Episodes

  • Craig Friedman - How Skills Data is Transforming HR into True Business Partners

    Craig Friedman - How Skills Data is Transforming HR into True Business Partners
    Jan 8 2026
    Craig Friedman, Talent and Skills Transformation Leader at St. Charles Consulting Group and author of Enterprise Skills Unlocked, joins us this week to discuss the shift toward skills-based organizations. He breaks down how data-driven transformations allow companies to move from simple headcount management to true capability management. Craig also shares practical advice on how to prioritize skills projects to ensure they solve real business problems and deliver ROI. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Craig! Today’s Topic: How Skills Data is Transforming HR into True Business Partners [5:05] What does a skills-based transformation look like in practice? Shifting the talent process from an exercise in headcount management to an exercise in capability management. Moving away from static "boxes on an org chart" to using granular data that supports the entire talent infrastructure. Leveraging skills data that lives in both business systems (capabilities) and people systems (individual skills) to better align with business functions. [11:57] How different teams leverage skills data differently Why L&D teams need granular skill details, while staffing teams prioritize context on scope and scale for compensation purposes. The importance of creating an enterprise data taxonomy where different departments can agree on a skill but append their own metadata. Using machine learning to handle the searches, connections, and adjacencies required to make the data useful across teams. [26:14] The impact on Learning and Development (L&D) How real-time skills gap analysis simplifies curriculum redesign when jobs or organizational structures change. The growing need for assessment and validation to verify skills learned through informal methods like coaching or on-the-job experience. Identifying business cases where skills can make a clear difference and prioritizing them based on value and risk. [36:20] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “A lot of the reason we're doing this now when we couldn't do it before is because of these more advanced tools in data analytics and AI and machine learning that actually help us manage data at that scale.” Link to Craig's book: https://a.co/d/0naqmvh
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    39 mins
  • Holiday Reflections and New Beginnings

    Holiday Reflections and New Beginnings
    Dec 18 2025
    🚀 Exciting changes are coming in 2026! Join David Turetsky as he shares his vision for HR Data Labs, focusing on positivity and growth. Discover how we're merging brown bag lunches into our podcast and launching something new for HR Data Labs. #HRDataLabs #2026Vision #Positivity Chapters 00:00:34 Introduction and New Directions 00:01:42 David Turetsky's Personal Goals 00:03:59 HR Data Labs Evolution 00:06:19 HR Data Doodles news
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    10 mins
  • Why Hybrid Work is Still a Mess

    Why Hybrid Work is Still a Mess
    Dec 11 2025
    Ranya Nehmeh, HR Strategist and Adjunct Professor at FHWien der WKW in Vienna, Austria, and Peter Cappelli, Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School, join us this week to discuss some of the topics covered in their book, In Praise of the Office. We explore the current tumultuous state of Return-to-Office (RTO) mandates, why "hybrid" work is often failing to deliver on its promises, and the critical need for intentional management to foster human connection. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Ranya and Peter! Today’s Topic: The Realities of Hybrid Work [9:15] The messiness of Return-to-Office (RTO) today Why the media narrative often contradicts the realities of small business data. Why the definition of “hybrid” varies per organization. [19:03] Is work actually getting done remotely? Distinguishing between hitting individual KPIs and maintaining organizational health. The deterioration of meeting culture and the rise of "cameras off" apathy. The loss of social norms and the difficulty of resolving conflict without face-to-face interaction. [29:50] Do policies need to change for the new world of work? Addressing proximity bias and its impact on promotions and career development. Why treating hybrid work the same as traditional office work is a management failure. Understanding the winners and losers of remote work, particularly for younger or newly onboarded employees. [46:23] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “If you really want people to come back into the office, you have to do it with intentionality.”
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    50 mins
  • Steve Brink - Why US Executive Pay Leads the Global Market

    Steve Brink - Why US Executive Pay Leads the Global Market
    Dec 4 2025
    Steve Brink, CEO of GECN Group, joins us this week to discuss the complex world of executive compensation. Steve breaks down why the US pays a premium compared to the rest of the world, how boards are shifting their focus from simple compensation to holistic talent management, and the global trends driving executive pay structures today.
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    37 mins
  • Bob Pulver - Maintaining Personal Agency Through AI Integration

