Episodes

  • Something Had to Give: Workday Candidate Profile, A Transformation Realness Exclusive

    Something Had to Give: Workday Candidate Profile, A Transformation Realness Exclusive
    Oct 13 2026
    Every time you apply to a job at a company that runs on Workday, you create a new account, a new login, and a new password, then type your resume into the boxes again. Today at Workday Rising in Las Vegas, Workday announced the Workday Candidate Profile: one profile a candidate owns and controls, saved once and used across any Workday-hosted career site, with the candidate deciding what each employer receives. Employers keep their process and their questions. Kyle sat down with Adam Godson, who leads talent acquisition product at Workday, for the inside story. They get into why this took so long (security-first data practices and employer attitudes that have shifted), who it matters to beyond the 330 million applicants Workday hosts each year, why the candidate experience tools employers already buy still leave candidates without a profile of their own, and what changes when a profile holds a candidate’s wants, needs, and motivations instead of a two-page resume. Adam also previews the talent acquisition agent launching at Rising and the interface updates coming to Workday Recruiting. The conversation refers to this as Universal Profile, its name when we recorded. Same product, new name. Kyle has an advisory relationship with Workday, and he does not pull punches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Is Findem Studio America's Next Top Model (Context Protocol)?

    Is Findem Studio America's Next Top Model (Context Protocol)?
    Sep 22 2026
    Everybody in talent tech is announcing an MCP this year, and nobody has a rubric for judging whether any of them work. We find out when something goes wrong. So when Findem launched Studio, Kyle sat down with Liv Anderman and co-founder and CEO Hari Kolam to pressure test what's underneath it. Liv's framing: the MCP is just the piping. The question is whether you get finished work you can trust. In this episode: Hari's library analogy for what an MCP does (an access card is not the same as knowing which book to read), why every Studio agent carries a named expert's methodology you can open and read, what "the illusion of finished work" costs a practitioner when it fails in the room, and why Hari calls Studio a company-wide bet that finished work is where value gets transacted. Steal Liv's demo test for the next vendor pitch you sit through: open a conclusion and show me what's underneath it. What data was it working from? Whose method did it follow? Who checked it? Findem is a Kyle & Co client. This episode is editorial, not sponsored. Guests: Liv Anderman and Hari Kolam, Findem Host: Kyle Lagunas, Kyle & Co Audio: Purple Acorn 00:00 Intro: Is Findem Studio America's Next Top Model (Context Protocol)? 01:45 What's different about Studio: finished work, not answers 04:20 MCP is the piping: access is not intelligence 05:30 Hari's library analogy: the access card vs. the right book 08:00 How you get finished work out of Studio (three paths) 10:15 Right context, right method, right checks 11:20 The illusion of finished work and what it costs you 13:00 The CHRO conversation: context windows and token maxing 17:45 What has to be true underneath for an agent to hold up 21:40 Why every Studio agent carries a named expert's point of view 24:30 What the experts contribute and how methodology stays living 26:45 Configuration vs. guardrails: how much control customers get 30:15 Feature or product? The moat question 33:15 Real ROI vs. activity: the demo questions to ask any vendor 37:15 What Findem believes that peers might not 40:30 A year from now: what would prove the Studio bet wrong 41:50 Kyle's verdict and the disclosure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • AI Fluency and HR Transformation with Sarika Lamont

    AI Fluency and HR Transformation with Sarika Lamont
    Sep 10 2026
    Join us in this enlightening episode of Transformation Realness as we delve into the world of AI and HR transformation with Sarika Lamont, the outgoing Chief People Officer at Vidyard. Sarika, soon to be the Chief People and AI Enablement Officer at Technomile, shares her bold insights on what it means to be AI literate and why HR must lead the charge in AI transformation. With her extensive experience and passion for real-time innovation, Sarika offers a candid look at the evolving landscape of AI in the workplace. In this conversation, Sarika discusses the critical difference between AI literacy and fluency, emphasizing the importance of HR professionals not just understanding AI tools but being able to use them effectively as co-pilots in their work. She shares her journey from focusing on basic AI literacy to advocating for fluency, where HR professionals can make informed decisions and judgments using AI. Sarika also highlights the challenges and anxieties faced by various professionals, including engineers, in adapting to AI, and how these can be overcome through effective leadership and education. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the necessity of rebuilding competency frameworks amidst ongoing changes, the role of HR in owning AI transformation, and the myth of waiting for perfection before launching initiatives. With Sarika's transparent and passionate approach, this episode promises to inspire HR leaders and professionals to embrace AI as a tool for real-time innovation and transformation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Navigating Entrepreneurship and AI in the Workplace with Ben Brooks

    Navigating Entrepreneurship and AI in the Workplace with Ben Brooks
    Sep 3 2026
    Join host Kyle Lagunas on this episode of Transformation Realness as he sits down with Ben Brooks, the dynamic founder and CEO of Pilot, to explore the challenging yet rewarding world of entrepreneurship and the transformative role of AI in modern workplaces. Ben, who describes his career as 'Z-Shaped', shares his unique insights into leadership development, culture, and organizational design, drawing from his rich experience at companies like Oliver Wyman and Lockheed Martin. In this engaging conversation, Ben and Kyle delve into how AI is reshaping the efficiency of knowledge workers and the implications it has for senior management. They discuss the shifting bottlenecks in decision-making processes and the power dynamics that emerge as a result. Ben also opens up about the less glamorous side of entrepreneurship, sharing personal anecdotes about the challenges and learning curves that come with owning a business. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on what it truly takes to succeed as an entrepreneur and how to navigate the often tumultuous journey. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a business leader, or someone interested in the intersection of technology and management, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Don't miss out on Ben's candid thoughts and practical advice on making work better and helping people become their best selves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • You Don’t Have an AI Problem - You Have a People Problem with Michelle Rife and Amberly Marston

