Using data-driven insights can help create higher performing teams. In this episode of People and Strategy, Wendy Miller, chief people officer at McKinsey & Company, discusses the power of people analytics to help HR executives and business leaders solve problems, AI’s potential impact, and more.

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The first 90 to 180 days are critical to a new leader’s success, and they often benefit from executive coaching during this transitional period. In this episode of People and Strategy, Christine Mixan, talent planning lead at General Motors, shares her STEPS model for coaching leaders through transitions. She also shares the ROIs associated with executive coaching, how long coaching should last, and more.

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After a career of HR leadership positions that have included leading the Victoria’s Secret brand through an organizational transformation, Andre Joyner began a new role as CHRO at JCPenney in 2021. In this episode of People and Strategy, Joyner joins host Tony Lee to discuss how JCPenney is navigating talent shortages, the company’s commitment to hiring and supporting diverse talent, and the nuances of an AI future.

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Following an eclectic series of roles at Walmart, WPP and Accenture, Jacqui Canney is now Chief People Officer at IT systems provider ServiceNow, where she leads talent strategies for more than 20,000 employees. In this episode of People and Strategy, Canney speaks with host Tony Lee about how generative AI is impacting HR, leveraging Inclusion, Equity and Diversity (IE&D) as a business strategy, and her advice for those pursuing the C-suite.

Episode transcript

In a career with previous roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hewlett Packard, and BHP, talent management has always proved both a passion, and a key aspect of Suzan McDaniel’s responsibilities. In this episode of People and Strategy, McDaniel speaks with host Tony Lee about the breadth of her current role as Chief Human Resources Office at Edward Jones, advice for aspiring CHROs, and her take on the most important talent-related issue HR leaders should be thinking about this year and beyond.

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After starting in IT as a systems engineer, Ginni Rometty began a career at IBM, where she climbed the corporate ladder to become the first woman CEO in IBM’s history. In this episode of People and Strategy, recorded live at SHRM23 in Las Vegas, Rometty joins host Tony Lee on stage to reflect on her experiences, career journey, and lessons learned that inspired her to write Good Power: Leading Positive Change in Our Lives, Work, and World, a memoir about “how to do hard things, but to do them in a good way”.

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This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by Safeguard Global.

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Adam Bryant is the senior managing director of the ExCo Group, and author of the new book The Leap to Leader: How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership. A self-described “insight junkie” driven by content that prompts new understanding of people, organizations, and the world at large, these interests effectively fueled his 30+ year career as a journalist, as well as his Corner Office series at the New York Times, where he interviewed more than 500 CEOs. In this episode of People and Strategy, Bryant joins host Tony Lee to discuss topics including the self-examination necessary for people managers considering senior leadership roles, the traps leaders can fall into, and some of the most surprising answers CEOs have given in response to the question, “How do you hire?”

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This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by Safeguard Global.

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Paul Falcone served in a range of senior HR roles at Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, Time Warner, and City of Hope Medical Center; he's now a bestselling author, conference speaker, and columnist for shrm.org. In this episode of People and Strategy, Falcone speaks with host Tony Lee about the keys to success for effective HR leadership, and how adopting a leadership mindset of gratitude spurs alignment and motivation within organizations.

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This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by Safeguard Global.

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Elizabeth Chrane led OneDigital’s marketing division for seven years before becoming the organization's Chief People Officer. In this episode of People and Strategy, Chrane speaks with host Tony Lee about the natural progression from Senior Vice President of Marketing to CHRO, measuring cultural effectiveness, and the importance of treating your employees like your customers to shape employee engagement.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by ADP.

Episode transcript

After joining PepsiCo in 1990, Andrea Ferrara is now the organization’s CHRO of North American Beverages and Nutrition at PepsiCo. In this episode of People and Strategy, Ferrarra speaks with host Tony Lee on advice for pursuing the C-suite, HR’s role as the “conscience of culture”, and her favorite PepsiCo products.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by ADP.

Episode transcript

John Ferguson, SHRM-CP, is both a motorsports fan and the CHRO at NASCAR. In this episode of People and Strategy, he joins host Tony Lee to reflect on the intersection between NASCAR’s 75th anniversary as a sport, and his “always forward” approach to talent acquisition and retention by expanding employee representation and development at the organization.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by ADP.

Episode transcript

Employers’ ongoing challenges in sourcing quality talent for their organizations highlights the importance of identifying and utilizing processes that reliably attract desirable employees. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Tony Lee speaks with Peter Cappelli, George W. Taylor Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Human Resources at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, on how to determine what will and won’t work for your organization’s people strategy.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by ADP.

