In this episode of Byte-Sized HR, we’re joined by Dawn Krusch—leadership development specialist and founder of Psych Around the Globe—to explore one of the most persistent problems in modern organizations: why we continue to promote people into leadership without preparing them to lead.

We unpack:

• Why 60% of new managers never receive any formal training (Wharton Executive Education)

• The hidden costs of promoting based on technical performance alone

• The role of emotional intelligence and mindfulness in the modern leadership toolkit (Center for Creative Leadership)

• How to build leadership pipelines that actually work

• How Dawn’s initiative, Psych Around the Globe, is creating space for deeper, more human leadership conversations

🔗 Connect with Dawn Krusch
LinkedIn: Dawn KruschWebsite: https://psycharoundtheglobe.orgYouTube: @psycharoundtheglobe

In this episode of Byte-Sized HR, we welcome Brayan Aleman, Chief People Officer and former U.S. Army HR leader. With experience managing HR operations for over 3,500 soldiers in Special Operations and now driving strategic people initiatives in the private sector, Brayan offers a rare and valuable perspective on leadership, feedback, and organizational culture.

We explore:

• How military leadership principles can improve empathy and accountability in the workplace.

• Why structured feedback loops like After-Action Reviews could be a model for corporate performance conversations.

• Lessons from the Army’s approach to building engagement and inclusion across dispersed teams.

• The cultural pillars—like mission clarity and empowerment—that drive performance in both military and civilian organizations.

• What civilian HR leaders can learn from the military’s investment in early-stage leadership development.

Sources for deeper insight:

• Harvard Business Publishing: 2023 Report – Ready for Anything

• Deloitte Insights: Becoming Irresistible

Explore the impact of emotional culture on team performance with Jolina Kahn, a seasoned HR strategist renowned for her expertise in workplace dynamics.

In this episode, we cover:

• The importance of emotional culture and its effect on team dynamics.

• Insights into the 'Monsters & Heroes' framework and its role in promoting psychological safety.

• Effective strategies for HR leaders to foster emotional intelligence across teams.

• How to balance traditional KPIs with emotional metrics for comprehensive performance assessments.

• Practical steps for embedding emotional insights into leadership practices.

Sources:

• Harvard Business Review on Emotional Culture

• LutherOne's HR Trends 2025 eBook

Discover more about Jolina’s work:

• Visit mgtstrat-shop.com

  Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@kahnofworms/featured

Connect with Jolina:

• Jolina Kahn on LinkedIn

What happens when startup agility meets enterprise structure in HR? 🤔

In this episode, we sit down with Ricardo Cuellar, a seasoned HR leader with deep experience in building high-performing teams across startups and large organizations. With a career spanning fintech, consulting, and award-winning HR transformations, Ricardo brings a no-nonsense, practical perspective on what it takes to future-proof HR in 2025.

What we cover:
🔹 The evolving role of HR—how leadership, culture, and tech are reshaping priorities
🔹 What large enterprises can learn from startup agility (and vice versa)
🔹 Tailoring HR strategies to different industries and company sizes
🔹 The power (and pitfalls) of people analytics—how to use data without getting lost in it
🔹 Practical advice for HR leaders looking to stay ahead of the curve

Sources:

🔹 Forbes – Essential HR and Recruitment Trends for 2025
🔹 McKinsey & Company – How to Be Great at People Analytics
🔹 SHRM – The Use of People Analytics in HR

🔗 Connect with Ricardo Cuellar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardoishr/

In this episode, we sit down with David Bentley, a seasoned executive search expert with over 20 years of experience in placing top-tier talent across industries like ICT, life sciences, and FMCG. David shares his insights on what drives employee loyalty, why executives choose to stay or leave, and how companies can foster a culture of retention.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:

🎧 Tune in now to gain a fresh perspective on how to build and maintain a loyal, engaged workforce.

Resources and Links:

👉 Don’t forget to follow us for more insightful episodes!

Don't forget to follow David Bentley on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Byte-Sized HR, we welcome Maria Ursu, HR Director for Commercial HQ & EMEA at Booking.com, to discuss the critical yet often misunderstood topic of feedback culture at the executive level.

