Future of HR

How does investing in people make an organization more agile and resilient? Why is building talent a better bet than buying it, especially in the age of AI? My guest on this episode is Alana Brandes, Chief People Officer at Guild. During our conversation Alana and I discuss: Why "follow your passion" is a trap, and why should follow your energy instead. Why the employee journey should run "to, through, and beyond." How treating people well on the way out builds trust, your brand and increases boomerang hires in the future. Why build-versus-buy is a false choice How upskilling insiders beats buying AI talent from outside. Connecting with Alana Brandes Connect with Alana Brandes on LinkedIn Learn more about Guild and their programs. Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you apply proven frameworks to increase your impact as a HR leader? Why does understanding the human mind matter more, not less, as AI becomes more capable? My guest on this episode is Caroline Webb, Leadership coach, bestselling author of Leadership Intelligence and How to Have a Good Day. During our conversation Caroline and I discuss: How HR leaders can influence executive decisions without owning the decision. Why leaders should coach for capability, not just solve the immediate problem. How to create certainty when you don't have all the answers. How to give feedback people can actually act on How leaders can stay effective when the pressure builds Connecting with Caroline Webb Connect with Caroline Webb on LinkedIn Learn more about Leadership Intelligence and Caroline’s work Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you drive a high performance culture with four simple questions? Why is great execution more valuable than strategy? My guest on this episode is Andy De Marco, CHRO, Fujitsu, Americas Region During our conversation Andy and I discuss: Why the best HR leaders focus on adding value in every interaction. How Fujitsu drives a high performance culture with four simple questions. Why execution is scarcer and more valuable than strategy. Why a stable strategy frees the capacity execution requires. What capabilities and skills best position HR leaders for the future. Connecting with Andy De Marco Connect with Andy De Marco on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you “chase the butterflies” and take the stretch assignment that scares you? Why do the best HR leaders learn to “porpoise” and flex between strategy and execution? My guest on this episode is Allan Church & Janine Waclawski, Co-Founders and Managing Partners, Maestro Consulting LLC During our conversation Allan, Janine, and I discuss: Why you should never say no to a job you haven’t been offered. How “meeting the client where they are” is the foundation of every HR relationship. What it means to “porpoise” flexing between strategy and execution. How “chasing the butterflies” unlocks your biggest growth. How you can learn from every boss, even the ones you don’t like. Connecting with Allan Church & Janine Waclawski Connect with Allan Church & Janine Waclawski on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you build teams that have collective confidence? Why does belief matter when it comes to building high performance teams? My guest on this episode is André Martin, Chief Experience Officer at LEAD3R, author of Wrong Fit, Right Fit and Collective Confidence During our conversation André and I discuss: Why capable executive teams play small, even when they should be playing big. How collective confidence drives performance, especially as complexity rises. How the best leaders make belief-building a daily practice. How early, low-stakes wins create confidence and contribution from day one. How high-performing teams surface problems and turn failure into learning. Connecting with André Martin Connect with André Martin on LinkedIn Learn more about André, his books and how to work with him Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can HR and Finance build the business together? Why can't finance achieve true value creation without HR's knowledge and expertise? My guest on this episode is Christian Wattig, Director of the Wharton FP&A Program and Founder of Inside FP&A During our conversation Christian and I discuss: Why the scorekeeper mindset keeps finance and HR stuck in the back office How challenging assumptions helps leaders think rather than just slowing them down The four stages of finance maturity, from data to proactive value creation, and how the same model maps onto HR How to forecast humans, agents, and gig workers together, and why tokens are only about a third of AI's true cost Why ROI is the wrong tool for many HR programs and what to do instead Connecting with Christian Wattig Connect with Christian Wattig on LinkedIn Learn more about Christian’s programs at Inside FP&A Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you build business acumen without owning a P&L? Why is developing your business acumen within your control? My guest on this episode is Rose Velez-Smith, CHRO, DoubleVerify During our conversation Rose and I discuss: Why stepping out of HR to be in the business can be the single best thing you do for your career. How to start every executive conversation with business priorities first, then ask what talent outcomes are needed to enable them. Why talent doesn't exist separate from business strategy. How to choose your next role by evaluating who you'll become because