Why should you aspire to be a business person, not a business partner?How can having a leadership philosophy make you more effective HR leader?My guest on this episode is Ian Ziskin, President of EXec EXcel Group, Fortune 100 CHRO, Author, & Board Member and I go deep on what really matters when it comes to developing HR leaders.During our conversation Ian and I discuss:Why the best HR leaders courageously push back against misguided ideas and advocate for the right ones, even if unpopularWhy the best HR leaders are clear on their leadership philosophyWhy being a great coach is all about the “art of the question”His recommendations for CHROs on how they can develop their next-gen HR talentHis advice for next-gen HR leaders on how they can invest in and develop themselvesConnecting with Ian ZiskinConnect with Ian Ziskin on LinkedInEpisode Sponsor:BizLibrary - Where Learning Happens

This is a very special episode in partnership with the Institute for Corporate Productivity, also known as i4cp where I had the opportunity to attend their annual “Next Practices Now Conference” in Scottsdale Arizona.Over three days, 500 HR leaders came to Scottsdale, where they were treated to over 25 different presentations and key notes by thought leaders and HR practitionersI was fortunate to be able sit down to interview seven of those amazing speakers and bring their insights to you.So who are those amazing speakers….:Prasad Setty, Lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business & former VP, People Ops and Workspace, GoogleCharlene Li, Bestselling Author & Founder & CEO, Quantum Networks GroupDiane Gherson, former IBM CHRO, Board member of Kraft Heinz, Centivo and TechWolfMonica Pool Knox, who is a 2x CHRO, HR Tech Advisor, Board DirectorSal Falletta, Professor for Human Resource Leadership and Organizational Science, Drexel University and author of “Creepy Analytics: Avoid Crossing the Line and Establish Ethical HR Analytics for Smarter Workforce Decisions”Elliott Masie, Chair, MASIE Learning FoundationKevin Oakes, CEO, i4cpEpisode Sponsor:BizLibrary - Where Learning Happens

How have employee attitudes about work shifted since the pandemic?Why it is even more important than even that we build human-centric organizations?My guest on this episode is Kate Bravery, Mercer’s Global Talent Trends Author and Ilya Bonic, President of Mercer's Career Business and Head of StrategyDuring our conversation Kate, Ilya and I discuss:How to build a winning organization in what they are calling the “People Age”Why you should think of employees as contributors instead of workersHow AI will amplify our intelligence and increase our productivityWhy HR needs to lead the way on building an AI first culture and driving it’s adoptionExamples of three companies that are implementing different innovative skills-first initiativesConnecting with Kate Bravery & Ilya BonicConnect with Kate Bravery on LinkedInConnect with Ilya Bonic on LinkedInLearn more about “Work Different: 10 Truths For Winning in the People Age”Episode Sponsor:BizLibrary - Where Learning Happens

Why does it mean to be a built to last company, like Johnson and Johnson?How can you build a talent pipeline that produces a deep bench of leaders?My guest on this episode is Peter Fasolo, CHRO and Micheal Ehret, Head of Global Talent Management at Johnson & JohnsonDuring our conversation Peter, Michael and I discuss:The power of J&J’s Credo and how it has served as the organization’s north star for over 135 years.How CHROs and Heads of Talent can partner to create value for their organizationsWhy talent leaders need to have a point of view on the top 100+ leaders in their organization.Why every HR professional needs to think about their job in terms of the outcomes they deliver.How J&J is personalizing career journeys and using skills as the foundation for their mentoring programs.How Generative AI and the digital transformation of work will impact every organization’s people strategiesConnecting with Peter Fasolo & Michael EhretConnect with Peter Fasolo on LinkedInConnect with Michael Ehret on LinkedInEpisode Sponsor:BizLibrary - Where Learning Happens