Maria shares insights on the challenges of creating a feedback-driven environment, the importance of psychological safety, and practical strategies to turn feedback into a tool for empowerment and growth. Whether you're an HR professional, a manager, or a leader seeking to elevate your team's performance, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to inspire change and foster a thriving feedback culture.

Key Topics Covered in This Podcast:

Resources and Links:

Learn more about creating feedback culture:

In this episode of Byte-Sized HR, I’m joined by ⁠Toby Sinclair⁠, founder of Toby Sinclair Coaching Limited, as we explore how AI is reshaping leadership without losing the human touch. From his leap into entrepreneurship to practical applications of AI in HR, Toby shares valuable insights on preparing leaders for an AI-enhanced future.

Key topics covered:

Join us for an insightful discussion on balancing AI’s capabilities with human-centered leadership.

Additional Resources:
Toby Sinclair on LinkedIn
"AI in Performance Reviews" Report by Visier
"The State of AI Readiness in Human Resources: Insights from Industry Leaders" by Stanton Chase

#Leadership #AIPodcast #TobySinclair #ByteSizedHR #LutherOne #FutureOfLeadership #AIinBusiness #HRInnovation #HumanSkills

In this episode, I’m joined by David Clark to debunk the "pizza party myth" and explore the true drivers behind employee engagement and retention. We dive into the misconceptions around quick-fix solutions like bonuses and parties, and why they often fail to address deeper workforce challenges. David shares his expert insights, grounded in years of research and practice, on how businesses can create meaningful engagement and retention strategies that lead to long-term success.

Key topics covered include:

The Pizza Party Myth Explained:
Discover why superficial rewards like pizza parties persist in corporate culture, and why they fail to resolve underlying issues of disengagement and turnover.

The Importance of Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation:
We discuss a Gallup study showing how highly engaged workforces outperform their peers by 147% in earnings per share. David explains why intrinsic motivators—such as respect, recognition, and purpose—are more effective than extrinsic rewards.

Misconceptions About Engagement and Retention:
Despite studies from SHRM showing that 53% of employees value respect and recognition as the top drivers of satisfaction, many leaders still rely on monetary-based solutions. David shares why this approach misses the mark.

Proactive Retention Strategies:
David emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement strategies, like stay interviews and employee feedback platforms (such as LutherOne), as opposed to reactive approaches like exit interviews or retention bonuses.

Data-Driven Approaches to Retention:
We discuss how companies can use data—such as employee insights, engagement surveys, and turnover propensity indexes—to design more effective retention strategies, and David shares successful examples from his experience at companies like Maximus and GEICO.

Practical Steps for Improving Retention:
David outlines actionable, data-driven steps companies can take to build a more engaging and supportive work environment. Learn how listening to employees and implementing feedback channels can lead to significant improvements in retention.

Additional Resources:

Sources:

Join us for a deeper look into what truly drives employee engagement and retention beyond surface-level fixes.

#EmployeeEngagement #RetentionStrategies #DavidClark #PizzaPartyMyth #EmployeeSatisfaction #HRPodcast #LutherOne #TurnoverPrevention #EmployeeMotivation #ProactiveHR

In this episode, I’m joined by Lukas Foglar, Co-founder of LutherOne, and Enrique Rubio, an influential HR community builder and tech visionary. We dive deep into the evolving role of HR communities and podcasts and how they’re shaping the future of the HR profession. Enrique shares his insights into the rise of new HR consultants and influencers, the growing importance of community-driven learning, and the powerful role technology plays in talent management and employee engagement.

Key topics covered include:

The Growth of HR Communities:
Explore the key drivers behind the rapid growth of HR communities and the value they offer to HR professionals. Enrique sheds light on how these communities foster networking, learning, and meaningful collaboration in the ever-evolving HR landscape.

The Impact of Podcasts in HR:
With over 2 million podcasts available worldwide, professional development podcasts have become essential for continuous learning in HR. We discuss how podcasts are democratizing HR content, giving more professionals a voice and platform to share insights, and driving industry innovation.

