People Strategy Leaders Podcast

Your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with Laura Begg. Laura is a senior-level HR talent leader and coach who discusses the importance of having a talent philosophy and strategy in organizations. Laura, with her 20 years of experience in healthcare technology and a master's degree in industrial-organizational psychology, brought a wealth of knowledge to the conversation.

Laura began by distinguishing between talent philosophy and talent strategy. She explained that a talent philosophy is a high-level statement of an organization's core beliefs, principles, and values related to talent management. It serves as a guiding principle for decision-making and actions regarding talent. Conversely, a talent strategy is the practical application of the philosophy, including the development of policies, practices, and decisions that align with the philosophy.

When asked about the process of building a talent philosophy, Laura stressed the need for guiding principles on performance, behaviors, rewards, communication, and accountability. She emphasized the need for buy-in from all stakeholders and cautioned against relying solely on the HR team to develop the philosophy.

Laura referenced a study published in the International Journal of Human Resources that explores the variation in talent philosophies. The study found that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and organizations can have different perspectives on talent, such as exclusive or inclusive, stable or developable. These perspectives can greatly impact recruitment and development strategies.

To learn more about Laura's work, click HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

Your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with the Founder and CEO of HRuprise, Rebecca Weaver. HRuprise is an employee advocacy organization that provides flexible independent HR for the new future of work. Rebecca, with over 20 years of leadership experience, has been instrumental in advising small businesses on building equitable HR practices and providing thought leadership on HR disruption.

Rebecca started HRuprise as an Instagram account in response to the #MeToo movement, calling for HR professionals to reflect on their role in creating unsafe workplaces. This initiative has since grown into a full-fledged organization that supports employees and companies alike.

Rebecca shares her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer at the onset of the pandemic. This life-altering event, coupled with her husband, an emergency physician, moving out to protect their family while she underwent chemotherapy, led her to discover the concept of post-traumatic growth.

Post-traumatic growth explores how some individuals manage to grow after experiencing trauma. Rebecca's journey through treatment and the pandemic made her reflect on how the pandemic has changed individuals and workplaces. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing that work and home life are now blended, and leaders need to acknowledge their humanity and the humanity of their employees.

To learn more about Rebecca's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

Your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with the Founder and CEO of RecruitGyan, Neha Naik. AI has become increasingly accessible and is now impacting workplaces daily. Neha delves into how AI is revolutionizing HR functions, particularly recruitment and talent identification. AI is here to stay, while it may replace some jobs, it also provides an opportunity for upskilling. Neha believes that AI can take over the grunt work and administrative tasks, allowing HR professionals to focus on more meaningful interactions with candidates.

Neha shares that AI has been particularly useful in improving the candidate experience, optimizing recruitment data, and reducing bias in the hiring process. However, she also discussed the potential biases that can arise when using AI in recruitment processes. AI may reject candidates based on factors such as test scores, education, or lack of a college degree, which can be biased against individuals who may still be qualified for the role.

Neha emphasizes that the responsibility lies with the leadership team to ensure that AI is used as an enabler rather than a crutch. They should actively evaluate the data being fed to AI, conduct Q&A checks, and make informed decisions based on the AI's evaluations. She also highlighted the importance of human involvement in the recruitment process, as AI may not always make accurate judgments.

To learn more about Neha's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

Your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with the Managing Director of Loftis Partners, Sally Loftis. Loftis Partners is a 100% woman-owned human resources consulting firm based in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina. Loftis Partners specializes in human resources, organization development, and social justice. They work to co-create workplaces where humans feel valued through living wages and healthy human connections.

Pay equity, as Sally explained, refers to ensuring fair and equal pay for employees within an organization, both at the individual and organizational levels. It involves examining whether employees in similar roles are being paid equally, regardless of gender, race, or other protected categories.

The importance of organizations having a transparent pay framework that can withstand scrutiny and demonstrate that pay decisions are not influenced by unconscious biases was emphasized. Sally also pointed out that many companies have not updated their pay structures to keep up with the changing workplace dynamics, leading to salary compression and hindering their ability to attract and retain top talent.

