The HR Huddle

As the year winds down, we’re taking a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate everything 2024 brought our way. In this special year-end episode, the team comes together to share memorable moments, hard-earned lessons, and a glimpse into what’s next.

Join us as we dive into the highs and lows, revisit the resolutions

we set, and discuss how we’ve grown—both as individuals and as a team. Whether

you’ve been on this journey with us all year or are tuning in for the first

time, this episode is a heartfelt wrap-up to the year, filled with gratitude,

insights, and a few surprises along the way. Let’s close out the year together

and set the stage for an even brighter 2025!

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on HR Tech, Stacey Harris and Cliff Stevenson discuss a wide variety of topics, ranging from Sapient’s latest findings on the benefits space to recent mergers and acquisitions, including Deel's acquisition of Assemble, The Cloud Connectors’ merger with Joynd, and the UKG-Experian integration partnership. They also explore the implications of the recent net neutrality ruling and its potential impact on HR technology providers. 

Key points covered include:

↪️ Recent HR tech partnerships are focusing on compensation management and integration capabilities. Stacey and Cliff discuss the implications of Deel’s acquisition of Assemble and The Cloud Connectors’ merger with Joynd, both of which have the goal of enhancing HR-specific data integration and connectivity.

↪️ The Federal Appeals Court just struck down FCC net neutrality rules, raising concerns about potential impacts on SaaS providers and small vendors in the HR tech space.

↪️ The Greenhouse 2024 State of Job Hunting report reveals concerning statistics about candidate experience, with 61% of job seekers experiencing ghosting and 64% reporting discrimination during interviews.

↪️ Stacey and Cliff discuss growing concerns about AI's negative impact on the candidate experience in recruiting.  

Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below:

Sapient Insights Group

Download the 2023-24 HR Systems Survey White Paper

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Stacey Harris

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Cliff Stevenson

X | LinkedIn 

In this episode of HR, We Have a Problem, Teri Zipper and guest Michelle Stewart, Senior Manager of HR Systems at Federated Co-operatives Limited, explore the challenges of managing multiple HR systems, dealing with frequent software updates, and creating seamless user experiences while working within organizational constraints. This conversation highlights the importance of stakeholder relationships and transparent communication in successful HR technology implementation.

Key points covered include:

↪️ Successful HR systems management requires building strong stakeholder relationships and understanding business needs before implementing technical solutions.

↪️ Transparency in project prioritization and capacity helps manage expectations and builds trust with HR peers and business partners.

↪️ Modern HR tech requires constant evaluation of new features and updates across multiple systems, making it essential to maintain a consolidated backlog of enhancement requests.

↪️ Integration of new technologies should focus on seamless user experiences rather than adding complexity to the tech stack.

Sapient Insights Group

Download the 2023-24 HR Systems Survey White Paper

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Teri Zipper

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Michelle Stewart

LinkedIn 

Federated Co-operatives Limited

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In this episode of Spilling the Tea on HR Tech, Stacey Harris and Cliff Stevenson discuss significant personnel changes at major companies including ADP, Workday, and UKG, exploring what these leadership shifts mean for the industry's direction. The conversation covers new product launches and partnerships, including Paychex's HR Analytics Premium Plus with Visier integration and Anaplan's operational workforce planning application.

Key points covered include:

↪️ Several major HR tech companies announced leadership changes, including UKG naming Suresh Vittal as CPO and Workday appointing Rob Enslin as President and Chief Commercial Officer.

↪️ Paychex launched HR Analytics Premium Plus with Visier integration, expanding their analytics capabilities for SMB customers.

↪️ The merger of JobGet and SnagAJob signals continued focus on solutions for frontline workers, with both platforms continuing to operate independently.

↪️ Industry competition is intensifying in the mid-market and SMB space, leading to more aggressive marketing tactics between vendors.

Special announcement! Fostering a more inclusive and positive culture in a workplace of constant change is hard and messy but not impossible. In our in-depth and collaborative learning program, we break it down. Join Navigating Change with Confidence, a cohort-based immersive program launching in January 2025. Click here to learn more.

Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below:

Sapient Insights Group

Download the 2023-24 HR Systems Survey White Paper

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Stacey Harris

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Cliff Stevenson

Twitter | LinkedIn 

In this episode of HR, We Have a Problem, Teri Zipper and guest Tricia Shields, Chief Human Resource Officer at Naviant, discuss the critical intersection of technology within HR leadership. With over 15 years in both IT and HR, Tricia shares her unique perspective on how technology can transform HR departments and enhance cross-functional partnerships. They also discuss the challenges of maintaining up-to-date employee information across disparate systems, the role of strategic planning in HR tech adoption, and the increasing influence of AI in streamlining HR functions. The conversation also covers emerging trends in employee development technology and the importance of connectivity across platforms

Key points covered include:

↪️ HR technology adoption requires strong partnerships both internally (with IT departments and executives) and externally (with vendors, HR networks, and technology communities)

↪️ Organizations often struggle with multiple systems containing employee data (average of 11 different sources of record), highlighting the need for better integration and connectivity between HR tools

↪️ Employee development technology remains a gap in the HR tech landscape, particularly in creating comprehensive solutions that connect performance management, career pathing, learning content, and skills development

↪️ HR professionals should start their technology transformation by identifying paper-based or disconnected electronic processes that could be digitized or automated, rather than being intimidated by the scope of change

Special announcement! Fostering a more inclusive and positive culture in a workplace of constant change is hard and messy but not impossible. In our in-depth and collaborative learning program, we break it down. Join Navigating Change with Confidence, a cohort-based immersive program launching in January 2025. Click here to learn more.

In this episode of HR, We Have a Problem, Teri Zipper is joined by guest Jennifer Congdon, Chief Human Resources Officer at M Financial Group. Drawing from her extensive experience in tech, aerospace, and manufacturing, Jennifer shares insights on building effective HR strategies and fostering a people-centered culture. She discusses the power of structured change management, continuous improvement, and provides practical advice on leveraging cross-functional relationships and process rigor to drive business success.

Key points covered include:

↪️ Building authentic connections across organizational hierarchies transforms resistance into partnership, creating natural champions for change at every level.

↪️ Strategic stakeholder engagement isn't just about initial buy-in—it's about creating sustainable feedback channels that turn employees into active participants in the change journey.

↪️ Change initiatives must be anchored in measurable business outcomes, with special attention to how complex organizations require tailored approaches for different departments and teams.

↪️ HR's effectiveness stems from being business partners first—immersing in operations, understanding pain points, and shaping people strategies that directly impact company goals.

Special announcement! Fostering a more inclusive and positive culture in a workplace of constant change is hard and messy but not impossible. In our in-depth and collaborative learning program, we break it down. Join Navigating Change with Confidence, a cohort-based immersive program launching in January 2025. Click here to learn more.

Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below:

Sapient Insights Group

Download the 2023-24 HR Systems Survey White Paper

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Teri Zipper

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Jennifer Congdon

LinkedIn

M Financial Group

Twitter | LinkedIn

In this episode of Spilling the Tea on HR Tech, Stacey Harris and Cliff Stevenson deliver breaking news and insights from both the UKG Aspire and Dayforce Discover 2024 conferences. They discuss significant leadership changes at UKG, including the appointment of Arlen Shenkman as President and CFO, and analyze what these moves mean for the industry. This conversation also breaks down EQT’s acquisition of PageUp and ServiceNow's latest strategic moves in operational technology. 

Key points covered include:

↪️ Jennifer Morgan’s first Aspire conference as UKG helm CEO alongside new President, GTM Rachel Barger and announce new President/CFO Arlen Shenkman – a leadership shakeup that signals aggressive enterprise growth plans given Arlen’s enterprise software pedigree from SAP and Boomi.

↪️ EQT's PageUp acquisition highlights private equity's growing interest in Asia-Pacific HR tech, where regional expertise is key to capturing emerging market opportunities.

↪️ ServiceNow reports 23% year-over-year subscription growth and acquires Mission Secure, indicating expansion beyond traditional HR tech boundaries.

↪️ LinkedIn enters the AI recruitment space with its first hiring assistant, marking a significant shift toward automation in an industry historically driven by human judgment.

Special announcement! Fostering a more inclusive and positive culture in a workplace of constant change is hard and messy but not impossible. In our in-depth and collaborative learning program, we break it down. Join Navigating Change with Confidence, a cohort-based immersive program launching in January 2025. Click here to learn more.

Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below:

Sapient Insights Group

Download the 2024-25 HR Systems Survey White Pape 

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Stacey Harris

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Cliff Stevenson

Twitter | LinkedIn | Bluesky

Send us a text

In this episode of The brndBrief podcast, we speak with Joe Weinlich, CMO/Strategist of Weinlich Works, about evolving brand strategy trends and effective marketing approaches. 

Joe shares insights from his extensive experience working with both large corporations like Microsoft and smaller clients through his fractional CMO services. The conversation explores how brand strategies have evolved toward simplicity in response to shorter attention spans and increasing market noise, while also diving into the impact of AI on marketing and the importance of internal brand alignment. 

Key Points:

📌 Brand strategy is shifting toward extreme simplicity to cut through market noise, with B2B brands following the simplified approach traditionally used by major consumer brands like Nike and Coca-Cola

📌 HR departments represent an overlooked marketing opportunity - integrating brand messaging into recruitment, onboarding, and internal communications can strengthen overall brand effectiveness

📌 While AI tools can assist with marketing tasks, they currently produce generic content that requires human strategic oversight to provide real value to clients

📌 The fractional CMO model is growing as a way for smaller companies to access high-level marketing strategy without the cost of a full-time executive, though the role's scope is still being defined in the industry

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Guest Information

https://www.weinlickworks.com/

LinkedIn

@jweinlick

In this special episode* of Spilling the Tea on HR Tech, Stacey Harris and Jim Gill, CEO of ZeroedIn, delve into how his 20+ years in HR tech is driving ZeroedIn to new heights. Jim walks listeners through the evolution of HR tech, then shares how ZeroedIn’s innovative approach helps organizations make the most of data from multiple sources to gain actionable people and business insights. The conversation also highlights the importance of navigating the strict compliance needs of industries like government, healthcare, and finance.

Key points covered include:

↪️ ZeroedIn’s new analytics platform offers a 360-degree view of workforce data through seamless integration, predictive analytics, and generative AI, all while maintaining robust security and compliance.

↪️ How ZeroedIn tailors its solutions to meet customers where they are in their analytics journeys, providing the right services to ensure ROI and success, recognizing that data maturity and resources vary widely.

↪️ The ongoing challenge of consolidating data from multiple sources into usable formats, a critical hurdle for organizations of all sizes.

↪️ The value of meaningful analytics for organizations facing major workforce challenges, such as large-scale recruitment, reskilling, and preparing for demographic shifts, to make informed, cost-effective decisions.

↪️ The significance of ZeroedIn's work toward obtaining FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) authorization, crucial for organizations with high security and compliance needs. 

Special announcement! Fostering a more inclusive and positive culture in a workplace of constant change is hard and messy but not impossible. In our in-depth and collaborative learning program, we break it down. Join Navigating Change with Confidence, a cohort-based immersive program launching in January 2025. Click here to learn more.

*This episode is sponsored by ZeroedIn. 

Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below:

Sapient Insights Group

Download the 2023-24 HR Systems Survey White Paper

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Stacey Harris

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Jim Gill

Twitter | LinkedIn

ZeroedIn

Twitter | LinkedIn

In this episode of HR, We Have a Problem, Teri Zipper along with special guests Susan Richards, Founder of Sapient Insights Group and Marc Moschetto, Founder and CEO of KickMotor, discuss the complex interplay of external global events and their impact on HR and organizational management. They explore how to better support teams through both high-stakes growth and quieter times, emphasizing the importance of empathy, flexibility, and proactive planning.

Key points covered include:

↪️ Organizations face heightened uncertainty with economic fluctuations, global events, and emerging technologies.

↪️ Adaptive leadership and open communication are critical to sustaining employee trust and engagement.

↪️ Effective change leadership requires empathy, proactive support, and consistent follow-through in actions to align with team motivations.

↪️ Embedding change management into everyday practices cultivates a culture where adaptation becomes second nature for the entire organization.

Special announcement! Fostering a more inclusive and positive culture in a workplace of constant change is hard and messy but not impossible. In our in-depth and collaborative learning program, we break it down. Join Navigating Change with Confidence, a cohort-based immersive program launching in January 2025. Click here to learn more.

Don’t miss this exciting thought leader conversation! Follow the hosts and companies mentioned below:

Sapient Insights Group

Download the 2023-24 HR Systems Survey White Paper

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Teri Zipper

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn 

Susan Richards

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Marc Moschetto

LinkedIn