Leading Through Uncertainty: Brunswick’s CHRO on AI, Frontline Talent, and a “Next Never Rest” Culture

Summary

How do you keep a 15,000-person, global, frontline-heavy workforce aligned when tariffs, interest rates, and tech shifts won’t sit still?

Jill Wrobel, Chief Human Resources Officer at Brunswick—parent to 60+ marine brands including Mercury Marine and Freedom Boat Club—shares how the company navigates uncertainty with a continuous improvement mindset they call “Next Never Rest.”

Jill breaks down what’s unique about HR in a cyclical, manufacturing-and-services business that spans welders and machinists to electrification engineers and digital product teams.

She details Brunswick’s “business system” approach to standardizing processes, using Lean Six Sigma and design thinking, and where AI and automation create outsized impact—from Microsoft Copilot for communications to an AI-driven tariff model and AutoCaptain, which can dock a boat at the push of a button while distinguishing a person from a leaf.

Jill also gets candid about the weight HR teams carry—context switching, coaching leaders, and rising expectations—and how she’s scaling HR’s impact with hackathons, smarter prioritization, and a stronger coaching stance so leaders truly lead.

Timestamps

[00:45] – Guest intro: Brunswick’s $5B portfolio, 60+ brands, and global footprint (Freedom Boat Club in 425+ locations)

[02:56] – The core challenge: operating through uncertainty—rates, tariffs, cyclical demand

[04:05] – Mindset matters: control what you can, “power of yet,” and resilience in a changing world

[05:57] – A diverse workforce: welders to electrification engineers to e-commerce and app teams

[09:28] – “Next Never Rest”: Brunswick’s business system, Lean Six Sigma, and design thinking

[10:58] – Practical AI: AutoCaptain auto-docking, Copilot for comms, and an AI model for tariff analysis

[14:13] – Why this is HR’s moment: HR as business leaders enabling humans + machines

[16:02] – Scaling HR: reducing workload, hackathons, automation, and coaching managers to lead

[19:01] – Protecting the team: mental health, boundaries, and sustaining energy

Takeaways

- Build a continuous improvement culture—standardize definitions, map end-to-end processes, and empower teams to iterate.

- Prioritize AI where it tackles the biggest business problems (e.g., tariff modeling, safety-critical automation) before chasing “nice to haves.”

- Equip HR to scale: run hackathons, automate repeat work, and share solutions globally to avoid reinventing the wheel.

- Coach managers to lead—HR adds leverage by enabling leaders, not owning every decision.

- Leverage practical tools now: use Copilot/GenAI for clearer communications, planning, and analysis to reclaim time.

- Support HR well-being: reduce context switching, set boundaries, and normalize recovery so the team can sustain high-impact work.

Sponsor

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations.

It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

AI Readiness, Career Paths, and Ruthless Prioritization: Spring Venture Group’s CPO on Leading Through Change

Summary

How do you prepare people for AI, grow careers without forcing everyone into management, and reduce overwhelm in a world of endless priorities?

Burke Walker, Chief People Officer at Spring Venture Group—and veteran HR leader at Sprint, H&R Block, Applebee’s, and North American Savings Bank—shares practical playbooks for modern people leadership.

He explains why HR is a transferable craft across industries, how to demystify AI with education and trust-building, and why the direct leader is the single biggest driver of culture and engagement.

Burke details dual career paths that elevate high-impact individual contributors alongside managers, plus a simple effort-versus-impact lens for prioritizing the work that truly moves the needle.

Expect concrete, repeatable practices: company-wide AI upskilling, leadership development that equips managers to coach careers, and planning rhythms that favor doing fewer things, better.

Timestamps

[00:45] – Career journey: Sprint, H&R Block, Applebee’s, NASB, and landing at Spring Venture Group

[02:34] – What SVG does (Medicare enrollment) and why HR skills transfer across industries

[04:15] – Two big challenges: AI’s rise and the push for career progression

[05:06] – Preparing people for AI: education over fear, trust, and personal vs. enterprise tools

[09:21] – Culture starts with the direct leader: building managers who coach and communicate

[10:49] – Dual career paths: management tracks and high-impact individual contributors

[13:34] – Overwhelm at work: prioritization, effort vs. impact, and managing change load

[18:28] – Planning season tactics: quarterly resets, focus on the vital few, enhance before net-new

Takeaways

- Demystify AI: educate every employee, clarify use cases, and communicate how data and tools will be used to build trust.

