Cohesion

A Special Message From Cohesion Host, Amanda Berry

In this short episode, Amanda Berry has a special message for the Cohesion Podcast audience. After two years and speaking with over 50 employee experience experts, Amanda is moving on from the host position. For now, Cohesion is taking a short break to prep for Season 3 of the show. Thank you for listening to and watching the Cohesion Podcast! Take care and we’ll see you soon! ------------------- Links: Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn www.simpplr.com/podcast...

Transforming the Flawed Nature of HR Tech with William Tincup, President & Editor-at-Large at RecruitingDaily.com

This episode features an interview with William Tincup, President and Editor-at-Large of RecruitingDaily.com. William is a writer, speaker, consultant, and investor at the intersection of HR and technology. He has spent the last 20 years studying all aspects of HR and talent acquisition, including practitioners and the tech that serves them. In this episode, Amanda sits down with William to discuss the excessive amount of tech in HR, user satisfaction versus adoption, and why the ROI of tech is ...

Partnering With Product and Tech for a Better Employee Experience with Shawnee Irmen-De Anda, Chief People Officer at Thriveworks

This episode features an interview with Shawnee Irmen-De Anda, Chief People Officer at Thriveworks. Shawnee has two decades of experience serving as a human resources strategic business partner for growing and well-established healthcare organizations. At Thriveworks, Shawnee leads a first-class people strategy, focusing on expanding team potential and empowering sustainable growth. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Shawnee to discuss creating brand awareness while recruiting, incorporating...

Why Every Employee Should Be a Leader with Betsy Leatherman, Global President of Consulting Services at Leadership Circle

This episode features an interview with Betsy Leatherman, Global President of Consulting Services at Leadership Circle. Betsy has 10 years of experience transforming executives and middle managers into exceptional leaders. In her current role, Betsy helps clients become more effective leaders so they can make decisions that engage and motivate members of their organizations and customers they serve. In this episode, Amanda and Betsy discuss leadership development, common mistakes leaders make du...

Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Transforming Culture with Brian Brockman, VP of Communications, US & Canada at Nissan Motor Corporation

This episode features an interview with Brian Brockman, VP of Communications, US & Canada at Nissan Motor Corporation. At Nissan, Brian is responsible for telling the brand’s transformation story, protecting company reputation, and promoting strong product messages to both internal and external audiences. Previously, he served as the Director of Communications where he led efforts around new vehicle launches, product lifecycle, and regional operations. In this episode, Amanda sits down with ...

Investing in Team Upskilling and Technology to Improve Efficiency with Preston Lewis, Founder & CEO of Intactic

This episode features an interview with Preston Lewis, Founder and CEO of Intactic, a modern communications company focused on creating human-centric experiences for people at work. Over the last 20 years, Preston has partnered with respected companies to develop and implement communication and behavior change campaigns. He is a sought after employee engagement, internal communications, and enterprise transformation expert and can often be found speaking about the future of work. In this episode...

Rebuilding Trust After Layoffs, Mergers & Acquisitions with Julia Christenson, U.S. Employee Experience Chair at Edelman

This episode features an interview with Julia Christenson, U.S. Employee Experience Chair at Edelman. Julia has over 15 years of experience helping clients design employee engagement programs to drive stability and connection. She has developed employee sentiment dashboards, manager trainings, go-to-market message plans, and culture roadmaps. Prior to joining Edelman, Julia led the People Advisory Services at EY and organizational change management at IBM. In this episode, Amanda and Julia discu...

Enabling HR Through AI with Rajamma Krishnamurthy, Senior Director of Enterprise AI Strategy at Microsoft

This episode features an interview with Rajamma Krishnamurthy, Senior Director and Leader of Enterprise AI Strategy at Microsoft. Rajamma has over two decades of experience empowering human resources through technology at Fortune 100 companies. She has led large scale digital transformations and has managed teams across the globe. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Rajamma to discuss enabling HR through AI, tackling biases, and improving the employee lifecycle with AI. ------------------- “T...

Keeping Company Values Fresh with Ann Melinger, CEO & Owner of Brilliant Ink

This episode features an interview with Ann Melinger, CEO and Owner of Brilliant Ink, an agency dedicated to designing meaningful employee experiences. Ann has spent the last two decades counseling organizations on improving business results and employee engagement. In this episode, Amanda and Ann discuss refreshing company values, engaging with hands-on employees, and how language factors into inclusivity. ------------------- “Typically, we see companies refresh their values every five to 10 ye...

Me, We, & World Dimensions of Employee Experience with Nell Derick Debevoise, Founder of 3D Performance

This episode features an interview with Nell Derick Debevoise, Founder of 3D Performance. She has spent her career helping purpose-driven leaders expand their impact, grow their businesses, and build powerful legacies. Nell is also a Partner at PurposeFused, author of Going First , and a Senior Contributor for Forbes. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Nell to discuss purposeful leadership, implementing a growth mindset, and the Me, We, and World dimensions of employee experience. ----------...