Episode transcript

While working as a practicing lawyer, Nathalie Grenache landed on a career in HR “completely by accident” after a teammate requested her legal assistance with an expat employee’s immigration status. Grenache now serves as the Senior VP of People and Culture at Sanofi, a Paris-based global pharmaceutical company. She is based in Boston and is responsible for providing strategic HR leadership to Sanofi’s North American operations and Global Specialty Care.
In this episode of People and Strategy, Grenache joins host Mo Fathelbab to discuss topics including what HR leaders in the U.S. can learn from the rest of the world about diversity and inclusion, the importance of viewing talent acquisition as a function that stretches beyond HR, her thoughts on the future of succession planning, and much more.

Episode transcript

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Cara McNulty followed a career in population health science, always driven by awareness that everything people do, including work, is tied to their health. Now, as president of behavioral health and mental well-being at CVS Health, she spearheads the development of CVS Health and Aetna's mental health programs, products and capabilities. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Tony Lee speaks with McNulty on topics that include the importance of prioritizing mental health awareness among the workforce, training managers to help employees dealing with mental health challenges and the connection between mental health and employee disengagement.

Episode transcript

Organizations intuitively look to graduate business schools as a funnel for job-ready candidates, especially in light of widespread talent shortages. However, forces such as the post-COVID workplace and new generational values are actively shaping what goes into a graduate business educational experience. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Tony Lee speaks with Alex Triantis, Dean of the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University, about the demand for a different kind of MBA experience that is both remote and premised on meaningful engagement, corporate social responsibility, and purpose-driven careers.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by ADP.

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Cardinal Health CHRO Ola Snow doesn’t think there’s a secret formula or a right path for becoming a chief people executive, but she does credit her broad range of experience and roles at Cardinal Health that have included both different types of customers and business models. In this episode of People and Strategy, Snow joins host Tony Lee to discuss topics including the new importance of organizational listening as key to succeeding in competitive talent landscapes and reframing perspectives on hybrid/remote work.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by BambooHR.

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Don Robertson is Northwestern Mutual’s chief human resources officer. He says his career in HR “just kind of happened,” but he also acknowledges how his background in finance, business and sales helped make him a great fit. In this episode of People and Strategy, Robertson speaks with host Tony Lee on topics that include his business-forward approach to HR, how Northwestern Mutual’s identity as a purpose-driven organization drives their recruiting, and the expanding role of the CHRO.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by BambooHR.

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Chris Rackow was both a special agent in the FBI and a Navy SEAL. Today, he’s vice president for global security and resilience services at Google, as well as and president of the board of directors for the International Security Management Association (ISMA). In this episode of People and Strategy, Rackow speaks with host Tony Lee on the growing role of CHROs in corporate security, overlooked methods to prevent phishing and ransomware attacks and how the rapid expansion of remote work is impacting security and safety.

This episode is sponsored by Mystery.

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Tawanda Starms’ career in HR began when she learned that the chief people officer of Taco Bell needed an executive assistant. Today, she’s vice president of talent and culture at Chipotle Mexican Grill, overseeing a wide range of talent strategies, from recruiting to talent development to company culture, DE&I and organizational design. In this episode of People and Strategy, Starms speaks with host Tony Lee on topics including what she loves about the restaurant industry, her perspective on fostering employee engagement and the effectiveness of holistic, multi-armed talent recruitment strategies. 

This episode is sponsored by Cornerstone.

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SHRM CHRO Jim Link started his HR career writing the company newsletter and responding to union grievances before advancing to HR leadership roles at organizations including Porsche and Randstad. In this episode of People and Strategy, he speaks with host Tony Lee about identifying solutions to talent shortages, the relationship between compensation and employee engagement and how to think about HR roles at both larger and smaller organizations.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by UKG.

Episode transcript

Successful leaders acknowledge while they can’t prevent adverse events (e.g. a global pandemic), what persists is leaders’ ability to choose how they and their organizations respond to those difficult situations by enacting meaningful change. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Tony Lee speaks with Ian Ziskin, president of the EXec EXcel Group and co-founder of the Business inSITE Group, about how leaders can achieve transformational change at their own organizations.

Ziskin is the author of The Secret Sauce for Leading Transformational Change.

This episode is sponsored by Greenhouse.

Episode transcript

Beth Benevenia is the leader of HR in the Global Manufacturing and Commercial Division of LIXIL, a global enterprise and manufacturer of water and housing products with 60,000 employees in more than 150 countries.

She speaks with host Tony Lee about how organizations can make returning to the office appealing for employees, the role of culture in attracting and retaining talent during The Great Resignation and developing an adaptive leadership style at a global organization.

This episode of People + Strategy is sponsored by ADP.

Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

Melissa Thompson is the Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Ford Motor Company.

