HR Leaders

In this episode of the HR Leaders podcast, join Jeri Hawthorne, SPHR, GPHR , CHRO at Aflac - America’s most recognised supplemental insurance company - shares valuable insights on unlocking workplace well-being.

Jeri provides practical advice on selecting the ideal wellbeing provider, creating compelling and effective benefit communications, and the number one piece of advice for fostering employee well-being in the workplace.

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In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, Evelyn Maria Espinal, Global Head of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever, discusses pioneering a comprehensive strategy integrating ED&I across business functions to position inclusion as a key driver of performance.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivalled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by their unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - Episode highlight and Introduction

00:54 - Early involvement in diversity initiatives

01:19 - Attending all-girls high school

01:44 - Experiencing being different

02:08 - Honduran identity

03:57 - Global mobility roles

04:24 - Taking an expatriate assignment

05:15 - Transitioning to current ED&I role

06:26 - Equity report project

07:01 - Transition from chasing money to fulfilment

07:40 - Moving from equality to equity

09:46 - Can true equity be achieved?

10:37 - Transitioning from D&I team to ED&I

11:13 - Common misconceptions about equity

12:10 - Equity means rethinking how organizations are designed

13:39 - Avoiding checkbox approach to ED&I

14:35 - Employee resource groups

15:25 - Cultural fit and leaving toxic environments

16:22 - Small company equitable culture example

17:28 - Advice for future ED&I leaders

20:05 - Understanding local culture imperative for expats

22:39 - Viewing feedback as a gift

23:26 - Try the 'Bucket strategy' when receiving feedback

24:11 - Advice for future ED&I leaders

25:15 - Affinity groups evolution

26:27 - Deciding whether to try changing culture

28:11 - Choosing culture wisely

30:00 - Navigating Mexican business culture

31:48 - Feedback is a gift but doesn't have to define you

32:26 - Key advice for future ED&I leaders

34:17 - ED&I is at the heart of everything

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, Jason Cerrato, former HR Tech Industry Analyst and Talent Management executive, who now serves as VP Market Strategy at Eightfold AI. Jason outlined how AI and advanced data analytics are elevating strategic talent planning to new levels across key areas like hiring, retention and growth.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivalled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by their unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - Introduction

01:33 - Jason's background

03:14 - Transition to Eightfold AI

06:28 - Shifting focus from jobs to people

10:03 - The role of AI in the future of work

13:21 - Predictive and prescriptive AI

15:16 - Misconceptions about talent marketplaces

18:18 - Key considerations for talent marketplaces

19:56 - The talent marketplace framework

23:43 - The diminishing shelf-life of skills

26:55 - Planning for emerging skills

29:39 - Connecting with Jason & Eightfold AI

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I spoke with DJ Casto, Chief HR Officer at Synchrony, about the hidden costs of deprioritising employee wellbeing - and the immense benefits of making it a strategic priority.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivalled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by their unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - Introduction

01:27 - Synchrony's focus on employee wellbeing

06:15 - Supporting mental health beyond physical health

08:08 - Challenges of remote contact centre work

09:31 - How the 60-second brakes work

12:03 - Integrating Thrive's approach into workflow

13:43 - Customizable wellbeing solutions for each role

15:32 - Building a diverse roster of wellbeing coaches

17:36 - Making it easy and safe for employees to access coaches

22:32 - Importance of confidentiality with outside partners

23:59 - Taking a proactive approach to mental health

25:46 - Becoming a better leader through parenthood

28:44 - Rethinking parental leave policies

31:45 - Precious bonding moments supported by the company

33:08 - Providing support when parents return to work

35:19 - Addressing childcare breakdowns with flexibility

38:08 - Being open and agile with benefit innovations

40:27 - Staying focused on serving employees' needs

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I was joined by acclaimed Harvard Business School Professor Amy C. Edmondson. Amy's latest research and book, "The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well," examines a topic most business leaders shy away from - how to productively learn from our failures and mistakes.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivalled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by their unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - What you will learn

01:42 - Why study organizational failure?

02:38 - Learning from mistakes is essential

04:23 - The different types of failures

05:33 - What makes a "good" failure?

07:16 - How errors often have multiple causes

08:22 - Learn from complex failures by speaking up

09:21 - Practices to prevent complex failures

13:19 - Chris' story of innovating in silence

15:24 - Why the stigma around failure

16:15 - Successful people fail more

17:20 - Hiring those comfortable with failure

18:35 - Growth mindset from sports/military

19:24 - How schools instils binary pass/fail mindset

20:49 - Reframing failure as getting better

22:02 - Not all failures are alike

22:43 - Differentiating mistakes and failures

24:01 - Most successful companies fail more

25:09 - Need for psychological safety

25:58 - Discomfort enables growth

26:49 - Biggest misconception about failure

27:55 - Amy's current and future research

29:00 - Practical steps for organizations

29:46 - Link to employee experience

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Andrew Saidy, Vice President of Global Talent at Ubisoft. With nearly 20 years of diverse HR experience, Andrew brought an exciting perspective on evolving talent strategy.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - Episode highlight

