This episode was recorded live at SHRM from the isolved booth in San Diego. William Tincup and Ryan Leary spoke with Alain Hunkins and Tim Sackett about what culture actually looks like inside real companies. Alain explained why simple rituals can completely shift team energy without using policies or budgets. Tim pushed back on whether leaders even know how to build culture in the first place.

They both argued that most teams never see culture modeled in action. They said that leaders usually confuse tasks for people. They described how rituals during interviews can help candidates understand whether they belong. They also explained why bad leaders often stay in power. They perform well. They bring in money. They meet goals. But they never learn how to lead.

Timestamps

00:52 — Alain sings Happy Birthday to show how rituals shift energy

02:17 — Leaders build culture through ritual. Bad managers don’t

03:21 — Alain explains how people-first leadership changes performance

03:44 — Tim questions whether leaders know how to build culture at all

04:07 — Alain shares a check-in ritual that changes team meetings

05:20 — Most people never learn culture because they never see it

05:39 — Tim asks why interviews don’t include real culture cues

06:54 — People should walk away from interviews if it’s not a fit

07:35 — Tim explains how performance rankings reveal real expectations

08:48 — Feedback should feel intense in the first 90 days

09:14 — Alain warns that buzzwords won’t fix culture

10:05 — Ryan asks whether bad culture is just bad fit

10:50 — Culture is your boss. Not the brand

11:30 — Alain explains why bad leaders get protected

13:08 — Tim defines a people hero as someone who balances business and care

14:56 — Alain says people heroes speak truth to power and lead with kindness

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

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Live from the isolved booth at SHRM in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two guests who’ve never met—but leave with a shared outlook on HR leadership, family, and purpose. Brock Arnold and Rita Kusi bring two powerful, personal takes on what it means to be a “people hero”—and how life, work, and service intersect when you’re truly committed to others.

Rita shares how she left her corporate job and moved back to Ghana to build an HR consultancy from the ground up. She talks about her passion for remote team development and the power of global inclusion. Brock opens up about the emotional impact of his son’s leukemia diagnosis and how it reshaped his values. That moment sparked the creation of Thrive Life Project, a nonprofit helping families facing trauma find peace and connection through healthy meals and hands-on activities.

This one hits hard—and sticks with you. It’s about listening better, caring deeper, and remembering what really matters when the noise fades away.

Timestamps

00:00 — Two strangers meet at the booth, but values connect fast

01:35 — What “people hero” really means in today’s workplace

02:26 — HR in a cape: Rita’s image of unsung heroes

03:29 — Brock breaks down empathy as action, not performance

04:08 — Giving without expectations becomes the core value

04:19 — Rita’s radical move to Ghana to give back through HR

05:18 — Brock’s world shifts with his son’s leukemia diagnosis

06:13 — The moment that led to founding Thrive Life Project

07:25 — What “barely surviving” looks like for families in crisis

09:07 — Why decision fatigue makes dinner feel impossible

10:07 — Bringing families together with meals and STEM—not screens

10:46 — Rita’s HR superpower: building remote teams across borders

12:19 — Why global synergy drives her passion for technology and people

12:33 — Brock’s superpower: empathetic listening that builds real trust

13:18 — Why culture doesn’t shift unless people feel understood

13:39 — Final reflections on timing, connection, and serving others when it matters most

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

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Recorded live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode brings a burst of spontaneity and soul with guest Sabrina S Sakhrani from Merch.com. What starts as a casual riff on cities, nightlife, and favorite TV shows quickly turns into a deeper conversation on transformation, empathy, and identity.

Sabrina shares how she went from painfully shy to confidently appearing live on TV during COVID—then drops a twist about an ex-boyfriend calling in while she was on air. Her take on empathy as both a strength and a challenge hits a nerve, and her belief in astrological compatibility makes for one of the most entertaining detours of the conference.

This one’s part career, part chaos—and completely unforgettable.