of it. Why AI reshapes work rather than replacing it, and why in the future we will design jobs around judgment, creativity, and relationships. Connecting with Rose Velez-Smith Connect with Rose Velez-Smith on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you create an HR Business Partner Center of Excellence? Why does HR need to shift from owning programs to owning business outcomes? My guest on this episode is Christina Schelling, SVP, Human Resources, Verizon During our conversation Christina and I discuss: Why naming the HRBP group a Center of Excellence gives partners community, shared goals, and focused development. How the HR business partner role is evolving to be more strategic. How Verizon defined HRBP success with four shared metrics aligned to their strategy. Why HRBPs don't need to be experts in everything, and how COE partners make them stronger. How Verizon partnered with their HR tech vendors co-create innovative AI talent solutions. Connecting with Christina Schelling Connect with Christina Schelling on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

Why is the single biggest barrier to having power…ourselves? How can you, as an HR professional step into your power? My guest on this episode is Jeffrey Pfeffer, Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University and Author of 16 books including his latest one the “7 Rules of Power”: During our conversation Jeffrey and I discuss: Why he believes the single biggest barrier to having power is ourselves Why it is important that we own and tell our story, not let others tell it for us Why he believes that being authentic and/or modest is terrible leadership advice Why networking is a super power and how to do it well Why he believes HR needs to raise the bar and step into their power His advice on how to deal with difficult leaders in positions of power Connecting with Jeffrey Pfeffer Connect with Jeffrey Pfeffer on LinkedIn Learn more about the Jeffrey’s books, research, podcast and more Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you turn HR data into insights that drive decisions? Why do leaders make decisions based on their experience and instinct, not just data? My guest on this episode is Morgan Depenbusch, Data Storytelling & Influence Expert During our conversation Morgan and I discuss: How to tell what data is interesting from what data is decision relevant Why one reason to say no can beat twenty reasons to say yes Why you should see yourself as the guide and the leader as the hero How to surface a leader's real objection before the meeting and name it first Why AI gives HR more dashboards and signals but not more influence Connecting with Morgan: Connect with Morgan Depenbusch on LinkedIn Learn more about Morgan’s HR Data Storytelling and Influence Playbook Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can HR transform meetings into a competitive advantage? Why is the one-on-one the one meeting that leaders should never cancel? My guest on this episode is Steven Rogelberg, author of “The Surprising Science of Meetings” and “Glad We Met: The Art & Science of 1:1 Meetings” During our conversation Steven and I discuss: Why a world without meetings is worse than a world with them Why the person who called the meeting is usually the only one who thinks it went well. Why measurement is the missing piece as engagement surveys almost never ask about meetings. Why framing your agenda as questions to be answered clarifies who to invite, what success looks like, and whether you even need to meet. Why the one-on-one belongs to the employee, not the manager Connecting with Steven Rogelberg: Connect with Steven Rogelberg on LinkedIn Learn more about Steven, his books, and work to make meetings matter Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How does human capital create value in private equity? What does it take to be a successful HR leader in private equity? My guest on this episode is David Cohen, Partner, Human Capital at Kelso During our conversation David and I discuss: Why the role of the human capital partner in private equity is to unlock value through people, not to run HR for the firm itself. What is takes to be successful as a CHRO in a private equity backed company. Why human capital value creation comes down to org design, the right people in the right seats, and senior team performance. How the "bullseye" model helps identify the right senior leader for a PE-backed company. Why breadth of experience matters more than titles in your 20s and 30s. Connecting with David Cohen: Connect with David Cohen on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

In this solo episode, I make the case that being a strategic business partner is no longer enough. I share the shift I believe is coming next, from business partner to business builder, and the three mindset shifts and behaviors that separate the two. Here are a few key takeaways from the episode: Why being a strategic business partner is no longer enough, and what the next evolution of HR asks of us. How the move from business partner to business builder is a mindset, not a job title. Why execution excellence has become the price of admission rather than the proof that HR is strategic and adding value. Why the real AI risk to HR is being bypassed, not being automated. Why making fewer, bigger bets turns HR priorities into business priorities. How choosing one big goal a year that scares you can change the course of your career.

