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At this year's NIHRA Annual Conference, we are celebrating what keeps us grounded, growing, and passionate in our profession.

In this episode, Ed San Inocencio, Lisa Bresley & Sarah Henschen talk about what's in store for NIHRA's 20th Annual Conference.

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HR is staring at a crossroads where AI is no longer a headline but a daily reality shaping how we recruit, support, develop, and plan our workforce. We start by celebrating new members and incoming board leaders, then move straight into a candid, practical guide to using AI with wisdom, not hype. From resume parsing and candidate matching to chat-based HR assistants, policy summaries, and risk-sensing analytics, we map the real use cases you can deploy now and the pitfalls to avoid.

The heart of the conversation is governance. We dig into data privacy, bias, explainability, and the growing regulatory landscape, making it clear that employers—not vendors—own the outcomes. You’ll hear a field-tested story of automation turning eight hours of toil into 30 minutes of oversight, and why that mindset shift matters for every HR leader. We lay out guardrails you can use immediately: minimum necessary data, human in the loop for high-impact decisions, and radical transparency that earns employee trust instead of eroding it.

We also tackle the human side. Most jobs won’t vanish, but tasks will change fast. Reskilling cannot be a slogan; it must be funded with time, training, and manager accountability. We frame HR’s evolving role as interpreter and architect of decision design, translating algorithmic signals into fair, defensible choices. Scenario modeling, forward-looking analytics, and AI literacy become the bridge from reaction to strategy. And we close by redefining human advantage: let AI handle the predictable while people lead with creativity, judgment, and empathy.

Ready to lead the future of work with clarity and care? Follow the show, share this episode with your team, and leave a review with one action you’ll take to build better governance and trust around AI.

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October Luncheon with Cassandra Faurote
2025 HR Indiana SHRM Conference
John’s Crazy Socks – John & Mark Cronin
Amy Wright – Milestone Contractors
Hilary Kanyi – City of Bloomington
Patricia Miller – Diversified Recruitment Services
Keisha Underwood, Kittle Property Group
Bethany Adams, Villanova University 
Kristi Wilkerson, Brown & Brown Insurance
Jandi Dean, isolved Talent Acquisition
James Mitchell, Minnetrista
Marcie Anderson, Quontic Bank
Gerald Bush, GBKB Consulting
Stephen Gray, Circle Health Partners
Mike Mecklenburg, Paylocity
Daysi Hopkins, Huston Electric, Inc.
Scott Howard, BlueHive
Lisa Bresley, One Eleven Design
Chad Huffman, Marsh McLennan Agency
Erin Stevens, Fortune Brands Innovations
Denise McCormick, Leaders Staffing
Joyita Bandyopadhyay, Limit Break
Bob East, artofbeast.com
Hunter Hartman, IU School of Medicine
Amy, Plymouth Indiana
Chelsea Schmelz, Compass Senior Living
Tracy Benzinger, Zing! Recruiting
Alan Smeltzer, Growing Kids Learning Center
Amanda Sparks, Cook Medical
Danielle Baumer, Ahaus Tool & Engineering
Amy Metzger, TLC Management, LLC
McKenzie Michel, McGohan Brabender
Shawn Rutkowski, Holland LP
Melissa Lock – Welch Packaging
Heather Staggs, Indiana University Indianapolis
Jason Suthimer, MAC – North Central SHRM
DISRUPTHRFW.com

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Mental health is a critical issue that's often overlooked in the workplace, especially for HR professionals who are expected to support everyone else while managing their own wellbeing.

