HR Leaders
Business & Finance
About
Join host Chris Rainey on the HR Leaders Podcast, where he sits down with top Chief People Officers, CHROs, and leading HR experts to uncover the strategies, trends, and insights shaping the future of human resources. Each episode dives into best practices in people management, leadership challenges, and transformative HR innovations that impact both business success and society at large. Whether you're an HR professional or simply passionate about modern workplace strategies, this podcast delivers expert advice, real-world experiences, and the latest trends in HR, making it your go-to resource for all things human resources.
Episodes
- Why Your People Don’t Speak Up (even when you ask them to)
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, Khalil Smith discusses building a performance culture where employees trust each other and speak up. He explains how leaders can create stronger cultures by encouraging healthy disagreement, align…
- Why Your Culture Doesn’t Feel Safe Yet (and what leaders get wrong)
In this HR Leaders podcast episode, Peter Andrew Danzig from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia discusses psychological safety. He explains it as a belief system, not a checklist, emphasizing its co-creation and reinforcement through dail…
- How HR Can Put People at the Center of AI Transformation
Julie A. Stone of TTEC explains how organizations can implement AI transformation by focusing on human connection, trust, and coaching. She emphasizes that effective AI integration requires addressing real business problems, transparent co…
- How ABM Is Using AI Coaching to Support 100,000 Frontline Workers
Raúl J. Valentín of ABM Industries shares insights on leading a large frontline workforce through change and AI transformation. He emphasizes designing systems where people and AI collaborate, focusing on fairness, recognition, and manager…
- How Talent Acquisition Is Being Completely Reinvented in 2026
Blair Bennett, SVP of Global Talent Acquisition at PepsiCo, explains how the function is being redefined by AI and hyper-personalization. She details PepsiCo's redesigned talent acquisition operating model, shifting from execution to strat…
- Why Most New HR Leaders Fail in Their First 90 Days
In this HR Leaders episode, Sarah Stary explains that new HR leaders often fail by rushing innovation before understanding the company culture. She advises building credibility by listening, traveling, and understanding the business before…
- Why Continuous Learning Is the Only Way to Stay Relevant in 2026
In this HR Leaders episode, Frederic Patitucci of Philip Morris International discusses the company's transformation towards a smoke-free future, emphasizing the shift from managing jobs to managing skills, codifying culture, and embedding…
- How to Protect Culture During Rapid Growth
Andre Heinz, Chief People and Culture Officer at Celonis, shares how HR leadership navigates rapid company growth, focusing on protecting culture, scaling talent, and maintaining operational efficiency while planning years ahead.
- How Much Can You Really Save with AI in HR?
Carlo Steenvoorden explains how KPN is transitioning to a conversational AI-powered employee experience, reducing HR query costs and improving efficiency by moving systems to the back end with a single intelligent interface.
- The #1 Skills Mistake That Slows Big Companies Down
Ilja Bitterling discusses how large organizations can make skills data usable and trusted, moving beyond inventories to a shared language connecting workforce decisions and performance outcomes. Deutsche Telekom's approach connects skills…
- Why Skills Expire Every 3 Years in Tech (and What HR Must Do)
Vincent Lecerf of Orange explains why tech skills expire every three years and how HR leaders must adapt by integrating DEI into strategy, rethinking reskilling cycles, and embracing AI acceleration.
- How Airbus Decides What AI Should and Shouldn’t Do
Vincent Dupuis from Airbus explains how organizations should approach AI implementation, focusing on augmenting human capabilities rather than replacement. The episode highlights the importance of ethical AI governance, protecting critical…
- How to Build a Skills-Ready Workforce in 2026
Jayney Howson, SVP at ServiceNow, explains how the company builds skills for employees and partners using ServiceNow University, an AI-powered personalized learning platform. The discussion covers embedding learning into work, democratizin…
- Why AI Literacy Is Now a Business Skill Every Leader Needs
David Sperl from GE HealthCare explains why AI literacy is crucial for HR leaders, discussing its practical application, adoption strategies, and the shift towards change agility in regulated environments.
- How to Create a Neurodiversity-Friendly Workplace
Kristen A. Pressner explains how neurodiversity can be a significant advantage in the post-AI workplace by designing brain-friendly environments. She highlights the crucial role of line managers in ensuring neurodivergent employees thrive…
- Why Micromanagement Kills Performance (And What Works Instead)
HR Leaders features Will Clive discussing how to build high-performing teams without burnout. He explains that clarity of outcome, values-driven leadership, and removing low performers are key, contrasting this with micromanagement.