- Train leaders to coach careers: invest in leadership development so managers can run effective talent and promotion conversations.

- Create dual career ladders: reward expert individual contributors as robustly as managers to keep growth non-linear and inclusive.

- Prioritize with an effort-impact lens: say no to good ideas that dilute focus; do fewer initiatives, done exceptionally well.

- Manage change saturation: limit concurrent rollouts, repeat key messages, and account for the time teams need to adopt.

- Run regular priority resets: monthly/quarterly reviews to narrow to the top 4–5 initiatives and optimize existing programs before starting new ones.

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations.

It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

From Big Tech to Staffing: Hays’ CPO on Accountability, HR Wellness, and Practical AI

Summary

The recruiting world is transforming at high speed—AI is reshaping workflows while markets stay volatile.

How do you keep teams resilient and deliver results?

Jess Smith, Chief People Officer, Americas at Hays (formerly at AWS, Amazon, and Meta), shares how Big Tech agility translates to a global staffing leader with 10,000+ employees across 23 countries. Jess breaks down how Hays is building “the Hays of the future” in the Americas—rethinking org design and tooling while putting people first.

She outlines an accountability-first culture with above/below-the-line thinking to create stability in constant change, how managers coach teams from finger-pointing to ownership, and why HR must protect its energy during emotionally heavy transformations.

On AI, Jess gets practical: balancing budget cuts with expectations, piloting over promises, guarding candidate experience, and planning for training, prompt fluency, and time-to-value. E

xpect usable coaching prompts, an AI evaluation checklist, and clear guidance for HR leaders navigating relentless change.

Timestamps

[00:45] – Guest intro: Big Tech lessons, “human capital strategist,” and agility in action

[01:59] – Inside Hays: global footprint, Americas growth, and services from placements to RPO/MSP

[03:36] – Navigating constant change and AI’s impact on recruiting

[05:34] – Building an ownership culture: accountability and above/below-the-line thinking (and how to coach it)

[08:13] – Protecting the people team: HR wellness and emotional labor in transformations

[11:06] – Practical AI in HR: expectations, budget pressure, and what to pilot now

[13:41] – How to evaluate AI tools: candidate experience, training needs, and time-to-value

[18:41] – Parting advice: self-care amid a once-in-a-generation shift

Takeaways

- Build accountability with above/below-the-line thinking to create stability during change.

- Coach teams from blame to action: What did you want to happen? What could you do differently? What’s your next step?

- Protect HR’s energy—plan workloads around high-emotion moments and normalize recovery.

- Set realistic AI expectations: pilot with clear success criteria, especially under budget constraints.

- Evaluate AI on experience, readiness, risk/compliance, training and prompt fluency required, and true time-to-value.

- Teach ambiguity tolerance and role clarity so teams can pivot without losing momentum.

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations. It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.

See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

Communicating Through Volatility: IAC’s CHRO on AI, Safety, and Frontline Culture

Summary

When production volumes swing and electrification reshapes the auto industry, how do you keep frontline teams informed, confident, and aligned?

Paula Slater, Chief Human Resources Officer at International Automotive Components (IAC Group), a Tier 1 interiors supplier with 12,000 employees across North America and Europe, shares a practical playbook for leading through uncertainty.

She explains why supervisors—not slide decks—are the true carriers of culture, and how IAC is building manager communication muscles with high-touch development, clear behavioral expectations, and accountability that cascades from the C-suite to the plant floor.

Paula details how onsite leadership reinforces a safety-first foundation and recognition habits that stick. She also breaks down AI in manufacturing—back-office vs. in-process applications, why clean data and parameters matter, the ROI in quality and scrap reduction, and the realities of funding and cybersecurity.

The conversation closes on trust, reskilling, and why HR’s human skills—empathy, listening, and emotional intelligence—are the differentiator in the AI era, plus a reminder to put on your own oxygen mask first.

