HRchat Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Building Better Organizations: ATD's Road Map for Talent Development with Mallory Flynn May 18, 2025

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Ever wondered what makes the Association for Talent Development (ATD) a key player in the world of HR and professional development? This episode pulls back the curtain as Bill Banham talks with Mallory Flynn, Content Manager for Career Development, Organization Development, and Talent Management Communities at ATD.
Mallory walks us through three game-changing conferences on the horizon. First, ATD International Conference & Expo in Washington DC (May 18-21), where thousands of learning professionals from over 80 countries will converge to exchange ideas and build relationships. With headliners like Olympic champion Simone Biles and marketing visionary Seth Godin, plus a dedicated Career Center offering free resume coaching and ICF sessions, it's an event talent professionals won't want to miss.
Bill and Mallory also explore ATD's first-ever Coaching Conference (August 20-21), a virtual event specifically designed to help professionals launch, build, and scale coaching programs within their organizations. Featuring insights from Salesforce, Panasonic Energy, and UC Berkeley, attendees will discover how to make the business case for coaching and establish frameworks for program success. And yes, we dive into the AI question – how will artificial intelligence transform coaching while preserving the irreplaceable human element?
The conversation shifts to the OrgDev Conference in Houston (October 20-22), ATD's premier event for organizational development professionals tackling culture, talent strategy, and leadership development. Mallory also highlights a free online Leadership Development Day coming June 9th, featuring real-world case studies from major organizations.
What truly shines through is Mallory's passion for ATD's community – a network of professionals dedicated to mutual growth and knowledge-sharing. As she puts it, "I've never been as well connected to such a huge network of individuals who just want to help out." Whether you're an HR professional, talent developer, or organizational leader, this episode offers valuable insights into how ATD's events and community can elevate your professional journey.
Ready to connect with this vibrant community? Follow Mallory Flynn on LinkedIn or email her at mflynn@td.org to learn more about these transformative opportunities.

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The HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score.
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Speed Matters: How Career Sites Can Learn from Formula One with Bryan Adams, Happydance May 15, 2025

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Ever wondered what Formula One racing and career websites have in common? More than you might think, according to Bryan Adams, CEO and founder of Happydance, who recently joined Bill Banham on the HRchat Show to discuss an innovative new campaign that's bringing F1-inspired competition to the talent acquisition space.
The "Careers Site Grand Prix" pits career websites against each other, measuring their performance in speed, accessibility, and SEO – creating an F1-style leaderboard complete with weekly podiums and seasonal champions. This timing perfectly aligns with Formula One's 75th anniversary celebrations and the iconic Silverstone Grand Prix.
Bryan, a two-time bestselling author with 20 years in employer branding and a past guest on our sister show, the People and Performance Podcast, shared a startling statistic that frames the entire conversation: for every second past three seconds that your career website takes to load, you lose 10% of your audience. "You're not up against other career websites," Adams explains. "You're up against Amazon and Netflix, TikTok and Instagram" – platforms that have dramatically reduced our patience for digital experiences.
The parallels between F1 and talent acquisition run deep. Just as racing teams seek marginal gains through precise optimization and teamwork, organizations must optimize their career sites across multiple dimensions – load speed, accessibility, mobile responsiveness, and personalization – to create winning candidate experiences. As more candidates browse and apply for jobs on mobile devices, meeting them where they are becomes increasingly critical.
What's refreshing about Bryan's approach is his emphasis that creating high-performing career sites isn't just about having Fortune 100-level resources. It's about getting fundamentals right, measuring what matters, and using data to drive continuous improvement, much like successful F1 teams. When asked which F1 team Happydance resembles, Bryan bypassed the obvious powerhouses to identify with teams that "are constantly punching above their weight, constantly relying on ingenuity, creativity, teamwork, new innovation."
Want to see how your organization's career site measures up? Visit gp.happydance.love to enter the competition, or connect with Brian Adams directly on LinkedIn.

