs to the growing threat of cyberattacks, Becky and Anu explore how employers can safeguard sensitive information while supporting their workforce. 💡 Key insights you’ll hear: Why rising benefits costs demand smar...

Becky Drozdz welcomes Jessica Arellano—strategic HR leader and retired U.S. Marine—to explore the parallels and differences between military and civilian human resources. Jessica shares her 20-year journey in the Marine Corps, where she managed HR functions like benefits, performance management, and succession planning, and how those experiences translate into today’s corporate world. 💡 Key takea...

In this episode of Guerrilla HR , Becky Drozdz sits down with Bill Kasko , President and CEO of Frontline Source Group, to unpack the evolving world of recruiting and staffing. From the days of fax machines to the rise of LinkedIn, Bill shares how technology, recessions, and the Great Resignation have reshaped the balance of power between employers and employees. 💡 Key insights you’ll hear: Why f...

Becky Drozdz tackles the emotional weight of a divided world and pivots toward personal agency, starting with your paycheck. After a heartfelt reflection on legacy and how we show up in the world, Becky dives into the wage gap debate, busts myths about gender and negotiation, and delivers a no-nonsense guide to asking for a raise. 💡 What you'll learn: Why your employer doesn’t care why you want a...