Timestamps

[00:45] – IAC overview: Tier 1 interiors supplier, global footprint, and workforce makeup

[02:25] – Electrification and unstable volumes: why over-communication is essential

[06:30] – Reaching non-desk workers: supervisors as primary communicators and culture carriers

[08:50] – Building manager capability: high-touch supervisor development and cascading accountability

[10:43] – Onsite presence that matters: safety as culture bedrock and recognition on the floor

[12:59] – AI in manufacturing: back-office vs. in-process, data quality, and ROI in quality outcomes

[15:58] – Speed vs. security: funding constraints, university partnerships, and cybersecurity guardrails

[18:12] – Trust, reskilling, and HR’s evolving role: leading with empathy amid constant change

[22:44] – Parting advice: self-care for HR leaders—the oxygen mask principle

Takeaways

- Over-communicate context and repeat messages through supervisors—the most trusted channel for frontline teams.

- Cascade culture via modeled behaviors and clear accountability from executives to plant leaders.

- Build supervisor capability with high-touch development: standard core content, local facilitation, and real feedback loops.

- Make safety the non-negotiable foundation and recognize visible wins during onsite visits.

- Pilot AI where data is strongest; define parameters, measure quality ROI, and balance speed with cybersecurity.

- Lead reskilling with transparency and empathy; strengthen emotional intelligence—and protect your own capacity first.

Sponsor

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place.

No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations.

It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

Change People Can Absorb: Curana Health’s CPO on AI, Compliance, and Product‑Minded HR

Summary

How do you lead a frontline care workforce through constant change—without burning them out?

Valentina Gissin, Chief People Officer at Curana Health, shares how her team improves care for seniors while helping 2,000+ providers embrace change, work smarter, and stay focused on patients.

She explains why the real limiter isn’t your roadmap—it’s how much change your organization can metabolize—and how she creates capacity by carving out paid time for providers to preview what’s coming and understand the “why.”

Valentina breaks down a pragmatic AI strategy that keeps clinicians in their “genius zone” with just‑in‑time guidance (not decisions), and reframes compliance as a design feature, not a blocker.

She also discusses the expanding remit of modern people teams—acting like business operators with P&L fluency—and how to navigate today’s messy HR tech market by thinking like a product leader and building before buying. Expect clear, field-tested tactics for change adoption, AI enablement, and resourcing people teams to do more with less.

Timestamps

[00:45] – Guest intro: Curana Health’s model, mission, and frontline provider workforce

[01:51] – The challenge: startup velocity, uncertainty, and reframing change for clinicians

[04:35] – Measuring “capacity for change”: time studies, prioritization, and creating flex

[05:58] – Creating paid time to absorb change and arming leaders with a clear “why”

[07:54] – Practical AI: keeping providers in their genius zone with just‑in‑time best practices

[10:50] – Compliance as a feature: HIPAA, “code as law,” and why digitization increases rigor

[12:49] – Doing more with less: CPO as business operator, KPIs, and nontraditional HR talent

[16:20] – HR tech strategy: build before you buy, product mindset, and what to look for in vendors

[19:45] – Parting advice: self‑care, curiosity, and designing from first principles

Takeaways

- Audit your org’s capacity for change; run time studies and pace initiatives to what teams can absorb.

- Create paid, protected time for employees to preview changes and internalize the “why.”

- Use AI to surface just‑in‑time guidance so experts spend more time on care, less on admin.

- Treat compliance as a design constraint and advantage—build rules into technology workflows.

- Evolve people teams into business operators: tie HR work to company KPIs and P&L outcomes.

- Think like a product leader: prototype AI automations, prefer built‑in features, and only buy tools that solve clearly defined problems.

Sponsor

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations.

It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

Caring for the Caregivers: UAB Medicine’s CHRO on High‑Stakes HR, Recognition at Scale, and AI‑Powered Hiring

Summary

When your organization is the primary destination for critical care, how do you support the people who support patients—without breaking under pressure?

John Petrov, Chief Human Resources Officer at UAB Medicine, leads HR for a 1,300+ bed academic medical center and a statewide health system employing 37,000 people.

