In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King sits down with Bethany Muzzi, an HR professional who built her leadership foundation in the high-stakes healthcare environment during COVID-19 before transitioning into the fast-paced construction industry. Bethany shares her "sink or swim" lessons and explores how human resources acts as a universal anchor across vastly different sectors.

The conversation unpacks the distinct tactical shift required when recruiting frontline and blue-collar talent compared to corporate white-collar roles. Bethany explains why chasing candidates no longer works and how companies must instead transform their employer brand into a talent magnet. From replacing generic internal point systems with high-quality, branded apparel that field workers actually want, to pivoting away from transactional referral bonuses that incentivize bad hires, Bethany reveals what authentic, employee-driven engagement looks like in practice.

Listeners will also discover actionable advice on how HR practitioners can advocate for themselves internally and transition from admin support to invaluable strategic operators. Bethany discusses leveraging critical business metrics like turnover to prove HR's impact on financial outcomes, managing the chaotic staffing lifecycles of project-based bidding, and using out-of-the-box creativity to stand out in competitive job markets.

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In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King connects with Kara Kelley, a fractional HR business partner, entrepreneur, and founder of the HR Consultants Mastermind Community. Kara shares her journey of launching her firm, Clinical HR, in the medical and dental compliance space right at the onset of the pandemic, navigating the chaotic waves of early COVID-19 compliance mandates, and scaling her business into a highly visible industry authority.

The conversation breaks down the fundamental mistakes new HR professionals make when transitioning from corporate roles into independent consulting. Kara offers a masterclass in the power of "niching down," explaining why trying to serve every small business ultimately dilutes your message. She provides an insider perspective on escaping traditional time-for-money pricing traps, shifting instead toward value-based models that reflect the peace of mind and tangible financial risk mitigation a specialized advisor delivers.

Listeners will learn what it truly means to step out from behind the laptop and evolve from a "hidden helper" into a "visible authority" through highly intentional, industry-focused networking. Kara shares practical mindset shifts for moving past layers of imposter syndrome, using a "face-it-till-you-make-it" framework built on continuous execution and pipeline consistency. Finally, she delivers a piece of brutally honest advice for anyone aspiring to build a sustainable, recurring-revenue practice: you cannot do it alone, and finding a dedicated, objective peer community is your ultimate key to long-term success.

Kara Kelley is a seasoned fractional HR consultant, business advisor, and speaker specializing in culture and compliance advisory within the healthcare sector, particularly dentistry. Passionate about empowering fellow practitioners, she is the founder of the HR Consultants Mastermind Community, which supports over 3,500 aspiring and independent consultants globally. You can connect with Kara directly via email at [email protected] or join her thriving professional network by searching for the HR Consultants Mastermind on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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In this episode of By HR for HR, host Jocelyn King sits down with Steve Browne, a 40-year human resources veteran, to explore the profound evolution of the profession from the restrictive, top-down days of "Personnel" to modern organizational design. Steve reflects on his expansive career and shares why he is presenting on "HR Without Boundaries" and "The Heart of HR" at the upcoming SHRM conference.

The conversation dives deep into how forward-thinking companies are shifting from enforcing rigid manuals to applying purposeful, directional structures. Steve discusses his unique approach at his company, where they have completely bypassed high-potential ratings, decoupled compensation from traditional performance management, and eliminated departmental silos in favor of highly collaborative "areas of work."

Listeners will also gain tactical insights into navigating technology advancements like AI. Rather than building policies out of fear or managing to the exceptions, Steve explains how leveraging tech can actively engage a modern workforce, including the youngest generations. Finally, Steve delivers a powerful reminder for anyone looking to step into a leadership role: get away from your desk, get out with your staff, and treat every workplace challenge as a human situation first.

Steve Browne is a globally recognized HR leader, speaker, author, and practitioner with four decades of experience in the profession. Known for his hands-on, people-centric philosophy, he is a passionate advocate for lifting others up and driving connective communities across the global HR landscape. You can find and connect with Steve across all major social platforms, including LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and BlueSky.

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In this episode of HRHR, host Jocelyn King sits down with Elles Skony, a dynamic leader in the HR space, to explore the journey of transitioning from in-house HR leadership to entrepreneurship. Elles, who has a rich background in high-growth startups, shares her experience of founding her own business and creating Fractional People People, a thriving community for HR entrepreneurs.

Listeners will gain insights into the challenges and triumphs of becoming an HR entrepreneur, as Elles discusses the importance of networking, building confidence, and pricing services correctly. She also delves into the creation of a supportive community for HR professionals, emphasizing the value of peer support and shared experiences in overcoming the hurdles of entrepreneurship.

Join us as we uncover the nuances of starting a business in the HR field, learn how to navigate the tricky waters of client acquisition, and discover the strategies Elles employs to maintain a thriving business while nurturing a vibrant community of like-minded professionals.

Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR is an HR compliance software designed by practitioners to deliver automated, instant compliance answers regarding federal, state, and local employment laws. To discover how to shield your organization from legal risk while freeing your team up for strategic initiatives, visit ⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠ and follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn.

