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The EVOLVE Talent & HR Show

The EVOLVE Talent & HR Show

By: WRKdefined Podcast Network
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The EVOLVE Talent and HR Show is where talent acquisition, HR leadership, and HR tech come together with modern day employees and people first leaders who care about humans and the future of work. Hosted by Anna Morgan, your CareerBFF and creator of the EVOLVE TA and HR Experience, the show spotlights partnership ready voices including event organizers, vendors, sponsors, practitioners, speakers, and attendees who are co creating the future of work through conferences, community, and bold experiments in how we work. Each fun, honest, and practical conversation is designed to spark connection, community, and real change at work.All rights reserved by WRKdefined Career Success Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Building Your Queendom: Community, Conferences & Courageous Career Reinvention

    Building Your Queendom: Community, Conferences & Courageous Career Reinvention
    May 28 2026
    In this special episode of The EVOLVE Talent & HR Show, recorded at the Workhuman Live Conference, host Anna Morgan sits down with Sarah McConnell for a conversation about community, entrepreneurship, intentional networking, and redefining success in the future of work. After more than two decades in HR, Sarah shares why Workhuman Live remains the one conference she returns to every year—and how attending solo opened unexpected opportunities for growth, connection, and courage. Together, Anna and Sarah explore the power of curated dinners, fringe events, and authentic relationship-building in an increasingly digital world. The conversation highlights why trust, generosity, and human connection continue to outperform transactional networking. Sarah also opens up about her entrepreneurial journey—from leaving traditional HR paths to building a fractional consulting business—and the mindset shifts required to create something meaningful on your own terms. One of the most memorable moments comes when Sarah reflects on friends telling her she’s building an empire, only to realize she may actually be building something different: A queendom. This episode is for HR leaders, founders, consultants, and anyone navigating career reinvention while seeking deeper community and purpose. Why Workhuman Live is the one conference Sarah prioritizes every year The freedom and growth that come from attending conferences alone Curated dinners, fringe events, and creating meaningful connections How community combats isolation for founders and HR professionals Why trust and relationships outperform transactional networking Building a business rooted in purpose, courage, and human connection Sarah’s transition into entrepreneurship and fractional HR consulting The realities of building a business after a long corporate career AI, HR technology, and designing solutions intentionally for smaller teams Frustrations with traditional HR systems and opportunities for innovation Portfolio careers and the rise of fractional leadership The mindset shifts required to create your own path “Borrow the belief”: navigating uncertainty as an entrepreneur Redefining success through fulfillment, flexibility, and ownership 00:09 — Anna introduces the EVOLVE Talent & HR Show and its mission01:40 — Meet Sarah McConnell and the vision behind Gather Group02:32 — Why Workhuman is the only conference Sarah attends annually03:06 — The freedom and growth that comes from attending conferences solo04:20 — Fringe event strategy: saying yes while trusting your instincts05:11 — Why curated dinners create deeper human connection06:25 — Community, hopelessness, and the power of gathering good humans07:38 — Conferences as trust accelerators for vendors and practitioners08:26 — Building a “Queendom” instead of just an empire09:20 — Why intentionality defines the Workhuman conference culture10:35 — Sarah’s journey into entrepreneurship and fractional HR consulting11:09 — AI, HR tech, and building tools intentionally for tiny teams12:47 — HRIS frustrations, market research, and designing better systems14:12 — What Sarah wishes she knew before starting her business15:31 — “Borrow the belief” and the emotional side of entrepreneurship16:35 — Portfolio careers and the future of fractional work17:40 — Why building your own path creates a different kind of fulfillment18:16 — Where to connect with Sarah and Gather Group | Follow Us | Follow Sarah McConnellWebsite | https://www.gthr-group.com/LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-mcconnell-shrm-cp/(Sarah McConnell is the co-founder and principal HR consultant of Gather Group, where she partners with small and midsize organizations to build scalable people operations, HR infrastructure, and human-centered workplace foundations. With more than 20 years of HR experience, Sarah specializes in helping growing organizations untangle operational complexity while creating intentional, people-first systems that support long-term growth.) Follow Anna MorganWebsite | https://yourcareerbff.com/LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-conference-careerbff/posts/?feedView=allInstagram | https://www.instagram.com/annamorgancareerbff/Facebook | https://web.facebook.com/anna.morgan.351104 Join the EVOLVE Shine 2027 waitlist:https://yourcareerbff.com/evolve-2027 Interested in collaborating or sponsoring EVOLVE experiences?Book an EVOLVE partnership call:https://calendly.com/annamorgan/evolve-partnership If this episode resonated, subscribe, share it with a fellow HR or Talent leader, and leave a review to help more people-first leaders discover the show.
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    19 mins
  • The EVOLVE Effect: Why Conferences Need More Conversations, Not Just Content