01:00 - Andrew's background

03:00 - Moving to Paris

05:00 - What is Ubisoft

07:00 - Employer branding in gaming

09:00 - Using skills as a currency

11:00 - Removing degree requirements

13:00 - Impact on diversity

15:00 - Skills-based assessments

17:00 - Choosing Eightfold

19:00 - Launching the talent marketplace

21:00 - Change management advice

23:00 - Effective launch strategies

25:00 - The role of AI in HR

27:00 - Implementing AI ethically

29:00 - Focus on wellbeing

31:00 - Supporting creativity

33:00 - Continuous game production

35:00 - Advice for future HR leaders

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, Andrea Archer, Senior Director of HR at Altria, shares hard-won lessons on driving progressive change in manufacturing, from empowering frontline staff to overhauling legacy leadership styles to better support mental health and wellbeing.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - Episode highlight

00:50 - Andrea's career background and tenure

02:15 - Evolution of the HR profession

04:34 - Knowing the business deeply

07:51 - Influencing leadership and showing value

10:24 - Adopting hybrid work in manufacturing

13:24 - Empowering frontline manufacturing staff

18:32 - Supporting mental health and wellbeing

22:32 - Transitioning to servant leadership

25:35 - Adapting leadership style for the future

30:24 - Keys to success for future HR leaders

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the HR Leaders podcast, I'm joined by communication expert Matt Abrahams to discuss strategies from his latest book “Think Faster, Talk Smarter”. Matt has decades of experience coaching executives on impromptu speaking.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - Episode highlight

01:30 - Matt's background in communication

03:21 - Inspiration behind the new book

04:40 - Why communication isn't taught earlier

05:14 - Unlocking communication abilities

06:32 - Best ways to practice communication skills

08:24 - Setting communication expectations

09:16 - Common communication misconceptions

10:25 - Preparing right before public speaking

12:49 - Reframing mistakes as "missed takes"

14:02 - Striving for connection over perfection

14:35 - The value of small talk

16:24 - Being interested vs. interesting

17:08 - Communication abilities critical for sales

18:33 - Taking time to think through answers

19:17 - Biggest communication challenges

20:25 - Getting better at spontaneous speaking

22:08 - Perfecting your presence

22:53 - How technology is changing communication

25:11 - Using AI conversationally

26:35 - AI for personalized learning

28:12 - The future of human+AI communication

29:20 - Efficiency gains from AI

29:39 - Parting advice on communication

30:11 - Where to find the book & Matt

31:03 - Conclusion & where to connect

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Elena Gallo, VP HR at Paramount. She shares how their data-driven D&I strategy is increasing revenue, safety, and engagement. Hear insights on the business case for D&I, putting global initiatives into local action, responsible on-screen representation, and why this work requires patience alongside quick wins. Elena also advises organizations to stay curious rather than defensive on their own D&I journeys. Tune in to discover practical steps any business can take to foster equity.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - Episode highlight

00:54 - The business case for investing in D&I

03:34 - Practical D&I efforts at Paramount

04:16 - Tailoring ERG topics locally

05:44 - Challenges implementing global D&I

06:50 - What diversity means in different cultures

08:06 - Biggest challenge localizing D&I strategies

10:01 - Getting leadership buy-in on long-term D&I

10:51 - Collecting and analysing D&I data

12:29 - Challenges getting clean HR data historically

13:00 - Building trust to collect sensitive employee data

13:36 - Regaining versus losing trust

13:49 - Upcoming D&I priorities at Paramount

14:05 - Connecting D&I and ESG commitments

14:21 - D&I focus depends on company and sector

17:00 - Representing diversity responsibly in content

17:26 - Extending D&I expectations to partners

18:15 - Importance of intentional inclusion across employee lifecycle

20:01 - Key to enabling genuine inclusion

20:44 - Elena's advice to others on the D&I journey

21:18 - Where to connect with Elena

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Erica Keswin, Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author, to shed new light on employee engagement in today's diverse workplace.

👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq

🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast

👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/

See Greatness Everywhere with Eightfold

Powered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0

Episode highlights

00:00 - Episode highlight and introduction

01:02 - Erica's Background in HR and Human Capital

01:36 - Inspiration Behind "The Retention Revolution"

03:01 - Work Evolution and Flexibility Post-Pandemic

03:12 - Keeping Employees Connected in Hybrid Work Environments

03:59 - The Importance of Human Connection in the Workplace

06:07 - The Role of Intentional Connections in Innovation and Culture

06:37 - Kevin Kniffin's Firehouse Study

07:44 - From Old Ideas to New Beginnings in Workplace Dynamics

07:55 - From Ladders to Lilypads

12:22 - Developing Future Skills and Talent Mobility

13:08 - Talent Mobility and Mentorship Programs in Siemens and Ubisoft

14:09 - Change Management and Managerial Mindset Shifts

15:31 - Elevating and Celebrating the Role of Managers

17:53 - Recognizing and Rewarding Managers

18:20 - L'Oreal's People Manager Town hall and Learning Development

19:17 - Managerial Challenges and Opportunities for Connection

19:39 - Practical Tools for Manager and Employee Engagement

21:04 - Maintaining Humanity in Leadership and Management

23:07 - Implementing Connection Strategies in Schools

24:29 - Key Takeaways from Erica's Book

26:48 - Vulnerability, Empathy, and Experimentation in Leadership

27:31 - Connecting with Erica and Closing Remarks

About HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.