When it comes to Learning & Development, why are we so focused on new bright shiny objects?How can you improve the Return on Investment from L&D initiatives?My guest on this episode is Noah Rabinowitz, VP Talent Development at Commonwealth Fusion Systems and Brian Hackett, Founder, The Learning ForumDuring our conversation Noah, Brian and I discuss:Why L&D needs to stop being driven by trends and start being driven by common standardsHow HR leaders need to rethink the “value of time” when it comes to investing in learningWhy “skill surging” is an faster and better alternative to implementing a skills-based organizationWhy you should be refining, not reinventing your L&D governance modelNoah’s advice to next-gen L&D leaders who want to increase their influence and impactConnecting with Noah Rabinowitz and Brian HackettConnect with Noah Rabinowitz on LinkedInConnect with Brian Hackett on LinkedInLearn more about the CLO LIFT and The Learning ForumEpisode Sponsor:BizLibrary - Where Learning Happens

How can you master your mindset?Why should you embrace and lean into the mantra “Do it Afraid”?My guest on this episode is Sohee Jun, PhD, a premier leadership coach for successful women executives, a highly sought-after keynote speaker, leadership development expert and Amazon best-selling authorDuring our conversation, Sohee and I discuss the following: What she learned from researching successful women in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’sWhy having the right mindset is so powerful in overcoming challenges and achieving successHow to build a “board of advocates” that will challenge and support you over the course of your careerWhy imposter syndrome impacts all of us and how to move past itWhat organizations can do to invest in and develop their female leadersHer advice for next-gen HR leaders who want to accelerate their careerConnecting with Sohee: Sohee Jun, PhD on LinkedInSohee’s websiteEpisode Sponsor: BizLibrary - Where Learning Happens

What does it take to create a championship culture?How can you create a compelling employee experience that drives engagement?My guest on this episode is Shaun Mayo, Chief People Officer, Arizona Cardinals Football ClubDuring our conversation Shaun and I discuss:How he was “drafted” into an HR role early in his careerWhat it is like to be a Chief People Officer in the NFL?How the organization is working to instill a championship culture on and off the fieldHow they are redefining their values and what it means to be a CardinalHis advice for HR leaders who want to redefine their values and cultureWhy believes in creating a compelling employee experience is critical high performance and employee engagementConnecting with Shaun MayoConnect with Shaun on LinkedInEpisode Sponsor:BizLibrary - Where Learning Happens

What makes someone a powerful communicator? Why does every HR leader need to master the art of communication?My guest on this episode is Gabe Zichermann entrepreneur, public speaker, gamification expert, and author of “The A-HA! Method: Communicating Powerfully in a Time of Distraction”During our conversation Gabe and I discuss:How the power of effective communication skills can help your careerWhy more is not better when it comes to communicating powerfully and effectivelyWhy effective communication now requires a different skill set due to the daily distractions of technologyHow to create “AHA” moments in your presentationsHow gamification will help people develop the soft skills to be successful in the future of workWhy friendships at work can be a foundation for high performance and employee engagementConnecting with Gabe ZichermannConnect with Gabe on LinkedInLearn more about Gabe’s speaking engagement, coaching, and booksLearn more about The A-HA! Method

What skills will be essential in the new workplace?How can you and your organization adapt to the future of work?My guest on this episode is Wagner Denuzzo, Future of Work Expert and Author of “Leading to Succeed: Essential Skills for the New Workplace,” Executive Coach, and HR start-up Advisor,During our conversation Wagner and I discuss:Why he believes awareness, acceptance, and accountability are the keys to success in life and your careerWhat a personal success profile is and how it can help accelerate your careerWhat he calls the five D’s of the new workplace and why they matterWhy he believes we should move away from performance management and move towards “project assessments”His “disruptive” coaching model and how to apply itConnecting with Wagner DeNuzzoConnect with Wagner on LinkedInLearn more about Wagner and Leading to Succeed.

How can you align your personal purpose with your values? Why is “putting people first” not only the right thing to do, but also a great business strategy?My guest on this episode is Sara Kelly, Chief Partner Officer, StarbucksDuring our conversation Sara and I discuss:How her “personal purpose”has served as her north star throughout her careerWhy she believes that putting people first is critical to business successWhy she believes you should be open to new opportunities and the power of saying “yes.”How Starbucks co-created their new values with input from their partnersHer advice to HR leaders who are updating their organization’s valuesWhy co-creation and an effective listening strategy is helping them to evolve their industry leading benefit offeringsConnecting with Sara KellyConnect with Sara Kelly on LinkedIn

