How can CHROs ensure a strong return on investment in the face of rising HR costs? In this episode, guests James Atkinson , VP of thought leadership at SHRM, and Chris Courneen , senior VP and global head of HR at MS International, dive into SHRM's 2025 CHRO Benchmarking Data Brief, unpacking trends such as increased HR spending, wage inflation, and investments in workforce technology. Discover strategies for measuring ROI, controlling costs, and communicating value to the broader business. This...
Jul 11, 2025•30 min•Ep. 102
Lauren Fast , chief people officer at iS Clinical, highlights the critical role of feedback, empathy, and trust in today’s workplace. Fast discusses how HR leaders can navigate challenges like layoffs, cost reductions, and employee disengagement while maintaining cultural alignment. She also shares a compelling story about how transparent communication and employee empowerment helped her organization avoid layoffs during a financial crisis. Whether you’re an HR executive or a business leader, th...
Jul 02, 2025•30 min•Ep. 101
In this milestone 100th episode of People and Strategy with special guest Johnny C. Taylor Jr. , CEO of SHRM, we dive into the intersection of technology and human capital, exploring how AI is reshaping HR practices and the workplace. Taylor reflects on his leadership philosophy, the critical CEO-CHRO relationship, and shares strategies to address talent shortages through skills-first hiring. Discover actionable takeaways on building resilient organizations, supporting mental wellness, and redef...
Jun 20, 2025•41 min•Ep. 100
Learn how HR leaders can assess skills, complexity capacity, temperament, and role requirements to make better talent decisions and reduce costly mismatches. In this episode, host Mo Fathelbab sits down with Susan Schmitt Winchester, former CHRO and author of Healing at Work . Susan introduces the Suitability Model, a game-changing framework for smarter hiring, succession planning, and talent alignment. Tune in for actionable strategies to elevate your hiring processes and create lasting organiz...
Jun 13, 2025•29 min•Ep. 99
How do you respond to trauma and violence in the workplace? In this deeply moving episode of People and Strategy , Liz Cotner , director of human resources at Foster Swift Collins and Smith PC, and Marjorie Morrison , SHRM’s mental health executive in residence explore the profound impact of workplace violence and mental health challenges. Morrison offers the clinical perspective, while Cotner shares her personal journey of coping with her mother’s mental health struggles and suicide, along with...
Jun 06, 2025•29 min•Ep. 98
What does it take to build a workplace where employees feel valued and engaged? In this episode, we speak with Susan Podlogar , former CHRO at MetLife, and independent board director at Tevogen Bio and LivaNova. Podlogar shares the essential role of HR in navigating workforce transformation, supporting employees, and driving strategic impact. Learn how organizations can future-proof their people strategies and lead with purpose. Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, ...
May 30, 2025•20 min•Ep. 97
Whether you're learning to fly a plane or you're learning to lead a CEO succession, situational awareness and risk management is key. Kevin Cox , president of LKC Advisory is a seasoned HR leader, CEO succession expert, and pilot in training, who joins us to explore the intricacies of leadership transitions and offer practical takeaways to help steer organizations toward success. Leveraging his experience gained across Pepsi, American Express, and General Electric, Cox shares invaluable insights...
May 22, 2025•28 min•Ep. 96
HR leaders often face the challenge of supporting others while managing their own emotional and mental health. In this insightful conversation, Leah Marone , corporate mental wellness consultant and clinical instructor at Yale, shares insights on how leaders can recognize burnout, set boundaries, and practice mindfulness. Marone also introduces the concept of validation and explains how it can transform workplace relationships. Whether you're an HR executive or a leader in any field, this episod...
May 16, 2025•27 min•Ep. 95
Resilience is crucial to overcoming adversity and thriving under pressure. In this episode, Marjorie Morrison , mental health executive in residence at SHRM explores the evolution of mental health in the workplace and shares her tips on how to build resilience. She provides practical insights to enhance both personal and professional growth, enabling you to face challenges with confidence. Episode Transcript Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and ...
May 09, 2025•31 min•Ep. 94
Women tend to be over mentored, but under sponsored. Learn more critical leadership takeaways from Lori Marcus , executive coach, corporate board director, and Co-Founder of the Band of Sisters. From her 24 years at PepsiCo to her dedicated efforts in advancing workplace inclusion, Lori reveals the importance of creating feedback forward cultures that empower people to thrive. Learn about Lori’s thoughtful approach to addressing microaggressions, fostering psychological safety, and amplifying vo...
