People and Strategy – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of People + Strategy, Bob Goodwin, president of Career Club, unpacks why HR leaders must speak the language of CEOs and CFOs to secure influence in the boardroom. Drawing on research, case studies, and his work with executives, Bob reveals how financial fluency, business acumen, and data-driven storytelling can elevate HR from a “soft” function to a strategic driver of growth. Learn how CHROs can bridge the disconnect with the C-Suite to stay indispensable in an era of cost pressures and AI disruption.  Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr   ---  Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r 

What does it take to create a thriving, low-ego culture in a global organization with 24,000 employees? Paulo Pisano, CHRO of Booking Holdings and CPO of Booking.com, shares how he connects culture to strategy, leverages customer dashboards and engagement metrics to benchmark success, and drives alignment across international teams. Discover why resisting the influence of the HiPPO (highest paid person’s opinion) is essential for effective decision making and gain practical insights to elevate your own organizational culture.    Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr --- Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

How can CHROs ensure a strong return on investment in the face of rising HR costs? In this episode, guests James Atkinson, VP of thought leadership at SHRM, and Chris Courneen, senior VP and global head of HR at MS International, dive into SHRM's 2025 CHRO Benchmarking Data Brief, unpacking trends such as increased HR spending, wage inflation, and investments in workforce technology. Discover strategies for measuring ROI, controlling costs, and communicating value to the broader business. This episode is essential for HR leaders looking to align their budgets with organizational impact. 2025 CHRO Benchmarking data brief mentioned: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/research/2025-chro-benchmarking--insights-to-power-people-strategy Data on the U.S. labor shortage: https://www.shrm.org/enterprise-solutions/insights/january-2025-labor-market-review-talent-shortage-persists   Subscribe to People + Strategy podcast to get the latest episodes, expert insights, and additional resources delivered straight to your inbox: https://shrm.co/nq47pr --- Explore SHRM’s all-new flagships. Content curated by experts. Created for you weekly. Each content journey features engaging podcasts, video, articles, and groundbreaking newsletters tailored to meet your unique needs in your organization and career. Learn More: https://shrm.co/coy63r

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)

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)

Anna Marie Valerio, Ph.D., has more than 20 years of management and consulting experience with Fortune 500 companies. Her current research focuses on how to increase women in leadership positions. In this interview with HRPS executive editor Marc Sokol, Valerio explores leadership development, gender equity, and the evolution of executive coaching. (length 34:36)

Joanne Lipman identifies best practices for closing the gender gap, bridging generational and cultural divides, and re-calibrating workplaces to create an inclusive environment. As one of the nation’s leading journalists and the author of the No. 1 bestseller “That’s What She Said”, she lays out real-world solutions and a path forward in the wake of the #MeToo movement. In this interview with Stephen Battalia, CHRO of International Baccalaureate USA, Lipman discusses her work with companies across industries and climbing to the top of male-dominated fields.