Work-Life Harmony, Not Balance with Marla J. Albertie, Owner & Founder of Truth Speaks Group

This episode features an interview with Marla J. Albertie, Owner and Founder of Truth Speaks Group, a multimedia coaching company that helps women create strategies for work-life integration. She is also the Founder and President of I/O for Teens, a program that teaches adolescents transferable life and career skills. Marla is a certified life, career, and executive coach and has authored several books on work-life harmony. In this episode, Amanda and Marla discuss why cultural fit is a myth, ho...

Personalizing Employee Wellbeing With Technology With Tan Le, Founder & CEO of EMOTIV

This episode features an interview with Tan Le, Founder and CEO of EMOTIV. Tan is an innovator, entrepreneur, speaker, and award-winning industry leader. Founded in 2011, EMOTIV is a bioinformatics company that uses electroencephalography (EEG) to better understand the human brain and accelerate brain research globally. EMOTIV’s braintech is cited by more than 19,000 research papers, representing breakthroughs in research for a range of diseases, brain impairments, and educational modalities. In...

AI Tools, Concerns, and Possibilities with Carolyn Clark & Shaun Randol

This episode features an interview with Carolyn Clark and Shaun Randol. Carolyn is the VP of Employee Experience Strategy and Transformation at Simpplr, where she elevates the employee experience by driving innovation and revitalizing how employee communication is delivered. Prior to Simpplr, she led internal and HR communication at companies like Yahoo, Pandora, and GoDaddy. Shaun is the Editor-in-Chief of Digital Publications at Lam Research and the Founder of Mister Editorial, a mixternal com...

Improving Trust and Employee Experience Through Pay Transparency with Lexi Clarke, Chief People Officer at Payscale

This episode features an interview with Lexi Clarke, Chief People Officer at Payscale, a leading provider of compensation data, software and services. Lexi leads the company’s internal HR strategies for over 600 employees around the world. With over 14 years of experience at companies like Convoy, Redfin, and Boeing, she is an expert in people-first HR leadership, workforce growth strategy, and compensation best practices. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Lexi to discuss pay transparency, ...

If You Want a Better Employee Experience, Listen to Employees with Ephraim Freed, Customer Growth Manager of Reality Labs at Meta

This episode features an interview with Ephraim “Phrai” Freed, Customer Growth Manager of Reality Labs at Meta. Phrai helps growing companies create impactful experiences through community, productivity, and performance while enriching the lives of employees. His digital strategist and communications expertise has been shaped at companies like Magic Leap and Riot Games. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Phrai to discuss AI’s impact on internal communications, the value of cross-functional r...

Advancing Careers Through an Inclusive Employee Experience with Pratiksha Patel, Chief People Officer at Branch

This episode features an interview with Pratiksha Patel, Chief People Officer at Branch. Pratiksha has more than two decades of experience driving employee engagement in hybrid, office-based, and remote cultures. Prior to Branch, she served as the Senior Vice President of People at CB Insights and as a Talent Expert at McKinsey & Company. In this episode, Amanda and Pratiksha discuss meeting workers’ expectations, inclusivity, and upskilling employees. ------------------- “To create conditio...

Communicating with Respect and Empathy During Turbulent Times with Barbara Massa, Simpplr Board Member

This episode features an interview with Barbara Massa, board member of Simpplr. Barbara has over 25 years of experience as a business operations leader driving workforce strategy and organizational effectiveness. Previously, she served Mandiant as the Executive Vice President and Chief of Business Operations, where she implemented the company’s first global HR system. Before joining Mandiant, Barbara led Talent & Diversity at McAfee, Inc. and was recognized for establishing a global talent m...

Fostering Employee Trust Through Authentic Tone of Voice with Katherine King, Director of Employee Communications at Etsy

This episode features an interview with Katherine King, Director of Employee Communications at Etsy. She has been with the global ecommerce company since 2018, serving the internal communications function through Etsy’s massive growth. Previously, Katherine was a dialogue strategist where she developed brands’ customer-facing tone of voice for clients like American Express, Gerber, and Southwest Airlines. In this episode, Amanda and Katherine discuss the spectrum of tone and voice, key business ...

Improving Business Outcomes Through Psychological Safety with Will Leahy and Layla Kajer of Greenhouse

This episode features an interview with Will Leahy, VP of People Development and Business Partners at Greenhouse; and Layla Kajer, Director of People Experience at Greenhouse. Will leads people development, focusing on optimizing performance, career growth, and driving culture. Layla spearheads people experience where she creates productive, connected, and empowering work environments for employees. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Will and Layla as they dive into psychological safety, vul...