May 02, 2025•28 min•Ep. 93
As we mark he first 100 days of the presidential administration, we sit down with Emily M. Dickens , chief of staff, head of government affairs, and corporate secretary for SHRM. The discussion highlights the pressing issues HR professionals face today, including the impact of executive orders, immigration policies, workforce education gaps, and the importance of inclusive hiring practices. Emily shares actionable insights and strategies for HR leaders to stay compliant, adaptable, and prepared ...
Apr 29, 2025•29 min•Ep. 92
Kelly Jones , chief people officer, shares her incredible leadership journey spanning 18 years at Cisco and discusses the values that shaped her success. She shares first-hand examples of how she uses AI, explains how technology is transforming HR, and offers lessons for leaders on how to build trust with their teams. Episode Transcript Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/vo...
Apr 18, 2025•24 min•Ep. 91
How can HR leaders balance people strategy, risk management, and community impact? In this episode of People and Strategy, host Mo Fathelbab speaks with Jinah Chernivec , CHRO and Risk Officer at Goodwill Industries. Chernivec shares insights on the power of active listening, the connection between HR and workplace safety, and the role of civic engagement in effective leadership through her people-centered approach. Episode Transcript Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest epis...
Apr 11, 2025•30 min•Ep. 90
Great leaders often ask themselves: “Could the opposite be true?” Maureen Cawley , HR leader of the luxury sleep solutions brand Saatva, shares a framework for looking at workplace challenges from a new perspective. In this week’s episode, learn best practices for navigating turbulent times, enhancing workplace stability, and supporting your team through meaningful conversations about wellness and career development. Discover how to rise above uncertainty and lead with purpose. Episode Transcrip...
Apr 04, 2025•27 min•Ep. 89
Did you know that 80% of transformations fail on average? This episode focuses on how to stay the course during organizational change and how to successfully bring your employees along for the journey. SHRM’s Andy Biladeau , chief transformation officer, shares the lessons he’s learned from leading change at PwC and Target. Episode Transcript People + Strategy, brought to you by The SHRM Executive Network, connects HR leaders with industry executives to discuss the latest insights strategic work...
Mar 28, 2025•30 min•Ep. 88
From leading iconic brands through economic shifts to building a global health company, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons on resilience, innovation, and growth. In this episode, Kat Cole , former president of Cinnabon and now CEO of AG1; strategic advisor; investor, joins us to discuss the impact of personal well-being on professional success and strategies for navigating business transformation. For more insights, read 3 ‘Power Questions’ to Drive Organizational Change, from A...
Mar 21, 2025•29 min•Ep. 87
Explore the challenges and trends shaping HR in 2025. This episode breaks down key insights from SHRM’s CHRO Priorities and Perspectives Report, covering top concerns, economic shifts, and AI’s expanding role in the workplace. SHRM’s CHRO Jim Link and VP of Thought Leadership James Atkinson share strategies to help leaders stay ahead. People + Strategy, brought to you by The SHRM Executive Network, connects HR leaders with industry executives to discuss the latest insights strategic workforce pl...
Mar 14, 2025•30 min•Ep. 86
In this episode, Mai Lan Nguyen , HR leader at Schneider Electric, discusses the value of international insights for HR executives, talent acquisition strategies for tapping underutilized talent, and why giving feedback shows you care. Tune in for expert advice on navigating today’s HR complexities with a global perspective. Episode Transcript -- People + Strategy, brought to you by The SHRM Executive Network, connects HR leaders with industry executives to discuss the latest insights strategic ...
Mar 07, 2025•23 min•Ep. 85
In this episode, we talk to Nikki Rappaport , chief people officer at Call Your Mother Deli, a bagel shop chain popular in the Washington, D.C. area, about the power of company values. Rappaport shares what it takes to define meaningful corporate values and how to roll out the plan in a way that truly sticks with employees. Transcript People + Strategy, brought to you by The SHRM Executive Network, connects HR leaders with industry executives to discuss the latest insights strategic workforce pl...
