Workforce Navigator

What if one of the biggest opportunities in today’s talent market is a workforce employers have been overlooking?

Rodrigo Alcaine sits down with John Samuel, CEO of Abler and author of Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions, to discuss disability, accessibility, AI and the future of work. John shares how employers can remove barriers, rethink how they identify talent and use technology to create more opportunity without losing sight of the human skills that matter most.

Global talent acquisition leader Aaron Hunerkopf joins Workforce Navigator to discuss AI, employer branding, candidate experience, and how talent acquisition teams can become strategic business partners.

In this episode of Workforce Navigator, Rodrigo Alcaine sits down with Aaron Hunerkopf, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Ingredion, to discuss how talent acquisition is evolving from transactional recruiting to strategic talent advisory. From leveraging AI with intention to strengthening employer branding and creating better candidate experiences, Aaron shares practical insights for HR and talent leaders looking to modernize their hiring strategy.

Ron Hetrick, Senior Labor Economist at Lightcast and author of The Rising Storm, discusses the demographic forces reshaping the labor market. From declining birth rates and changing worker expectations to immigration's role in labor supply, Ron shares why businesses must stop viewing labor shortages as a cyclical issue and start preparing for a long-term shift in workforce availability.

In this episode of Workforce Navigator, Rodrigo Alcaine sits down with employment attorney and leadership expert Michael Cohen to discuss why empathy, accessibility, and mental health awareness are becoming essential leadership skills in modern workplaces. From breaking away from “back in my day” leadership habits to building cultures rooted in trust and psychological safety, this conversation explores what employees truly need from leaders today.

Darlene Hunter, Vice President and Head of Human Resources at Eastridge, demonstrates how culture can become a true competitive advantage. She connects belonging, clear expectations, and development to productivity, retention, and profitability. Darlene explains why leaders must speak the language of EBITDA while practicing empathy and accountability. She closes with a challenge to define, test, and live an authentic culture of care.

Eric Chin, Chief Financial Officer at Akido Labs, brings unique insight as both a CFO and former Head of HR. He explains how HR leaders can frame proposals in terms of net savings, ROI, and measurable outcomes to gain CFO support. Eric also outlines strategies for building stronger cases around training, development, and retention by linking them to financial impact. He also emphasizes the importance of timing, proactive planning, and continuous improvement as key elements for achieving long-term success.

Dan Bovee, Director, Talent Acquisition & Development at Morey, breaks down how to hire, align, and grow high-performance teams. He explains the concept of “right people, right seats” and why culture drives results. Dan details a challenge-and-encourage leadership approach for promoting psychological safety. He connects culture directly to measurable business outcomes.

Allen Chilson, Director, Talent Acquisition Vendor Management, Global, at Danaher Corporation, examines why most companies struggle with accurate workforce planning. He explains how confidential business-unit roadmaps often exclude HR and procurement, forcing reactive hiring. Allen argues for integrated 3–5-year workforce blueprints that include contingent labor and procurement.

Allen Chilson, Director, Talent Acquisition Vendor Management, Global, at Danaher Corporation, examines why most companies struggle with accurate workforce planning. He explains how confidential business-unit roadmaps often exclude HR and procurement, forcing reactive hiring. Allen argues for integrated 3–5-year workforce blueprints that include contingent labor and procurement.

Michael Wong, Chief Executive Officer at Genea, recounts transforming a near-insolvent firm into a smart-building innovator. He explains why selecting the right market, recruiting high-performance teams, and elevating HR to strategy level fuel sustainable growth. Michael details culture surveys, prescriptive onboarding, and remote-first hiring as keys to scale.