Claim OwnershipHR Works: The Podcast for Human Resources
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HR Works provides clear, relevant, actionable information on topics that matter to human resources (HR) professionals
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In a world still debating the future of work, Starbucks is making a bold, definitive statement. By offering a cash exit package to corporate employees unwilling to return to the office, CEO Brian Niccol is sending a clear signal: this isn't just about office policy, it's about reshaping the company's culture.
For today's episode, we're sitting down with Nicole Kyle, Managing Director of CMP Research, to unpack this move and its broader implications. Kyle shares why this unprecedented step is an indicator of a hardline approach to cultural alignment, what it means for other employers considering similar strategies, and how HR leaders can make in-office time truly meaningful—not just a mandate.
Check out part one of our talk below!
How can you do it all at once? It’s a question that rings in the mind of many HR professionals, saddled with goal after goal, and for good reason. The workload of HR professionals is mighty, and the deliverables are grand. Upholding a business model, supporting your people strategy, keeping up with everchanging legal issues, all while attempting to plan for the future of work—it feels like carrying an entire tray of freshly shaken bottles of Coca-Cola, waiting to explode.
But what if you could work towards these goals all at once, one sip at a time?
Sue Lam, VP of People Insights, Strategy, and Culture at The Coca-Cola Company and HCI Advisory Board Member, suggests to the HR world that a proper people strategy can work to help every part of the business, not just the people.
Lam is set to speak at the SPARK Talent 2025 conference in San Antonio, Texas in October, where she’ll discuss how to not only align but embed your people strategy into your business strategy, and the tips and tricks on how to get there. On today's episode, HR Daily Advisor got to sit down with Lam to get an early look at her insights, and how she’s innovating just what HR can do.
In a world where consumers crave authenticity and employees demand purpose, how can HR leaders bridge the gap between internal culture and external brand? In this episode, we talk with Jill Waite, Chief People Officer of Portillo’s, about their groundbreaking Internal Influencer Program. This isn’t your average employee-generated content initiative. By empowering 15 team members to become brand storytellers, Portillo’s is fueling its marketing, social media, and internal training with authentic, behind-the-scenes content.
Waite shares a new blueprint for building your brand from the inside out. You’ll learn how this program drives employee engagement, provides a cost-effective content strategy, and offers a fresh model for internal brand-building that can transform your organization’s culture and credibility.
On this special episode of HR Works, HR Daily Advisor editor Griffin Cobb sat down with Peter Lynch, Chief People Officer at Cardinal Group Companies and speaker at SPARK Talent, to discuss the "Human Advantage" and how AI is helping the workplace be more human, not less.
In today’s fast-changing workplaces, AI isn’t just a tech trend; it’s reshaping how we work, from the top floor to the front lines. But for this big shift to truly succeed, your managers are the secret ingredient.
In this episode, we sit down with Julie Bedard, Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Bedard is a leading voice in workplace transformation, and she’s here to share why it’s crucial for HR teams to equip middle and frontline managers with the skills to use AI.
In the final part of our three-episode series, Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at Feast & Fettle, highlights how ongoing training and reinforcement ensures empathy and emotional intelligence remain sharp skills for her entire team, and provides actionable steps HR leaders can take this week to begin embedding more empathy and emotional intelligence into their own daily operations.
Welcome back to HR Works! In part two of this episode, we continue our conversation on what it means to run a successful, rapidly growing business with a truly human touch. Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at Feast & Fettle, returns to discuss her commitment to leading with empathy and building environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Listen in as she shares how her organization leverages technology to support empathetic leadership, how Feast & Fettle measures emotional intelligence, and more.
In this episode, we're joined by an incredible leader who's redefining what it means to run a successful, rapidly growing business with a truly human touch. Joining us is Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at Feast & Fettle – one of the country's fastest-growing food brands. With years of experience witnessing both the magic and the tough realities of the food and hospitality world, Kyla brings a unique perspective. As a single mother of two and a senior executive, she's passionately committed to leading with empathy and building environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.
Since joining Feast & Fettle in 2021, Kyla has been pivotal in scaling the team from 30 to 300 employees. Today, she's here to share her insights on how she embeds empathy and emotional intelligence into every single aspect of operations – from how they hire, to how they serve customers, and even how they navigate tough times. It's about making sure these aren't just values, but operational mandates that drive real success.