He shares what HR looks like in the second-most regulated industry in the U.S., from building rock-solid frontline leader relationships to removing roadblocks that delay care.

John reframes “housekeeping” as infection prevention, breaks down why volume and environment shape patient experience, and details how UAB equips caregivers through rigorous onboarding, ongoing competencies, wellness incentives, and 24/7 support.

He also unveils “Applause,” a system-wide recognition platform, and the feedback engine behind 83% engagement survey participation.

Finally, John explains how UAB is using Phenom’s AI to automate recruiting workflows, accelerate candidate connections, and free teams to focus on the human moments that matter closing with two simple leadership principles that travel across industries.

Timestamps

[00:45] – UAB Medicine’s footprint: academic medical center, statewide hospitals, and CHRO scope

[03:00] – High-stakes reality: healthcare as the #2 most regulated industry and why it matters

[05:02] – Supporting caregivers: frontline leader relationships, clearing barriers, and EVS as infection prevention

[08:01] – Collaboration challenges: personalities, ER volume, and the ripple effects on patient experience

[11:15] – Nurturing the workforce: onboarding, annual competencies, EAP, and wellness incentives

[13:20] – Recognition that sticks: launching “Applause” for peer-to-peer points and milestones

[15:40] – Real feedback loops: 83% engagement, action plans, town halls, and transparent “not now”

[19:25] – AI in talent acquisition: Phenom to source, schedule, and speed up candidate connection

[21:55] – What AI changes: less transactional work, more time to sell mission, values, and culture

[23:53] – Parting advice: do all you can for your people; make a positive difference

Takeaways

- Strengthen frontline leader-caregiver relationships and remove barriers that delay care.

- Treat environmental services as critical infection prevention, not just “housekeeping.”

- Close the feedback loop: drive high engagement, publish action plans, and explain the “why” behind decisions.

- Incentivize preventive health to boost wellbeing and contain benefit costs.

- Recognize often and publicly—use a scalable, peer-to-peer platform tied to values and milestones.

- Automate recruiting workflows with AI to accelerate candidate engagement and redirect recruiter time to high-impact conversations.

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance

conversations. It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.

See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

Leading Through Uncertainty: AvidXchange’s CPO on Visible Leadership, AI as Input, and the Power of Human Connection

When uncertainty lingers, decision-making slows and performance suffers.
Todd Cunningham, Chief People Officer at AvidXchange, brings 38 years of HR leadership across Fortune 50 enterprises, mid-sized organizations, and high-growth startups.

Having sat “in every seat” of the HR function, he’s spent the last 11 years helping AvidXchange (a 26-year-old fintech with ~$500M in revenue) deepen its culture and elevate performance.

From Charlotte HQ, where employees intentionally create “collisions” Tue–Thu, Todd explains why leading through ambiguity is a must-have skill and how to be the lighthouse: manage your own mindset, be visible and vulnerable, and re-anchor teams on clear priorities.

He argues that AI isn’t replacing human connection it’s amplifying the need for it. With 2x the volume of AI-generated job applications, AvidXchange is doubling down on human sourcing and referrals, while using AI as an input (not an output) in HR: benefits Q&A, targeted engagement follow-ups, and manager coaching avoiding “cognitive laziness” and hallucinations.

Todd closes with a reminder that deep, trusting relationships are the ultimate performance advantage—and now is the moment to turn uncertainty into competitive distance.

Timestamps

[00:45] – Company and role: AvidXchange’s growth, Charlotte HQ, hybrid rhythm, and “collisions”

[02:30] – The performance cost of prolonged uncertainty: caution, risk-taking, and decision speed

[05:26] – Leading through ambiguity: be the lighthouse; watch the stories you tell yourself

[07:55] – Visible and vulnerable leadership: engage openly, clarify priorities, create advantage

[10:24] – AI at AvidXchange: embrace curiosity; why tech is reinforcing human connection

[11:40] – Recruiting in the AI era: resume deluge, back to human prospecting, input vs. output

[15:15] – HR’s seat at the AI table: guardrails, training, and practical use cases in HR

[17:50] – Reducing recency bias and scaling fairness with AI—plus the human check on hallucinations

[20:06] – Final lens: performance is built on deep, trusting relationships

Takeaways

• Lead through ambiguity be the calm, visible “lighthouse” your team needs.
• Challenge the stories you tell yourself; model vulnerability to invite real dialogue.
• Re-anchor teams on a short list of priorities and why they matter to sustain performance.
• Treat AI as an input, not an output avoid cognitive laziness and add human judgment.
• Put HR at the AI strategy table; set ethics, train the org, and enable practical adoption.
• Rediscover the human edge: source through referral

Sponsor

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations.