Why is organizational design much more than org charts and who reports to whom? How can HR guide, facilitate and drive effective an organizational design process? My guest on this episode is Amy Kates who is organizational design expert and author of five books on the subject. During our conversation Amy and I discuss: Why the purpose of organizational design is to design human behavior at scale Why matrix organizations are set up for good conflict and how best to manage it The six business problems that leaders seek to solve through organizational design Why organizational design is not about org charts and who reports to whom The role that HR leaders should play and not play in the organizational design process. Advice for HR leaders who are about to start an organizational design project Connecting with Amy Kates: Connect with Amy Kates on LinkedIn Learn more about Amy’s work at Operating Model & Organization Design LinkedIn page Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can workforce readiness become mission readiness? Why is a people strategy not the same thing as a business strategy? My guest on this episode is Kathleen McCarthy, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, SAIC During our conversation Kathleen and I discuss the following: Why a people strategy is not a business strategy Why "progress over perfection" beats waiting for the perfect plan How CHROs are shifting from business partners to enterprise capability builders Why workforce readiness is a moving target, not a fixed destination Why you can't hire your way out of the readiness gap Connecting with Kathleen: Connect with Kathleen on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you think and communicate like an executive? Why is your strategy only as good as your ability to communicate it? My guest on this episode is Vicky Zhao, Founder, School of Human Intellect and Speaking With Frameworks. During our conversation Vicky and I discuss the following: Why the clearest idea, not the best idea, is the one that wins How the GPS framework (Goal, Problem, Solution) elevates your point of view Why the hardest shift is moving from a doer mindset to a leader mindset Why you should put the bottom line up front, using the pyramid principle Why giving yourself permission to contribute is the first step to showing up like an executive Connecting with Vicky: Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Subscribe to Vicky’s YouTube channel Learn more about Vicky’s course, Speaking With Frameworks Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can HR use data to drive change? Why is being “data driven” no longer a nice to have, but rather an expectation for HR leaders My guest on this episode is Sebastian Wernicke, author of “Data Inspired” During our conversation Sebastian and I discuss the following: How the best data work starts by trying to prove yourself wrong Why HR leaders must become critical consumers of data How to start with the business problem, not the available data Why data-inspired organizations rest on three foundations: data literacy, a digital mindset, and a data culture Connecting with Sebastian: Connect with Sebastian on LinkedIn Learn more about Sebastian’s new book, Data Inspired Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

Why should HR think of themselves as the business instead of supporting the business? How can AI amplify human potential and performance? My guest on this episode is Vicki Walia, Chief People and Experience Officer at Prudential Financial During our conversation Vicki and I discuss the following: Why HR leaders need to see themselves as part of the business, not partners to it. How AI can amplify human potential and performance. How Vicki thinks about the AI "time dividend” and who should get the benefit. Why a high performance culture starts at the individual level. Why clarity, tools, and candid feedback are the three ingredients teams need. Connecting with Vicki: Connect with Vicki on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can the power of the pause make you an even more effective HR leader? Why do HR leaders need to have a point of view and the courage to share it? My guest on this episode is Michael Fraccaro, Former CPO at Mastercard, Senior Advisor at Egon Zehnder During our conversation Michael and I discuss the following: Why your credibility as a CHRO is built on your understanding of the business, not HR How the power of the pause transforms decision quality Why culture is a leadership behavior, not a program How courage, not technical knowledge is the real differentiator for HR leaders who want to move from good to great Why the CHRO pipeline challenge is less about technical skills and more about mindset, grit, and learning agility Connecting with Michael: Connect with Michael on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you build an AI-Ready workforce? Why is AI a leadership issue and not a technology issue? My guest on this episode is Charlene Li, author of “Winning with AI,” speaker, and disruptive leadership expert During our conversation Charlene and I discuss the following: Why AI-first is the wrong frame for most organizations, and how AI-ready puts your people and strategy back at the center How AI fluency differs from AI literacy Why tools, training, and time are the three T's every leader needs to invest in How to think about agentic AI through four practical questions Why automating existing processes is not enough and we use AI to rethink the work itself Connecting with Charlene: Connect with Charlene on LinkedIn Learn more about Charlene and her book, “Winning with AI” Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can HR leaders learn to sell without selling? Why should every HR leader think of themselves as a salesperson? My guest on this episode