The POZCAST: Decoding Success with Adam Posner

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Chapters:

2:48 - Life and Career before becoming a professional

4:06 - High School era and Tattoo inspiration

4:51 - Travel Experience

8:06 - Stay in China and culture difference

9:45 - First taste of Exotic Food

10:51 - Understanding the travel moments / The Aha Moment

12:51 - GeoBreeze - the origin

13:04 - Learning from Corporate America

13:56 - Overall Point Strategy

15:42 - Travel points Hack

16:54 - Value of points and transfers

18:25 - Earning vs Burning Ratio

19:36 - Getting a Better Deal

22:32 - Common Traveling Mistakes

24:17 - Favorite transfer sites

25:27 - Hidden fees

26:18 - Best Airline with Status update potential

27:49 - Airport Lounge situation

28:41 - Secret Auxiliary benefits

31:09 - Secret Reservations

31:57 - Wrong Information out there

33:37 - Massive Brilliant point redemption experience

36:10 - Exciting challenges in business

38:30 - Percentage Savings / Pragmatic Approach

39:45 - Next Travel destination on wishlist

41:03 - Best and Worst Airlines

42:39 - Message for people stuck in 9-5 jobs

44:00 - Julia's Super power

45:00 - Julia's North Star

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

Chapters

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

Chapters

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

Chapters

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.fountain.com/?utm_source=shrm-2024&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=shrm-2024-podcast-adam-posner.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

- Creativity is a skill, not a personality trait.
- In-person collaboration enhances creativity and problem-solving.
- Complaining is seductive but unproductive; focus on solutions instead.
- The fear of being wrong stifles innovation; embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.
- Old-school skills are becoming the new techniques for success.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nir Bashan and His Journey
05:08 The State of Creativity in Advertising
10:07 The Importance of In-Person Collaboration
15:00 Reframing Creativity as a Skill
19:47 Shifting from Complaining to Creating
24:56 The Cost of Ignoring Creativity

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.fountain.com/?utm_source=shrm-2024&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=shrm-2024-podcast-adam-posner.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

- Curiosity drives success in marketing and leadership.
- Eating the frog means tackling the hardest tasks first.
- Building relationships with finance is crucial for marketing leaders.
- Organizational culture is defined by behaviors and values.
- Experiential marketing is making a comeback in the digital age.
- AI should enhance human engagement, not replace it.
- Remote work requires new strategies for effective communication.
- Marketing must focus on long-term value and customer lifetime.
- Nonprofits need to communicate their impact effectively to engage donors.
- The future of work will involve multi-generational collaboration.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kim Storen and Her Journey
02:50 The Impact of Early Experiences on Career Choices
05:49 Curiosity and the Importance of Tackling Challenges
08:57 Interviewing for Curiosity and Problem-Solving Skills
12:10 Joining Zoom: A CMO's Perspective
15:01 Building a Marketing Strategy at Zoom
17:57 The Role of Finance in Marketing
19:52 Defining Organizational Culture
21:56 The Renaissance of Experiential Marketing
24:52 The Cost of Community Engagement
32:34 Navigating AI and Human Connection
34:58 Adapting Marketing Strategies in a Hybrid World
36:54 Measuring Experience Quality Beyond Attendance
41:59 Shifting Focus from Presence to Progress
45:11 Engaging Donors in a Hybrid Philanthropic Landscape
48:32 The Future of Work and Multi-Generational Collaboration
50:50 Defining Success and Career Advice

 

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.fountain.com/?utm_source=shrm-2024&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=shrm-2024-podcast-adam-posner.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

- Jason Walker's journey into HR was influenced by his dyslexia and strong people skills.
- Empathy is crucial in HR, especially for those who have faced challenges.
- AI has disrupted traditional job searching methods, making networking more important.
- Job seekers need to adopt a warrior mentality to compete in the current market.
- Companies are hesitant to hire due to uncertainty about future needs.
- AI tools can help streamline hiring processes but may lead to a competitive environment.
- Job hugging reflects employees' fears of job security and market instability.
- Hybrid work models present challenges for employee engagement and development.
- HR leaders must focus on maintaining culture and employee appreciation during tough times.
- Fractional HR services provide cost-effective solutions for companies needing specialized support.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jason Walker and ThriveHR Consulting
02:32 Jason's Journey into HR and Empathy Development
05:01 The Changing Talent Landscape and AI's Impact
11:14 The AI War: Job Seekers vs Employers
12:18 Positive Uses of AI in Hiring Processes
18:45 Understanding Job Hugging in Today's Market
20:47 The Hybrid Work Model: Pros and Cons
23:42 Culture, Burnout, and Compliance Risks in HR
27:02 Practical AI Adoption in HR
32:37 Fractional HR: A Growing Demand
37:47 Actionable Advice for Job Seekers
40:42 Optimism in the HR Landscape
 

