How can leaders communicate clearly under pressure—and across cultures? Stanford lecturer Matt Abrahams joins CPO PLAYBOOK to share powerful communication strategies, from optimizing meetings to using anchor stories that boost engagement, clarity, and collaboration in any workplace.

How are fairness, benefits, and HR tech evolving in today’s HR landscape? In Part 2 of our series, we explore how leaders like IBM and Workday—and rising challengers—are expanding offerings to meet shifting workforce needs through more equitable, integrated, and scalable HR solutions.

What’s next for HR tech—and how will it reshape your workforce? Live from the HR Technology Conference in Las Vegas, this episode covers the latest AI innovations and game-changing tools transforming how organizations hire, develop, and manage talent in a rapidly evolving world of work.

How do you win leadership buy-in? Brad Williams of Northwestern Mutual shares real-world strategies for securing executive buy-in, implementing data-driven HR, and transitioning to a skills-based talent culture—proven across an organization of over 9,000 employees.

What does it really take to create an exceptional employee experience? Chandler Bondan of BuzzFeed shares how thoughtful L&D, smart engagement surveys, and clear communication work together to build a thriving culture—where people feel heard, supported, and ready to grow.

What do new managers need to succeed—and what usually gets in their way? Leadership expert Eric Girard shares practical strategies for first-time managers, from navigating emotional intelligence to managing former peers, and explains why training and readiness are key to confident, effective leadership.

How can AI-powered skills taxonomies transform talent management? Brian Ray shares how to design effective, data-rich taxonomies that support both talent and learning strategies—highlighting why diverse datasets are critical for building agile, future-ready organizations.

How is the potential for AI transforming the future of workforce planning? Ali Nawab, CEO of Agentoon, shares how data-driven strategies and the potential for AI-powered tools are optimizing team dynamics, boosting engagement, and aligning employees with business goals to drive efficiency and smarter organizational decisions.

How can values fuel creativity and attract top-tier clients? Hugo Veiga and Diego Machado of AKQA São Paulo share how a values-driven culture shapes everything—from creative processes to client partnerships—powering standout work for brands like Google, Netflix, and Usher while nurturing exceptional talent.

Are middle managers the unsung heroes of organizational success? Dr. Daisy Grewal, Senior Manager of People Analytics at Intuit, unpacks the overlooked power of middle management—debunking myths and revealing how agile decision-making and smart people strategy can transform leadership impact.