is Brendan McAdams, B2B Sales Coach & Consultant and author of ‘Sales Craft’ During our conversation Brendan and I discuss the following: Why every HR leader is already in sales, whether they call it that or not How sales is really the work of helping someone make a better decision that is right for them Why status quo is often the strongest competitor to any HR initiative, and what to do about it. How surfacing objections out loud ("killing the deal") builds trust and accelerates real buy-in Why "if we do this, who loses?" is one of the most useful questions an HR leader can ask Connecting with Brendan: Connect with Brendan on LinkedIn Learn more about Brendan’s company Kiinetics Download Brendan’s Stakeholder Meeting Prep Worksheet Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can organizations use executive assessments to make better decisions? Why do you need to build your Executive Assessment fluency to have more impact as an HR leader? My guest on this episode is Mina Morris, Managing Director and Head of Assessments at Accenture During our conversation Mina and I discuss the following: Why executive assessment should start with business strategy, not tools, models, or methodologies. How using multiple data sources creates a more complete and accurate view of executive talent. Why executive assessment should be the start of the development conversation, not the end. How executive assessment helps organizations identify “diamonds in the rough” within their leadership pipeline. Why executive assessment without development is just measurement. Connecting with Mina: Connect with Mina on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can your culture become a competitive advantage? Why is engagement not just an HR metric, but a driver of business performance? My guest on this episode is Bala Sathyanarayanan, EVP and CHRO, Greif Inc. During our conversation Bala and I discuss the following: Why culture is the operating system that determines whether strategy succeeds or fails. Why engagement is not just an HR metric, but a leading indicator of customer and business performance. How organizations that focus on systems outperform those that focus only on outcomes. Why HR’s credibility depends on its ability to create measurable business value. Why great organizations are never “great,” they are always chasing it. Connecting with Bala: Connect with Bala on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can we reclaim control when it feels like work has hijacked our lives? Why is managing stress becoming more important than reducing it? My guest on this episode is Guy Winch, psychologist, TED speaker, and author of the new book “Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life” During our conversation Guy and I discuss the following: Why burnout continues to rise despite increased investment in wellbeing programs. How work is increasingly “hijacking” people’s time, attention, and relationships. Why high performers are often the most vulnerable to burnout. How a simple end-of-day ritual can train your brain to shift from work mode to personal life. How more open conversations about stress can prevent burnout before it becomes a crisis. Connecting with Guy: Connect with Guy Winch on LinkedIn Learn more about Guy’s book, “Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life.” Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can leaders make work both fun and drive high-performance? Why do the high performers find joy in intense work? My guests on this episode are Bree Groff, workplace expert and author of “Today was Fun,” and Mary Kate Stimmler, Practitioner Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford During our conversation, Bree, Mary Kate, and I discuss the following: Why the belief that high performance requires pressure and sacrifice is flawed How leaders can design work that creates energy, not burnout Why “fun” at work is about experience, not perks Why stress undermines creativity and long-term performance How small, everyday moments shape culture more than large-scale initiatives Connecting with Bree and Mary Kate presenters: Connect with Bree Groff on LinkedIn Learn more about Bree’s book, “Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) Connect with Mary Kate Stimmler on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

This is Part 2 of our live at the CHRO Association's annual CHRO Summit in Orlando, Florida. I was honored to be invited to the CHRO Association's annual CHRO Summit that brought together more than 300 CHROs and senior HR leaders for strategic conversations truly shaping the future of work. With 25 presenters and panelists on the agenda, I was able to sit down and interview seven of those amazing speakers and bring their insights directly to you across these two episodes (EP 186 & EP 187). In this episode, Part 2 - we’re going to hear from three more incredible leaders: Darrell Ford, Vice Chair of the CHRO Association and Executive Vice President and CHRO at UPS Rebecca Hinds, PhD, Head of the Work AI Institute and Thought Leadership at Glean, and author of Your Best Meeting Ever Kevin Cox, Former CHRO at General Electric and President of LKC Advisory LLC Connecting with CHRO Summit presenters: Connect with Darrell Ford on LinkedIn Connect with Rebecca Hinds on LinkedIn Connect with Kevin Cox on LinkedIn Learn more about CHRO Association Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