What does it mean to be a coachable leader?How can being a coachable leader future-proof your career? My guest on this episode is Kevin WildeDuring our conversation Kevin and I discuss:Why believes that “leaders teaching leaders” is critical to successful leadership development programsWhy coachable leaders have a different mindset than less coachable leadersWhy being coachable decreases as we age and advance in our careersHow to overcome the seven faulty assumptions that low coachable leaders make How Kevin’s “two question” technique helps leaders seek out feedbackHow to seek out and find a truth teller who can give you candid feedbackWhat most people are doing wrong when receiving feedback and what you should do insteadConnecting with Kevin WildeConnect with Kevin Wilde on LinkedInLearn more about the The Coachable Leader and Kevin’s research

Why is friction both good and bad for your organization How can leaders identify and reduce bad friction?My guest on this episode is Bob Sutton who is an organizational psychologist, professor emeritus at Stanford, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker.During our conversation Bob and I discuss:Why you should think like a “friction fixer” regardless of your positionWhen and how to apply “good friction” to slow things down for better decision makingHow to identify good and bad friction in your organizationWhy empathetic leaders seek out the “friction” in their organizations and then work to reduce itHow to play the “subtraction game” and how it can help your organizationConnecting with Bob SuttonConnect with Bob Sutton on LinkedInLearn more about Bob and his latest book, “The Friction Project”

Why can you ask for a mentor, but you must earn a sponsor?How do you create a culture where leaders invest in mentoring and sponsoring talent?My guest on this episode is Kerrie Peraino, Chief People Officer at Verily, an Alphabet company bringing the promise of precision health to everyone, every day.During our conversation Kerrie and I discuss:The role sponsorship has played in her careerWhy she believes “you can ask for a mentor, but you must earn a sponsor”What she learned from participating in the “the sponsorship effect” research projectWhy sponsorship is one of the greatest retention levers that organizations haveHer advice on creating a culture where leaders invest in mentoring and sponsoring talentHer advice for next gen HR leaders on how to find a mentor and grow that relationship into sponsorshipConnecting with Kerrie Peraino:Connect with Kerrie Peraino on LinkedInLearn more about the Sponsorship Effect: Breaking Through the Last Glass Ceiling

Why is the single biggest barrier to having power…ourselves?How can you, as an HR professional step into your power?My guest on this episode is Jeffrey Pfeffer, Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University and Author of 16 books including his latest one the “7 Rules of Power - Surprising But True Advice on How to Get Things Done and Advance Your Career”During our conversation Jeffrey and I discuss:Why he believes the single biggest barrier to having power is ourselvesWhy it is important that we own and tell our story, not let others tell it for usWhy he believes that being authentic and/or modest is terrible leadership advice Why networking is a super power and how to do it wellWhy he believes HR needs to raise the bar and step into their powerHis advice on how to deal with difficult leaders in positions of powerConnecting with Jeffrey PfefferConnect with Jeffrey Pfeffer on LinkedInLearn more about the Jeffrey’s books, research, podcast and more

How do you build a leadership pipeline?Why is leadership about jobs to be done and not hierarchy?My guests on this episode are Steve Drotter, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board and Kent Jonasen, Co-Founder and Global CEO, The Leadership Pipeline Institute During our conversation Steve, Kent and I discuss:The original research that led to the writing of the “Leadership Pipeline” bookWhat differentiates the leadership pipeline framework from traditional competency based leadership models Why leadership is not about leadership, but rather the specific job that needs to be doneThe common traits shared among senior executives who are not chosen for CEO rolesHow the leadership pipeline model can be applied in smaller organizationsThe most common mistakes companies make when implementing the leadership pipeline modelConnecting with Kent Jonasen and Steve DrotterConnect with Kent Jonasen and Steve Drotter on LinkedInLearn more about the Leadership Pipeline Institute Buy the Leadership Pipeline: Building Leaders in the Digital Age

