A-Listed with David Bator and Emma Harvie

In this episode of the A-Listed , David is joined by Dr. Robert Dur, Professor of Economics and contributor to the Harvard Business Review Analytic Services report on recognition and reward at work, to explore what economics and behavioral science can teach us about employee recognition, motivation, and performance.

Robert explains why appreciation is a basic human need, why generic praise can become little more than “cheap talk,” and what makes recognition meaningful enough to influence behavior. They discuss how recognition can act as a compass for employees by reinforcing the behaviors and priorities that matter most to an organization, and why leaders should think more carefully about how recognition connects to business strategy.

They also explore the relationship between recognition and monetary rewards, why overly complicated incentive programs can lose their impact, and how organizations can use experimentation to understand what actually improves performance, retention, and teamwork. Plus, Robert shares his perspective on how AI could reshape employee surveys and help organizations better understand what their people are really thinking.

In this episode of A-Listed, David Bator sits down with Dan Schawbel of Workplace Intelligence to talk about what it takes to stay visible, valuable, and human in an AI-driven world of work.

Dan shares why the “human premium” matters more as AI makes content, ideas, and work outputs easier to replicate, and why recognition is becoming an even more important signal of career capital. The conversation explores visibility at work, the pressure facing high performers, AI adoption, employee connection, loneliness, and why leaders need to recognize and support their people now, not only when the talent market shifts.

In this episode of A-Listed, Sandra Garcia, Global Compensation Lead at General Motors, joins David Bator and Emma Harvie to discuss how GM uses employee recognition to drive culture, connection, engagement, and business alignment across a global workforce.

Sandra shares why recognition is not just a nice-to-have or an HR initiative. At GM, recognition is a form of feedback that helps employees understand what matters, how success is defined, and which behaviors bring company values to life.

The conversation explores how GM moved from more than 60 recognition and award programs around the world to one global recognition experience. Sandra explains how GM balanced global consistency with local relevance, giving employees a shared recognition experience while still allowing flexibility in how people celebrate and redeem rewards in ways that feel meaningful to them.

In this episode of A-Listed, David Bator and Emma Harvie break down new research from Harvard Business Review Analytic Services on the role of employee recognition in driving business outcomes.

The research surveyed more than 500 business leaders and found a major gap: while two-thirds say reward and recognition programs are very important for influencing business performance, only one-third say their program is very effective. That gap is the focus of this conversation.

David and Emma explore why recognition is not just a workplace perk or a feel-good program. When recognition is frequent, meaningful, specific, and connected to business priorities, it becomes a performance system that can reinforce the behaviors organizations need most, including collaboration, productivity, innovation, adaptability, customer focus, and AI adoption.

In this episode of A-Listed, David Bator and Emma Harvie sit down with Carol Chapple, VP of Talent Effectiveness at Ryan, to talk about what it really takes to build culture through change.

Carol shares how her team helps people connect, grow, and feel part of a community at Ryan, from culture workshops and leadership development to recognition moments that make everyday impact visible. She also explains why Ryan’s recognition program works so well: every team member has a voice, and everyone has the ability to recognize great work.

The conversation explores AI uncertainty, manager effectiveness, employee feedback, inclusive meritocracy, and why recognition is one of the simplest ways to build connection across a growing global organization.

In this episode of A-Listed, David and Emma sit down with Courtney Patterson-Holloway, Senior Manager of National Operations at Cineplex, to explore how recognition can strengthen frontline culture, improve the guest experience, and drive better business results.

Courtney shares how Cineplex uses recognition to reinforce the everyday behaviours that matter most, from friendly service and cleanliness to food quality and sales. She also explains how the organization builds recognition habits from day one, creates friendly competition between locations, and supports teams that may not be at the top of the leaderboard.

From her own 19-year career journey at Cineplex to the small moments of appreciation that still stick with her today, Courtney offers practical insights on leading by example, making frontline employees feel visible, and turning recognition into a true performance driver.

Cineplex’s approach connects employee experience directly to guest loyalty, revenue, and operational performance, while ensuring that effort is recognized across the organization, not just among the highest-performing teams.

In this episode of A-Listed, David and Emma sit down with Alia O'Neill, Global Director of Total Rewards at Duck Creek, to explore how organizations can make rewards feel more human. Together, they unpack the difference between recognition and compensation, why appreciation is the missing ingredient in many total rewards strategies, and how meaningful recognition reinforces the behaviors organizations want to see more of.

Alia also shares how Duck Creek is using AI to help leaders deliver more timely, personalized recognition, create better employee experiences, and prepare HR for the future of work. From behavior change and pay transparency to change acceptance and building connection in a fully remote workforce, this conversation is packed with practical insights for leaders looking to create workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and motivated to do their best work.

In this episode of A-Listed, David and Emma sit down with Tegan Davies, workplace wellbeing expert and leader at Be Well Co., to explore the powerful connection between recognition, psychological safety, and performance. Tegan shares why recognition is more than a feel-good gesture. It's a critical signal that helps people feel seen, valued, and safe enough to speak up, take risks, and bring their full selves to work.

Together, they unpack the differences between wellbeing, mental health, and psychological safety, discuss the role leaders play in creating healthier workplaces, and explore why recognition is one of the most effective tools for building trust, resilience, and innovation. From neuroscience and behaviour change to practical leadership habits, this conversation offers actionable insights for anyone looking to create a workplace where people and performance can thrive.

In this episode of A-Listed, David Bator sits down with Rebecca Wetteman, CEO and Principal Analyst at Valoir, to explore what leaders are getting right and wrong about AI, employee engagement, and the future of HR technology.

Rebecca shares why organizations are moving from AI FOMO to “AI FOMU,” the fear of messing up, and why experimentation, psychological safety, and manager enablement are critical in this next wave of workplace transformation. She also explains why recognition and reward programs are often underestimated, not just as engagement tools, but as rich sources of real-time workforce data.

From the broken state of performance management to the growing importance of connection, skills, and employee visibility, this conversation offers a timely look at how organizations can use technology to become more human, not less.

In this episode of A-Listed, David and Emma sit down with Connie Washington, Vice President of People at Progressive Leasing, to explore what appreciation at work really looks like when it moves beyond programs and becomes part of everyday culture.

Connie shares why a simple, heartfelt “thank you” can have a lasting impact, especially in a time when life and work feel heavier than ever. The conversation covers the connection between appreciation, belonging, inclusion, psychological safety, and leadership, and why employees need to feel seen as whole people, not just workers.

From recognizing overlooked contributions to building more inclusive and human-centred workplaces, Connie offers a powerful reminder that people are the heart of every organization. And in a world increasingly shaped by AI and rapid change, human connection may be our greatest advantage.