In this conversation, we’re joined by Chris Lincoln, People Director at Vagabond Wines, to talk about the biggest challenges facing People Operations right now and where HR is heading next.

We dig into the industry-wide tension around AI in HR. People teams are using it more and more, while also feeling uneasy about what it means for hiring, fairness, and human connection, especially in hospitality. Chris shares a memorable story about candidates using ChatGPT in interviews, and how a conversation shifted his perspective from “cheating” to “resourcefulness.”

We also cover what HR should automate first, why onboarding admin is a major pain point, and why People Ops needs a louder, more strategic voice at leadership tables over the next five to ten years.

Is there actually hard proof that culture drives growth?

In this episode of People Powered Strategy, Nick Holmes, VP of Learning & Culture at Avala Health and a PhD researcher in HR and organizational behavior, digs into one of the most overused ideas in business: culture.

Nick shares what surprised him most in his research, why so much “culture talk” fails in the real world, and what leaders can do that’s measurable, practical, and grounded in human behavior.

How do you build a world-class organization dedicated to solving some of science's biggest challenges? You start by putting people first.

Join us as we speak with Connie White, CPO of Altos Labs, about how she built her people function to not just support the business, but to propel it forward. Connie breaks down her strategy for transforming HR from a bureaucratic function into an innovation driver.

In this special episode of People Powered Strategy, Lisa Sherwell, Chief People Officer at SUSE, chats with us about the common mistakes that people leaders make when implementing change management.

Additionally, we spoke about the most exciting changes coming to HR and People Leadership in the near future.

How do you build a world-class organization dedicated to solving some of science's biggest challenges? You start by putting people first.

Join us as we speak with Connie White, CPO of Altos Labs, about how she built her people function to not just support the business, but to propel it forward. Connie breaks down her strategy for transforming HR from a bureaucratic function into an innovation driver.

In this episode of People Powered Strategy, we sit down with Simina Simion, Chief HR Officer at Uptempo, to explore how AI is reshaping the world of HR and people leadership.

Simina shares how AI is freeing HR teams from repetitive admin tasks and creating more space for strategy, empathy, and human connection. We talk about the shift from fear to excitement around AI, how to build trust during times of change, and why the HR leaders of the future will also need to become tech stewards.

What makes someone the right hire? Spoiler: it’s not just what’s on their resume.

In this episode of People Powered Strategy, Matthew Pepe, VP of People at Ferrer, shares why qualities like curiosity, grit, and an ownership mindset can matter more than technical skills—and why hiring carefully is especially critical when your team is small.

In this episode of People Powered Strategy, we sat down with Mawulom Nenonene, Head of Talent Acquisition at Point, for a powerful conversation about building scalable, inclusive, and high-performance hiring systems.

Mawulom shares his inspiring personal journey—from biomedical engineering to tech talent leadership—and the lessons he’s learned about trust, fairness, and culture in the workplace.

In this episode of People Powered Strategy, we sit down with Daniel Dickson-Hope, seasoned Chief People Officer and HR Director in the health and social care sector. Daniel shares a candid, thoughtful conversation about how the role of HR is transforming—from traditional personnel functions to strategic leadership at the heart of the business.

In our first episode, we sit down with Matt Rieck, Chief Human Resources Officer at Inszone Insurance Services and author of The Employee Retention Bible.

We dive into the evolving role of the Chief People Officer — from building scalable people systems and navigating remote culture, to developing managers and embracing AI as an HR tool. Matt also shares sharp, practical insights on employee retention, learning agility, and how the "uncool" industries may actually offer the most rewarding careers.