Transform Your Workplace

Most leaders say they value trust. It shows up in mission statements and team meetings. But when trust breaks down, few can explain why performance slows, collaboration frays, or innovation quietly disappears.

Dr. Paul Zak doesn't treat trust as an abstraction. As a behavioral neuroscientist with over 25 years of research, he studies trust the same way an engineer studies load-bearing structures. His work has identified the specific neurochemical, oxytocin, that drives human connection. And the behaviors that trigger it are simpler than most leaders expect.

In this episode, Paul breaks down what trust actually looks like day to day, why autonomy outperforms surveillance, how recognition needs to happen to actually stick, and why human connection matters more than ever in a world shaped by AI and remote work.

Whether you lead a team of five or five hundred, this conversation will change how you think about the small moments that drive performance.

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:00 What trust actually looks like at work
• 3:30 The role of oxytocin in team performance
• 4:48 Why moderate stress builds stronger teams
• 6:42 The adjective hack for better Monday conversations
• 8:32 Why emotional states are contagious
• 9:48 How the brain values experiences (and the 20-minute rule)
• 12:28 The real cost of micromanagement and surveillance
• 14:30 Coaching to high performance (and firing with dignity)
• 16:22 Why forward-looking reviews beat backward-looking ones
• 18:08 How home life and work life feed each other
• 19:30 Trust in hybrid and remote work environments
• 21:40 Vulnerability as a leadership superpower
• 23:12 Ovation: How to celebrate wins the right way
• 25:20 How to tell the difference between trust and manipulation
• 27:30 Why recognition needs to be fast, personal, and peer-driven
• 28:48 Celebrating failure to accelerate learning
• 29:30 Why human connection matters more in the age of AI
• 32:30 The loneliness epidemic and rebuilding social skills
• 34:30 Simple trust hacks every leader can use today
• 37:20 Where to find Paul Zak and the Six app

https://pauljzak.com/

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR

Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

About Xenium HR

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more

Connect with Brandon Laws:

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Connect with Xenium HR:

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#trust #leadership #workplaceculture #neuroscience #oxytocin #teambuilding #remotework #employeeengagement #hrleadership #transformyourworkplace

Most of us think burnout only hits people who hate their jobs. Psychologist and bestselling author Guy Winch says the opposite is true. In this episode, Guy joins Brandon to unpack the hidden ways work takes over our lives, from the autopilot trap and procrastination to evening rumination and self-neglect. Drawing from his new book, Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life, Guy shares research-backed exercises that any professional can use to reclaim their time, protect their health, and actually be present when they get home. If you have ever told yourself "it's just a busy season," this episode is for you.

[00:00] Why even mental health experts miss their own burnout

[02:30] The survival mode trap and how autopilot takes over your life

[05:30] The Goldilocks zone: how stress improves performance until it doesn't

[06:30] Why more strokes happen on Mondays and how a simple brain hack can ease the Sunday scaries

[09:15] Reframing procrastination: why treating dreaded tasks as nuisances gets them done faster

[11:45] Challenge state vs. threat state: the mindset shift that changes how you perform under pressure

[14:30] The mind whisperer exercise and how to prep your brain before high-stakes moments

[15:45] Rumination: why replaying work conflicts at home is unpaid overtime that damages your health

[20:30] The "locating your job stress" exercise that turned 90% stress into 10%

[23:30] Role curation: how to take charge of your career growth when your manager won't

[26:00] The red light, green light technique for managing after-hours emails without losing your evening

[30:15] Canaries in the coal mine: identifying your personal early warning signs of self-neglect

[34:30] The empathy effort exercise for switching from work mode to home mode

[36:45] Triple dipping: how to squeeze a month of happiness out of a single weekend away

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders."

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more

Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn Instagram About

Connect with Xenium HR: Website LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

Are your meetings indistinguishable from 1940s wartime sabotage tactics? You're not alone. In this episode, Rebecca Hinds, author of Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done, reveals why corporate meetings have become the single most dysfunctional practice in modern organizations—and how to fix them.

