HR Leaders

In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, Mechelle Monroe, former Global Chief People Officer for WPP Open X, Team Coca-Cola at WPP, explores how people leaders can support others without losing touch with what they need themselves.

Mechelle breaks emotional resilience into practical habits, including scheduled emotional maintenance, conscious breathing, honest self-talk, protected meals, movement, reflection, and knowing when to say no. She also explains how naming an emotion, questioning the story behind it, and creating a clear end to the working day can stop difficult moments from following leaders home.

As work becomes faster and more technical, emotional intelligence and emotional resilience become more valuable, not less. For leaders carrying other people’s stress, the real question is not how much more they can absorb, but whether they have built the capacity to pause, recover, and keep showing up well.

🎓 In this episode, Mechelle discusses:

1. How to challenge your internal story by naming emotions, asking yourself better questions, and looking for evidence
2. Why emotional resilience matters alongside emotional intelligence when leaders are facing constant pressure and change
3. How to stop carrying difficult conversations home by creating physical and mental transitions at the end of the working day
4. The small warning sign that your emotional reserve is depleted, even before you realize how much pressure you are carrying
5. What emotional maintenance looks like in practice, from protecting lunch and reflection time to consciously breathing and knowing when to say no

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, 365 Talents

Download the free toolkit and get your 2026 skills strategy moving faster → https://365talents.com/en/lp/hr-skills-strategy-toolkit/?utm_source=hr_leaders&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=july_2026

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 had an inspiring conversation with Jennifer M. Bales, Chief Human Resources Officer at Shearwater Health, to unpack how HR leaders can build culture, scale talent, and use AI without losing the human behind the work.

Jennifer shares how Shearwater Health is connecting values, frontline employees, clinical talent, leadership development, engagement data, and employee storytelling across the US, India, and the Philippines. With more than 5,000 employees in the Philippines alone, she explains why building one shared culture takes more than posters, surveys, or slogans.

Most importantly, Jennifer explains why the future of healthcare work is not about replacing people with technology. It is about helping clinicians work at the top of their license, reducing administrative burden, strengthening leadership capability, and remembering that behind every metric is a real person.

🎓 In this episode, Jennifer discusses:

1. Why there is always a person behind every data point
2. Why AI should help clinicians work at the top of their license
3. Why leadership development, coaching quality, and 90-day retention are key culture metrics
4. How Shearwater is building nursing talent pipelines through academies and hospital partnerships
5. How Shearwater Health built values with input from employees across the US, India, and the Philippines

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, 365 Talents

Download the free toolkit and get your 2026 skills strategy moving faster → https://365talents.com/en/lp/hr-skills-strategy-toolkit/?utm_source=hr_leaders&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=july_2026

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 had an inspiring conversation with Lisa Yankie, Chief HR Officer at Odyssey Logistics, to unpack why the future of HR is not just about AI, technology, or transformation. It is about solving the right problems with the right people in the room.

Lisa shares how her own journey, from humble beginnings to leadership across manufacturing, financial services, and mid-sized companies, shaped the way she leads today. Her experience gave her a broader lens on business, resilience, empathy, courage, and the value of taking chances when others open the door.

Most importantly, Lisa explains why HR must stop acting like an afterthought. In her words, human capital is the business. As AI changes work, HR has a bigger role to play as the glue across functions, the challenger of old assumptions, and the function that helps organizations stay human while moving faster.

🎓 In this episode, Lisa discusses:

1. Why leaders should focus on outcomes, not busy work
2. How values help teams make better decisions during change
3. Why human-forward AI matters more than technology-first transformation
4. How HR can become the glue that connects functions around business problems
5. Why curiosity, courage, and asking better questions may become the real future skills

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, 365 Talents

Download the free toolkit and get your 2026 skills strategy moving faster → https://365talents.com/en/lp/hr-skills-strategy-toolkit/?utm_source=hr_leaders&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=july_2026

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 had an inspiring conversation with Ciara Harrington (Barry), Chief People Officer at Skillsoft, to unpack why the shift from jobs to skills is finally becoming real.

Ciara explains why HR can no longer rely only on job architecture, job descriptions, and traditional role design. As AI agents enter the workforce, leaders need to think differently about the unit of work, what skills are needed, and whether that work should be done by a human, an agent, or a combination of both.

Most importantly, Ciara shares how Skillsoft is making skills practical inside the business, from leadership skills and hiring decisions, to nine-box talent reviews, performance conversations, AI adoption, and helping leaders move faster without waiting for the perfect system.

🎓 In this episode, Ciara discusses:

1. How to think about the unit of work, not just the job title
2. The five leadership skills Skillsoft is prioritizing during transformation
3. Why skills are becoming the foundation for human and AI work design
4. Why leaders need to stop waiting for the perfect skills model before starting
5. How Skillsoft is embedding skills into hiring, talent reviews, and leadership decisions

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, 365 Talents

Download the free toolkit and get your 2026 skills strategy moving faster → https://365talents.com/en/lp/hr-skills-strategy-toolkit/?utm_source=hr_leaders&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=july_2026

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 had an inspiring conversation with Björn Axelsson, EVP and CHRO at Sandvik, to unpack how one of Sweden’s largest industrial technology companies is changing the way people think about mining, manufacturing, AI, sustainability, and future talent.

Björn explains why mining is one of the most misunderstood industries in the talent market. Many people still picture it as old-fashioned, unsafe, or disconnected from the future, when in reality Sandvik has been working with autonomous vehicles, connected fleets, electrified equipment, digital mining, software, and AI-powered solutions for years.

