People and Strategy

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

In this milestone 100th episode of People and Strategy with special guest Johnny C. Taylor Jr., CEO of SHRM, we dive into the intersection of technology and human capital, exploring how AI is reshaping HR practices and the workplace. Taylor reflects on his leadership philosophy, the critical CEO-CHRO relationship, and shares strategies to address talent shortages through skills-first hiring. Discover actionable takeaways on building resilient organizations, supporting mental wellness, and redefining HR's role in a rapidly changing world.

Jump to 17:31 to listen to Taylor's 3 C’s Rule for CHRO Success.

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

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

---

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

Learn how HR leaders can assess skills, complexity capacity, temperament, and role requirements to make better talent decisions and reduce costly mismatches. In this episode, host Mo Fathelbab sits down with Susan Schmitt Winchester, former CHRO and author of Healing at Work. Susan introduces the Suitability Model, a game-changing framework for smarter hiring, succession planning, and talent alignment. Tune in for actionable strategies to elevate your hiring processes and create lasting organizational impact. 
 

You can jump to 5:37 in the video to hear Susan’s Suitability Model.

View Susan’s TEDx talk on tackling perfectionism at work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8WhA045iE

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 do you respond to trauma and violence in the workplace? In this deeply moving episode of People and Strategy, Liz Cotner, director of human resources at Foster Swift Collins and Smith PC, and Marjorie Morrison, SHRM’s mental health executive in residence explore the profound impact of workplace violence and mental health challenges. Morrison offers the clinical perspective, while Cotner shares her personal journey of coping with her mother’s mental health struggles and suicide, along with her professional experiences managing workplace violence. Learn the best course of action for helping employees experiencing crises. To skip directly to Cotner’s CURIOUS Framework, jump to 23:20 in the video. For additional support, view SHRM’s Mental Health Crisis Response Plan Template.
 

Content warning: Please be advised this episode features potentially traumatic events including workplace violence and suicide.

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

What does it take to build a workplace where employees feel valued and engaged? In this episode, we speak with Susan Podlogar, former CHRO at MetLife, and independent board director at Tevogen Bio and LivaNova. Podlogar shares the essential role of HR in navigating workforce transformation, supporting employees, and driving strategic impact. Learn how organizations can future-proof their people strategies and lead with purpose.

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

Whether you're learning to fly a plane or you're learning to lead a CEO succession, situational awareness and risk management is key. Kevin Cox, president of LKC Advisory is a seasoned HR leader, CEO succession expert, and pilot in training, who joins us to explore the intricacies of leadership transitions and offer practical takeaways to help steer organizations toward success. Leveraging his experience gained across Pepsi, American Express, and General Electric, Cox shares invaluable insights into building a strong feedback culture, the art of succession planning, and how lessons from aviation sharpen his focus on HR.

Read more insights from Kevin Cox: https://www.shrm.org/executive-network/insights/people-strategy/less-is-more-eliminating-hr-concepts-fall-2024

For CEO Succession tips, view our recent article: https://www.shrm.org/executive-network/insights/people-strategy/art-leaving-impact-incumbents-departure-ceo-succession 
 

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

HR leaders often face the challenge of supporting others while managing their own emotional and mental health. In this insightful conversation, Leah Marone, corporate mental wellness consultant and clinical instructor at Yale, shares insights on how leaders can recognize burnout, set boundaries, and practice mindfulness. Marone also introduces the concept of validation and explains how it can transform workplace relationships. Whether you're an HR executive or a leader in any field, this episode offers practical tools to help you lead with empathy without overextending yourself.

Episode Transcript

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

Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Resilience is crucial to overcoming adversity and thriving under pressure. In this episode, Marjorie Morrison, mental health executive in residence at SHRM explores the evolution of mental health in the workplace and shares her tips on how to build resilience. She provides practical insights to enhance both personal and professional growth, enabling you to face challenges with confidence.

Episode Transcript

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

Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.