This is a very special episode recorded live at the CHRO Association's annual CHRO Summit in Orlando, Florida. Over two days, more than 300 CHROs and senior HR leaders came together for strategic conversations truly shaping the future of work. With 25 presenters and panelists on the agenda, I was fortunate enough to sit down and interview seven of those amazing speakers and bring their insights directly to you. The conversations were so good and in-depth that we're making this a two-part series to ensure we do each conversation justice. This is Part 1. In this episode, you'll hear from: Tim Bartl, CEO of the CHRO Association Tim Richmond, Chair of the CHRO Association and former EVP and CHRO at AbbVie Kristi Hummel, Chief People Officer at Optum Ethan Mollick, Innovation Expert, AI Thought Leader, and Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School of Business Connecting with CHRO Summit presenters: Connect with Tim Bartl on LinkedIn Connect with Tim Richmond on LinkedIn Connect with Kristi Hummel on LinkedIn Connect with Ethan Mollick on LinkedIn Learn more about CHRO Association Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can HR Rethink Performance Management? Why is Performance Management broken and what can HR do about it? My guests on this episode are Edie Goldberg & Alan Colquitt, co-authors of “Performance Enablement: A New Model for Driving Organizational Performance.” During our conversation, Edie, Alan, and I discuss the following: Why traditional performance management systems were built for a different era of work. How performance management became more about compensation than improving performance. Why shifting from performance management to performance enablement changes the leadership mindset. How continuous coaching and feedback outperform annual reviews and performance ratings. Why team-based goals better reflect how work actually gets done in modern organizations. Connecting with Edie and Alan: Connect with Edie Goldberg on LinkedIn Connect with Alan Colquitt on LinkedIn Learn more about Edie’s firm and Performance Enablement Learn more about Alan’s firm and Performance Enablement Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can HR Operations help transform the function and drive business impact? Why should HR shift from People First to People Forward strategy? My guest on this episode is Girish Ganesan, Chief People Officer, S&P Global During our conversation, Girish and I discuss the following: Why HR operations are the foundation of real impact Why credibility requires understanding the work beneath the work How HR teams can shift from "People First" to "People Forward" Why execution is becoming a defining capability for next-generation HR leaders. Why adaptive leadership is critical in the age of AI. Connecting with Girish: Connect with Girish on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can two simple words, “How so?” unlock a deeper conversation with any leader? Why is consistency more important than intensity when building new leadership habits? My guest on this episode is Dave Stachowiak, Host of the Coaching for Leaders podcast. During our conversation, Dave and I discuss the following: Why most "questions" aren't really questions. How defining success in advance makes behavior change measurable. Why high achievers are especially prone to feeling like they've failed. Why pushback when you go more coach is often a green light, not a red one. Why the future of leadership is “both/and." Connecting with Dave: Connect with Dave on LinkedIn Learn more about Coaching for Leaders podcast Listen to JP’s episode on Coaching for Leaders podcast Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can we redesign our culture by redesigning our meetings? Why do well-designed meetings allow for more time for individual and value-added work? My guest on this episode is Rebecca Hinds, author of “Your Best Meeting Ever” and leading expert on organizational behavior and the future of work. During our conversation, Rebecca and I discuss the following: Deciding what deserves to be a meeting (and what doesn’t) is one of the most important decisions leaders can make. How poorly designed meetings become signals of busyness rather than drivers of real work. What meetings reveal about your organization's culture Why treating meetings like a product changes how leaders think about time, collaboration, and outcomes. How high-performing organizations design clear communication norms so meetings are a last resort, not the default. Connecting with Rebecca: Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn Learn more about Rebecca’s book and AI research. Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

Over the past 180 episodes, I've only been the one getting interviewed twice. I continue to get requests and questions from you saying, "JP, we'd love for you to answer more questions. We want to get to know you better. We've got some questions we would love you to answer." So, that is what I am doing today. This is a special Ask Me Anything episode. I am joined by my brilliant friend, Anne Gotte, who's the Senior Vice President, Global Talent and Organizational Effectiveness for Mondelēz International. Anne was kind enough to say, "Hey, JP, I want to interview you. I think this will be a lot of fun." And she was right. All the questions today were submitted by you — through the newsletter, on LinkedIn, and across the Future of HR community. I saw some of the questions as they came in, but Anne and I made a deliberate choice: no scripts, no prep, just a candid conversation. So what you're going to hear is Anne and I working through your questions in real time. I'm going to do my best to answer questions around: How I got my first big break Where I think AI will shape HR careers What I would do differently if I could go back in time and give myself the advice I give many next-gen HR leaders today