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Beach Balls and Burnout: Why Leaders Need Emotional Skills with Dina Smith May 14, 2025

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The workplace has fundamentally transformed, dramatically increasing the emotional demands on leaders at all levels. From managing virtual teams to navigating workforce polarization, today's leaders face unprecedented challenges that require a new set of emotional skills to thrive.
Executive coach and leadership strategist Dina Denham-Smith joins Bob Goodwin to discuss her new book, "Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work," revealing how emotions serve as critical data for effective leadership. Drawing from over 25 years of experience coaching senior executives at companies like Adobe, Netflix, and Goldman Sachs, Dina breaks down the misconceptions that prevent leaders from harnessing the power of emotions in the workplace.
Dina and Bob explore the powerful "beach ball" analogy that illustrates what happens when emotions are suppressed rather than processed appropriately. Dina explains how leaders navigate the "authenticity paradox" – being genuine enough to build trust while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. She provides practical steps for developing emotional intelligence, from recognizing physical sensations that signal emotional responses to identifying specific emotions beyond simplistic categories.
The conversation tackles the current leadership landscape, including how some high-profile CEOs are taking harder stances toward employees in today's tighter labor market. Dina offers compelling counterarguments, explaining why emotionally intelligent leadership remains crucial for long-term performance and engagement. We also discuss the opportunity AI presents to focus more deeply on the human aspects of leadership that technology cannot replicate.
Whether you're struggling with burnout, managing team conflicts, or simply looking to enhance your leadership effectiveness, this episode offers science-backed insights and practical strategies to develop the emotional skills essential for today's complex workplace challenges.

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Trevor Noah, Adam Grant, and Why Workhuman Live Should Be on Your Calendar with Jackye Clayton May 11, 2025

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What makes an HR conference truly exceptional? According to veteran attendee Jackye Clayton, it's the willingness to tackle tough issues while maintaining a human-centered approach - precisely what sets Workhuman Live apart from the crowd.
In this conversation with HRchat host Bill Banham, Jackye shares her enthusiasm for the upcoming Workhuman Live 2025 in Colorado. As a frequent attendee who ranks it among her top five HR conferences, Clayton offers unique insights into what makes this event special. Unlike conferences that create an artificial bubble of positivity, WorkHuman has consistently addressed challenging social movements like Me Too and responded to societal traumas such as the George Floyd murder. This authenticity reflects the event's commitment to making workplace practices genuinely human-centric.
The 2025 lineup promises exceptional content from thought leaders across critical areas. Adam Grant will explore psychological safety and hidden potential—essential for organizations looking to maximize internal talent development. Kelly Jones and Carrie Driver tackle the timely topic of navigating uncertainty with clarity, while Trevor Noah brings his unique global perspective to a discussion about AI and social responsibility. This blend of practical frameworks, inspiring ideas, and real-world applications creates an unmatched learning opportunity for HR professionals, talent executives, and business leaders who believe in the power of human-centered workplaces.
Whether you're focused on talent management, recognition programs, or inclusive leadership, WorkHuman Live offers insights that bridge theory and practice.

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Recognition Revolution: The Hidden Data Gold Mine in Your Company with Jesse Harriott May 09, 2025

Show notes

What happens when artificial intelligence meets human connection in the workplace? Jesse Harriott, Executive Director of Workhuman iQ, reveals a groundbreaking approach to workplace analytics that's transforming how organizations understand their people and culture.
Dive into the Human Intelligence 2025 release from Workhuman, which leverages recognition data to uncover hidden insights about skills, leadership, and collaboration. While traditional HR technologies focus on operational metrics like headcount and turnover, this approach analyzes the human moments that drive performance – when employees recognize each other's contributions and strengths.
"Human intelligence is about unlocking the data that's been there all along," Harriot explains. "It's turning feelings into facts." By applying natural language processing to unstructured recognition moments, organizations gain visibility into their "culture graph" – how work actually gets done beyond the formal org chart. This creates powerful applications for leadership development, succession planning, and retention strategies.
The approach has particular value for identifying "hidden gems" – potential leaders whose contributions might be overlooked in traditional performance reviews. Rather than relying solely on self-reported skills or closed-door leadership discussions, Human Intelligence reveals patterns of exceptional performance based on peer recognition.
Ready to transform how you understand your organization's culture and talent? Discover why companies are turning to human intelligence to complement their talent strategies and build more inclusive, high-performing workplaces.

