In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Michael Salamey, an HR leader with deep experience in tech, employee engagement, and workforce analytics, to talk about the realities of running lean HR teams in today’s AI-driven world. Drawing on his experience leading small HR teams across industries, Michael shares why smaller often means sharper—and how embracing limitations can build better HR leaders.

Topics Discussed:

• The hidden strengths of small, scrappy HR teams
• How collapsing roles creates broader, deeper skill sets
• Why most tech evaluations get silently deprioritized
• The paradox of AI adoption in under-resourced orgs
• Tactical ways small teams can still experiment with automation
• A candid take on today’s messy job market and hiring tools
• How to avoid overengineering your HR function
• Where AI can help (and where it still falls short)

If you’ve ever been the one-person HR department—or worked like one—this episode will feel like a conversation you didn’t know you needed.

In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with Dennis Richter, Chief People Officer at Fullscript, to talk about how HR can evolve from a back-office function to a business-critical partner. With a background that spans the Army, global operations, and high-growth tech, Dennis shares how his philosophy of accountability, business fluency, and people-first leadership is helping reshape the HR function.

Topics Discussed:

• Why defining accountability clearly can unlock real ownership
• The hidden cost of “people tax”—and how to reduce it
• Why HR teams should think of themselves as revenue-affecting
• How to bring execs and managers along for cultural change
• The second-degree nature of HR and how to influence outcomes
• Proactive people partnership vs. reactive support
• Where HR is headed as automation and AI shift entry points
• And more!

If you’re leading people in a fast-changing org, this conversation will hit home.

In this episode, Thomas Kunjappu sits down with L. David Kingsley (LDK), Chief People Officer at Illumio, to talk about what it really takes for HR to operate like a business partner—not a back-office function. Drawing on experience from Accenture to the Navy Reserve to scaling global orgs, LDK breaks down how HR teams can earn their place at the table through authenticity, numeracy, and a relentless focus on enabling the business.

Topics Discussed:

• Why HR needs to think like consultants—and act like owners
• The “value continuum” from necessary evil to trusted advisor
• What makes a people team M&A-ready (or not)
• How AI, belonging, and metrics shape the future of HR
• And more!

If you're leading a people team or want to, this one’s for you.

In this episode of Future Proof HR, Thomas Kunjappu chats with Amy Boque, Chief People Officer at Kelly, about what it really takes to modernize HR. Amy walks us through the transformation she led at Kelly—shifting the perception of HR from an administrative support team to a strategic business function.

With a background in manufacturing and a no-nonsense approach to process improvement, Amy shares how she empowered her team to simplify workflows, embrace discomfort, and get scrappy—before any big tech investments were even on the table.

She also discusses the evolving expectations of employees, how to design HR around access and empowerment, and the mindset shift needed to help HRBPs break free from transactional work and become true business consultants.

Amy’s insights offer a roadmap for HR leaders looking to drive impact without losing the human touch.

Topics Discussed:

• Repositioning HR from transactional to strategic
• Empowering teams to rethink outdated processes
• Building self-service and data access for employees and leaders
• Redefining the HRBP role to focus on business consulting
• AI’s role in enabling faster, more meaningful HR insights
• And more!

Listen in to learn how Amy’s people-first mindset is shaping the future of HR. 

In this episode of Future Proof HR, Craig Haydamack, CHRO at USIC, joins Thomas Kunjappu to break down the power of HR analytics in shaping workforce strategies and influencing executive decision-making.

With a background spanning finance, IT, and HR, Craig shares how HR professionals can leverage data, tell compelling stories, and align HR initiatives with business goals. He explains how HR teams can move beyond gut feelings and use metrics, benchmarks, and financial storytelling to prove the business impact of their work.

Craig also discusses the evolution of HR analytics, how AI is accelerating data-driven HR, and why HR leaders need to speak the language of the C-suite to drive real change.

Topics Discussed:

• Craig’s career journey from finance and IT to CHRO
• How HR analytics can drive strategic decision-making
• The role of data storytelling in securing executive buy-in
• Why HR teams should adopt financial and operational mindsets
• The importance of external benchmarks in workforce planning
• How AI and automation are transforming HR analytics

Listen in to learn how HR leaders can harness data to shape the future of work and make HR a true business driver.

Additional Resources:

Future Proof HR Community: www.gocleary.com/cleary-community/
Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot: www.gocleary.com/hr-chatbot/

In this episode of Future Proof HR, Angela Briggs-Paige, Chief Human Resources Officer at Acelero, shares how she stepped into the company as its first-ever CHRO and led a bold HR transformation. Faced with a legacy HR structure focused on compliance and administration, Angela set out to modernize processes, restructure teams, and rebrand HR as a strategic driver of business outcomes.

Angela breaks down her first 90 days, where she focused on listening, auditing HR operations, and identifying inefficiencies. She also shares how her team reduced hiring time from 88 days to 29 days, filled hundreds of open roles, and built a more agile, skills-based approach to workforce development.