- Why Hard Work Still Beats Talent at Work
Michael Burgess discusses how hard work and enjoyment drive performance, the importance of HR basics for credibility, and the benefits of inclusive hiring practices like second-chance and prison-to-work programs.
- Why Listening is the #1 HR Advantage
Jason Bloomfield discusses Ericsson's shift to people-first HR, driven by a global feedback loop that replaces outdated five-year plans. He emphasizes the importance of authentic empathy, skills intelligence, and change agility for HR lead…
- The 6-Month Talent Roadmap Every HR Leader Needs
Kristin Trecker, Chief People Officer at Visteon Corporation, explains how HR can improve the business through talent by implementing a six-month product roadmap aligned with capability and capacity plans. The episode covers shifting cultu…
- Why Hyper-Personalization Is the Ultimate HR Advantage in 2026
In this HR Leaders episode, Ayaskant Sarangi, CHRO at Mphasis, explains how HR is becoming a business-first, tech-enabled growth engine by using AI-powered hyper-personalization. He highlights the importance of HR understanding P&L and bus…
- How Lloyds Builds Leaders for the AI Era
Sharon Doherty, Chief People and Places Officer at Lloyds Banking Group, explains how the company develops leaders for the AI era by focusing on leadership behavior, AI adoption through learning trips and mentoring, and strengthening cultu…
- Inside McDonald’s Culture Strategy
Emilee F. DeMartino of McDonald's discusses how the company maintains a people-first culture globally using values and AI. AI has significantly reduced hiring time and increased applications, allowing managers more time for staff and custo…
- How LEGO Is Getting Ready for 2026 (and What HR Must Copy)
Kent Frederiksen from the LEGO Group explains how the company is preparing for EU pay transparency regulations, focusing on the shift beyond compliance towards trust and employee rights.
- Why AI Fails Without Psychological Safety (and How to Fix It)
Raj Verma explains how Sanofi built trust and culture to support large-scale AI transformation, emphasizing psychological safety and co-creation. The episode details how recognition, inclusion, and data were used to drive AI adoption among…
- The New Rules of Leadership in 2026 (and What You Must Stop Tolerating)
Frederic Patitucci of Philip Morris International shares insights on the company's decade-long transformation into a science-driven, smoke-free business. The discussion covers the co-creation of the PMI DNA cultural framework with over 350…
- How to Build a Responsible AI Ecosystem
Michiel van Duin discusses Novartis's human-centered AI ecosystem, integrating HR, IT, and strategy. The episode covers building an AI governance framework, employee upskilling, and the "Ask Novartis" AI assistant, emphasizing responsible…
- The Blueprint for a Skills-Based Organization (SAP’s Model)
Gina Vargiu-Breuer explains SAP's transition to a skills-based, AI-powered organization, detailing their 800+ skill taxonomy, adaptive learning initiatives, and the creation of "human-AI power couples" to reshape HR functions like recruiti…
- Why 90% of AI Projects Fail (and How to Fix It)
Eric Mosley explains on the HR Leaders Podcast that 80-90% of AI projects fail due to insufficient training data. He discusses how recognition data can be used to improve AI, reduce bias, and unlock hidden talent, ultimately amplifying hum…
- How Microsoft Balances AI and Humanity in HR
Amy Coleman of Microsoft shares insights on leading with humanity amidst AI advancements, discussing HR's evolving role from process management to experience design. The episode covers balancing innovation with empathy, fostering psycholog…
- The Real Future of Managers in 2026 (and Why Most HR Teams Aren’t Ready)
This HR Leaders episode features Sandrine GIRSZYN of AXA discussing the evolving role of managers in 2026. AXA prioritizes a human-centered strategy, supporting over 4,000 managers globally through listening, co-creation, trust, and peer l…
- How IKEA Empowers 170,000 Co-workers (Without Losing Culture)
Alejandra Piñol, Deputy Chief HR Officer at IKEA, discusses how the company maintains its culture while scaling globally. The episode explores empowering frontline teams, building leaders from within, and prioritizing people over process d…
- How HR Can Lead the AI Revolution (Before It’s Too Late)
Josh Bersin explains how AI is creating the "Superworker" era, empowering employees and necessitating HR leadership in the AI agenda. He advises framing AI as a growth opportunity and fostering a culture of continuous reinvention.
