On this special episode, recorded live at the CIPP’s (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) Annual Conference and Exhibition (CIPP ACE) in Newport, Wales, Pete sits down with Steve Elcock, Director of AI & HCM Product at Zellis, for a conversation on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of payroll and HR.

The two explore why payroll is the ultimate test case for trustworthy AI, and why future-ready organizations must invest in AI literacy, clean data, and standard operating models before expecting results.

Steve unpacks the real-world applications of AI in payroll, from data quality and model trust to embedded security and responsible automation, sharing how AI is bringing explainability and precision to one of the most risk-averse functions in business.

Together, they explore what it takes to move beyond the hype, discussing AI readiness, data scaffolding, sustainability, and why domain expertise will define the next generation of payroll innovation.

Connect with Steve:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-elcock-4b04a2/

Zellis: https://www.zellis.com/ 

About Zellis ELLA: https://www.zellis.com/software/ai-with-humanity/ 

Connect with the show:   

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

On this special episode recorded live at the CIPP’s (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) Annual Conference and Exhibition (CIPP ACE) in Newport, Wales, Pete catches up with HCM transformation and global payroll executive, Wendy Muirhead, Founding Partner of WH People!

From the shifting compliance landscape in the U.K., to the cultural and economic forces shaping payroll investment worldwide, Wendy shares the current climate and pulse across the marketplace as organizations strive to “do more with less” and unlock the hidden strategic value in modern payroll operations. 

Pete and Wendy explore how payroll leaders are earning a seat at the table, by mastering data, governance, and storytelling that moves the C-suite from “approval  to investment” - sharing how payroll leaders can step beyond execution to become strategic advisors, driving business outcomes through insight, collaboration, and influence at the C-suite level.

Together, they challenge the perception of payroll as a back-office function, spotlighting the profession’s evolution toward risk mitigation, business transformation, and strategic influence.

Connect with Wendy:

WH People: https://wh-people.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendymuirhead0980/ 

Connect with the show:   

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

On this special episode recorded live at the CIPP’s (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) Annual Conference and Exhibition (CIPP ACE) in Newport, Wales, Pete catches up with the world-famous duo behind the most recognized payroll recruiting brands in the world - JGA Recruitment co-founders and payroll evangelists Nick Day and Tom Coughton!

Together, they unpack the evolving payroll talent landscape, exploring how AI, hybrid work, and shifting expectations are reshaping the skills, leadership, and mindset required to thrive in modern payroll. 

From the global war for payroll talent to the rise of the Chief Payroll Officer and the paradigm-shifting concept of a “Chief Payroll Ethicist,” the trio dives into the importance of storytelling, trust, and leadership development in attracting the next generation of payroll professionals.

Packed with candid discussion and actionable advice, this episode challenges payroll and HR leaders alike to rethink the critical practice positioning in the organization and how they attract, retain, and empower the next generation of payroll professionals.

Connect with Nick and Tom:

JGA Recruitment: https://jgarecruitmentinc.com/

Nick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickday/ 

Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-croughton/ 

Connect with the show:   

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

On this special episode recorded live at the CIPP’s (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) Annual Conference and Exhibition (CIPP ACE) in Newport, Wales, Pete sits down with Jen Cozier, VP of Product Management for Workday Payroll, to unpack how AI, data, and orchestration are transforming the payroll experience. 

They explore why trust, data quality, and employee experience are shaping payroll’s position and impact for a new strategic era, and how modern payroll teams can elevate their strategic influence, attract new talent, and lead with innovation in what Pete has called the “golden age of payroll.”

Connect with Jen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jencozier/ 

Workday Payroll: https://www.workday.com/en-us/products/payroll/overview.html 

Pete’s recent e-book “From Cost Center to Strategic Partner: The ROI of Modern Payroll” in partnership with Workday: https://shorturl.at/MjlYn 

Connect with the show:   

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

On this special episode recorded live at the CIPP’s (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) Annual Conference and Exhibition (CIPP ACE) in Newport, Wales, Pete sits down with Samantha O’Sullivan, Policy Lead at the CIPP, to unpack the evolving role of payroll in shaping national policy and digital transformation.

They discuss the CIPP’s groundbreaking secondment with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), a first-of-its-kind partnership embedding a payroll leader directly inside government to help modernize the U.K.’s tax and payroll infrastructure. Samantha shares how this collaboration is redefining payroll’s strategic value, driving modernization of legacy systems, and bringing a practitioner’s voice into national transformation initiatives.

The conversation dives into why payroll must have a seat at the table - in both government and the C-suite - and how empathy, collaboration, and data-driven leadership are reshaping the profession. From payrolling benefits in kind to tackling the UK’s £475 billion tax landscape, this episode spotlights payroll’s power to influence policy, enhance compliance, and elevate its standing as a true strategic function.

Connect with Samantha:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-o-sullivan-mcippdip-policy-lead/

CIPP Website: https://www.cipp.org.uk/

Join the CIPP: https://www.cipp.org.uk/membership/join-online.html

Connect with the show:   

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

In this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Ed Tech expert and CEO of Integrity Advocate, Brandon Smith, to discuss career transitions and the current state and outlook for education technology. 

Brandon shares his remarkable journey from a dedicated law enforcement officer working undercover in narcotics to a C-suite leader in the educational technology sector. Brandon reveals how navigating the ethical dilemmas he encountered in law enforcement, including exposing corruption within his own department, and how those experiences fueled his passion for making a positive impact in the education sector, and led to a pivotal career change that reshaped his life.