Timestamps

00:00 — William and Ryan kick off live from SHRM 2025

00:45 — Sabrina joins and the Vegas vs. Atlanta debate begins

01:50 — Why Atlanta beats LA for food, fun, and affordability

02:52 — The origin of “Sabrina S” and a Hong Kong birth certificate mix-up

03:22 — Working in business development at Merch.com (not Match.com)

04:07 — What a “people hero” means to Sabrina

04:39 — Her TV debut during COVID and how it changed her confidence

07:02 — A live caller twist: her ex-boyfriend crashes the show

08:09 — From shy boarding school kid to confident speaker

08:55 — Sabrina’s superpower is empathy—to a fault

10:21 — Astrology deep dive: sun, moon, rising, and dating compatibility

13:53 — Why she loves Atlanta (and why her Sagittarius is secretly obsessed)

15:59 — Wrapping up with laughs, gratitude, and one unforgettable conversation

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/

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At the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary brought together two HR pros who had never met—Ashantae Brooks and Tiana Houston—and uncovered an instant connection. From their shared commitment to servant leadership to their passion for helping others thrive, the conversation quickly turned into a lively, heartfelt exchange.

Ashantae, a Bronx-born talent whisperer now shaping purpose-driven careers, shared how empathy fuels her recruiting. Tiana, a Southern connector with a mission to uplift young professionals, reflected on the moment she helped a student land a dream job after months of mentorship. They both lit up when talking about superpowers—and both pointed to human connection as the key to lasting impact in HR.

With jokes about Atlanta strip clubs, regional rivalries, and zodiac signs mixed in, the episode never loses its sense of realness. But beneath the laughs sits a core truth: the best HR leaders show up not just with skills, but with heart.

Timestamps

00:00 — Two HR pros meet for the first time—instant vibes

00:44 — From Harlem to Atlanta—backgrounds, accents, and favorite local spots

02:21 — Strip club recommendations and airport celebrity sightings

03:34 — What makes a “people hero” in HR?

04:31 — Ashantae sees her role as servant leadership through talent conversations

05:25 — Tiana surprises everyone—servant leadership is in her bio

06:05 — SEC pride and southern hospitality decoded

07:40 — Bless your heart—Southern slang gets personal

08:00 — Tiana shares her proudest HR moment: an intern gets the job

08:35 — Ashantae almost passed on a candidate—until he blew her away

10:11 — Superpowers revealed: empathy, connection, and Olivia Pope energy

11:27 — Why talent acquisition means helping people find work they believe in

12:56 — No sugarcoating—honesty as a hiring asset

13:15 — Active vs passive candidates: does it matter if the fit and mission align?

14:16 — Would you turn down a dream job in the Caymans? Probably not.

15:19 — Final thoughts and big thanks to two new people heroes

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

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Recorded live at the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode features two industry voices with very different superpowers—Matt McCune and Thomas Daglis. Hosted by William Tincup and Ryan Leary, the conversation digs into the unexpected traits of true HR heroes and why it takes more than empathy to make a difference.

Matt explains how his company bet against the status quo twenty years ago—risking everything to fight back against a broken healthcare system. He breaks down how putting the employee first meant redefining the economics of healthcare itself. Thomas brings a data-first lens, showing how predictive analytics can transform retention strategy into a science of trust. Together, they paint a picture of leadership that doesn’t just protect the business—it changes the game.

Timestamps

00:00 — Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego

00:21 — Why the phrase “people hero” means more than just empathy

01:15 — Vision and compassion enter the conversation for the first time

02:10 — Matt’s superpower: turning complexity into clarity

02:30 — Why simplifying jargon matters more than selling features

03:32 — Thomas’ superpower: predicting trends through data

04:27 — A Picasso anecdote that reframes failure and creative volume

05:14 — The moment Matt knew he made a difference

05:51 — How one bold healthcare decision rewired the status quo

06:33 — Putting employees at the center of a high-stakes pivot

07:45 — From whiteboard skepticism to market leadership

08:58 — Internal pressure, financial risk, and the cost of disruption

09:34 — The Uber analogy that put it all in perspective

10:15 — Thomas’ moment of impact: using data to reduce turnover

10:50 — Running live experiments on praise, incentives, and trust

11:32 — Why retention is really about investing in humans

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

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Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two sharp, grounded HR pros who lead with both heart and action. Angela Carranza, Controller at NEOpal, and Vilma Brager, Co-founder and CEO of Insight HR Consulting, bring real stories of trust, empathy, and courageous leadership into the spotlight.