Brandon and Rebecca explore a radical idea: what if we treated meetings like products, applying the same design principles that make great products great? From "meeting doomsday" (a complete calendar reset) to Amazon's study hall approach, Rebecca shares actionable strategies that organizations like Slack, Dropbox, and Shopify have used to declare war on meeting bloat.

You'll discover why double-booking has become a toxic badge of honor, how the visibility bias makes us associate presence with productivity, and why crowdsourcing your agenda using the "Dory method" can transform boring monologues into engaging collaboration. Rebecca also tackles the AI paradox—why more meeting bots might be making your meetings worse, not better—and shares the "iron rule" that every leader needs to embrace.

If you've ever walked out of a meeting wondering what you just accomplished (or why you were even there), this episode is your blueprint for change. Don't miss Rebecca's insights on why meetings are the most important—and least optimized—product in your organization.

00:01 - Introduction and welcome to Rebecca Hinds

00:08 - Brandon introduces Rebecca's book Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done

00:24 - Rebecca explains why meetings are the most important yet least optimized product in organizations

00:58 - The fascinating 1943 OSS sabotage manual story: how wartime meeting sabotage tactics mirror modern corporate meetings

01:33 - Why we use meetings as a "lazy substitute for smart thinking and real work"

03:24 - The toxic "badge of honor" culture: why busyness in meetings signals importance but kills productivity

04:08 - What does it mean to treat meetings like a product? Introduction to the seven product design principles

04:18 - Meeting debt explained: How meetings accumulate technical debt just like software products

05:57 - Meeting Doomsday: The 48-hour calendar cleanse and complete reset strategy

06:13 - Case studies: How Slack, Dropbox, and Shopify implemented organization-wide calendar purges

08:05 - The IKEA effect: Why employee involvement in rebuilding calendars creates lasting change

26:15 - Amazon's study hall approach: How six-page memos and silent reading time revolutionize high-stakes meetings

27:19 - Fighting boring meetings: The Dory method for crowdsourcing agendas

27:37 - User-centric meeting design: Why the organizer and biggest talker are the most satisfied (and why that's a problem)

29:28 - The automation paradox: Why AI and meeting bots might be making bad meetings worse

29:57 - Calm technology: The right way to integrate AI into meetings without letting bots outnumber humans

32:12 - The iron rule of meetings: Treating attendees' time as more valuable than your own

33:39 - Where to find Rebecca's book and connect with her work

34:09 - Closing and final thoughts

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders."

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more

Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn | Instagram | About

Connect with Xenium HR: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Perfectionism can look like "high standards," but in real life it often turns into burnout, bottlenecks, and teams that overthink everything. In this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Jason F. McClennan, author of The Magic of Imperfection, to unpack his three-quarter baked philosophy: a practical way to ship smarter, get better feedback, and unlock innovation without lowering the bar.

Jason breaks down the difference between quarter-baked, half-baked, three-quarter baked, and the illusion of "fully baked." They also dig into how leaders can build cultures where failure is treated as valuable data, how to use feedback without taking it personally, why deadlines must be owned, and how teams can avoid mission drift before they waste months heading in the wrong direction. If your team is stuck polishing the last 10% while everything else suffers, this conversation will help.

• 00:00 Intro and why "imperfection" is a leadership advantage

• 01:00 The three-quarter baked idea and why perfectionists struggle with it

• 02:40 How perfectionism fuels burnout and steals time from real work

• 04:30 Quarter-baked vs half-baked vs three-quarter baked (and why the timing matters)

• 06:45 The Buckminster Fuller dome story: reframing failure as a data point

• 08:55 How leaders reward learning, not just outcomes

• 09:45 The "crit" method: separating ego from work so feedback actually helps

• 12:00 The significance meter: calibrating effort so everything is not treated like heart surgery

• 14:00 "If you accept the task, you own the deadline" and why that changes everything