    The EVOLVE Effect: Why Conferences Need More Conversations, Not Just Content
    May 23 2026
    Recorded live after WorkHuman Live in Orlando, Florida, host Anna Morgan is joined by guests Sam Eaton and Miles Pell to explore the conversations that often matter most at conferences — the ones that happen after keynote sessions end and people connect as humans rather than job titles. Together, they discuss why leaders, founders, HR professionals, and vendors are craving experiences beyond transactional networking. The conversation explores trust in the future of work, the renewed importance of in-person connection, and why emotionally intelligent community-building is becoming a competitive advantage. They unpack conference FOMO, networking anxiety, psychological safety, and why meaningful opportunities often come from curiosity and authentic relationships rather than scripted business development. The discussion also examines how curated dinners and community-centered experiences create long-term ROI through collaboration, mentorship, and unexpected partnerships. At its core, this episode explores the EVOLVE effect: creating intentional spaces where conversations spark ideas, people feel seen, and community becomes the catalyst for elevating the future of work. • Why trust is becoming one of the most valuable currencies in business • How curated conference dinners create deeper opportunities • Why HR leaders need to rethink transactional networking • The role psychological safety plays in conferences • How curiosity builds stronger relationships than pitching • Why in-person connection matters more than ever • How conferences strengthen leadership and emotional intelligence • Tips for navigating networking anxiety and conference FOMO • Why collaboration outperforms gatekeeping • How intentional follow-up creates long-term conference ROI 00:00 — Purpose behind the curated WorkHuman dinner experience 00:14 — How Trua is modernizing background screening and trust verification 02:00 — Why in-person conferences matter in a remote-first world 03:22 — Elevator conversations that became meaningful opportunities 04:25 — Why curated dinners differ from traditional networking 05:21 — Conference pet peeves and disengaged attendees 06:11 — Relearning human connection after years of isolation 07:46 — Modeling confident connection through “permission slips” 08:56 — Why psychologically safe spaces matter 09:58 — Conference FOMO and navigating exclusive events 11:49 — “You’re not going to get what you don’t ask for.” 12:21 — Why curiosity is an underrated networking skill 14:24 — The danger of gatekeeping in communities 15:35 — Conferences as a response to loneliness and leadership isolation 16:24 — Why trust-centered dinners outperform transactional networking 18:08 — Why conference ROI starts before attendance 19:43 — The problem with short-term relationship-building 22:19 — Leadership, mentorship, and “borrowing belief” | Follow Us | Follow Miles PeliWebsite | Reusable Identity & Background Screening | TruaLinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesradio/(Miles Pell has spent more than 15 years working alongside HR leaders and organizations on systems, strategy, and workforce trust solutions. He currently works with Trua, helping organizations modernize identity verification, background screening, and ongoing trust validation in a more human-centered and privacy-conscious way.) Follow Sam EatoonWebsite | https://mindabilitybusinesscoaching.com/LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaeaton1450Instagram | Sam Eaton (@sam.eatonagain) • Instagram profile(Sam Eaton is a community-driven business strategist and mastermind host with Mindability. She is known for creating intentional networking experiences that prioritize authentic relationships, collaboration, and long-term community growth across the future of work ecosystem.) Follow Anna MorganWebsite | Anna MorganLinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-conference-careerbff/posts/?feedView=allInstagram | Anna Morgan | Careerbff® (@annamorgancareerbff) • Instagram profileFacebook | https://web.facebook.com/anna.morgan.351104 Join the EVOLVE Shine 2027 waitlist:EVOLVE 2027 — Anna Morgan Interested in collaborating or sponsoring EVOLVE experiences?Book an EVOLVE partnership call:https://calendly.com/annamorgan/evolve-partnership If this episode resonated, subscribe, share it with a fellow HR or Talent leader, and leave a review to help more people-first leaders discover the show.
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    32 mins
  • What Companies Get Wrong About Hiring and Retaining Veteran Talent