Angela talks through how auditing a forgotten PTO error helped an employee feel truly seen—and what that small act says about leading with care. Vilma shares how showing up for an employee during a personal crisis became a defining moment in her career. They both weigh in on what it means to be a “people hero”—and why performative leadership doesn’t cut it anymore. This one’s honest, unscripted, and packed with human-first insight.

Timestamps

00:00 — Live at the isolved booth in San Diego

00:44 — Meet Angela Carranza and Vilma Brager

01:15 — What’s your HR superpower?

02:01 — Vilma on the power of difficult conversations

03:08 — Angela shares why empathy guides her leadership

04:00 — Sympathy vs empathy: how leaders get it wrong

05:21 — Defining “people heroes” in the HR world

06:04 — What it looks like when leaders roll up their sleeves

07:18 — Performative leadership vs authentic action

08:29 — Ryan shares a powerful CEO story from Kenexa

09:40 — Angela’s story: fixing a long-missed vacation accrual

10:58 — “I feel seen”: when small actions make a big impact

11:18 — Vilma on holding space for mental health before it was common

12:46 — Helping employees access resources with compassion

13:29 — Pre-COVID mental health stigma and how far we’ve come

13:56 — Final laughs and a mission to find the Aflac duck

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

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Live from the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Michael Bach—CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and longtime DEI data advocate. What starts as a light-hearted nod to Bach’s rainbow pocket square quickly turns into a sharp critique of performative allyship, corporate backsliding, and the real reason inclusion still meets resistance in the workplace.

Bach doesn’t pull punches. He makes the case that DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about profit, retention, and basic business sense. He explains why some companies never truly committed, how guilt distracts from progress, and what happens when white men are excluded from the inclusion narrative. From George Floyd to corporate walk-backs, this one packs perspective—and a little heat.

Timestamps

00:00 — Michael Bach shows up loud and proud at SHRM

01:00 — Why visibility matters when you’re part of the “invisible minority”

02:15 — Inclusion is not seasonal—stop treating Pride like a one-month campaign

03:00 — Measuring DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about business outcomes

04:45 — George Floyd sparked urgency, but companies rushed without real buy-in

06:10 — Why performative support failed and which brands are paying the price

07:30 — Boycotts, corporate reckoning, and the lesson from South Africa

08:40 — You can’t fix the past—but you have to move forward from it

10:00 — The gender pay gap hurts more than fairness—it stunts the economy

11:15 — Business should do better because it’s profitable—not because it’s noble

12:10 — Acronyms confuse people—start with business language instead

13:45 — Inclusion failed when it excluded straight, white, able-bodied men

15:10 — Real DEI includes everyone—even the traditionally overrepresented

16:30 — Why “people heroes” are anyone who intentionally makes work more inclusive

17:45 — The future of inclusion depends on action, not awareness campaigns

18:40 — Final laughs: gym memberships, Palm Springs heat, and Bob Hope myths

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

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This live episode from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 brings real talk and big energy. Hosts William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two powerhouse women in HR—Latisha Hurdle of Rivers Casino and Heidi Barnett of Utah-based operations—to unpack what it really means to lead with heart.

Latisha shares how she helps frontline talent rise through the ranks with empathy and structure, revealing how small shifts—like a changed shift time or a bonus day—can radically impact someone's trajectory. Heidi opens up about guiding working moms and seeing people’s potential before they see it in themselves. Both leaders drop raw stories on loyalty, intuition, and why hard conversations should never be sugarcoated.

It’s HR storytelling at its most grounded—funny, human, and full of moments that hit harder than you’d expect.