Feb 28, 2025•24 min•Ep. 84
In this episode, we talk to Sara Daw, co-founder and group CEO of The CFO Centre and The Liberti Group, about the growing impact of part-time or fractional executives in the C-suite. Daw discusses the benefits of contract roles and shares how fractional C-suite leaders can build psychological ownership. Episode Transcript Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts . Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network ....
Feb 25, 2025•28 min•Ep. 83
This week’s People + Strategy podcast examines the impact and consequences of the Trump administration’s efforts to dramatically shrink the size of the federal workforce. SHRM senior labor economist Justin Ladner joins SHRM CHRO Jim Link, SHRM-SCP, to discuss data on the demographics of the federal workforce, how they foresee corporate recruiting strategies shifting, and where the skills of government workers could align with private sector talent needs. Episode Transcript Follow People and Stra...
Feb 18, 2025•30 min•Ep. 82
In this episode, we discuss the latest news on DE&I policies—including the February 5 DOJ memo—and share tips for HR leaders on how to balance keeping your company practices inclusive while remaining legally compliant with the executive orders. Alex Alonso, SHRM’s chief data and analytics officer joins us to talk about the history of DE&I programs, where we’re headed next, and SHRM’s BEAM Framework of actionable guidelines for HR leaders. If it’s a WORK thing, it’s a SHRM thing. Get addi...
Feb 07, 2025•25 min•Ep. 81
In this episode, we talk to John Barrand, CHRO for the state of Utah. Barrand shares how he developed a passion for helping people “disagree better” and dispels four common myths about disagreements, including the belief that being a good person means disagreeing less. Episode Transcript For more resources to facilitate healthy conflict, view SHRM’s Civility Toolkit: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/topics/civility Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spoti...
Jan 31, 2025•25 min•Ep. 80
Prudence Pitter is a business executive with 26+ years of broad Human Resource leadership expertise across several industries. Currently she is Global Head of HR for two Amazon Web Services business units. In addition to her HR and consulting experience she served as Adjunct Professor of HRM and Organizational Behavior & Leadership for the City University of NY, for 9+ years. She enjoys writing about HR trends, delivering presentations which align human resources to business, as well as lead...
Jan 23, 2025•27 min•Ep. 79
In this episode, we talk to Tom Tang , Chief People Officer of May Mobility, a startup specializing in autonomous vehicle solutions. Tang shares three key HR insights: how to scale a startup team, how to tackle HR debt, and how to advocate for board-level support. Episode Transcript Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts . Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network ....
Jan 17, 2025•25 min•Ep. 78
We’re closing out 2024 by talking about the three big HR trends of the year. In this episode, Dayforce chief people officer Amy Cappellanti-Wolf sits down with us to discuss AI, personalization of HR applications, and the ongoing conversations around employers instituting a return to office. Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts . Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network ....
Jan 10, 2025•29 min•Ep. 77
In this episode, we talk to Robert Glazer about his latest book, Rethinking Two Week’s Notice . He offers a fresh perspective that will reframe the way you think about employee transitions. Glazer is also the founder of Acceleration Partners, a global partner marketing agency, and the podcast host of Elevate with Robert Glazer. Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts . Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network ....
Jan 02, 2025•24 min•Ep. 76
In this episode, David Reimer , CEO of the ExCo Group shares the 3 big leadership issues he anticipates for 2025: navigating civil discourse at the workplace, redefining what good leadership looks like, and leading with self awareness. He also shares how a spark of curiosity could lead to great things. Episode transcript Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts . Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network ....
Dec 12, 2024•25 min•Ep. 75
In this episode of People and Strategy , Jill Waite , chief people officer at Portillo’s, talks about the restaurant's leadership program. Waite emphasizes the value of a blended learning approach, the importance of soft skills, and discusses how to retain boomerang employees. Episode transcript Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts . Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network ....
Dec 05, 2024•29 min•Ep. 74
In this episode of People and Strategy , Mike Fromm , CHRO of Shaw Industries, shares insights on building an inclusive culture that prioritizes its people. He highlights Shaw’s five guiding principles: inclusion, empowerment, accountability, authenticity, and support. Discover how implementing guiding principles can help create a workplace where employees feel valued, connected, and empowered. Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts ...
Nov 21, 2024•27 min•Ep. 73