To learn more about Sally's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

Your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with the Managing Partner and Fractional CMO of Ethereal Innovations, Kurt Uhlir. As a dynamic and charismatic speaker on marketing and innovation, Kurt’s speaking experience includes speeches across the United States and Europe in addition to presenting at prominent industry events such as PPAI, GDC, the White House, and private company/team workshops. He advises leaders, from startup founders to private-equity-backed CEOs to the President of the United States.

Kurt is a leading expert in disruptive technology and deliberate innovation. He is a hardworking and high-energy individual fueled by his passion for helping people accelerate their growth. Kurt’s recognized track record as a successful serial (and parallel) entrepreneur, angel investor, and strategic advisor allows him to help spectacular companies reach their next stage of growth.

To learn more about Kurt's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

Your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with the Best-Selling Author, Futurist, and Keynote Speaker On Leadership, Employee Experience, and the Future Of Work, Jacob Morgan. Jacob Morgan is a trained futurist and one of the world’s leading authorities on leadership, the future of work, and employee experience. He speaks in front of tens of thousands of people each year and his content is seen over a million times a year. Jacob is the best-selling author of five books and he speaks at over 50 conferences a year.

Jacob is the best-selling author of 5 books including his most recent, Leading with Vulnerability: Unlock Your Greatest Superpower to Transform Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization which is coming out in October and can be found at https://thefutureorganization.com/leading-with-vulnerability/. Jacob provides advisory and thought leadership services to various organizations around the world, Jacob’s mission and passion is to create great leaders, engaged employees, and future-ready organizations and everything he does is based on those three pillars.

To learn more about Jacob's work, click HERE and HERE.

Check out Jacob's books HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with the Human Capital Business Strategist, SVP of Talent and People, Mark Coscarello. Mark believes in the significance of the three P's: potential, purpose, and play, and their role in enhancing talent management within organizations. Mark believes in the significance of purpose, highlighting the importance of employees understanding and connecting with the company's mission and vision from leaders across all departments is a crucial element in achieving this alignment.

Work should be enjoyable and employees should have a positive and vibrant experience. When purpose, potential, and play are combined, employees are motivated and excited to come to work. The role of technology in driving engagement and facilitating meaningful conversations about potential and growth.

To learn more about Mark's work and connect with him, click HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

Your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with Christal Maxwell. Christal Maxwell, an Executive Human Resources Officer with extensive experience in enhancing workplace functionality. Christal presses the issue of burnout and the significance of mental health in the workplace, with a specific focus on the role of career development in fostering well-being at work.

Organizations and individuals can prioritize career development as a solution to burnout. Crystal highlights the connection between career development and personal growth, encouraging individuals to be adaptable and acquire transferable skills to expand their career opportunities.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

Your host, Sri Chellpa, talks with the CAS Controller of KWC CPAs, Kira Wissman. KWC is a team of accountants and advisors all dedicated to the founding principle of providing quality personal service. They are committed to helping you reach your financial goals by providing innovative accounting solutions to today’s complex problems.

KWC CPAs' strong client relationships are built on the knowledge and responsiveness of their service teams. They take the time to understand you and your organization. KWC principals are active members of each service team, combining the personal attention of a small firm with the expertise and resources of a large firm. As your trusted advisors, they anticipate and plan for opportunities to drive your success. Quality personal service is the priority of each KWC team member.

To learn more about Kira's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.

Your host, Sri Chellappa, talks with the Owner of Pula, Mercy Karuga. Pula is an agricultural insurance and technology company that designs and delivers innovative agricultural insurance and digital products to help smallholder farmers endure yield risks, improve their farming practices, and bolster their incomes over time.

Pula is reimagining agricultural insurance to protect smallholders worldwide. At Pula, they are radically restructuring insurance, using technology and parametric insurance to insure the previously unbanked, uninsured, untapped market of 1.5 billion smallholders worldwide.

Pula partners with organizations across multiple value chains, from agriculture to renewable energy including Fortune 500 companies, global NGOs, microfinance instructions, research institutions, and governments to help provide households the protection they need in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

To learn more about Mercy's work, click HERE and HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Want to learn more about Sri's work at Engagedly? Check out his website at https://engagedly.com/.