Balancing Cognitive and Emotional Culture for a Harmonious Employee Experience with Laila Tarraf, Author of “Strong Like Water”

This episode features an interview with Laila Tarraf, author of Strong Like Water . After losing her parents and husband, Laila learned that compassion was essential in her personal and professional life. Prior to writing her book, Laila served as the Chief People Officer for Allbirds and Peet’s Coffee, and was the Vice President of HR for Walmart.com. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Laila to discuss leading with love, harmony between company values and felt experience, and psychological ...

Building a Better Employee Experience for Frontline Workers Through Mobile-First Technology with Hannah Bolte, Director of Marketing & Communications at Lozier Corporation

This episode features an interview with Hannah Bolte, Director of Marketing and Communications at Lozier Corporation. Starting as a print and television reporter, Hannah uses her journalism expertise to craft internal, external, and crisis communications strategies and content. In this episode, Amanda and Hannah discuss Lozier’s mobile-first employee experience platform, reaching deskless workers, and intentional communications. ------------------- "The bulk of our employees work in a manufactur...

Cohesion Highlights: Employee Feedback, Building Culture, a Seat at the Table, Advice, and ROI

Improving The Remote Work Experience with Chase Warrington, Head of Remote at Doist

This episode features an interview with Chase Warrington, Head of Remote at Doist, a leading remote-first company. Having worked remotely since 2009, Chase has managed teams across all timezones and is passionate about the future of work. He has been named a LinkedIn Top Voice for Remote Work, a Global Top 50 Remote Enabler by Remote.com, and is a frequent contributor to the world’s top remote-work outlets such as Forbes, BBC, and AP. In this episode, Amanda and Chase dive into remote work; disc...

The ROI of Employee Recognition with Pinaki Kathiari, CEO & Owner of Local Wisdom

This episode features an interview with Pinaki Kathiari, CEO and owner of Local Wisdom, a digital communications agency. Pinaki’s experience spans two decades serving global Fortune companies, startups, and multi-industry agencies. He’s also the co-founder of Resource Hero, Vice President of Professional Development for the IABC Tristate Area Chapter, and a Business Mentor for WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Pinaki to discuss his communications team maturity model, t...

Internal Comms Mistakes, Perceptions, and Inspirations with Carolyn Clark, Julie Miller, & Paralee Johnson

This episode features a roundtable discussion with Carolyn Clark, VP of Employee Experience Strategy and Transformation at Simpplr; Julie Miller, Senior Internal Communications Specialist at Simpplr; and Paralee Johnson, Senior Manager of Community and Content at Simpplr. In this episode, Carolyn, Julie, and Paralee discuss how they wish Internal Comms to be perceived, learning from their mistakes, and trends they’re looking forward to in 2023. ------------------- “We could do everything possibl...

Driving Engagement Through Communications with Olga Skouteli, Head of Culture & Engagement at Lilium

This episode features an interview with Olga Skouteli, Head of Culture and Engagement at Lilium, a high-growth scale-up revolutionizing aviation. Olga specializes in developing and delivering engagement, internal communications, and Diversity and Inclusion strategies. Olga previously served as an employee experience consultant for global organizations like Rolls-Royce, Visa, and Nestlé where she transformed their culture and employee experience to drive business results. In this episode, Amanda ...

Coaching Leaders To Be Effective Communicators with Tyler Muse, CEO & Founder of Lingo Live

This episode features an interview with Tyler Muse, CEO and Founder of Lingo Live, a one-on-one leadership coaching program. Prior to starting Lingo Live, Tyler worked as an analyst for GE Energy Financial Services, where he focused on underwriting and portfolio management of energy investments. He also founded an internationally-focused mentorship program for multilingual youth in New York City. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Tyler to discuss work trends like “quiet quitting”, how to mo...

Establishing a Grassroots Communication Strategy with People Managers with Laura Borland, TA and Clinical Communications Director at Waters

This episode features an interview with Laura Borland, TA and Clinical Communications Director at Waters. Unlike most communications professionals, Laura has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry and began her career as a science consultant and government project manager. She found her passion in supporting scientists and communicating their stories to drive business outcomes. In this episode, Amanda and Laura discuss manager-led communications, strategies for reaching people globally, and helping leade...

Strategic Thinking is More Important Than Wordsmithing with Tina Hawkins, Senior Director of Internal Communications at the NBA

This episode features an interview with Tina Hawkins, Senior Director of Internal Communications at the NBA. Tina partners with business leaders to enhance employee performance through change management with a focus on workplace experience. In this episode, Amanda and Tina discuss aligning values externally and internally, keeping communication casual, and how to hold space for employees and leaders to have critical conversations. ------------------- “Don't over emphasize the writing. Things lik...

Connecting the Dots to Build a Thriving Workplace with Victoria Dew, CEO of Dewpoint Communications

This episode features an interview with Victoria Dew, CEO of Dewpoint Communications. Victoria is a leader of employee experience and future of work, with more than 15 years of global internal communications expertise. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Victoria to discuss how the pandemic affected DE&I, what we can learn from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and why to stop waiting for a seat at the table. ------------------- “When we talk about what does the ideal employee experience look ...