Timestamps

00:00 — Setting the tone live from the SHRM 2025 floor

00:38 — Latisha shares her journey from high school sweetheart to HR leader

02:00 — Heidi celebrates 20 years of marriage and stats on lasting partnerships

03:36 — The real key to strong relationships (and staying in them)

05:01 — What makes a "people hero" in the workplace

06:18 — HR as a champion for unseen talent

07:36 — Heidi helps a new mom see she doesn’t have to choose career or motherhood

09:08 — Latisha shares how a small scheduling change helped unlock leadership potential

11:00 — Why empathy in leadership matters more than ever

12:00 — Latisha’s superpower: trusting intuition when no one else does

14:45 — Heidi’s gift for breaking down complexity and reading people early

16:10 — The art of turning “no” into the next opportunity

17:50 — Why clear feedback beats soft landings

19:02 — Generational shifts in interview behavior and how HR is adapting

23:00 — The recruitment challenge at Rivers Casino and staying ahead of new competition

24:45 — Bonus days, hot meals, and betting on internal growth

26:46 — Latisha's dealer school program and commitment to internal mobility

27:16 — Final reflections on culture shock, coaching, and building people-first systems

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

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Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two powerhouse voices in workplace transformation—Coach Margie Rubio and Coach Nafeesah Bashir. The vibe? Zero script, all impact. The moment they sat down, the conversation took off.

Margie and Nafeesah dig into the real roots of workplace incivility—from self-awareness gaps to emotional climate blind spots. They share the concept behind the Civility Index, their code of conduct for emotional intelligence, and how they help leaders shift culture with practical, non-performative tools. Margie speaks on her work with active and former gang members. Nafeesah shares how trauma-informed yoga became a corporate unlock. The energy is real, the takeaways hit hard—and they’re just getting started.

Timestamps

00:00 — Margie and Nafeesah join the show without being asked

00:45 — The group jumps into incivility and emotional climate at work

01:40 — What it means to be a "people hero" in practice

02:28 — Margie shares her HR superpower and how empathy meets boundaries

03:25 — Nafeesah explains how she leads with love and teaches by example

04:32 — The fear behind vulnerability and what keeps people guarded

05:15 — Why life experience determines how you show up at work

06:20 — How to assess team dynamics using a “weather forecast” model

07:13 — The Civility Index and what it reveals about workplace culture

08:26 — How practical tools and emotional intelligence can shift behavior

09:40 — Leaders don’t need to fix people—they need to own their self-awareness

11:00 — The EI Code of Conduct and why self-awareness comes first

12:45 — “Look in the mirror, not out the window”—why perspective matters

14:06 — Margie reflects on teaching mindset to former gang members

15:20 — Nafeesah shares how her Helicon yoga program changed the room

17:35 — They announce their own podcast focused on EI and incivility

18:45 — A shoutout to isolved’s HR team and the vibe of the booth itself

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

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This episode was recorded live at the isolved booth during SHRM 25 in San Diego. William Tincup sat down with Seychelle Hercules Padgett, Yanick Goens, and Jessica Michniacki. Each guest brought a different take on what it means to lead with empathy and courage in HR.

Jessica explained how she helps clients through terminations. She does the hard work with calm and compassion. Yanick shared how he manages daily conflict by showing up in person and listening first. Seychelle described how she rebuilt her career after a layoff and found new purpose by helping others do the same. The conversation moved quickly, but each answer left an impact. These professionals do not just talk about people-first culture. They live it.

Timestamps

00:00 — William Tincup kicks off from the SHRM floor

00:28 — Jessica owns the nickname “The Terminator” by leading hard conversations

01:11 — William calls out the emotional cost of termination work

01:33 — Yanick explains why comfort should never follow tough decisions

01:54 — Seychelle finds her edge by bringing order to dysfunction

02:29 — William draws a connection between chaos theory and HR

02:40 — Seychelle compares good HR to good jazz

02:54 — Yanick keeps things from burning down by leading with presence

03:25 — Yanick tells the moment he protected both the company and the person

04:09 — Seychelle reflects on losing her job and gaining her voice

05:17 — Jessica returns to her first company and mentors the next wave

06:06 — Seychelle embraces failure as fuel

07:05 — William recalls how NASA made failure part of the plan

07:29 — Seychelle defines people heroes as those who lift others

08:07 — William compares career confidence to body dysmorphia

08:13 — Jessica points to leaders who never ask for credit

08:48 — Yanick shares why floor time builds trust

09:40 — The group agrees HR works best when it feels human

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

Connect with Us:

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