• 84% of workers faced at least one mental health challenge in the past year
• 65% of workers say their organization claims to care about mental health, but 45% report actions say otherwise
• Untreated mental health conditions cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity
• Standard EAP programs often provide only six free sessions, which is rarely enough
• The stigma against HR professionals admitting they're struggling creates additional barriers
• 208 million acts of workplace incivility occur daily, with 58% happening in the workplace
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Indiana children ages 10-14

NIHRA Cares is being established as a nonprofit to provide financial assistance, educational resources, and community support for HR professionals struggling with mental health. For immediate help, text 494949 to RemedyLive.com to connect with a live agent who can provide support and resources.

nihracares.org

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Hard conversations at work are universally avoided, yet they're essential for maintaining healthy workplace relationships. Susan Scott's "Fierce Conversations" teaches us that every interaction shapes our relationships, making honest communication crucial for stopping workplace dysfunction.

• Small issues like missing cafeteria forks can snowball into major workplace drama when no one addresses them directly
• Fear prevents honest conversations – we're afraid of being seen as aggressive or creating conflict
• The "nice workplace" culture can lead to serious consequences when people can't admit they're overwhelmed
• Interrogating reality means seeking truth even when it's uncomfortable and challenging the status quo 
• Coming out from behind yourself requires showing up authentically rather than hiding behind professional personas
• Vulnerability builds trust – saying "I don't know" or "I made a mistake" demonstrates self-awareness and courage
• Corporate jargon and scripted responses act as escape routes from meaningful dialogue
• Being authentic feels awkward but is actually a leadership superpower

Join us next time as we continue exploring the principles of fierce conversations and how they can transform your workplace relationships.

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Have you ever lost sleep replaying a workplace conversation, crafting mental rebuttals to passive-aggressive comments, or second-guessing your perfectly reasonable email etiquette? You're suffering from what we call "the disease of caring too much about what people think" – and we've got the cure.

The revolutionary "Let Them" philosophy isn't complicated, but it is life-changing. Instead of performing endless mental gymnastics trying to control how others behave, you simply let people be who they are and move on with your life. This episode unpacks why we've become addicted to validation and approval, exposing how society trained us to keep everyone happy at the cost of our own peace. The science is clear: the harder you try to control others' opinions, the less control you actually have – it's like squeezing a bar of soap only to watch it fly away faster.

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Can feedback ever be a gift rather than a grenade? Get ready to rethink your approach to workplace conversations as we unpack the concept of Radical Candor, a communication method that's transforming HR practices worldwide. Inspired by Kim Scott's pioneering book, we explore how blending honesty with empathy can turn feedback from a dreaded chore into a chance for genuine development. Picture yourself guiding colleagues like a supportive coach, rather than a harsh critic, and discover why this could be the most critical skill in your HR toolkit. From addressing tardiness to refining that less-than-perfect presentation, we'll arm you with real-world examples and strategies to tackle tough conversations confidently.

Join us for an enlightening discussion on why Radical Candor is not just another buzzword but a cornerstone for building trust and fostering growth in any organization. Learn how to sidestep the traps of ruinous empathy and obnoxious aggression, and instead, find that sweet spot where honesty fuels improvement and connection. By reimagining feedback, you can transform your workplace into a cohesive and thriving environment, where even the most challenging interactions become opportunities for progress. Whether you're an HR pro or just someone who wants to communicate better, this episode promises to equip you with insights that are as practical as they are transformative.

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Unlock the secrets of your mind's hidden traps and begin your journey toward more rational thinking. Have you ever wondered why we sometimes misjudge others or why our perceptions can be so easily influenced by first impressions? This episode promises to unravel these mysteries by exploring the complex world of cognitive biases like self-serving bias, fundamental attribution error, and cognitive dissonance, offering you practical insights and examples from the workplace. By understanding how these biases shape our decisions, you'll gain valuable tools to navigate the complexities of human interaction and improve your decision-making skills.

In the second part of our discussion, we challenge you to break free from the cognitive biases that often pervade professional settings. We dissect the halo effect, confirmation bias, and the framing effect, using real-world examples to illustrate how these biases can cloud judgment and reinforce existing beliefs. As we share strategies to counteract these influences, we underscore the power of diverse perspectives and open dialogue in fostering a more inclusive and thoughtful work environment. Tune in to arm yourself with the knowledge to question assumptions and make informed decisions that drive excellence in your career.