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.fountain.com/?utm_source=shrm-2024&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=shrm-2024-podcast-adam-posner.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

- Working hard, especially as a woman, we typically think if we can just outwork the men, then we'll get what we deserve.
- Belief ingrained in me that you had to struggle and work hard and grind it out to be able to have success.
- My life's work is really about teaching people that slowing down, getting more into the body, out of the head, into the body.
- Listening to your intuition, you're your own biggest success strategy.

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.fountain.com/?utm_source=shrm-2024&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=shrm-2024-podcast-adam-posner.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

- The biggest misconception is that most people are excited about transformation.
- A small percentage of the workforce drives the majority of results.
- The top 20% of employees contribute to 80% of outcomes.
- The top 1% can drive a quarter of the results.
- Most employees are tied to their current work methods.
- Transformation may not feel significant to the majority.
- Business leaders often assume support without engagement.
- Engaging employees is crucial for successful transformation.
- There is often an under-investment in change management.
- Leaders must facilitate change rather than just declare it.

00:00 – Welcome & Jeff’s Backstory in HR Transformation
Adam kicks off the POZcast and introduces Jeff Williams, president and CFO at Aptia, walking through his career leading massive HR and business transformation efforts at Paychex, ADP, Alight, Aon and more.

01:13 – Growing Up With a Self-Made Father
Jeff shares his family story: born Canadian, raised American, youngest of eight, and the journey of his dad going from drafting apprentice to CEO at the same company over 33 years—and the lessons embedded in that.

02:35 – Early Lessons: Hard Work, Humor & Loss
Jeff reflects on what he learned from his father before losing him at 19: the value of hard work, eating fast at a crowded table, and keeping humor and lightness at the center of life and leadership.

03:45 – From Telecom to the People Business (ADP Entry Point)
Jeff explains how he moved from technology and telecom into human capital, taking on the role leading ADP’s Canadian operations and discovering the power of the HR and benefits space.

04:38 – Hiring at a High Bar: Talent, Drive & Instincts
Adam asks how Jeff hired to ADP’s level. Jeff lays out his hiring philosophy: ambition beyond natural gifts, complementary skills, people better than him in key areas—and why he trusts his instincts on fit.

06:25 – Real Leadership: Hiring People Better Than You
They dig into succession, “making yourself dispensable,” and the idea that if you can’t take a vacation without everything falling apart, that’s a failure of leadership, not a badge of honor.

07:30 – Pre-Email Days & The Human Side of Work
Jeff remembers the 286/386 era and talks about how, before digital tools, people invested more in each other in person—inside and outside of work—and how that shaped deeper relationships.

08:43 – Remote Work, COVID, and an Isolated Workforce
They go deep on the pandemic: the rapid shift home, the early productivity spike, inflation pressures, relocation, and the rise of isolation and mental health issues as remote work took hold.

11:10 – Young Workers, Office Longing & Loyalty Shifts
Adam shares what he’s seeing with candidates who actually want to be in-office to learn through osmosis. Jeff talks about building the next generation of leaders and how in-person time rebuilds fabric and loyalty.

13:32 – Mental Health, Home Setups & Productivity Reality
They unpack the assumption that everyone has an ideal home workspace—calling out caregiving, cramped spaces, kids, and distractions—and how that’s quietly driving some people back to the office.

14:51 – Why Jeff Bet on Aptia & the Move to Boston
Jeff explains what drew him to Aptia: the chance to build something differentiated and lasting, formalize his cross-border life, and finally live and work in the same country as his family.

17:42 – The Big Vision: Building the Best Benefits Company in America
Jeff outlines his ambition to build the best (not necessarily biggest) benefits services and administration company—one loved by clients, employees, and partners while supporting the communities they serve.

19:04 – Benefits as a Talent Magnet: Total Rewards, Not Just Salary
They talk about smart candidates, how benefits (health, financial, time off, ancillary) close offers, and why companies need to position total rewards early and clearly in the hiring process.

21:13 – Closing the Benefits Understanding Gap
Jeff shares the reality: most employees don’t fully understand or appreciate their benefits. He talks about accessibility, education, and surfacing value in ways employees actually grasp.

22:33 – Introducing Aptia One: Seamless, AI-Led Benefits Experience
Jeff breaks down Aptia One—how it’s designed to create simple, AI-led, consumer-grade experiences for employees, employers, and partners across phone, web, and natural language interfaces.