The Role of Technology in HR:
Technology continues to transform the way we manage talent and engage employees. Enrique and Lukas dive into how HR leaders can critically evaluate the multitude of digital tools and platforms to ensure they are adopting solutions that truly address their organizational needs rather than following trends.

The Emergence of New HR Consultants and Influencers:
In a post-pandemic world, the rise of new HR consultants and influencers is more prominent than ever. Learn what is driving this trend, and how these professionals can leverage technology to amplify their impact and support HR teams in navigating complex challenges.

Advice for Aspiring HR Leaders:
Enrique shares his personal insights for those looking to make a difference in the HR world. Whether you’re an emerging HR consultant, a community leader, or someone looking to stay ahead in this fast-paced industry, Enrique offers practical advice for staying relevant and driving meaningful change.

Finally, Enrique gives us an exclusive sneak peek into his upcoming podcast, focused on HR leaders, innovation, and the evolving future of work.

Additional Resources:

Join us for an insightful discussion on the future of HR, technology, and community-driven growth.

For those curious to discover more on important HR topics, join our newsletter: Insights by LutherOne.

#HRPodcast #HRCommunities #EnriqueRubio #LutherOne #HRTech #FutureOfWork #EmployeeEngagement #HRInnovation #TalentManagement

In this episode of "Byte-Sized HR," we uncover the critical “Age 30 Problem” affecting Asian employees and explore practical solutions that can help them thrive and succeed in the workplace. Join us as we sit down with ⁠Joy Chen⁠, CEO of the Multicultural Leadership Institute, former Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, and executive recruiter for Fortune 500 CEOs and Board members. With a career spanning three continents and three industries, Joy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our discussion.

In this episode, Joy sheds light on:

The Asian Leadership Paradox: We dive into the puzzling reality where Asian employees are often the most educated and hired, yet the least promoted. Joy unpacks the systemic barriers and cultural biases that contribute to this issue, particularly highlighting the “Age 30 Problem” where career progress stalls.

Cultural Biases and Stereotypes: Joy shares her insights into the specific cultural biases that Asian employees face in the workplace and how these biases manifest in everyday interactions and decision-making processes.

Practical Steps for Inclusion: Drawing from her recent presentation at the Asia Society, Joy provides actionable strategies for organizations to create inclusive environments that support the growth of Asian employees into leadership roles. These steps are particularly crucial for knowledge economy companies, where Asians make up 30%-50% of the workforce, and unlocking their potential can lead to increased productivity and innovation.

Mentorship and Sponsorship Programs: Learn about the characteristics that make these programs effective for Asian employees, based on Joy’s discussions with industry leaders like Satya Anand, President for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Marriott International, and Nishma Gosrani OBE, Partner at Bain & Company.

Global Comparisons: Joy contrasts the leadership challenges faced by Asian employees in the U.S. with those in China, offering valuable lessons that can be applied across different regions.

A special thanks to ⁠Angela Cheng-Cimini⁠, whose work alongside Joy in their Harvard Business Review article, "Stop Overlooking the Leadership Potential of Asian Employees", inspired this conversation. Angela’s insights have been instrumental, and her previous appearance on our podcast led us to this enriching dialogue with Joy Chen.

For further insights into the topic, check out Joy’s presentation at the Asia Society event, "Where Are the Asian CEOs?" featuring Satya Anand and Nishma Gosrani, and watch the full discussion on YouTube.

Joy’s deep expertise and passion for fostering inclusive leadership make this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly within the context of Asian leadership.

Sources:

Harvard Business Review: "Stop Overlooking the Leadership Potential of Asian Employees" by Joy Chen and Angela Cheng-Cimini

Asia Society: "Where Are the Asian CEOs?"

YouTube: Global Talent Speakers Session

Psychological Science in the Public Interest: "What Differences Make a Difference? The Promise and Reality of Diverse Teams in Organizations" by Elizabeth Mannix and Margaret A. Neale

Listen now and empower your organization to break down barriers, unlock innovation, and build a more inclusive future.