In Episode 1 of the High Impact Leadership Podcast, host Josh Vanada kicks off the new season by welcoming Patty Lyons-Bousquet to the show. Patty, a seasoned HR professional who simplifies HR for small businesses, discusses her journey from 20 years in internal HR to founding her own company focused on providing accessible HR services. The discussion delves into the role of HR as a people-centered, strategic business partner, emphasizing the importance of hiring the right people and the humane approach of aligning employee roles with organizational goals. Josh and Patty also tackle current HR trends, including immigration concerns, outsourcing, and managing performance management, while underscoring the value of third-party perspectives in employee relations.