    Bob Pulver - Maintaining Personal Agency Through AI Integration
    Nov 20 2025
    Bob Pulver, host of the Elevate Your AIQ podcast and a 25-year enterprise tech and innovation veteran, joins us this week to unpack the urgent need to move past "AI" as a buzzword and define what "Responsible AI" truly means for organizations. He shares his insights on why we are all responsible for AI, how to balance playing "defense" (risk mitigation) and "offense" (innovation), and why we must never outsource our critical thinking and human agency to these new tools. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Bob! Today’s Topic: Defining Responsible AI and Responsible Innovation [12:25] What Does “Responsible AI” Mean? Why elements (like fairness in decision-making, data provenance, and privacy) must be built-in "by design," not bolted on later. In an era where everyone is a "builder," we are all responsible for the tools we use and create. [25:48] The Two Sides of Responsible Innovation The "responsibility" side involves mitigating risk, ensuring fairness, and staying human-centric—it’s like playing defense. The "innovation" side involves driving growth, entering new markets, and reinvesting efficiency gains—it’s like playing offense. [41:58] Why don’t we use AI to give us a 4-day work week? The critical need for leaders to separate their personal biases from data-driven facts. AI’s role in recent layoffs. [50:27] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “We're all responsible for Responsible AI, whatever your role is. You're either using it or abusing it . . . or you're building it or you're testing it.”
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    53 mins
  • Noah Mithrush - Why Your HR Tech Isn't Being Adopted (and How to Fix It)

    Noah Mithrush - Why Your HR Tech Isn't Being Adopted (and How to Fix It)
    Nov 13 2025
    Noah Mithrush, Director of Growth Marketing at Guusto, joins us live from the UKG Aspire Conference to unpack the critical intersection of User Experience (UX) and Employee Experience (EX) in HR technology. Noah explains why so many HR programs fail to gain adoption and how even the best intentions can be derailed by a poor user experience. We discuss how to get into the user’s mindset, why HR tech should be as easy to use a consumer app, and how making the emotional journey of an employee is the key to success. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Noah! Today’s Topic: Rethinking User Experience to Improve Employee Experience & Program Adoption [3:53] What do people get right and wrong about user experience? Why good intentions often fail, and the common mistake of not considering all technology touchpoint for the end-user The problem of designing programs that are manually intensive for managers [10:43] How do you get into the users’ mindset to align UX and EX? Going beyond just mapping process steps to mapping the employee journey Why implementing "emotional IQ" into the design process is critical for driving program adoption [16:59] How does AI impact the employee experience? Using agentic processes to allow teams to do more with less The potential for AI to allow teams to "think differently" and fundamentally redesign the employee journey [22:28] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “What I see a lot of the time is what people get right is their intention. At the very beginning, they're trying to solve a problem . . . but when it comes to tech and the user experience, [they’re] not taking into consideration all of the points along the way of different technology [and] how the actual end-user (or employee) has to use and interact with it.”
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    24 mins
  • Nate Rees - Tackling the $8.8 Trillion Manager Training Crisis

    Nate Rees - Tackling the $8.8 Trillion Manager Training Crisis
    Nov 6 2025
    Nate Rees, Director of Training and Talent Development at Salary.com, joins us this episode to discuss a critical issue facing organizations today: the manager training crisis. Nate shares alarming data on the percentage of managers promoted without receiving any training and the costly impact this has on turnover and productivity. We explore why organizations fail to invest in new managers, how a raise is not a substitute for training, and low-budget/high-impact strategies HR leaders can implement immediately to better support their new managers. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Nate! Today’s Topic: The Manager Training Crisis [6:25] What is the manager training crisis? 60% of new managers report receiving zero training for their role. New managers are split between their own quota and team development. [16:31] Why aren’t more organizations investing in manager training? Untrained managers’ teams have a 260% higher turnover rate. Organizations will pay a premium for external experienced managers but won’t invest in developing their internal talent. [22:29] How can HR leaders start to fix this? Create a zero-budget manager mentor program by leveraging your existing top managers. User simple conversation models like COIN (Context, Observation, Impact, Next). [33:43] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “60% [of managers] say they never received any training when they transitioned into their first leadership role... we're throwing them at the deep end of the pool and not giving them any swimming lessons.”
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    36 mins
  • Carlee Wolfe - How to Find and Serve on a Nonprofit Board

    Carlee Wolfe - How to Find and Serve on a Nonprofit Board
    Oct 30 2025
    Carlee Wolfe, Associate Vice President of Talent and Organizational Effectiveness at Hyatt, joins the podcast for a special 250th episode! Carlee discusses the value, strategy, and importance of serving on nonprofit boards. She shares insights on how to find the right board that matches your passions and skills, why nonprofits need skilled volunteers, and how to be an effective contributing board member once you join. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Carlee Wolfe! Today’s Topic: The Value and Strategy of Joining a Nonprofit Board [9:28] What is the strategic value of joining a nonprofit board? Carlee’s story of learning how to get involved and discovering you can "just ask" Why nonprofits need skilled and passionate board members to serve [17:29] How do you find the right board to join? Starting by identifying your passions, skills, and available time commitment Using resources like national board matching services (e.g., Board Source) or local city programs [26:00] How to be an effective board member The importance of passion and commitment to making tough decisions Knowing your scope and capacity; avoid overcommitting to too many boards [28:07] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “I think the big thing about being on a board . . . is you are helping set the support and steward the strategic direction of the organization, right? You're that body that supports the ultimate mission of where the organization is heading.”
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    31 mins