In this episode of People + Strategy, Velisha Haddox shares her journey from commercial litigator to CHRO of the Cook County Government in Illinois, revealing the critical role of consistency, transparency, and executive support in driving change. Hear how Cook County’s HR team reduced attrition, modernized job architecture, and enhanced employee benefits to attract top talent. Discover actionable strategies for turning around HR departments, fostering executive alignment, and becoming an employer of choice, even in complex public sector environments.

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr --- Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

In this episode of People + Strategy, Stephen Childs, CHRO at Panasonic Automotive discusses the importance of embracing risk in the workplace, especially as the HR role continues to grow. Childs shares how he built influence across the C-suite and how volunteering for tough assignments throughout his career accelerated his development. Discover how Panasonic Automotive scaled from 400 to 8,000 employees, navigated major acquisitions, and cultivated a resilient culture — demonstrating business accretive as a result.

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

In this episode of People + Strategy, labor relations expert David Rittof discusses why employees seek union representation and how organizations can respond. Discover the warning signs of union activity, common management mistakes, and the evolving attitudes of Gen Z toward unions. Rittof offers practical advice for CHROs, CEOs, and supervisors on fostering employee involvement and adapting to new workplace realities.

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

In this episode of People and Strategy at SHRM25 in San Diego, Thanh Giddarie, director of HR for MIT Health at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discusses how organizations can leverage data to communicate the value of HR. Giddarie shares her journey from marketing to HR, the importance of annual HR reports and trending analyses, and how quantitative and qualitative metrics can demonstrate HR’s value to the C-suite. The conversation also dives into Thanh’s doctoral research on the gender gap in university presidencies. The audience will gain practical insights on leadership pathways for female leaders, how to measure HR impact, build support networks through mentorship, and foster a culture of growth for all employees.

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

In this episode of People and Strategy, join Lori Monfiletto, CHRO at Los Alamos National Laboratory, as she discusses her journey into HR and the transformative initiatives she has led over the past five years. Monfiletto shares how Los Alamos revamped its benefits, compensation systems, and service delivery model to align with a new mission and double its workforce during the Great Resignation. From implementing innovative incentive plans to navigating change management, Monfiletto offers actionable insights into how HR leaders can drive organizational success while staying mission focused.

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

In this episode of People and Strategy recorded at SHRM25 in San Diego, Dennis A. Davis, national director of client training at Ogletree Deakins, explores the complexities of employee terminations. From legal considerations to psychological safety, Davis shares actionable insights on how to conduct employee termination meetings with dignity, including the best time of day for a firing and how to maintain workplace civility. Tune in to learn best practices for handling one of the most challenging aspects of HR leadership.

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

In this episode of People and Strategy recorded at SHRM25 in San Diego, Jordan Quigley, North American VP at Robert Half, explores the evolving role of emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) in leadership and workforce development. Drawing from Robert Half’s hiring research and real-world examples, Quigley discusses how HR leaders can nurture rising talent, bridge skills gaps, and embrace technology to unlock creativity and critical thinking. Whether you're an HR leader or a business executive, this episode offers actionable strategies to future-proof your workforce and foster a people-first culture.

Discover where SHRM26 will be hosted: https://annual.shrm.org/

Related article: https://www.shrm.org/executive-network/insights/chros-heres-where-hr-is-headed-next

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

In this episode of People and Strategy, Kathleen Pearson, CHRO at McDermott Will & Emery, shares AI use cases for HR professionals. Pearson shares her unique career journey from marketing to HR leadership, offers her three pillars for building high-performing teams, and shares how her team has implemented AI to enable deeper human connections in the workplace. Plus, she discusses how she’s using AI personally to make better purchases, the dangers of “random acts of AI,” and how HR leaders can proactively adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape.

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

How can CHROs ensure a strong return on investment in the face of rising HR costs? In this episode, guests James Atkinson, VP of thought leadership at SHRM, and Chris Courneen, senior VP and global head of HR at MS International, dive into SHRM's 2025 CHRO Benchmarking Data Brief, unpacking trends such as increased HR spending, wage inflation, and investments in workforce technology. Discover strategies for measuring ROI, controlling costs, and communicating value to the broader business. This episode is essential for HR leaders looking to align their budgets with organizational impact.

2025 CHRO Benchmarking data brief mentioned: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/2025-chro-benchmarking--insights-to-power-people-strategy

Data on the U.S. labor shortage: https://www.shrm.org/enterprise-solutions/insights/january-2025-labor-market-review-talent-shortage-persists

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

Lauren Fast, chief people officer at iS Clinical, highlights the critical role of feedback, empathy, and trust in today’s workplace. Fast discusses how HR leaders can navigate challenges like layoffs, cost reductions, and employee disengagement while maintaining cultural alignment. She also shares a compelling story about how transparent communication and employee empowerment helped her organization avoid layoffs during a financial crisis. Whether you’re an HR executive or a business leader, this episode offers practical advice on building resilient teams and creating a culture of collaboration and trust.

Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr

---

Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r