Most importantly, Björn shares how Sandvik is building a future-ready workforce by investing in STEM talent, early careers, mining academies, global mobility, employee-led storytelling, AI adoption, and local communities, all while helping customers access the minerals needed for the green transition.

🎓 In this episode, Björn discusses:

1. Why mining is one of the most misunderstood career paths for young talent
2. Why employee-led storytelling is helping show the real future of industrial work
3. How Sandvik uses autonomous vehicles, electrification, and AI across its business
4. How Sandvik builds talent through 15 mining academies, graduate programs, and leadership pathways
5. Why STEM talent becomes more interested in mining when they understand its role in the green transition

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist

Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026

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 had an inspiring conversation with Arun Serikar, VP, HR Technology, Digital Platforms & AI Innovation, Corp Functions at Schneider Electric, to unpack what it really takes to simplify HR technology, scale AI, and build a better employee experience across a global enterprise.

Arun shares how Schneider Electric went from 545 HR applications to 303, reducing tech debt, breaking regional silos, and building stronger governance around the tools, data, and platforms used across the business. He explains why employees are not looking for the “best system”, they are looking for fewer systems that actually work together.

Most importantly, Arun breaks down how Schneider Electric is using AI to move HR from a back-office function to an intelligence layer for the enterprise, from internal chatbots and ticket reduction, to performance review AI assistance, agentic workflows, and a future where employees can complete tasks without jumping between systems.

🎓 In this episode, Arun discusses:

1. Why employees want fewer systems, not more “best-in-class” tools
2. How AI is reducing HR tickets and improving employee service at scale
3. Why Schneider Electric reduced its HR tech stack from 545 applications to 303
4. Why governance, data quality, and integration matter more than buying more tools
5. How agentic AI could reshape HR workflows, manager support, and employee experience

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist

Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026

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, we sit down with Dr. Marcus Collins, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker and Professor at University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, to unpack why culture is the most powerful force shaping human behavior, inside and outside organizations.

Marcus explains why most companies misunderstand culture by reducing it to slogans, rituals, values, or “how we do things around here.” In reality, culture starts with how people think, what they believe, how they make meaning, and what behaviors those shared beliefs produce.

Most importantly, he reveals why the future of work will not be won by technology alone. It will be won by organizations that understand the culture of work, align the front stage and backstage of the business, and build environments where people are truly connected to the beliefs, behaviors, and conviction behind the work.

🎓 In this episode, Marcus discusses:

1. Why purpose is weaker than conviction
2. How beliefs shape behaviors inside organizations
3. Why culture is more than “how we do things around here”
4. Why the future of work will be cultural, not just technological
5. How companies accidentally confuse data with real human understanding

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist

Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026

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

Welcome to Work in Progress with Chris and Keyanna, your weekly workplace news hit, but with less corporate waffle, more real talk, and the occasional “wait… are we allowed to say that?” moment.

All in under 10 minutes.

No jargon. No doom-mongering. No pretending everything is fine when clearly… it is not.

🧪 Episode 1: The AI Pressure Test

This week's big theme?

AI is testing every leader right now.

• Not just your tech strategy.
• Not just your HR roadmap.
• Not just your shiny new tools.

It is testing whether your people actually know what to do with AI, whether HR is in the room where decisions are being made, and whether leaders can explain the value they bring when AI starts doing the admin faster, cheaper and with fewer coffee breaks.s.

Here's what we get into:

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 had an inspiring conversation with Kelly Costanza, Chief People Officer at CAVA, to unpack how one of the fastest-growing restaurant brands is turning culture, hospitality, and frontline careers into a real business advantage.

Kelly shares why culture cannot just be a word on a wall. At CAVA, culture is operationalized through values, competencies, recognition, career pathways, frontline listening, stock grants, mental health benefits, and leadership rituals that make the employee experience feel just as intentional as the guest experience.

Most importantly, Kelly explains how CAVA is building a place where people can have a career, not just a job, from hourly team members growing into general managers, to leaders staying connected to the restaurants through shoulder-to-shoulder service, town halls, and practical feedback from the frontline.

🎓 In this episode, Kelly discusses:

1. How CAVA turns culture into everyday operating practices
2. Why frontline careers are central to CAVA’s origin story and growth strategy
3. Why support center leaders work in restaurants every quarter to stay close to the frontline
4. How values like generosity first always show up in benefits, recognition, and guest experience
5. How CAVA is building career pathways through Flavor Your Future, stock grants, and leadership development

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist

Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026

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, we sit down with Anju Choudhary, Chief People Officer at Xoxoday, to unpack why burnout is not just a wellbeing problem, but a work design and change design problem.

Anju explains why organizations often treat burnout as an individual resilience issue, when the real problem is often the way teams are overloaded with unclear priorities, constant change, weak manager support, and poor recognition systems. She shares why leaders need to stop rewarding unsustainable hustle and start designing cultures where people can perform, grow, and recover without burning out.

Most importantly, Anju breaks down the practical ways HR leaders can reduce burnout, build trust, and create healthier performance cultures, from clearer feedback and better change management, to manager enablement, recognition, AI coaching, team playbooks, and reward strategies that actually connect to the lived employee experience.

🎓 In this episode, Anju discusses:

1. How unclear change creates cognitive overload for teams
2. Why burnout is a design issue, not just a resilience problem
3. Why leaders must stop rewarding unsustainable hustle behaviors
4. Why managers need better support for crucial conversations and change
5. How recognition and feedback shape the culture employees actually experience

🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist

Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026

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