Brandon shares his lens on the state of ed tech and highlights the pressing need for innovation in higher education.  He discusses how institutions are adapting to changing student demographics and the rise of microlearning, delving into the complexities of educational institutions and emphasizing the importance of understanding their unique cultures and the impact of new leadership on the adoption of technology. 

Plus, Brandon addresses the growing trend of students opting for alternative pathways to education, including skills-based certifications and online courses, and the role these play in shaping the future workforce.

Connect with Brandon:

Integrity Advocate: https://integrityadvocate.com/ 

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonasmith/

X: https://x.com/EdTechXperts 

Book: ‘The Silent Leader’: https://a.co/d/ftlfMKH

Ed TechExperts: https://edtechxperts.org/ 

[email protected] 

Connect with the show:

LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

Continuing in their Gen Z mindset series, Pete and Julie welcome Luke Powers, a recent college graduate who navigated the challenging transition from college intern to career professional in today's competitive job market.

Luke shares his journey as a middle child watching his siblings navigate their own career paths, offering a unique perspective on the pressures facing young professionals today.  His journey began with dual enrollment in high school, followed by Northeastern University's innovative co-op program, where he discovered his passion for data analytics and business intelligence.  

From securing multiple offers to facing the harsh reality of his chosen offer being rescinded, and how it ultimately led him to landing at E15 Group (part of Compass Group), where he now works on fan experience analytics for the Memphis Grizzlies. His journey illustrates the importance of agility, networking, and resilience in today's evolving workplace.

Connect with Luke:

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-powers1/

About E15 Group: https://www.e15group.com/

Connect with the show:

LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

In this episode, Pete and Julie welcome Monica Miller, SVP of Payroll and Workforce Strategy – an accomplished Payroll Executive, to the show to discuss how payroll is being redefined as a strategic driver of business outcomes at the Compass Group. 

Monica shares her unique journey from Navy intelligence officer to leading one of the world’s largest and most complex payroll operations. She reveals how Compass harmonized payroll and HR systems after decades of acquisitions, reduced payroll error rates, and built a data science team (including a chef turned data scientist) that unlocked new levels of accuracy, compliance, productivity, and business impact. 

Monica highlights how payroll data led to process improvement, cost savings and a seat at the executive table.  She highlights the critical impact of AI, from fraud detection to scheduling optimization, and how employee self-service and mobile access are transforming the workforce experience.

This episode offers a peek into the future of payroll as a strategic business partner, sharing powerful lessons from building a data-driven payroll Center of Excellence, scaling through automation, and gaining insights to position payroll at the heart of business impact! 

Connect with Monica: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-miller-53509882/

Monica’s Conversation with Pete on The Source by DailyPay: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/94-the-future-of-payroll-ai-analytics-and-agility/id1524098995?i=1000711162869 

Connect with the show:   

LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

In this episode, Pete and Julie welcome G-P’s Deputy General Counsel, Nicole Forbes, to the show to explore the controversial H-1B visa overhaul, its perceived "talent tariff” and what it means for business and HR professionals across sectors. 

They discuss the angst and impacts from the new executive order, the implications of the $100K filing fee, lottery reforms favoring higher wages, and ramped-up enforcement under ‘Project Firewall’. Nicole breaks down how these changes disrupt talent acquisition, especially in tech and engineering, and explores alternatives like Employer of Record (EOR) solutions for building global teams’ agility and risk avoidance. 

From legal challenges and worker anxieties to strategic advice for HR leaders navigating uncertainty, this discussion equips you with insights to rethink talent strategies and safeguard agility and innovation.  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleforbes-/

G-P: https://www.globalization-partners.com/

H1B Exec Order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/restriction-on-entry-of-certain-nonimmigrant-workers/

LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0  

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0

In this episode, Pete catches up with Ciaran Strachan, President of the Institute of Payroll Management (IPM) (formerly the Australian Workforce Compliance Council) for an update on his bold vision and the progress made since his visit to the show in 2024.

Cairan provides updates on the progress and ongoing work by the IPM to designate payroll as a standalone industry, a key driver for the development of a universal Payroll Body of Knowledge (BOK) currently underway at the IPM, and the push to create formal payroll degrees and certifications with university credentialing.  

Pete and Ciaran discuss the differentiator in “payroll relations” and not employee relations governing payroll, and the need for payroll relations as a formal role. They also discuss the politics and headwinds the IPM faces in repositioning payroll in Australia, and explore payroll’s path to and case for C-suite representation. 

Plus, why is it time for a global standard for payroll education and a central global consortium to bring the payroll knowledge and education entities of the world together, and how the IMF is leading the way!

Connect with Ciaran and the IPM:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-strachan-mba/

AWCC LinkedIn (Follow for updates on the IPM): https://www.linkedin.com/company/awccltd/

LinkedIn post referenced: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7355421210815451136/ 

Episode of HR & Payroll 2.0 featuring Ciaran (2024): ‘Payroll Is Coming to the C-Suite’

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/payroll-is-coming-to-the-c-suite-with-special-guest/id1643933833?i=1000651189689

Connect with the show:   

LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/company/hr-payroll-2-0 

X: @HRPayroll2_0 @PeteTiliakos @JulieFer_HR

BlueSky: @hrpayroll2o.bsky.social 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HRPAYROLL2_0