In this episode, HR Daily Advisor Content Director Erika Randall chatted it up with Tyrese Manigault, Manager of Employee Engagement at NASCAR, at SPARK HR 2025, about creative ways to engage employees—whether they’re new and onboarding or seasoned and looking for career pathways.
Manigault shares how NASCAR engagement initiatives are meeting employees where they are and engaging them in a modern and creative way. Learn also about NASCAR’s peer recognition program that’s embedded in this top-ranked motorsports organization of the world!
Did you miss SPARK HR this spring? Not to worry! Join us live in San Antonio at SPARK TALENT 2025 and get practical strategies focusing on workforce planning, talent acquisition, and AI-driven processes! Discover proven solutions from top HR thought leaders from PepsiCo, Walmart, Staples, The Coca-Cola Company, Marriott, and GE HealthCare, and get ready to adapt your talent strategy for the future.
In this episode, HR Daily Advisor Content Director Erika Randall catches up with the delightful Ben Eubanks, author and Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, at SPARK HR 2025 in Disney Springs. Eubanks’ research includes surveying thousands of workers each year to understand the latest workplace trends. In this podcast, Randall and Eubanks have a lively chat about Eubanks’ books, the workshops he led at SPARK, and how to help HR leaders solve workplace issues using “innovation sprints.”
Eubanks’ books include:
Artificial Intelligence for HR: Use AI to Support and Develop a Successful Workforce
Talent Scarcity: How to Hire and Retain a Shrinking Workforce
Payroll Promise: Trust, Not Just Transactions
Did you miss SPARK HR this spring? Not to worry! Join us live in San Antonio at SPARK TALENT 2025 and get practical strategies focusing on workforce planning, talent acquisition, and AI-driven processes! Discover proven solutions from top HR thought leaders from PepsiCo, Walmart, Staples, The Coca-Cola Company, Marriott, and GE HealthCare, and get ready to adapt your talent strategy for the future.
Welcome back to part two of our conversation with Lawrence Armstrong, Chairman of Ware Malcomb and author of Layered Leadership.
In today’s fast-paced business world, traditional leadership models often fall short. Tune in as we dive into the groundbreaking concepts of “Layered Leadership,” Armstrong’s holistic, humanist approach to leadership, which centers on developing well-rounded leaders within any organization. In this episode of HR Works, discover how to tap into both the creative and strategic sides of your brain to drive double-digit growth, build resilient teams, and cultivate a culture of innovation.
In today's fast-paced business world, traditional leadership models often fall short. Tune in as we dive into the groundbreaking concepts of "Layered Leadership" with Lawrence Armstrong, Chairman of Ware Malcomb and author of the new book of the same name.
In this episode of HR Works, discover how to tap into both the creative and strategic sides of your brain to drive double-digit growth, build resilient teams, and cultivate a culture of innovation. This episode is a must-listen for any HR professional seeking to unlock their team's full potential and achieve sustainable success.
Regina Sheridan, with a background rooted in global philanthropy and now Executive Vice President, People & Culture at Libra Group, brings a unique perspective to the evolving workplace. She understands that the next generation, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, are not just seeking jobs, but purpose-driven experiences.
This episode of HR Works dives into how companies can adapt to meet the expectations of these digital natives, who prioritize social responsibility and environmental sustainability. Regina shares insights on building a workplace that resonates with their values, fostering a culture of impact, and preparing for the future of work.
1In the latest episode of HR Works, we're tackling talent attraction, development, and retention with Fran Maxwell, Managing Director at Protiviti. Attracting talent is only half the battle – retention is key. Losing staff costs a lot, especially entry-level at 50% salary. Fran reveals how understanding and meeting team needs boosts retention and drives business goals. With 25-plus years in HR and transformation, Fran's insights are a must-hear.
Welcome back to HR Works, and our ongoing 'Deconstructing DEIB' series.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion aren't just buzzwords anymore—they're battlegrounds. We're seeing them play out in boardrooms and on the news, and it's leaving HR leaders wondering, 'How do we navigate this?'