In this interview with host Tony Lee, Thompson discusses how to attract and retain talent in today's competitive market and the role culture plays in talent acquisition.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by ADP.

Betty Thompson got her start in HR as an entry-level employee at IBM when she had to turn to the department to navigate a difficult personnel situation. Now, as Chief People Officer at Booz Allen Hamilton, she oversees all aspects of talent for the firm's more than 36,000 employees across the globe. In this episode of People and Strategy, Thompson speaks with host Mo Fathelbab on how necessary changes in education, diversity and inclusion, and civility will shape the next decade’s workforce.

Episode transcript

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Cordell Carter, Esq., is Founding Executive Director of the Project on Belonging and Executive Director of the Socrates Program, both at the Aspen Institute. He is also a commissioner of The President's Commission on White House Fellowships.

In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Carter dives deep into how societies and organizational cultures must cultivate thriving and belonging in the context of HR and business. (length 21:42)

This episode of People+Strategy is sponsored by ADP.
https://www.adp.com/about-adp/why-adp.aspx

Stephanie Rawitt, an attorney at Clark Hill PLC, discusses the Supreme Court ruling that stayed the OSHA’s Vaccination and Testing Emergency Standard (OSHA ETS). The ETS is on hold pending the review of the merits of the issue before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit or further action by the Biden Administration.

In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Rawitt examines the options leaders have to keep employees and customers safe. (length 22:46)

Jeff Lindeman, SHRM-SCP, is the CHRO and Vice President, Organizational Development at WD-40 Company.

In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Lindeman describes the unique WD-40 culture and its reliance on company values and belonging. (length 20:15)

Brian Reaves is the Senior Vice President, Chief Belonging, Diversity, and Equity Officer at UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group).

In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Reaves explains that diversity, equity and inclusion are business imperatives and impact business as much as any other strategy. (length 18:08)

Richard Lui, News Anchor with MSNBC and NBC News, is also the author of Enough About Me: The Unexpected Power of Selflessness.

In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Lui explains how selflessness and positivity can influence the workplace for the better, starting with leadership. (length 27:25)

Matthew Owenby, Chief Human Resources Officer at Aflac Inc., dives into company culture and talent management in our current business climate.

In this interview with Tony Lee, Vice President of Content at SHRM, Owenby discusses hiring employees for life, the role of digitalization and skills learned from the pandemic. (length 31:39)

Judy Samuelson, founder and executive director of the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program and author of Six New Rules of Business: Creating Real Value in a Changing World, explores the role of leadership in today's world.

In this interview with Ira Bedzow, director of the Biomedical Ethics and Humanities Program at New York Medical College and the Senior Scholar of the Aspen Center for Social Values, Samuelson digs into the move away from shareholder primacy and the new role of employees. (length 37:34)

Craig Wallace, Ph.D., organizational psychologist and Department Head of Management in the College of Business at Clemson University, dives into data and analytics in the HR realm.

In this interview with Deborah Stadtler, managing editor of the SHRM Executive Network, Wallace discusses how to solve for the right problem and the future of analytics.(length 38:29)

Tracey Marsh, VP of Human Resources for the ESCO Division of The Weir Group, gives a detailed look at scenario planning and how to apply that method to workforce planning.

In this interview with Judith Scimone, editor-at-large on the People + Strategy editorial board and SVP and Chief Talent Officer at MetLife, Marsh dives into the role of data and how to balance flexibility and discipline in strategic planning.

This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by ADP. Join ADP at the second annual Women @ Work virtual conference on May 5th at 11:30AM EST. This complementary event will provide a platform for our audience to hear how the world of work is evolving for women in the workforce today. Visit ADP.com/events to register.

Matt Breitfelder, global head of human capital and senior partner of Apollo Global Management, dives into how to modernize the role of CHRO.

In this interview with Deb Bubb, associate editor of the People + Strategy editorial board and SVP and chief talent officer with UnitedHealth Group, Breitfelder talks about prioritizing and taking risks to become a future-minded CHRO. (length 36:09)

Rhonda Morris, Vice President and CHRO of Chevron Corporation, describes her 31-year career with the company as non-traditional and “portfolio-esque” in the sense that she’s held a number of non-HR roles that have included marketing, running a P&L and working outside the U.S. In this episode of People and Strategy, Morris joins host Mo Fathelbab to discuss topics including the development of strong corporate culture, bringing mental health support to the workplace, as well as how she has leveraged her lifelong love of handwritten letters to engage Chevron’s employees.

Episode transcript

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Frances Frei and Anne Morriss are co-authors of "Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader's Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You" and "Uncommon Service: How to Win by Putting Customers at the Core of Your Business."