25:14 – How Jeff Is Personally Upskilling in AI
Jeff shares his approach to AI as a leader: consuming everything he can, learning from experts, applying lessons from previous waves of tech disruption, and staying hyper-relevant to where markets are heading.

26:54 – Realistic AI: Simplicity, Accuracy & Avoiding AI-Washing
They discuss using AI to simplify journeys, NOT over-hyping capabilities, and why, in a business where you must be nearly 100% accurate on benefits, you must apply AI carefully and responsibly.

28:43 – The Hard Truth About Transformation
Jeff calls out a big misconception: leaders assume everyone’s excited about transformation. He explains why frontline employees often aren’t enlisted as deeply as leaders think and why change enablement is under-invested.

30:18 – Service, Soul & Corporate Philanthropy
The conversation shifts to service: Jeff’s history with DEI, United Way, and community work, and why doing something for others makes him feel more complete as a human and leader.

31:25 – Why People Want Companies With a Soul
Jeff explains how corporate philanthropy, whether via one flagship cause or hyper-local initiatives, shapes belonging, engagement, and the desire to work for companies that care about more than profit.

33:55 – Jeff’s Son’s Cancer Journey & Life Perspective Shifts
Jeff shares the powerful story of his son Kevin’s osteosarcoma diagnosis at 13, the grueling treatment, and how that battle reshaped his view on perseverance, priorities, and what really matters.

36:26 – Adam’s Own Cancer Battle & Shared Perspective
Adam opens up about his recent Hodgkin’s lymphoma remission, the physical and emotional toll, and how surviving cancer reframes life, work, and gratitude for both of them.

40:04 – What Keeps Jeff Up at Night: Stewardship & Family
Jeff talks about being a “work in progress,” how life is now about his kids, his wife, and his responsibilities, and the ongoing chase to be a good steward for his family, business, and community.

41:48 – Optimism About Humanity & The Future of Benefits
Jeff shares a global perspective: wherever he goes, people want similar things for their families and communities. He then lays out the “big three” of benefits—health, wealth, and time off—as core holdings.

43:26 – Designing Benefits Like a Portfolio
They dig into tailoring benefits to your population (e.g., menopause benefits, pet insurance, nonprofit-oriented perks), feeding what works, starving what doesn’t, and iterating to truly serve your people.

44:37 – Redefining Success: Energy for the Journey Ahead
In closing, Jeff defines success not by titles or money, but by whether you still wake up excited for what’s ahead—at work, at home, on the golf course, and in life overall.

46:08 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Jeff and Aptia
Adam closes the episode, sharing where listeners can learn more about Aptia, connect with Jeff on LinkedIn, and reminding everyone to review, subscribe, and keep being good to themselves and better to others.

#thePOZcast is proudly brought to you by Fountain - the leading enterprise platform for workforce management. Our platform enables companies to support their frontline workers from job application to departure. Fountain elevates the hiring, management, and retention of frontline workers at scale.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.fountain.com/?utm_source=shrm-2024&utm_medium=event&utm_campaign=shrm-2024-podcast-adam-posner.

Thanks for listening, and please follow us on Insta @NHPTalent and www.youtube.com/thePOZcast

For all episodes, please check out www.thePOZcast.com 

Takeaways

- Kelly's five rule philosophy empowers teams to perform at their best.
- Self-awareness is crucial in identifying what you enjoy and excel at.
- Leaders must differentiate between urgent and important tasks.
- Hiring for values alignment is more important than cultural fit.
- Mental marination is essential for strategic decision-making.
- Work-life balance is a myth; harmony is the goal.
- Trust is the foundation of effective leadership.
- Ambition should be aligned with personal values and fulfillment.
- Delegation is key to effective leadership and team empowerment.
- Success is about leaving a positive legacy rather than just achieving titles.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kelly McGinnis
03:16 Early Influences and Career Path
06:12 Lessons from Early Corporate Experiences
11:18 Navigating Leadership and Management
15:05 Hiring for Culture and Values
18:11 The Myth of the 100-Hour Work Week
20:46 Finding Harmony in Work and Life
23:10 Building Trust for Sustainable Success
24:35 Ambition vs. Alignment: Finding Fulfillment
27:44 Mental Marination: The Key to Effective Leadership
30:38 Balancing Urgency and Importance in Leadership
34:51 The Art of Delegation and Trust in Teams
38:51 Navigating Difficult Conversations: Letting People Go
41:36 Redefining Success: Legacy and Happiness