In this episode, Terry Reed, senior vice president of talent and leadership development at Comfort Systems, a leading mechanical and electrical firm, shares his insights on addressing the country’s critical shortage in skilled trade workers, plus his strategies for attracting women to the industry, and the need for in-house training programs. Reed also shares his experiences on building workplace culture and diversity, as well as the impact of technology like AI on the workforce.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate/review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

Anita Martin built her HR career on three pillars: fairness, consistency, and transparency. In this episode, Martin shares her strategy for leading organizational change at the Houston Texans and offers tips on how to achieve employee buy-in, the importance of succession planning, and strategic patience.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the current state of the U.S. labor market—and where it’s headed in 2025—with SHRM senior labor economist Justin Ladner. Discover key insights and potential paths forward for the worker shortage, inflation, and more.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

How does an organization create an “outrageously extraordinary” culture? SharkNinja’s chief people officer Elizabeth Norberg sits down with the president of Gap International, Bob Rothman, to discuss their formula for success. They also share tips for navigating change, building executive alignment, and the role of the HR executive in building company culture. Listen until the end to hear some rapid fire questions.Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

In this week’s episode of the People and Strategy podcast, Marjorie Powell, the CHRO at AARP, shares her insights into managing HR at one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the U.S. She also explains how AI is being used to enhance member engagement and how to realize the strategic value of the 50-and-older workforce.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

In this special episode, we're recording live at the SHRM Executive Network's 2024 Visionaries Summit in Austin, Texas. Tune in for key takeaways from our Executive Network of CHROs. Learn what's top of mind for HR leaders and which insights they plan to bring back to their organizations.Didn't get a chance to attend Visionaries this year? Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network and the 2025 Visionaries Summit.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

In this episode, Dawn Zier, former CEO of Nutrisystem and current executive coach, discusses the vital role that organizational culture plays in company turnarounds and in the boardroom. She explains the evolving role of boards of directors in today's workplace and why some boardroom norms have reached their expiration dates. Zier is also the editor of The Directors Roundtable, a regular department in our quarterly People + Strategy Journal. You can read the most recent Directors Roundtables online:Creating Board-Management AlignmentHow a Board of Directors Should Lead on GenAIHow Boards Navigate the New State of LaborEpisode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

From Starbucks barista to executive, Paul Johnson’s career journey has taken many paths. Today, he is VP of People and Culture and Chief Diversity Officer for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. In this episode of People and Strategy, Johnson shares his insights on redefining traditional leadership paradigms, the role of continuous learning, and the differences between HR roles in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.Note: All views expressed are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

What was your entry point into the workforce? In this episode of People and Strategy, Denny’s SVP of HR and CLO Fasika Melaku discusses how the service industry tends to be that first door to employment. She reflects on her experience as an immigrant, working in the hospitality industry, and creating employee development programs at Denny's.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

Increasing access to care among underserved populations can advance health equity. In this episode of People and Strategy, Boston Scientific’s vice president of HR and global chief diversity officer Camille Chang Gilmore discusses the medical technology company’s Close the Gap Health Equity Initiative, tying inclusion goals to measurable outcomes, her tips for successful leadership, and more.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

An organization’s workplace culture represents an opportunity to align with the communities it serves. In this episode of People and Strategy, DeRetta Rhodes, chief culture officer at the Atlanta Braves discusses how to enhance workplace culture — from the importance of giving employees a voice to how community involvement can create a sense of belonging.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

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.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

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.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

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 transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

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 transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network. 

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 transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

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 transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

After realizing that a career in investment banking wasn’t for her, Julie Lodge-Jarrett went to a career fair in Detroit to stand in a long line, wondering if she could talk to someone about a job at Ford Motor Company. She landed in HR, and after a multi-decade career at Ford, she accepted an offer to become Chief People and Purpose Officer at DICK’s Sporting Goods in 2019. In this episode of People and Strategy, Lodge-Jarrett joins host Mo Fathelbab to discuss topics including how DICK’s promotes civility in a retail environment, and the organization’s use of “dialogue circles” to encourage healthy debate and discussion among team members.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

AI is changing not only the nature of work, but also the approaches needed for effective human-centric change management related to this revolutionary technology. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Mo Fathelbab speaks with Nichol Bradford, SHRM’s executive in residence for AI and HI enablement to discuss topics including concerns about AI-related layoffs, how HR departments will evolve in the age of AI, and and achieving buy-in from senior leadership and employees on AI initiatives at your organization.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

After being hired as senior vice president of human resources at Capital Group in 1998, Andrea Gill had to go on maternity leave just five days into her new role, but Capital assured her “We are a long-term focused company.” 25 years later and having risen to Capital’s chief human resources officer, it’s an alignment of values between Gill and the organization that has helped shape her career. In this episode of People and Strategy, Gill joins host Tony Lee to discuss the maturing of inclusion, equity & diversity initiatives, the case for a measured approach to AI, and remote work.Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.Episode transcript

Following a career that began with an HR generalist role at IBM, Calvin Crosslin now serves as both Chief Diversity Officer at Lenovo and President of the Lenovo Foundation. In his role, Crosslin drives the corporate vision, goals, strategies, and performance metrics for Lenovo's Global Diversity and Inclusion Office, which supports more than 63,000 employees from 60 countries around the world. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Tony Lee speaks with Crosslin on topics including the transformative power of diversity initiatives, measuring the ROI of diversity training programs, and the importance of personalized approaches to understand and drive both employee retention and engagement.Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.Episode transcript

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.Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.Episode transcript

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.Episode transcriptLearn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

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”.Follow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Apple Podcasts.This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by Safeguard Global.Episode transcript

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?”Follow wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Apple Podcasts.This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by Safeguard Global.Episode transcript

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.Follow wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Apple Podcasts.This episode of People and Strategy is sponsored by Safeguard Global.Episode transcript

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

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.Episode transcript

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.Episode transcript

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.Episode transcript

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.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.Episode Transcript

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.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.Episode transcript

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.

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)