Throughout the conversation, Angela offers insights on how HR leaders can shift from being order takers to business enablers by aligning HR strategies with organizational goals, improving employee experience, and making data-driven decisions.

Topics Discussed:

• Angela’s journey as the first CHRO at Acelero and her approach to transformation
• How HR evolved from an administrative function to a strategic business partner
• The role of skills-first hiring in building a stronger workforce
• Rebranding HR to improve employee engagement and business alignment
• Why traditional performance management needs a complete overhaul
• The power of data in driving better decision-making in HR

Listen in to learn how to future-proof HR and build a high-impact people strategy that drives real business success!

In this episode of Future Proof HR, Thomas Kunjappu chats with Quentin Misenheimer, Chief People Officer at Garlock Flexibles, to explore his journey from military service to corporate HR leadership. Quentin reflects on how HR has evolved from an administrative function to a trusted business partner, highlighting his early experiences managing a night shift and learning how HR can shape organizational success.

Quentin shares insights on leadership, emphasizing the importance of trust, flexibility, and being proactive. He also discusses how COVID reshaped work dynamics, driving a need for balance between flexibility and collaboration. Quentin's vision of HR centers on building strong business relationships, embedding HR into teams, and continuously adapting through technology and culture stewardship.

Finally, Quentin gives tactical advice on career growth, including the value of patience, mentorship, and developing leadership skills. If you want to learn how HR can become both Yoda and a trusted advisor in your organization, you won’t want to miss this episode!

Topics Discussed:

• Quentin’s transition from military to HR leadership
• The evolving role of HR from personnel to strategic partner
• Leadership lessons: trust, team-building, and flexibility
• Navigating workforce shifts and leadership development post-COVID
• Career pathing and preparing employees for leadership roles

Listen in to stay ahead in HR and future-proof your career!

Future Proof HR Community: www.gocleary.com/cleary-community/
Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot: www.gocleary.com/hr-chatbot/

Welcome to the third episode of Future Proof HR, where we explore the trends, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of HR leadership and workforce transformation. This week, we’re joined by David Dart, Chief People Officer at Caliber, as we dive into how HR leaders can drive impact across industries and adapt to a rapidly changing HR environment.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• How HR leaders can align with business strategy to deliver meaningful outcomes.
• The evolving expectations for HR in the post-pandemic workforce.
• Innovative approaches to training and workforce enablement at scale.
• Key trends in hybrid work and building a connected workforce.
• The role of technology and tools in supporting HR’s mission to empower employees and managers.

If you’re an HR professional or leader looking to stay ahead of the curve, this episode is packed with insights to help you rethink the role of HR in shaping the future of work.

Future Proof HR Community: www.gocleary.com/cleary-community/
Cleary’s AI-powered HR Chatbot: www.gocleary.com/hr-chatbot/

Welcome to the second episode of Future Proof HR, where we explore how technology is transforming the HR landscape. In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most pressing topics for HR leaders: How AI can help HR secure its seat at the executive table.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• Why now is the time for HR leaders to step up and drive AI innovation within their organizations.
• The shifting role of HR—how the post-pandemic environment and efficiency demands are changing expectations for HR teams.
• Key opportunities for AI to transform HR service delivery, operations, and recruiting.
• Practical examples of how AI-driven automation can reduce workloads, improve employee experience, and free HR to focus on strategic priorities.
• Why starting small with AI experiments can lead to big wins, and how Cleary’s AI tools are enabling HR leaders to do just that.

If you’re an HR professional or curious about the future of work, this episode will offer valuable insights on how to leverage AI to make a lasting impact in your organization. Let’s explore how AI can help HR teams not only keep their seat at the table but lead the charge in shaping the future of work.

Future Proof HR Community: https://gocleary.com/cleary-community/
Cleary's AI-powered HR Chatbot: https://gocleary.com/hr-chatbot/

Welcome to the very first episode of Future Proof HR Podcast! We’re diving into what the future holds for HR teams and how technology is changing the game. Right now, HR teams spend most of their time reacting to repetitive requests and handling day-to-day tasks. But that’s about to change.

In this episode, we’ll chat about:

• Why HR teams feel stuck in reactive mode – and what’s keeping them there.
• The three-tier HR support model – What’s Tier 0, Tier 1, and Tier 2? And how are they shifting?
• How AI is going to shake things up – moving those repetitive tasks to automation so HR pros can focus on strategy and people.
• The rise of AI co-pilots – helping HR teams work smarter, not harder.
• What the HR support model of tomorrow looks like – Hint: It’s a lot more efficient, with a focus on enabling employees and managers to self-service the answers they need.
• Big trends driving this shift – from hybrid work to compliance challenges.

Whether you’re in HR or just curious about how tech is transforming the workplace, this episode will give you a sneak peek into what’s next for the world of HR. Let’s explore how AI can take HR from reactive to proactive, creating more space for what matters most: people.