In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Stephan Meier, Professor at Columbia Business School and author of The Employee Advantage, to explore how employee-centric strategies are reshaping the workplace.

Stephan shares how behavioral economics, employee experience, and business strategy intersect, and why treating employees like customers creates competitive advantage.

🎓 In this episode, Stephan discusses:

1. The myth of the purely rational worker
2. Why employees are the new customers
3. Why ping pong tables don’t fix toxic cultures
4. How personalization transforms engagement
5. Lessons from customer-centricity applied to employee experience

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In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Joel Podolny, CEO of Honor Education and former Dean of Apple University, to explore how learning, collaboration, and organizational culture intersect.

Joel shares insights from building Apple University, why collaboration is a contact sport, and how to design learning experiences that foster trust, feedback, and innovation.

🎓 In this episode, Joel discusses:

1. Why collaboration should be a "contact sport"
2. The role of organizational design in innovation
3. How to scale learning without losing engagement
4. Building Apple University and lessons from Steve Jobs
5. The future of personalized, collective learning using AI

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In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Carmen Barboza, PHR, CPCC, Chief Human Resources Officer at Crowell & Moring, to explore how clarity, curiosity, and courage are shaping the future of HR leadership.

Carmen shares how her coaching background influences her leadership style, how she builds trust during uncertainty, and why direct conversations can transform workplace culture.

🎓 In this episode, Carmen discusses:

1. How radical candor and trust fuel innovation
2. Leading through uncertainty with transparency
3. Why clarity is kindness in leadership communication
4. Building resilience through self-awareness and reflection
5. Creating safe, curious cultures with strong coaching practices

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 Jenni Kovach, Chief People Officer, and Adam Luck, CISM CISSP, Senior Director at IGS Energy, to explore how HR and IT can co-create AI strategies that drive real employee value.

They reveal how a human-first approach to AI governance, internal AI tools like ChatGPT, and cross-functional trust helped build engagement, not fear, around technology.

🎓 In this episode, Jenni and Adam discuss:

1. Why AI strategy must be human-first, not tech-first
2. How to build psychological safety during AI rollouts
3. Why optional adoption builds stronger engagement
4. The importance of cross-functional AI steering committees
5. How internal AI tools are helping scale upskilling and productivity

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 Helene Hasselskog, Chief Human Resources Officer at Sweco, to explore how leadership alignment, cultural awareness, and talent scarcity are shaping the future of engineering organizations.

Helene shares Sweco's journey toward a joint leadership philosophy, the challenges of balancing performance with care, and how the company is navigating one of the toughest hiring markets in Europe.

🎓 In this episode, Helene discusses:

1. Addressing the talent shortage in engineering
2. Balancing performance with empathy in leadership
3. Aligning leadership around shared values and purpose
4. Cultural differences and leadership styles across borders
5. Upskilling, acquisitions, and internal development strategies

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 speak with Emilee F. DeMartino, International Chief People Officer for International Markets at McDonald's, about building a culture of care, leveraging technology to transform HR, and leading with empathy across a global workforce.

Emilee highlights the importance of meaningful recognition, the role of predictive analytics in workforce planning, and how digital innovation is reshaping employee experience at scale.

🎓 In this episode, Emilee discusses:

1. Balancing empathy with strategic decision-making
2. Using predictive analytics for workforce optimization
3. Creating and maintaining a culture of care and recognition
4. How digital transformation enhances employee experiences
5. The role of meaningful community connections and partnerships

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 speak with Anisha Thomas, Head of People at Inscribe AI, about balancing empathy and strategic leadership in fast-growing startups.

Anisha shares the emotional challenge of executing a reduction in force (RIF), leveraging AI agents for workforce efficiency and innovation, and discusses how transparent communication builds stronger trust within leadership teams. She also explores the evolving landscape of HR amid rapid technological advancements.

🎓 In this episode, Anisha discusses:

1. Building trust and rapport in leadership teams
2. Leveraging AI agents for enhanced organizational efficiency
3. Balancing empathy and strategic decisions in HR leadership
4. Lessons learned from conducting a Reduction in Force (RIF)
5. The evolving role of HR amidst rapid technological advancement

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 speak with Jeanette Winters, Chief Human Resource Officer at 8x8, about building resilient HR strategies that balance agility, transparency, and authenticity.

Jeanette shares her unique insights on leadership consistency, the critical role of lifelong learning, and why transparency, especially in times of uncertainty, is essential for trust and engagement.

🎓 In this episode, Jeanette discusses:

1. Why consistency in leadership matters
2. Integrating HR strategies directly into business objectives
3. Maintaining transparency and authenticity in uncertain times
4. The power of lifelong learning in driving competitive advantage
5. Creating meaningful connections to enhance employee engagement

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 Neeraj Tandon, Head of People Insights and Analytics at Syngenta Group, to discuss how predictive analytics, cultural transformation, and employee insights are reshaping HR strategies.

Neeraj shares impactful stories and practical approaches from his experience at Novartis and Philips, highlighting how analytics can dramatically improve employee retention, business outcomes, and overall organizational effectiveness.

🎓 In this episode, Neeraj discusses:

1. Moving beyond PowerPoints to actionable analytics
2. How Novartis measured cultural transformation and its ROI
3. Using predictive models to improve retention at Philips
4. How analytics revealed critical sales and marketing connections
5. Productizing HR analytics to drive tangible results

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 Udayan Dutt, Vice President of HR at Reckitt, to discuss how leadership, culture, and employee wellbeing can coexist effectively in an entrepreneurial and high-performance environment.

Udayan shares insights from his extensive HR career, detailing Reckitt's journey of cultural transformation and how key leadership behaviors drive sustainable growth and innovation.

🎓 In this episode, Udayan discusses:

1. Reckitt’s cultural transformation journey
2. Essential leadership behaviors: Own, Create, Care, Deliver
3. Balancing entrepreneurial mindset with employee wellbeing
4. Building psychological safety within a high-performance culture
5. Leveraging meaningful employee benefits to drive engagement

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