Future of HR

How can you get real commitment, when you don’t have formal authority?

Why does real persuasion require a point of view that is loosely held?

My guest on this episode is Jay Conger, Leadership Expert and author of “The Persuasive Leader.”

During our conversation Jay and I discuss:

• Why real persuasion is about commitment, not compliance.
• Why persuasion is a campaign, not a meeting.
• How to avoid the expertise trap.
• Why the best persuaders focus on problems before solutions.
• Why credibility will matter even more in the age of AI.

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How can we stretch high-potential leaders into big new roles without setting them up to fail?

Why does every job matter in building a successful HR career?

My guest on this episode is Julie Fuller, EVP & CHRO, Zoetis

During our conversation Julie and I discuss:

• Why judgment is what separates a good HR leader from a great one
• How to make 70-20-10 work by building a culture that takes real risks on people
• Why constructive feedback can shape a leader’s career more than a strengths-based approach
• How leadership development is shifting from classroom programs to in-the-flow, team-based learning
• How CHROs can strengthen the HR pipeline by defining what good looks like and building bench depth

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How can leaders redesign work to be more meaningful, not just more efficient?

Why should HR, not IT, own your organization’s AI transformation?

My guest on this episode is Kelly Monahan, Future of Work and AI Advisor and Bestselling author of “Reclaim the Plot”

During our conversation Kelly and I discuss:

• Why people vs. business is a false choice for HR
• How leaders end up rewarding the behaviors they don’t want
• Why power erodes empathy, and how to design against it
• How sharing decision rights helps organizations move faster
• Why HR, not IT, should own AI transformation

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How can HR lead organizational design, not just support it?

Why does AI make org design more critical, not less?

My guest on this episode is Greg Kesler and Amy Kates, org design experts, authors, and practitioners.

During our conversation Greg, Amy, and I discuss:

• The difference between operating models and organization design.
• The four traits that distinguish great organization designers
• What CEOs really mean when they say the operating model isn't working.
• Why redesigning jobs for AI isn't enough to redesign the organization.
• How AI is changing where and how decisions get made.

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In this solo episode, released on the fourth anniversary of the Future of HR podcast, I make the case that removing transactional work doesn't automatically make HR more strategic.

I share the story of two HR business partners who got the same time back after a transformation, why one rose to the moment and the other didn't, and what CHROs and HR leaders must do to turn time back into real business impact.

Here are a few key takeaways from the episode:

• Why removing transactional work exposes HR's capability gap instead of solving it.
• How AI and transformation raise the bar for HR business partners, shifting the value from assembling information to judgment, influence, and courage.
• Why 30 years of building HR to execute has left many HR business partners unprepared for a more strategic role.
• Why the step most transformations miss is being clear about what's changing in the role, and what's not.
• How to test whether your transformation plan is as specific about new capabilities as it is about the work that's going away.

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.

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Episode Sponsor:

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.