Future of HR

How can HR lead with courage?

How can organizations be both high performing and healthy?

My guest on this episode is Pat Wadors, CHRO, Intuitive and author of “Unlock Your Leadership Story.”

During our conversation, Pat and I discuss the following:

Why HR leaders must have the courage to challenge decisions that compromise the organization’s or their own values, even when it puts their role at risk.
What it truly means to build a healthy company, not just a high-performing one.
How can you partner with the business, so they own the initiatives and not HR
Why HR needs to adopt a product mindset when designing employee experiences and strategic initiatives.
Why should you have a “personal scorecard” that helps you navigate your career and personal life.

Connecting with Pat:
Connect with Pat on LinkedIn
Learn more about Pat’s book Unlock Your Leadership Story.

Episode Sponsor:
Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How do leaders develop cultural agility?

Why is cultural agility an essential skill in the age of AI?

My guest on this episode is Paula Caligiuri, Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University, Co-Founder of Skiilify, and Best-Selling Author.

During our conversation, Paula and I discuss the following:

Why cultural agility is becoming a critical leadership capability
How leaders actually develop effectiveness across cultures
Why vulnerability, curiosity, and perspective-taking build trust and adaptability.
How individual behavior shapes team dynamics more than formal authority.
How organizations can intentionally design experiences to develop global leaders.

Connecting with Paula:
Connect with Paula on LinkedIn
Learn more about Paula’s company, Skillify
Check out my conversation with Paula on International Business Today podcast where we discuss The Future of HR

Episode Sponsor:
Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How does active listening build a culture of trust?
Why is the employee experience as important as the customer experience?

My guest on this episode is DJ Casto, CHRO, Synchrony

During our conversation, DJ and I discuss the following:

How adopting an agile mindset and methodologies transformed Synchrony's approach to HR
How Synchrony bucked the “return to office” trend by listening to employee feedback and maintaining a flexible, performance-based work model.
Why they created a frontline experience team to invest in and improve the employee journey and customer experience.
How Synchrony uses active listening to co-create the employee experience and shape the culture.

Connecting with DJ:
Connect with DJ Casto on LinkedIn

Episode Sponsor:
Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

How can “managing up” help you to have more impact and influence?
Why is managing up a critical leadership skill for all HR leaders?

My guest on this episode is Melody Wilding, author of “Managing Up”, keynote speaker, and executive coach.

During our conversation, Melody and I discuss the following:
The biggest misconceptions about managing up and why they are wrong
Why managing up is a core leadership skill that every HR leader needs to learn
Practical tools and questions HR leaders can use to help clarify priorities and expectations with leaders.
The four main communication styles leaders need to recognize to build trust and influence across the organization.
How to structure upward feedback for your boss to ensure it lands diplomatically and productively.

Connecting with Melody:
Connect with Melody Wilding on LinkedIn
Learn more about Managing Up and Melody’s work

Episode Sponsor:

Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.

The "Best of 2025" episode features fourteen don't miss moments from HR executives and thought leaders who…

So, who can you expect to learn from on this episode?

Monique Herena, Chief Colleague Experience Officer, American Express
Wanda Wallace, Managing Partner, Leadership Forum & Darren Overfield, EVP, Coaching & Consulting at Kaiser Leadership Solutions
Riina Hellström, Founder, Agile HR Community
Dave Ulrich, Partner at The RBL Group
Marcia Avedon, 3X CHRO, Board Director, Human Capital Expert, and Executive Coach
Lisa Chang, EVP & Chief People Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
Christina Norris-Watts, Head of Assessment & People Practices, Johnson & Johnson
Anita Graham, EVP & CHRO, Labcorp
Christy Pambianchi, CHRO, Caterpillar Inc.
Ani Huang, Senior EVP, CHRO Association & Anthony Nyberg, Director, Center for Executive Succession at University of South Carolina
Brandon Sammut, Chief People & AI Transformation Officer, Zapier
Tina Gupta, SVP, Talent Management, New York Life Insurance
Brian Miller, Chief Talent and D&I Officer, Levi Strauss & Co
Jennifer Wilson & Brad Warga, Partners and Global Co-Heads of the Human Resources Officers Practice at Heidrick & Struggles

Episode Sponsor:
Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders

HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career.

Succession Planning Playbook: In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.