• 15:30 Momentum surfing: when to push, when to pause, and why grinding backfires

• 18:30 Process turning into bureaucracy: how to spot when the system is blocking the outcome

• 20:10 End-game thinking and mission drift: the two boats metaphor for team alignment

• 22:30 How to bring a team along when perfection is the default culture

• 23:40 Becoming a "trim tab": how individual contributors can shift big organizations

• 25:20 Bird-dogging vs micromanaging: checking in as a sign of care and performance

• 27:15 Communication hierarchy in hybrid work: reducing noise, increasing clarity

• 29:00 Building an inner compass: trial, error, and learning without shame

• 30:00 Final thoughts and where to find Jason's work

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more https://www.xeniumhr.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws

Website https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

Brianne Mees, CEO of Tender Loving Empire, shares how a people-first background in psychology and social work shaped the culture of a retail brand built to champion artists, makers, and small businesses. Brianne walks through the company's growth from a scrappy early storefront to seven locations (including airport stores), the toughest leadership decisions during the pandemic, and why mission alignment is the anchor for hiring and culture. Brandon and Brianne also explore "regenerative retail," community investing through Wefunder, and how leaders can build a business that supports local economies without losing sight of sustainability and scale.

• 00:00 What the show is about + sponsor message from Xenium HR

• 01:00 Introducing Brianne Mees and the Tender Loving Empire mission

• 03:00 Brianne's unconventional path: psychology, social work, and a people-first approach

• 04:40 Why Tender Loving Empire started as a "helping profession" for artists and makers

• 05:00 The business today: seven retail locations, hundreds of makers, and a record label

• 06:00 The early days: starting before major online platforms existed for creators

• 07:00 The turning point: moving locations, hiring the first employee, and shifting from hobby to sustainable business

• 08:40 How Brianne's psychology background supported hiring and leadership

• 09:20 Scaling a creative retail brand into airports without losing the "feel"

• 10:00 Becoming "Portland tour guides" and translating local culture for travelers

• 12:00 Leading through the pandemic: scrappiness, resilience, and hard choices

• 13:00 The toughest day: furloughing the team while keeping leadership in place

• 13:50 Post-pandemic momentum: new airport locations and +$3M in annual revenue

• 14:10 How they keep 65 employees aligned: mission fit and kindness

• 15:20 The "Empire" name origin and the heart of the brand

• 15:40 The impact: celebrating $20M returned to artists and makers

• 16:00 Vendor selection today: buying team, data-driven decisions, and mission alignment

• 17:00 The ripple effect: vendors who reinvest through sustainability and social impact

• 18:00 Geographic focus: Portland and the broader Pacific Northwest

• 19:00 Why music remains the heart and soul of the brand

• 19:10 Why Tender Loving Empire chose Wefunder and community investing

• 20:40 Why VC is not the right fit for a values-based retail brand

• 21:20 How their Wefunder raise works: $1.2M goal and a convertible note approach

• 23:00 Advice to her 2007 self: confidence, trusting instincts, and staying close to the core

• 25:00 Preparing leaders for the next growth phase: transparency and sharing the full vision

• 27:20 What keeps Brianne going on tough days: impact, community, and walking into the stores

• 28:50 "Regenerative retail" explained: supporting communities vs. extracting from them

• 29:50 A first step for leaders: rethink suppliers and where resources flow

• 30:30 AI and the creator economy: efficiency benefits vs. IP and compensation concerns

• 33:00 Founder advice: grit, tenacity, support systems, and learning along the way

• 33:40 Closing: how listeners can support Tender Loving Empire and invest (starting at $100)

• 34:00 Podcast disclaimer and wrap-up

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders."

About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more [https://www.xeniumhr.com/]

Connect with Brandon Laws: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon] About [https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws]

Connect with Xenium HR: Website [https://xeniumhr.com/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR] Twitter [https://twitter.com/XeniumHR] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws is joined by Nae Hakala, HR Business Partner at Xenium HR, for a thoughtful and practical conversation about leadership, empathy, and building workplaces that truly support people.