In this interview with Lisa Connell, The SHRM Executive Network advisor, Frei and Morriss explain that leadership isn't about you--it's about building others up. (length 30:10)

Jonathan McBride, former global head of inclusion and diversity at BlackRock and advisor to boards, CEOs and executive teams, dives into the thorny issues surrounding diversity and inclusion. In this interview with Eric Severson, EVP and Chief People Officer of Neiman Marcus, McBride gives concrete actions to move the needle on equity and inclusion in your organization. (length 35:59)

Bob Johansen, Ph.D., author and Distinguished Fellow at the Institute for the Future, explores what the future of work looks like. In this interview with Deb Bubb, Vice President of HR and the Chief Leadership, Learning and Inclusion Officer at IBM and Associate Editor for People + Strategy, Johansen discusses the intersection of humans and technology, digital transformation and supermind skills. (length 34:12)

Nigel Travis, chairman of the board for Dunkin' Brands, had led several iconic brands as CEO and on the board. In this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of SHRM's Executive Network, HR People + Strategy, he draws on his roots in HR and discusses why businesses need pushback and a challenge culture. (length 24:57)

Rob Chesnut, former Chief Ethics Officer of Airbnb, thinks business is in need of an ethical revolution. By promoting intentional integrity and making ethics personal, leaders can move their company forward. In this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of SHRM's Executive Network, HR People + Strategy, Chesnut explains why ethics matter more today than even before. (length 22:48)

Aaron Hurst, CEO and co-founder of Imperative and author of The Purpose Economy, believes that purpose and resilience can help employees combat burnout in the face of recent challenges. Hurst talks about social innovation and the future of work in this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of HR People + Strategy. (length 24:08)

Lisa Shalett, founder of Extraordinary Women on Boards and an experienced board director, explains why trust is so critical in today's business climate. In this interview with David Reimer, CEO Americas at Merryck & Co. and Executive Editor of People + Strategy, Shalett discusses how boards can explore the levels of trust that surround an organization. (length 41:55)

Stephanie Crouppen, Partner Happiness Executive and commercial lead for Diversity & Inclusion at Humu, discusses how great cultures are a balance of autonomy and structure. In this interview with David Reimer, CEO Americas at Merryck & Co. and Executive Editor of People + Strategy, Crouppen explores how nudges can lead to lasting culture change. (length 27:58)

Rahul Varma, Senior Managing Director and Chief Talent Officer, Accenture Technology, explores the human-centric organization. In this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of SHRM's Executive Network, HR People + Strategy, Varma dives into the importance of a human-focused company, especially during this time of crisis. (length 21:38)

Karalyn Smith, Chief Talent Officer for Williams-Sonoma, explains that culture is a strategy in business. In this interview with David Reimer, CEO Americas at Merryck & Co. and Executive Editor of People + Strategy, Smith explores why culture is a critical component for companies to get right and how boards, leaders and employees can all nudge culture forward. (length 39:09)

In the fall of 2015, Betsy Rodriguez was the CHRO of the University of Missouri when the university president announced his sudden resignation on national television. The university needed to provide a rapid response to the unfolding scenario, and the board turned to Rodriguez for guidance and advice, highlighting the CHRO’s critical role in navigating executive transitions. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Mo Fathelbab speaks with Rodriguez about the valuable lessons she has learned during her career related to managing C-suite transitions - both well-planned and sudden – and other insights from her time as an HR executive.

Episode transcript

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Ravin Jesuthasan, Managing Director at Willis Towers Watson, and Suzanne McAndrew, Global Talent Business Leader at Willis Towers Watson, discuss new research on the rapidly changing role of the Chief People Officer.

Developed in partnership between SHRM's Executive Network, HR People + Strategy, and Willis Towers Watson, this research identifies emerging trends and actionable insights that will help power the role, profession and function into the future. (length 33:34)

Josh Bersin, global industry analyst and principal research partner for SHRM's Executive Network, HR People + Strategy, discusses new research on managing technical workers. In this interview with Lisa Connell, Executive Director of HR People + Strategy, Bersin details how companies can attract, retain and manage this specialized workforce. (length 28:47)

Laura Morgan Roberts, Ph.D., is an author, educator, researcher, and organizational expert that focuses on cultivating inclusion and performance in diverse organizations. In this interview with Deb Bubb, Vice President, Chief Leadership, Learning and Inclusion Officer at IBM, Roberts delves into the idea of positive deviance to bolster inclusion. (length 22:22)

Aaron Hurst, CEO and Co-Founder of Imperative, is an expert in the science of purpose and fulfillment at work. By unlocking purpose and fulfillment at work, organizations can unleash the full potential of their employees. In this interview with Simon King, HRPS board chair, Hurst dives into the business case behind purpose at work. (length 12:49)