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In this episode of HRHR, host Jocelyn King engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Junell Venord, a seasoned HR professional and Senior Director at the Washington Area Community Investment Fund. Junell shares her unique journey through various industries, from teaching to HR leadership, and how these experiences have shaped her approach to building strong HR communities.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the importance of leveraging HR communities like D.C. SHRM for support and professional development. Junell emphasizes the need for HR professionals to connect with peers to navigate workplace challenges, particularly during times of organizational stress, such as layoffs. She also shares practical advice on how to avoid common pitfalls when presenting to executives, highlighting the importance of tailoring messages to meet the audience's needs.

Join us as we explore the critical role of community in HR, discuss the nuances of effective communication, and learn from Junell's experience in fostering collaboration and mentorship among HR professionals. Whether you're an HR leader or just starting in the field, this episode offers actionable takeaways to enhance your HR practice.

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Join us in this enlightening episode of HRHR as we dive into the intricacies of leadership and strategy with Jen Miller, founder of Leading Edge. With a rich background as an HR leader, Jen shares her journey from corporate HR to establishing her own company focused on developing effective leadership that drives business outcomes.

In this conversation, Jen discusses how she helps organizations translate business strategies into clear expectations and leadership behaviors. She emphasizes the importance of aligning leadership practices with organizational goals and the challenges of managing diverse teams. Jen offers valuable insights into addressing common leadership hurdles, such as fostering synergy among leaders and ensuring consistent discipline across teams.

Listeners will gain practical advice on improving communication within organizations, especially during times of change. Jen highlights the need for HR leaders to double down on clear and consistent messaging to facilitate smoother transitions. Additionally, she explains how bridging the gap between people and processes can enhance performance management systems, making them more effective and less frustrating for employees and HR professionals alike.

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Jocelyn King sits down with Angela Cheng-Cimini, a 30-year HR veteran and current Chief People Officer at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. Angela shares her journey from full-time leadership at Harvard Business Review to fractional work, offering a masterclass on what CEOs truly expect from their HR leaders. She emphasizes that HR’s core mission is to optimize talent to deliver on organizational objectives—whether through fair pay, skill development, or building a powerful employer brand.

The conversation dives deep into the "triumvirate" of leadership: the alignment between the CEO, CFO, and CHRO. Angela explains how this partnership unlocks organizational productivity by justifying ROI for people investments and ensuring strategic alignment. She also challenges the traditional concept of "employee engagement," arguing that leaders should instead strive for "employee inspiration" by creating environments rooted in transparency, compassion, and a clear, noble purpose.

Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠⁠ for ongoing guidance and industry updates.

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Tony Buffum, co-founder of The Human Cloud, joins host Jocelyn King to discuss the inevitable shift toward flexible work and the "freelance economy". Reflecting on his time at Upwork and Stanley Black & Decker, Tony explores why many HR professionals resist non-traditional staffing—citing fears of compliance, loss of control, and the "status quo" of full-time headcount. He encourages HR leaders to view themselves as the "change management function" of the organization, helping managers move from "order taking" to strategic workforce planning.

Tony highlights business acumen as the key differentiator for HR professionals looking to move from administration to strategic influence. By understanding the balance sheet and partnering closely with finance, HR can transition into a "trusted advisor" or "consigliere" for the CEO. Looking ahead to the challenges of 2026, Tony advises HR practitioners to stay relevant by upskilling in agentic AI and staying hyper-aware of macroeconomic conditions to react with speed and agility.

Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠⁠ for ongoing guidance and industry updates.

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Tami Nutt, Vice President of Research and Insights for Aspect 43, shares how her 20-year career as an HR practitioner informs her current work as an industry analyst. She explains how analysts provide unbiased evaluations of technology and market trends, helping busy HR professionals connect the dots between global economics and workplace tools. Tami emphasizes that in the age of AI, HR must act as the "human experts," identifying which tasks are uniquely human and which can be handled by technology.

A major theme of the discussion is the critical importance of HR compliance and change management. Tami describes compliance as the "foundation of the building"—essential for stability but often ignored until something fails. She challenges listeners to view compliance maturity not just as passing an audit, but as creating systems that make the right behaviors easy and consistent every day. Finally, she provides tips on avoiding implementation failures by making no assumptions and gathering rigorous data.

Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠⁠ for ongoing guidance and industry updates.

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Kimberly Prescott, founder of Prescott HR, joins the podcast to discuss the critical role of courage and confidence in the HR profession. Drawing from her background in the Air Force and her experience as a minority in corporate environments, Kimberly explains why HR professionals must move past the desire to "be liked" and instead focus on providing honest, fact-based feedback. She argues that avoiding difficult conversations erodes trust and lowers performance standards across the entire organization.

Kimberly also introduces her "Hierarchy of Needs" for HR, asserting that strategic initiatives like culture statements cannot succeed without a solid foundation of clear policies, manager training, and consistent practices. Using the analogy of a construction site, she warns against hanging "fine art" before the drywall is up. The episode concludes with practical advice on managing investigations and coaching managers to handle conflict with clarity and accountability.
Hosted by Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of VirgilHR. VirgilHR provides instant, trusted answers to HR compliance questions—helping teams navigate federal, state, and local employment laws with accuracy and ease. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠www.virgilhr.com⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠follow Jocelyn on LinkedIn⁠⁠ for ongoing guidance and industry updates.

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