It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.

See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

Feeling the pressure of AI acceleration, talent gaps, and organizational change fatigue?

The Hackett Group® AI XPLR™ tool helps organizations identify and evaluate AI opportunities at the work-step level across the front, middle and back office – including agentic workflow designs and ROI forecast.

Discover the tool here: https://www.thehackettgroup.com/ai-xplr/

Harry Osle, Chief Human Resources Officer at The Hackett Group, offers a clear, practical roadmap.

With 1,400+ employees, 300 global contractors, and 28 years helping the world’s leading companies benchmark and transform talent, finance, and operations, Harry brings a rare, dual-lens perspective: advising global enterprises on transformation—while leading it inside his own organization.

Harry shares how HR’s role is shifting from “policy and support” to architecting change velocity ensuring organizations evolve internally fast enough to keep pace with the market. He breaks down what reskilling looks like in practice, how to design learning that people actually engage with, and why education must be treated as an ongoing investment, not a compliance checkbox.

Expect specifics: how Hackett gamified continuous learning, how they identify internal “momentum carriers” to champion AI adoption, and why their first AI automation was intentionally small—birthday and anniversary announcements—to test governance, trust, and workflow readiness before tackling more strategic functions.

Harry also shares a grounded framework for assessing AI use cases, evaluating build-vs-buy decisions, and sequencing change so teams don’t get overwhelmed. And he closes with a powerful reminder: the future of work may be digital—but thriving in it is deeply human.

Timestamps

[00:42] – Who The Hackett Group serves and how they use benchmarking + IP to drive transformation
[02:01] – The new challenge: external change velocity vs. internal readiness
[03:42] – Tactics to stay ahead: reskilling, daily learning, and education as strategic infrastructure
[05:33] – Designing learning that sticks: gamification, chapter pacing, and fresh curriculum
[08:28] – Harnessing internal enthusiasts as AI champions and cultural accelerators
[09:55] – Hackett’s AI Explorer: mapping where AI fits in real workflows
[12:04] – Starting small: automating birthday + anniversary workflows to test trust + governance
[14:56] – Why some AI pilots fail—and how to evaluate “right-sized” opportunities
[17:53] – Operational use cases where AI unlocks the fastest ROI
[19:39] – Harry’s closing insight: balancing tech progress with deeply human leadership

Takeaways

- HR’s role is to reduce the gap between external change and internal capability.Treat education as strategic infrastructure, not a cost center.

- Gamify and refresh learning to keep employees curious and engaged.

- Start AI with small, low-risk, high-volume workflows to build confidence and governance maturity.

- Identify internal “momentum builders” to champion change from within.

- The future of work is not only digital—it’s human-centered transformation at scale.

Sponsor

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations.

It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.

See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

Wrestling with AI hype, budget pressure, and messy HR workflows?

Kelley Morse, Chief People Officer at Bullhorn—the market leader powering 10,000+ staffing and recruitment firms—offers a grounded blueprint.

With 25+ years in market, 1,300 employees, and an AI-forward product (Amplify), Kelley shares a rare dual view: building AI into a platform recruiters already live in, while introducing it inside her own People team.

She recounts her unconventional rise from individual contributor to CPO during COVID—guided by a mentor and centered on impact—and breaks down what’s next in 2025: navigating SaaS headwinds while upskilling for AI.

Expect specifics: why AI must be “built where you live” to win adoption, how her team mapped the full employee lifecycle, and the first pilot they’re launching to deflect 15,000 HR emails with self-service.