    What Companies Get Wrong About Hiring and Retaining Veteran Talent
    May 18 2026
    In this episode of the EVOLVE Talent and HR Show, Rhona Pierce sits down with Lee Cage, technology strategist, Army National Guard veteran, and Director of Technology & Transformation at BDO USA, live from EVOLVE 2026 in Atlanta. Organizations often celebrate hiring veterans—but hiring is only the first step. What happens after the offer letter matters just as much. From onboarding and retention to everyday team support, Lee shares what companies and leaders need to understand about supporting veteran employees who may be balancing both civilian and military responsibilities. Drawing from nearly 18 years of service in the Army National Guard, Lee explains the mindset shifts veterans navigate daily, why strong team support matters, and how organizations can create environments where veteran talent truly thrives. This conversation offers practical insight for HR leaders, managers, and teammates who want to build stronger, more supportive workplaces for those who serve. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why hiring veterans is only the first step toward real inclusion - The unique challenges of balancing civilian careers and military service - What organizations often misunderstand about veteran commitments - How managers and teams can better support veteran employees - Why veterans bring strong project management and execution skills to organizations - The mindset shifts required for dual military and civilian service - Practical ways coworkers can step up to support veteran colleagues - One simple action leaders can take to better support veterans at work Key Moments / Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to the EVOLVE Talent & HR Show 02:43 – Lee Cage’s journey serving in the Army National Guard 03:19 – Why having the right “flight crew” matters in organizations 04:15 – What companies get wrong after hiring veterans 05:34 – What organizations that support veterans well actually do 06:51 – Why veterans bring strong execution and leadership skills 07:58 – The realities managers often misunderstand about military service 08:52 – The mindset shift between military and civilian roles 10:16 – How coworkers can support veteran teammates 12:38 – Simple ways to better support veterans at work 14:37 – Where to connect with Lee Cage Lee Cage is a technology strategist, Army National Guard veteran, and Director of Technology and Transformation at BDO USA. With nearly two decades of military service and extensive experience in enterprise transformation and collaborative work management, Lee is passionate about helping organizations position talent for success while advocating for better support of veteran professionals in the workplace. | Follow Us | Follow Lee Cage Website | https://linktr.ee/LeeCageJr LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecage/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/leecagejr/ Follow Rhona Pierce Website | https://www.rhonapierce.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonapierce Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/rhonabpierce/ Follow Anna Morgan Website | https://yourcareerbff.com/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-conference-careerbff/posts/?feedView=all Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/annamorgancareerbff/ Facebook | https://web.facebook.com/anna.morgan.351104 Join the EVOLVE Shine 2027 waitlist: https://yourcareerbff.com/evolve-2027 Interested in collaborating or sponsoring EVOLVE experiences? Book an EVOLVE partnership call: https://calendly.com/annamorgan/evolve-partnership If this episode resonated, subscribe, share it with a fellow HR or Talent leader, and leave a review to help more people-first leaders discover the show.
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    18 mins
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