Nae shares her career journey, from managing creative teams early in her career to supporting organizations through complex and often difficult people challenges today. Together, Brandon and Nae explore what it really means to lead with humanity, why belonging and trust are essential business strategies, and how leaders can balance results with empathy in a rapidly changing workplace.

Listeners will hear real-world insights on recruiting with care, navigating hard conversations like reductions in force, the risks of over-automating HR with AI, and why everyday leadership behaviors matter more than big, performative initiatives. This episode is especially relevant for leaders, HR professionals, and nonprofit organizations navigating growth, change, and limited resources.

• 00:00 – What Transform Your Workplace is all about and why this conversation matters

• 02:00 – Nae's early leadership experience managing creative teams and what it taught her

• 04:00 – Why getting involved builds community at work and beyond

• 05:30 – How retail and hospitality shaped Nae's empathetic approach to HR

• 07:00 – Seeing the human behind every HR request, especially in difficult moments

• 08:30 – Handling reductions in force with dignity, respect, and compassion

• 10:00 – Recruiting at scale without losing the human touch

• 11:30 – Where AI helps HR and where it risks doing harm

• 13:00 – Lessons from equity-focused work in public education

• 16:00 – Why discomfort is part of growth for leaders and organizations

• 18:00 – Turning belonging into a practical, everyday business strategy

• 20:00 – Moving from talent acquisition into a broader HR business partner role

• 22:00 – Studying leadership frameworks and applying them in real time

• 23:30 – What today's workforce is asking for that wasn't as visible before

• 25:00 – Consulting across different organizations, cultures, and constraints

• 27:00 – Supporting nonprofits with limited resources and long-term thinking

• 29:00 – Building strong HR foundations that reduce firefighting

• 31:00 – Why supporting employees drives results and reduces turnover

• 33:00 – Final thoughts on leadership, trust, and showing up for people

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders."

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About Brandon: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws

Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

Compensation is one of the most sensitive and misunderstood topics in the workplace, and one of the most consequential. In this episode, host Brandon Laws sits down with Nicole Blevins to unpack what compensation structure really means, why informal pay decisions stop working as organizations grow, and how leaders can approach pay with more clarity, fairness, and confidence.

Nicole explains how a well-designed compensation structure creates consistency without limiting flexibility, helps leaders navigate difficult pay conversations, and reduces risk tied to pay equity and compliance. The conversation also explores pay transparency laws, common signals that it is time to revisit compensation practices, and why avoiding pay equity analysis often creates bigger problems down the road.

This episode offers practical insight for leaders, HR professionals, and business owners who want to scale responsibly, build trust, and make pay decisions that stand up to scrutiny.

• 00:00 – Why compensation conversations matter more than ever

• 02:00 – What compensation structure actually means in practice

• 04:00 – The misconception that structure limits flexibility

• 06:00 – What breaks when organizations grow without guardrails

• 08:30 – Pay transparency, employee conversations, and trust

• 10:30 – The hidden risk of retention raises and pay compression

• 12:30 – Why pay equity analysis is no longer optional

• 14:30 – Oregon pay equity laws and the importance of proactive action

• 16:00 – The real pros and cons of pay transparency laws

• 18:00 – Addressing the fear of uncovering pay inequities

• 20:30 – How compensation structure changes manager conversations

• 23:30 – Why compensation is not a one-time exercise

• 25:30 – How often organizations should revisit pay structures

• 26:30 – Signals that it is time to review compensation practices

• 28:30 – How leaders can approach compensation work without overwhelm

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders."

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About Brandon: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws

Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws welcomes back Jacob Morgan to explore ideas from his upcoming book, The Eight Laws of Employee Experience: How to Build a Future-Ready Organization, releasing in February 2026.