- Stop Hiring “Superstars” - They Might Be Office Vampires 🧛♂️
Behavioral scientist Jon Levy explains on the HR Leaders Podcast why organizations should focus on "glue people," belonging, and intentional connection over lone "superstars" to build high-performing teams, especially in hybrid work settin…
- How AI Will Transform Recruiting by 2026
Anoop Gupta joins the HR Leaders Podcast to explain how AI is revolutionizing recruiting by automating 70% of repetitive tasks, allowing HR professionals to focus on strategy and relationships. The discussion covers the evolution of recrui…
- The Future of Work Is Human (and Here’s Why)
Sam Schlimper of Randstad Enterprise explains on the HR Leaders Podcast that true transformation begins with people, not systems. She details how AI can enhance human creativity and discusses redesigning organizations around purpose and co…
- How LinkedIn’s AI Hiring Assistant Is Changing Recruiting Forever
Mark Lobosco, VP at LinkedIn, details the new AI Hiring Assistant, explaining how AI transforms recruiting by automating tasks and improving candidate precision. He also discusses the importance of AI fluency for recruiters and the future…
- How HR Can Lead the AI Shift in 2026
Bryan Power from Nextdoor joins the HR Leaders Podcast to discuss how HR can lead AI adoption and manage workplace transformation. The episode covers topics like Project NAI-BOR, fostering a founder's mentality, and the evolving employee e…
- How AI Is Transforming Hiring (And Recruiters’ Real Role)
Heidi Barnett explains how AI is transforming the hiring process, shifting recruiter focus from sourcing to screening and emphasizing candidate experience. The discussion covers the declining relevance of resumes and degrees, and how AI ca…
- How Wingstop Turns Hourly Workers into 70% of Its Leaders
Donnie Upshaw of Wingstop discusses the company's strategy for developing frontline talent, resulting in 70% of general managers being promoted from hourly roles. The episode covers scaling culture, intentional development, and fostering c…
- How to Hire 55,000 People in 6 Years (And Not Break Your Company)
Elle Lebourg of Hilti Group discusses scaling talent acquisition to hire 55,000 people in six years. She covers authentic communication, balancing global and local needs, adopting a product mindset, and prioritizing people in transformatio…
- Why Your Recognition Strategy Isn’t Working (And How to Fix It)
In this HR Leaders Podcast episode, KeyAnna Schmiedl of Workhuman discusses how to improve employee recognition strategies, especially in the age of AI. She explains how AI can enhance human connection and why strategic recognition is a bu…
- How to Protect Culture During Rapid Growth (Most Companies Fail Here)
Jon Caldwell, SVP & Chief People Officer at Valvoline, shares insights on maintaining company culture during rapid expansion. He highlights Valvoline's grow-from-within model, scalable HR processes, and traditions that foster teamwork and…
- How to Build Confidence as a Leader in 2026 and Beyond
Cathy Peterman of Wayfair shares insights on building leadership confidence, navigating transformation, and preparing the workforce for the AI era. Topics include imposter syndrome, transferable skills, and the impact of generative AI on r…
- Why AI Is HR’s Superpower (and How to Use It)
Adam Holton of GE HealthCare explains on the HR Leaders Podcast how AI can be a superpower for HR, enabling personalized learning and authentic leadership. The episode covers integrating AI into daily workflows for adoption and rethinking…
- How AI and Skills-Based Hiring Are Replacing CVs
Wouter Durville, CEO of TestGorilla, discusses the shift from traditional CVs to skills-based hiring, driven by AI. He explains how AI-powered assessments and interviews enhance fairness and efficiency in recruitment, emphasizing the growi…
- The 4 Terms of Leadership Every Leader Must Follow
In this HR Leaders Podcast episode, Vince Molinaro Ph.D. shares the four terms of leadership: decision, obligation, hard work, and community. He explains how organizations and HR leaders can embed these principles into practices to foster…
- How to Prepare Your HR Team for the AI Future?
In this HR Leaders episode, Lucia Bucci shares insights on preparing HR teams for an AI-driven future, including automating tasks and upskilling professionals. The discussion covers leadership strategies and team engagement for retention a…
- How to Build a Multigenerational Workforce That Works Together
Vishal Thanki from B&Q shares strategies for creating an effective multigenerational workforce, focusing on inclusive practices like gamified learning and pay parity. The episode explores how to motivate different generations, from Gen Z t…
- How AI Makes Coaching Accessible Beyond the C-Suite
Will Leahy, VP of People at Greenhouse Software, discusses on the HR Leaders Podcast how AI is democratizing coaching and employee development. Greenhouse utilizes AI tools to deliver personalized, in-the-flow training at scale, enhancing…
- Inside the 2025 Deloitte Human Capital Trends Report
Kyle Forrest from Deloitte joins the HR Leaders Podcast to discuss the 2025 Global Human Capital Trends Report. Key topics include balancing agility and stability, redefining manager roles in the AI era, redesigning employee value proposit…