How can organizations make employee well-being a leadership responsibility, not just an employee responsibility?

Why is belonging the number one driver of employee well-being?

My guest on this episode is Mark C. Crowley, a pioneer in workplace leadership, speaker, and bestselling author of Lead from the Heart and The Power of Employee Well-Being.

During our conversation, Mark and I discuss the following:

• Why leading with the heart is often misunderstood as being "soft" in business settings.
• How pulse surveys, when paired with real accountability systems, can transform manager behavior and team performance.
• Why belonging is the number one driver of employee well-being
• Why employee well-being is the leader’s responsibility, not the employee’s and the research that proves it.
• Why HR leaders need to challenge decisions that prioritize short-term financial metrics over long-term culture and people.

Connecting with Mark:

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

Learn more about Mark’s books and podcast

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 organizations use coaching to build leadership capability?

Why should every organization have a clear executive coaching strategy?

My guest on this episode is Brian Underhill, Founder and CEO of CoachSource

During our conversation, Brian and I discuss the following:

• How the executive coaching industry evolved and matured over the past few decades.
• How organizations can design disciplined, scalable coaching systems that drive measurable behavior change.
• Why coaching works best when it is aligned to the talent strategy.
• How team coaching can improve trust and effectiveness when designed intentionally.
• Where AI can support coaching at scale and where it can’t.

Connecting with Brian:

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

Learn more about CoachSource

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 lead with courage?

How can organizations be both high performing and healthy?

My guest on this episode is Pat Wadors, CHRO, Intuitive and author of “Unlock Your Leadership Story.”

During our conversation, Pat and I discuss the following:

• Why HR leaders must have the courage to challenge decisions that compromise the organization’s or their own values, even when it puts their role at risk.
• What it truly means to build a healthy company, not just a high-performing one.
• How can you partner with the business, so they own the initiatives and not HR
• Why HR needs to adopt a product mindset when designing employee experiences and strategic initiatives.
• Why should you have a “personal scorecard” that helps you navigate your career and personal life.

Connecting with Pat:

Connect with Pat on LinkedIn

Learn more about Pat’s book Unlock Your Leadership Story.

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 do leaders develop cultural agility?

Why is cultural agility an essential skill in the age of AI?

My guest on this episode is Paula Caligiuri, Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University, Co-Founder of Skiilify, and Best-Selling Author.

During our conversation, Paula and I discuss the following:

• Why cultural agility is becoming a critical leadership capability
• How leaders actually develop effectiveness across cultures
• Why vulnerability, curiosity, and perspective-taking build trust and adaptability.
• How individual behavior shapes team dynamics more than formal authority.
• How organizations can intentionally design experiences to develop global leaders.

Connecting with Paula:

Connect with Paula on LinkedIn

Learn more about Paula’s company, Skillify

Check out my conversation with Paula on International Business Today podcast where we discuss The Future of HR

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 active listening build a culture of trust?

Why is the employee experience as important as the customer experience?

My guest on this episode is DJ Casto, CHRO, Synchrony

During our conversation, DJ and I discuss the following:

• How adopting an agile mindset and methodologies transformed Synchrony's approach to HR
• How Synchrony bucked the “return to office” trend by listening to employee feedback and maintaining a flexible, performance-based work model.
• Why they created a frontline experience team to invest in and improve the employee journey and customer experience.
• How Synchrony uses active listening to co-create the employee experience and shape the culture.

Connecting with DJ:

Connect with DJ Casto on LinkedIn

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 “managing up” help you to have more impact and influence?

Why is managing up a critical leadership skill for all HR leaders?

My guest on this episode is Melody Wilding, author of “Managing Up”, keynote speaker, and executive coach.

During our conversation, Melody and I discuss the following:

• The biggest misconceptions about managing up and why they are wrong
• Why managing up is a core leadership skill that every HR leader needs to learn
• Practical tools and questions HR leaders can use to help clarify priorities and expectations with leaders.
• The four main communication styles leaders need to recognize to build trust and influence across the organization.
• How to structure upward feedback for your boss to ensure it lands diplomatically and productively.

Connecting with Melody:

Connect with Melody Wilding on LinkedIn

Learn more about Managing Up and Melody’s work

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.

The "Best of 2025" episode features fourteen don't miss moments from HR executives and thought leaders who…

So, who can you expect to learn from on this episode?

• Monique Herena, Chief Colleague Experience Officer, American Express
• Wanda Wallace, Managing Partner, Leadership Forum & Darren Overfield, EVP, Coaching & Consulting at Kaiser Leadership Solutions
• Riina Hellström, Founder, Agile HR Community
• Dave Ulrich, Partner at The RBL Group
• Marcia Avedon, 3X CHRO, Board Director, Human Capital Expert, and Executive Coach
• Lisa Chang, EVP & Chief People Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
• Christina Norris-Watts, Head of Assessment & People Practices, Johnson & Johnson
• Anita Graham, EVP & CHRO, Labcorp
• Christy Pambianchi, CHRO, Caterpillar Inc.
• Ani Huang, Senior EVP, CHRO Association & Anthony Nyberg, Director, Center for Executive Succession at University of South Carolina
• Brandon Sammut, Chief People & AI Transformation Officer, Zapier
• Tina Gupta, SVP, Talent Management, New York Life Insurance
• Brian Miller, Chief Talent and D&I Officer, Levi Strauss & Co
• Jennifer Wilson & Brad Warga, Partners and Global Co-Heads of the Human Resources Officers Practice at Heidrick & Struggles

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.

My guests on this special holiday episode are Ian Ziskin, Lori Heffelfinger, Bill Baker, lead author and co-contributors to “Lives Lost and Leadership Found.”

During our conversation, Ian, Lori, Bill and I discuss the following:

• The inspiration behind the book "Lives Lost and Leadership Found" and how personal loss can serve as a foundation for personal growth.
• The neuroscience behind grief: how loss rewires your brain and why that matters for leaders.
• What research reveals about the role of intentionality in healing after loss and becoming a stronger leader.
• The power of storytelling and reflection—why writing about a special someone can be transformative

Connecting with Ian, Lori, and Bill:

Learn more or buy Lives Lost and Leadership Found: Lessons From Special Somebodies

Connect with Ian Ziskin, Lori Heffelfinger, and Bill Baker

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.

What differentiates the best HR leaders from the rest?

Why isn’t enough to “know the business, you must love the business

My guest on this episode is Marc Effron, President, Talent Strategy Group.

During our conversation, Marc and I discuss the following:

• Marc’s career journey and what led him to co-author One Page Talent Management
• The unforgettable advice that Marshall Goldsmith gave to Marc
• The one question that will help advance your career
• What differentiates the best HR leaders from the rest

Connecting with Marc:

Connect with Marc Effron on LinkedIn or at Talent Strategy Group

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 leaders redesign work to boost both engagement and well-being?

Why is “fit for purpose” more important than “best practice” when it comes to designing work?

My guest in this episode is Rachel Cooke, Founder of Lead Above Noise & Host of the Modern Mentor podcast.

During our conversation Rachel and I discuss:

• Why today’s leaders are under greater pressure than ever before, especially with expanding spans of control and higher expectations.
• How leaders can increase engagement and embed wellbeing directly into how work actually happens
• The importance of asking those closest to the work to redesign the work
• How to create custom solutions for your team by seeking “right practices” rather than following industry “best practices.”

Connecting with Rachel:

Connect with Rachel Cooke on LinkedIn

Learn more about Rachel and Lead Above Noise

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.