How can organizations make employee well-being a leadership responsibility, not just an employee responsibility? Why is belonging the number one driver of employee well-being? My guest on this episode is Mark C. Crowley, a pioneer in workplace leadership, speaker, and bestselling author of Lead from the Heart and The Power of Employee Well-Being. During our conversation, Mark and I discuss the following: Why leading with the heart is often misunderstood as being "soft" in business settings. How pulse surveys, when paired with real accountability systems, can transform manager behavior and team performance. Why belonging is the number one driver of employee well-being Why employee well-being is the leader’s responsibility, not the employee’s and the research that proves it. Why HR leaders need to challenge decisions that prioritize short-term financial metrics over long-term culture and people. Connecting with Mark: Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Learn more about Mark’s books and podcast Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can organizations use coaching to build leadership capability? Why should every organization have a clear executive coaching strategy? My guest on this episode is Brian Underhill, Founder and CEO of CoachSource During our conversation, Brian and I discuss the following: How the executive coaching industry evolved and matured over the past few decades. How organizations can design disciplined, scalable coaching systems that drive measurable behavior change. Why coaching works best when it is aligned to the talent strategy. How team coaching can improve trust and effectiveness when designed intentionally. Where AI can support coaching at scale and where it can’t. Connecting with Brian: Connect with Brian on LinkedIn Learn more about CoachSource Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can HR lead with courage? How can organizations be both high performing and healthy? My guest on this episode is Pat Wadors, CHRO, Intuitive and author of “Unlock Your Leadership Story.” During our conversation, Pat and I discuss the following: Why HR leaders must have the courage to challenge decisions that compromise the organization’s or their own values, even when it puts their role at risk. What it truly means to build a healthy company, not just a high-performing one. How can you partner with the business, so they own the initiatives and not HR Why HR needs to adopt a product mindset when designing employee experiences and strategic initiatives. Why should you have a “personal scorecard” that helps you navigate your career and personal life. Connecting with Pat: Connect with Pat on LinkedIn Learn more about Pat’s book Unlock Your Leadership Story. Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How do leaders develop cultural agility? Why is cultural agility an essential skill in the age of AI? My guest on this episode is Paula Caligiuri, Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University, Co-Founder of Skiilify, and Best-Selling Author. During our conversation, Paula and I discuss the following: Why cultural agility is becoming a critical leadership capability How leaders actually develop effectiveness across cultures Why vulnerability, curiosity, and perspective-taking build trust and adaptability. How individual behavior shapes team dynamics more than formal authority. How organizations can intentionally design experiences to develop global leaders. Connecting with Paula: Connect with Paula on LinkedIn Learn more about Paula’s company, Skillify Check out my conversation with Paula on International Business Today podcast where we discuss The Future of HR Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How does active listening build a culture of trust? Why is the employee experience as important as the customer experience? My guest on this episode is DJ Casto, CHRO, Synchrony During our conversation, DJ and I discuss the following: How adopting an agile mindset and methodologies transformed Synchrony's approach to HR How Synchrony bucked the “return to office” trend by listening to employee feedback and maintaining a flexible, performance-based work model. Why they created a frontline experience team to invest in and improve the employee journey and customer experience. How Synchrony uses active listening to co-create the employee experience and shape the culture. Connecting with DJ: Connect with DJ Casto on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can “managing up” help you to have more impact and influence? Why is managing up a critical leadership skill for all HR leaders? My guest on this episode is Melody Wilding, author of “Managing Up”, keynote speaker, and executive coach. During our conversation, Melody and I discuss the following: The biggest misconceptions about managing up and why they are wrong Why managing up is a core leadership skill that every HR leader needs to learn Practical tools and questions HR leaders can use to help clarify priorities and expectations with leaders. The four main communication styles leaders need to recognize to build trust and influence across the organization. How to structure upward feedback for your boss to ensure it lands diplomatically and productively. Connecting with Melody: Connect with Melody Wilding on LinkedIn Learn more about Managing Up and Melody’s work Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

The "Best of 2025" episode features fourteen don't miss moments from HR executives and thought leaders who… So, who can you expect to learn from on this episode? Monique Herena, Chief Colleague Experience Officer, American Express Wanda Wallace, Managing Partner, Leadership Forum & Darren Overfield, EVP, Coaching & Consulting at Kaiser Leadership Solutions Riina Hellström, Founder, Agile HR Community Dave Ulrich, Partner at The RBL Group Marcia Avedon, 3X CHRO, Board Director, Human Capital Expert, and Executive Coach Lisa Chang, EVP & Chief People Officer, The Coca-Cola Company Christina Norris-Watts, Head of Assessment & People Practices, Johnson & Johnson Anita Graham, EVP & CHRO, Labcorp Christy Pambianchi, CHRO, Caterpillar Inc. Ani Huang, Senior EVP, CHRO Association & Anthony Nyberg, Director, Center for Executive Succession at University of South Carolina Brandon Sammut, Chief People & AI Transformation Officer, Zapier Tina Gupta, SVP, Talent Management, New York Life Insurance Brian Miller, Chief Talent and D&I Officer, Levi Strauss & Co Jennifer Wilson & Brad Warga, Partners and Global Co-Heads of the Human Resources Officers Practice at Heidrick & Struggles Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