Drawing from more than 100 interviews with CHROs, Jacob shares why many organizations have lost direction since the pandemic and how well-intended employee experience efforts have sometimes drifted into entitlement, reactivity, and trend-chasing. The conversation unpacks why leaders often operate in "defense mode," how AI is being misunderstood and misused at work, and why employee experience is not an HR initiative but a shared responsibility across the organization.

Listeners will also hear practical frameworks for separating trends from truths, rethinking learning and development, understanding employees beyond survey data, and designing flexibility and culture in more intentional ways. This episode offers clear perspectives for leaders who want to stop reacting and start building the future of work they actually want.

00:00 – Introduction and episode overview 02:00 – Why organizations have lost their way post-pandemic 05:30 – Employee experience, entitlement culture, and unintended consequences 08:00 – Why leaders are stuck playing defense instead of offense 11:00 – Trends vs truths and the risks of chasing competitors 13:00 – AI at work and the rise of "work slop" 15:00 – A framework to adapt, pause, or push back on trends 17:00 – Overview of The Eight Laws of Employee Experience 19:00 – Decoding the human signal and knowing employees beyond data 24:30 – Surveys vs real conversations and the importance of human connection 27:00 – Rethinking learning, skill-building, and application on the job 31:00 – The limits of AI and why managers still matter 34:00 – The growth framework for development, readiness, and decision-making 37:00 – Designing flexibility and the idea of a career "command center" 40:00 – Using technology to amplify humanity, not replace it 43:00 – Choosing the future you want to build as an organization 45:00 – Final reflections and where to learn more

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders."

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws

Website: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR

In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws sits down with Kate McKinnon, a fractional Chief People Officer with deep experience in high-pressure, high-visibility environments across sports and entertainment. Kate shares what it takes to protect culture when speed and stress are constant, how to address burnout and disengagement without pretending everything is fine, and why "stop, start, continue" feedback loops can help leaders turn frustration into action. They also unpack generational friction, the reality of AI reshaping HR and leadership work, and why developing first-time managers before they step into leadership is one of the most overlooked levers for performance. The conversation closes with practical ways to build belonging without huge budgets, and a reminder that grace and kindness still matter in modern workplaces.

• 0:00 Welcome to Transform Your Workplace + episode overview

• 2:00 Meet Kate McKinnon and why her background matters

• 4:00 Protecting culture in high-pressure, high-performance environments

• 6:00 Burnout, disengagement, and the power of "stop, start, continue"

• 9:00 Generational friction at work and how leaders can bridge the gap

• 11:00 Gen AI, new grads, and the future of work

• 13:00 Making work more human in an AI-driven workplace

• 15:00 Why great performers struggle as new managers

• 17:00 The future of learning and development: microlearning vs in-person

• 20:00 Belonging without big budgets: practical, low-cost ideas

• 22:00 Leadership lessons from crisis, M&A, and COVID

• 25:00 What sports culture teaches us about performance and growth

• 27:00 Using data, feedback, and scorecards to drive engagement

• 29:00 Bridging the gap from college (and military) to career

• 32:00 What the next decade of culture and leadership will demand

• 34:00 Final thoughts: grace, kindness, and what leaders should remember

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more [https://www.xeniumhr.com/]

LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon] About [https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws]

Website [https://xeniumhr.com/] Learning & Development Programs [https://xeniumhr.com/learning-development] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR] Twitter [https://twitter.com/XeniumHR] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR]

Van Lai-DuMone discusses her book on transforming curiosity into action through small steps. She shares her mother's refugee story of building the nail industry, emphasizes reframing limiting beliefs, and advocates for workplace cultures that welcome all ideas. The framework includes pausing, asking "what if" questions, and embracing creative chaos.

TAKEAWAYS

• Curiosity requires pausing to ask "what if" and "how might we" questions.
• Small steps overcome fear and build confidence toward big goals.
• Welcome all ideas without judgment to foster innovation and trust.

Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws

In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders."

Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws

Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR