Searching for the “perfect” candidate may be doing more harm than good. Talent strategist and UnMuted Leader author, Trisha Zulic, SHRM-SCP,  unpacks the “Unicorn Dilemma” – when hiring managers chase impossible wish lists and overlook high-potential talent.when hiring managers chase impossible wish lists and overlook high-potential talent. 

Zulic shares how her UnMuted Intake Framework helps organizations rethink their hiring conversations, define a quality candidate more clearly, reduce bias, and make smarter talent decisions grounded in evidence rather than gut instinct. 

Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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 

The future of work belongs to leaders who lead with heart — but what does that really mean? 

Claude Silver, chief heart officer at Vayner Media, a contemporary global creative and media agency, unpacks the power of empathy and authenticity in leadership. Sharing personal stories and career-changing insights, Claude reveals how shifting from “correction to connection” can spark innovation, boost retention, and drive growth no matter the role you play in your organization. Learn how leading with authenticity can transform your workplace – and how you can start making an impact today. 

 Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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 keeps people in their jobs – and what quietly pushes them out the door? The answer goes far beyond salary. As workplace expectations shift and uncertainty around AI and the economy grows, employees are rethinking what they truly need to stay engaged and committed at work. 

Daroon Jalil, senior researcher at SHRM, breaks down key insights from SHRM’s Global Employee Monitor, a sweeping study of workers across 26 countries. From the surprising disconnect between what employees value and what employers prioritize, to the outsized role managers play in retention, we unpack what today’s workforce actually wants...and how those expectations are evolving in real time.

Resources from this Week’s Episode – The Global Employee Monitor 

Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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

Rethinking the traditional college degree? You’re not alone. With rising tuition costs and student debt, plus the growing appeal of alternative credentials, today’s workforce is exploring new ways to build successful careers. But what challenges do professionals face when they skip the degree route, and how can organizations adapt to unlock untapped talent? 

Isaac Agbeshie-Noye, program director for the Widening Pathways to Work initiative at the SHRM Foundation, breaks down the rise of skills-first hiring, the barriers encountered by nontraditional job-seekers, and how employers can bridge the divide when looking for talent from different educational backgrounds. 

Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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 

Think influencers are limited to social media and product promotion? Think again. Professionals within organizations can leverage a powerful set of skills to drive change and inspire action — making influence a valuable asset in every industry. Executive coach Kisha Wynter reveals step-by-step strategies for harnessing data, research, and internal networking to become a strategic influencer, regardless of your position or title. 

Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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

Find out how automation and generative AI are transforming the workforce — not just displacing it. Justin Ladner, SHRM’s senior labor economist, discusses findings from SHRM research and reveals which roles are truly at risk, how HR is adapting, and why non-technical barriers like client preferences and regulations are reshaping the displacement narrative. 

Resources from this Week’s Episode: 

Automation, Generative AI, and Job Displacement Risk in U.S. Employment - https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/automation-generative-ai-and-job-displacement-risk-in-u-s--employment 

Automation, Generative AI, and Job Displacement Risk in HR Employment - https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/automation-generative-ai-and-job-displacement-risk-in-hr 

Worker Expectations about Automation and Generative AI Job Displacement Risk - https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/worker-expectations-about-automation-and-generative-ai-job-displacement-risk

Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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 if techniques learned in therapy could help resolve workplace conflict? Learn how Olivia Russak, a licensed marriage and family therapist, adapts therapy-based approaches like “I statements” and nervous system regulation to help managers and employees build trust with each other and repair strained relationships. Along with an audience Q&A, find out how SHRM’s new research on HR excellence — including talent-related areas like employee experience and leadership and manager development — frames this transformative discussion. 

Resources from this Week’s Episode: SHRM Business Case for HR Excellence - https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/the-business-case-for-hr-excellence-report 

Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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 

Ever struggled with how to turn nerve-wracking pay conversations into career-changing opportunities? Ben Zweig, CEO of Veo Labs, shares pay negotiation strategies for employees, unpacks the psychological and social barriers to self-advocacy, and equips people managers with empathy-driven tools to build trust and transparency in compensation discussions. 

Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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

Resources from this Week’s Episode – 2025 Employee Benefits Survey: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/employee-benefits-survey 

Total Rewards Specialty Credential: https://www.shrm.org/credentials/specialty-credentials/total-rewards 
 

Workplace romances are more common than many organizations realize, and even consensual relationships can carry serious legal and cultural risks. In this special crossover episode featuring Honest HR, Jenn Betts, employment lawyer and office managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins law firm, joins host Honest HR Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP, to unpack how power dynamics, perception, policy, and digital communication shape legal exposure — and what HR leaders can do to manage risk, respond to breakups, and foster a respectful workplace culture.

This podcast is approved for .5 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. Listen to the complete episode to get your activity ID at the end. ID expires March 1, 2027.

Subscribe to Honest HR to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/voegyz  

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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 well do you know your organization’s culture? Michael Cohen, Partner at Duane Morris, LLP, explores research from SHRM’s 2026 Global Culture Report which highlights eight distinct culture types. Find out how aligning with your company’s ethos can help you thrive, drive collaboration, and foster innovation in today’s workplace. Plus, take our quiz to discover which culture applies to your organization! 

Resources from this Week's Episode  

Culture Quiz: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/tools/quiz/discover-your-organizations-culture-dna 
 

2026 Global Culture Report: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/2026-global-workplace-culture-report

Subscribe to the All Things Work newsletter to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/fg444d   

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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