Kelley also explains how to run bottom-up pilots, make smart build-vs-buy calls, and avoid “scaling garbage processes.” She closes with a pragmatic reimagining of performance management—let AI assemble the receipts, then keep the human conversation—and candid career advice for leaders who feel “behind.”

Timestamps

[00:45] – Who Bullhorn serves and where AI fits in the platform

[01:34] – Kelley’s path to CPO: joining as an IC, COVID turmoil, and mentorship

[05:08] – 2025 outlook: SaaS headwinds and the AI talent opportunity

[06:41] – Amplify and the “built where you live” rule for effective AI

[09:09] – People Ops pilots: HR self‑service to deflect 15k emails and lifecycle use cases

[12:13] – Adoption strategy: bottom‑up pilots, build‑vs‑buy, and investment discipline

[14:13] – Redesign the work: from surveys to performance reviews—don’t scale broken processes

[19:18] – Parting advice for HR leaders: ditch impostor syndrome and lean in

Takeaways

- Embed AI where people already work to drive adoption and leverage existing data.

- Start with high-volume, low-risk wins (e.g., HR self-service to deflect tier‑one inquiries).

- Pilot bottom-up: let functions test, prove value, and scale only when outcomes are clear.

- Rebuild workflows before layering tech—otherwise you just automate bad processes.

- Use AI to prepare performance reviews (aggregate and summarize inputs) while humans lead the conversation.

- Be disciplined on build vs. buy—leverage internal expertise and invest where your org can absorb and sustain change.

Sponsor

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations.

It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.

See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/

Running HR in a 24/7 Hospital: Stony Brook’s CHRO on Behavior-Based Leadership and AI

Connect with Colette Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colettebrownhr/

Summary

How do you lead 10,000 caregivers across three shifts without losing consistency, compassion, or speed?

Colette Brown, Chief Human Resources Officer at Stony Brook University Hospital—the only Level I trauma center in Suffolk County and recently ranked #1 in New York for pediatric care and #7 in the nation—explains how her team supports a round-the-clock workforce.

Colette shares why leadership is the core challenge in healthcare HR and how to replace labels like “toxic” with pinpointed behaviors you can coach.

She walks through Stony Brook’s homegrown manager training (verbs over adjectives, real role-plays, and ER partnership) and how they prepare leaders for tough reactions while preserving empathy and fairness.

Colette also details their AI journey, including “Herbie,” a 24/7 HR chatbot built to handle high-volume, high-urgency questions—from leaves and timesheets to employment verifications—and why continuous monitoring matters.

Along the way, she reflects on COVID-era heroism, practical resilience, and career advice for rising HR leaders. Expect actionable tools for behavior-based leadership, self-service at scale, and using AI to reduce anxiety before investigations and difficult conversations.

Timestamps

[00:38] – Stony Brook’s footprint, rankings, and mission-driven culture

[01:56] – Why healthcare HR is hardest: 24/7 staffing and emotional labor

[04:44] – COVID heroism: SUNY Upstate nurses, community support, lasting lessons

[06:18] – 2026 priorities: leadership, fairness, and the “attitude trap”

[08:44] – From labels to behaviors: verbs, pinpointing, and practical training

[11:22] – Coaching managers: ER partnership and preparing for tough reactions

[15:12] – AI in HR: launching “Herbie,” the 24/7 HR chatbot

[17:58] – What employees ask most—and how self-service changes HR

Takeaways

- Replace labels with observable behaviors; coach using verbs and specific examples.

- Build manager capability with role-plays, scripts, and ER support to handle difficult reactions.

- Standardize fairness and consistency across shifts; set clear expectations and address issues early.

- Use AI to rehearse investigations and tough conversations to reduce anxiety and improve outcomes.

- Deploy a 24/7 HR chatbot; curate content, track trends, and continuously refine answers.

- Invest in caregiver well-being and resilience to sustain performance in a round-the-clock environment.

Sponsor

AllVoices brings all your employee relations work together in one place. No more jumping between spreadsheets, emails, and legacy systems just one place to document and manage reports, cases, investigations, and performance conversations. It helps you run a more consistent process, takes busywork off your plate with AI, and makes it easier to spot trends early, so you can work proactively, not just put out fires.

See a demo at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.allvoices.co/