My guests on this special holiday episode are Ian Ziskin, Lori Heffelfinger, Bill Baker, lead author and co-contributors to “Lives Lost and Leadership Found.” During our conversation, Ian, Lori, Bill and I discuss the following: The inspiration behind the book "Lives Lost and Leadership Found" and how personal loss can serve as a foundation for personal growth. The neuroscience behind grief: how loss rewires your brain and why that matters for leaders. What research reveals about the role of intentionality in healing after loss and becoming a stronger leader. The power of storytelling and reflection—why writing about a special someone can be transformative Connecting with Ian, Lori, and Bill: Learn more or buy Lives Lost and Leadership Found: Lessons From Special Somebodies Connect with Ian Ziskin, Lori Heffelfinger, and Bill Baker Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

What differentiates the best HR leaders from the rest? Why isn’t enough to “know the business, you must love the business My guest on this episode is Marc Effron, President, Talent Strategy Group. During our conversation, Marc and I discuss the following: Marc’s career journey and what led him to co-author One Page Talent Management The unforgettable advice that Marshall Goldsmith gave to Marc The one question that will help advance your career What differentiates the best HR leaders from the rest Connecting with Marc: Connect with Marc Effron on LinkedIn or at Talent Strategy Group Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can leaders redesign work to boost both engagement and well-being? Why is “fit for purpose” more important than “best practice” when it comes to designing work? My guest in this episode is Rachel Cooke, Founder of Lead Above Noise & Host of the Modern Mentor podcast. During our conversation Rachel and I discuss: Why today’s leaders are under greater pressure than ever before, especially with expanding spans of control and higher expectations. How leaders can increase engagement and embed wellbeing directly into how work actually happens The importance of asking those closest to the work to redesign the work How to create custom solutions for your team by seeking “right practices” rather than following industry “best practices.” Connecting with Rachel: Connect with Rachel Cooke on LinkedIn Learn more about Rachel and Lead Above Noise Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How does executive compensation shape company culture, performance and deliver shareholder value? Why should CHROs think of executive compensation as a communication tool? My guests in this episode are Ani Huang, President of Policy and Practice at the CHRO Association and Charlie Tharp, Senior Advisor for Research & Practice at the CHRO Association and the Center On Executive Compensation During our conversation Ani, Charlie, and I discuss: Why executive compensation is a strategic communication system that signals culture, priorities, and long-term value. How executive compensation aligns to the business strategy and drives long-term value. Why effective executive compensation starts with developing deep financial and business acumen. What builds fairness and transparency in pay systems. How executive compensation can impact the broader pay philosophy. Connecting with Ani and Charlie: Connect with Ani Huang on LinkedIn Connect with Charlie Tharp on LinkedIn Learn more about CHRO Association Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can you build learning into how work gets done? Why should organizations think of learning as a system, not as a function? My guest in this episode are Kati Clement-Frazier, Director, School of Leadership at DaVita and Michele Graham, President of Intel and Learn at Amplity During our conversation Kati, Michele, and I discuss: Why learning must be treated as an organizational capability, not a set of programs. How psychological safety and reflection accelerate meaningful learning and behavior change. Why “flow of work” learning is about team routines, relationships, and work design—not microlearning. Why the future of learning requires new metrics and new mindsets. Why compliance-driven cultures limit experimentation, agility, and capability building. Connecting with Kati & Michele: Connect with Kati Clement-Frazier on LinkedIn Connect with Michele Graham on LinkedIn Learn more about The Learning Forum’s CLO LIFT Initiative Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can organizations balance people, profit, and purpose? Why do the most effective HR leaders focus on both intention and impact? My guest in this episode is Michelle Nettles, Global Chief People and Legal Officer at ManpowerGroup During our conversation Michelle and I discuss: How HR leaders can balance people, profit, and purpose to drive performance and impact. What it means to be a values-driven leader Why organizations should be focusing on capabilities over credentials. Why human skills: curiosity, adaptability, empathy, will define the future of work. Why outdated work models and ideas will be challenged by the next generation of HR leaders Connecting with Michelle: Connect with Michelle Nettles on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leader HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.