Why should HR take more calculated risks?How can taking calculated risks increase HR’s impact?My guest on this episode is with Rhonda Morris, Chief Human Resources Officer at ChevronDuring our conversation Rhonda and I discuss:What she learned from her time owning a P&L and how it made her a better HR leaderThe importance of asking for help and not believing you have all the answersHow she leverages her own personal board of directors to continue to learn and develop as a leaderWhy she believes HR needs to take more calculated risksThe question every HR leader should ask before trying gain the buy-in of their business leadersWhy HR leaders need to practice “other thinking” to increase their impactConnecting with Rhonda MorrisConnect with Rhonda Morris on LinkedIn

How do managers create value and impact?How do the best managers reduce friction and create capacity for their teams?My guest on this episode is with with Dave Kline who teaches leaders the codified management playbook to build great teams & level up their careerDuring our conversation Dave and I discuss:Why he and his wife launched the management accelerator program and what makes it uniqueWhy he believes that the role of a manager is to deliver impact and why he created the impact equationWhy the best leaders focus on reducing friction and cycle time for their teamsHow new leaders can build trust with their teams by identifying and making a meaningful change on something that matters to themWhy leaders who are afraid to give feedback in the moment often drop what he calls the “synthesis bomb” and it how it negatively impacts trustThe six fears (rational and irrational) that stop leaders from delegating to their teams and how to overcome themConnecting with Dave KlineConnect with Dave Kline on LinkedInLearn more about MGMT Accelerator on MavenSubscribe to Dave’s weekly newsletter MGMT Playbook

The “Best of 2023” episode features sixteen don’t miss moments from HR executives and thought leaders who…So, who can you expect to learn from on this episode? Lisa Buckingham, former Chief People, Place & Brand Officer at Lincoln Financial GroupDave Ulrich, Professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan and a partner at The RBL GroupMatt Breitfelder, Head of Human Capital and Partner at Apollo Global ManagementMiriam Ort, EVP & CHRO at C&S Wholesale Grocers & SymboticSam Hammock, EVP & CHRO at VerizonOla Snow, CHRO, Cardinal HealthAndre’ Martin, PhD, Founder of Shift Space and author of “Wrong Fit, Right Fit”Tami Rosen, Chief People Officer at PagayaJay Parker, founder and CEO of Mentorforce Cary Friedman, Global Head of Human Resources at JefferiesMatt Abrahams, a leading expert in communication and author of “Think Faster, Talk Smarter”Mita Mallick, Chief Diversity Officer & Author of “Reimagine Inclusion”Nick Bloom, WFH expert & Professor of Economics at Stanford UniversityAnne Gotte, VP Global Talent, General Mills & Joe Garbus, EVP Global Head of Talent, PVH Corp.Peter Block, author of Flawless Consulting and Partner at Designed LearningChris Scalia, Chief Human Resources Officer, The Hershey Company

How does your “operating culture” impact your employee experience?What are the best ways to co-create your culture using data and the voice of your team members?My guest on this episode is with Heidi Manna, Chief People Officer at Jazz PharmaceuticalsDuring our conversation Heidi and I discuss:Her advice for candidates on how to assess in the interview if an organization values HRWhy a mentor’s direct and honest feedback was a turning point in her careerHow your “operating culture” impacts your employee experienceWhy they have relied on “principles” and team leaders judgement in developing their future work model “Jazz Remix”How data on employee preferences, commute times, and percentage of distributed teams helped inform their future work model “Jazz Remix”How she engaged and collaborated with the senior leadership to gain alignment and ownership for “Jazz Remix”Connecting with Heidi MannaConnect with Heidi Manna on LinkedIn

Why should all HR leaders be “systems thinkers”How are processes, practices, and behaviors the building blocks of culture change?My guest on this episode is with Melissa Daimler, Chief Learning Officer at Udemy and Author of ReCulturing: Design Your Company Culture to Connect with Strategy and Purpose for Lasting Success”During our conversation Melissa and I discuss:Why she is so passionate about building great cultures?Why “systems thinking” is so important for HR leadersWhy a shift in business strategy likely means you need to make a shift in your cultureWhy you should look for four common gaps when diagnosing cultureWhy behaviors, processes, and practices all must work together to drive culture changeWhy she believes culture change is not an HR initiativeConnecting with Melissa DaimlerConnect with Melissa Daimler on LinkedInLearn more about Melissa and ReCulturing