Today, we're cutting through the confusion with Amira Berger, a leading DEI expert and MSNBC Contributor. Amira reminds us that 'DEI is not a trend, it's a necessity,' and that now's not the time for half-measures, performative actions or fluffy initiatives that don't move the needle, telling us, 'Employee trust is currency.'
So, what can HR leaders do? How can they build genuine belonging when the stakes are so high? Per my guest, the first step is to get smart about it. Listen in as we dive into how to reframe DEI as business resilience and risk mitigation, moving beyond defense to build for the future. As Berger emphasizes, 'Employees expect their companies and leaders to stand firm and not back pedal.' We'll learn how HR leaders can tell their teams, 'We’re not here to play defense, we’re here to build workplaces where everyone thrives, not just because it’s trendy, but because it’s good business and good for the humans that are entrusted for care.'
In the latest episode of HR Works, Liz Almeida, Chief Human Resources Officer at Panasonic Corporation of North America, joins. Almeida isn't just managing HR; she's orchestrating a symphony of potential. Driven by a passion to 'unlock potential,' her approach transcends conventional HR practices, creating an environment where employees truly thrive.
Listen in as we explore her unique insights on building engagement, fostering trust through vulnerability, and navigating the rapid changes in technology and the workplace. Get ready to be inspired as we uncover the strategies that can transform your workplace from a source of routine to a hub of innovation and human potential.
Welcome back to our ‘Deconstructing DEIB” series.
DEI is under disruption like never before. The question is, what can HR leaders do about it? What do they tell their teams? That's why the HR Works podcast has rolled out "Deconstructing DEIB," a series designed to cut through the confusion. In this series, we take a deep dive into the often-misunderstood concepts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), going beyond the buzzwords, exploring the nuances of each element and examining how they intersect to truly impact the employee experience.
In the third part of our four-part series, we're Deconstructing Inclusion. Inclusion is more than just representation. It’s about creating a workplace where everyone feels seen, valued, and heard. But how do we get there?
This episode of HR Works explores what inclusion truly means in practice. Kristine Santa-Coloma Rohls, Chief People Officer and Chief Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Officer at Slalom Consulting, shares her invaluable insights.
Karen Guzicki, HCI Faculty Member, shares how her passion for HR is driven by helping professionals solve impactful challenges using effective tools and strategies. In a world where employee engagement is essential, leaders must be authentic, curious, and growth-oriented.
DEI. It’s a hot topic, but it’s also a complex one—and it’s under disruption like never before. We’re seeing a lot of confusion, and frankly, some backsliding when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The question is, what can HR leaders do about it? What do they tell their teams? That’s why the HR Works podcast has rolled out “Deconstructing DEIB,” a series designed to cut through the confusion.
In this series, we’ll take a deep dive into the often-misunderstood concepts of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), going beyond the buzzwords, exploring the nuances of each element and examining how they intersect to truly impact the employee experience.
In the second episode of our four-part series, we deconstruct equity, which often gets misunderstood. What does it really mean in the workplace? How can HR leaders move beyond good intentions and create a truly level playing field?
Jennifer Martinez, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and Partner at Hanson Bridgett joins to discuss. Jennifer leads the firm’s DEI consulting practice to assist other businesses with DEI initiatives, helping them navigate how to continue to promote and support equality efforts in the current climate.
Keisha Nakwa, Director of Talent and Culture at KeyBridge Compliance, and Randy Lytes, Assistant Director of Equity & Compliance at Michigan State University, join HR Work Break to share practical insights to tackle recruiting challenges and strengthen compliance frameworks in their organizations.
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In this HR Works podcast episode, Charlie Anderson and George Boone share strategies to improve employee retention and reduce turnover. They talk about important topics like career planning, goal setting, giving feedback, and handling tough conversations. These insights help https://smartsquarehmh.net/ create a more engaged and satisfied workforce, leading to better performance and lower turnover.
I attended an interview yesterday and was told that I have a very pretty name. The interview panel consisted of 1 caucasian and 3 Indian native women. I felt that I was selected for an interview based on my name and listening to this podcast confirms my instincts.
Very helpful, thanks
this is an amazing episode. I'm inspired just listening to her