    You Don’t Have an AI Problem - You Have a People Problem with Michelle Rife and Amberly Marston
    Aug 27 2026
    What happens when the roadmap disappears, the C-suite keeps changing, and AI shows up promising to transform everything? On this episode of Transformation Realness, Kyle Lagunas sits down with Michelle Rife, longtime VP of Global Talent, and Amberly Marston, Senior Director of People Operations, to talk about what it actually takes to lead when change isn't an initiative anymore. It's the operating environment. Michelle and Amberly have been through it together: pre-IPO expectations that evaporated, multiple CEOs, rounds of layoffs, rebuilding, and the kind of constant uncertainty that forces you to rethink what good leadership actually looks like. They dig into why HR needs to stop defending the perfect plan, why throwing AI on top of broken processes just creates a faster mess, and why employee experience should be treated like a product rather than a collection of programs and platforms. They also unpack the shift from hiring for perfectly matched experience toward hiring for agility, curiosity, grit, and the ability to keep moving when the ground shifts. Because AI can change the tools, accelerate the work, and rewrite the roadmap. But the fundamentals haven't moved nearly as much as the hype would have you believe. Trust, communication, judgment, resilience, and helping people find their footing still matter. Turns out the future of HR might be a lot less about having all the answers and a lot more about knowing how to lead when nobody does. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Navigating Responsible AI in HR with Susan Jackson and Tara Torres

    Navigating Responsible AI in HR with Susan Jackson and Tara Torres
    Aug 20 2026
    Join host Kyle Lagunas in this eye-opening episode of Transformation Realness as he sits down with Susan Jackson and Tara Torres, two seasoned experts in talent acquisition and AI optimization. Together, they delve into the complexities of implementing responsible AI in HR and talent management, discussing the challenges and opportunities that come with this rapidly evolving landscape. Susan Jackson brings over 15 years of experience in leading talent acquisition technology operations at global organizations, while Tara Torres shares her extensive background in building teams and driving AI optimization. As members of the Human-Centric AI Council, they provide invaluable insights into the hurdles HR leaders face, particularly the surprising difficulty of partnering with HR itself to get responsible AI initiatives off the ground. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of why AI feels intimidating to HR and talent leaders, the importance of breaking down complex AI topics into manageable pieces, and how building strong cross-functional partnerships can lead to success. Discover the nuanced perspectives on AI legislation, compliance, and the need for a foundational understanding rather than encyclopedic knowledge in this engaging conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • The AI Productivity Promise with Matt Charney and Brandice Payne

    The AI Productivity Promise with Matt Charney and Brandice Payne
    Aug 6 2026
    Dive into the complexities of AI and productivity with Transformation Realness, as host Kyle Lagunas sits down with the sharp-witted Matt Charney and seasoned product marketing leader Brandice Payne. In this episode, they tackle the unfulfilled promises of AI in enhancing workplace productivity and what it means for HR and talent leaders in 2026. Matt Charney, known for his unfiltered insights in the HR tech space, and Brandice Payne, who bridges the gap between vendor promises and buyer experiences, join forces to dissect why AI has yet to deliver on its grand productivity promises. They explore the widening chasm between what vendors sell and what buyers actually experience, and debate whether productivity has plateaued or peaked. Listeners will gain insights into the real impact of AI on individual worker output, the role of automation, and the potential of emerging technologies like quantum computing. The conversation also delves into the cultural shift needed to leverage AI as a tool for doing better work, not just more work. Join this engaging discussion to understand how HR and talent leaders can navigate these challenges and maintain credibility in their domains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • Transforming HR Programs into Business Drivers with Jennifer Brunelle from NRG

    Transforming HR Programs into Business Drivers with Jennifer Brunelle from NRG
    Jul 31 2026
    In this episode of Transformation Realness, host Kyle Lagunas sits down with Jennifer Brunelle, who leads Access and Opportunity at NRG, a Fortune 250 company. Jennifer shares her unique journey from event production and working with the Clinton Foundation to spearheading talent acquisition, employee experience, and inclusion at NRG. Listeners will gain insights into how Jennifer has transformed traditional HR programs into genuine business drivers, moving beyond the typical feel-good initiatives. Jennifer discusses the pivotal role of HR in today's business landscape, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and creating value that aligns with business initiatives. She shares her perspective on the shift from back-of-house HR functions to a more public-facing role that impacts investor relations and client perceptions. Her approach to integrating programs like ERGs into strategic assets is a masterclass in aligning resources with organizational goals. The conversation also delves into specific initiatives, such as the patrol to power program aimed at recruiting veterans, and how these efforts are woven into the broader fabric of the company's values and objectives. Jennifer's ability to connect different parts of the organization to enhance value showcases her strategic thinking and leadership in transforming HR practices. Tune in to learn how to leverage your network as a strategic asset and build credibility that drives meaningful impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 mins