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Navigating Your Next HCM Tech Purchase with Jacqueline Kuhn and Priscilla Redd Sparrow May 07, 2025

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The human element of HR technology is often overlooked in favor of features and functions but, as our latest HRchat episode reveals, successful HCM technology implementation hinges on strategic alignment with business goals and effective change management.
Jacqueline Kuhn and Priscilla Redd Sparrow, two of the four authors of the newly updated second edition of HRchitect’s Guide to HCM Technology: What You Need to Know Before Your Next HCM Technology Purchase, share crucial insights that challenge conventional thinking about HR technology investments. The most striking revelation? Many HR leaders still position technology as a departmental efficiency tool rather than what it should be – a strategic business asset that puts critical information in decision-makers' hands.
When evaluating potential vendors, beware of representatives who dance around direct questions or offer superficial change management support disguised as comprehensive solutions. As Priscilla explains, effective change management goes far beyond basic communication and training, requiring dedicated resources and a structured approach that engages employees throughout the implementation journey. Organizations must recognize that real change begins at go-live, not ends there, with different individuals adapting at varying paces.
The AI revolution has made HCM systems more user-friendly for practitioners, but its effectiveness depends entirely on data quality. Organizations must ensure clean, comprehensive data structures and move away from manual spreadsheet processes that undermine AI-driven insights. Regardless of company size, powerful tools are now accessible at various price points – the key is understanding your specific needs and selecting appropriate solutions.
Perhaps most importantly, HR professionals must embrace this guiding principle: "AI isn't going to replace you, but if you're not using AI, you will be replaced by someone who is." With insufficient resources and poor planning ranking as the top reasons technology projects fail, strategic investment in consulting support often makes the difference between success and failure. Remember that purchasing and implementing technology is just the beginning – the real value emerges through effective utilization and maintenance over time.

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UNLEASH America 2025 Preview with Jackye Clayton May 05, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode, Jackye Clayton joins Bill Banham to preview UNLEASH America 2025, an event she describes as offering key solutions to the most pressing workplace challenges.

UNLEASH AMERICA Conference & Exhibition, one of the fastest-growing HR event in the world, is a place where global HR Leaders come to do business and discover inspirational stories that change ways organizations think about HR and innovation.

Jackye's passion for improving work experiences shines through as she shares her excitement for this Las Vegas conference happening May 6-8 at Caesars Palace. "What keeps me up at night really is the state of the world of work," she explains. "We all need jobs, we're all trying to make a living, we all want to take care of our family, and so I really want it to not suck." This refreshingly honest perspective frames her anticipation for the event's three major focus areas.
First, the conference tackles AI in HR - examining both its promise and pitfalls. Jackye highlights Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, who will address algorithmic bias and preventing inequality in AI strategies. Second, human-centered leadership takes center stage, ensuring "that the technology serves humanity, not that we are serving the technology." Finally, inclusive talent strategies return to prominence with panels like "DEI at a Crossroads" featuring representatives from Alcon and the Canadian Olympic Committee. Additional highlights include a panel on redefining talent acquisition with remote work, featuring Active, Atlassian, and Toshiba.
The massive UNLEASH expo hall will showcase cutting-edge HR technologies and innovative startups that represent "the future of HR and talent acquisition." If you're attending Unleash America, Jackye invites you to connect with her there—she's eager to meet fellow HR professionals passionate about transforming the world of work.

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Building Trauma-Informed Workplaces That Actually Work with Kirsten I’Anson Apr 29, 2025

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Navigating workplace anxiety during turbulent times requires leaders who understand both the science behind effective communication and the practical steps needed to create psychological safety. Kirsten I’Anson, Vice President of People and Culture at Community Savings Credit Union, delivers masterful insights on leadership approaches that calm rather than inflame tensions during political and economic instability.
Kirsten advocates for a leadership style that acknowledges societal anxieties while providing confidence through decisive action. Drawing from her experiences during the pandemic, she shares how promoting mental health benefits led to a remarkable 73% increase in usage, creating an environment where employees felt empowered to discuss previously taboo topics. By bringing in clinical counselors and normalizing therapeutic support, Community Savings built a culture that genuinely values mental wellbeing beyond superficial initiatives.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when exploring whether leaders should express political views at work. Kirsten makes a compelling case that organizations with clear social purposes can thoughtfully engage with political issues, provided they've been transparent about their values during recruitment. This approach has allowed Community Savings to attract team members whose personal values align with their mission to unite working people and build a just world.
Perhaps most valuable is Kirsten's discussion of trauma-informed workplaces. With research showing 60-70% of adults have experienced traumatic events, she argues that addressing trauma isn't just compassionate—it's pragmatic business strategy that reduces absenteeism while increasing productivity and workplace pride. Simple changes like renaming "sick days" to "wellness days" have profoundly impacted their culture, creating an environment where employees freely discuss mental health without stigma.
Ready to bring more boldness to your HR practices? Connect with Kirsten on LinkedIn to exchange ideas about innovative approaches to workplace wellbeing and psychological safety. Her practical wisdom proves that thoughtful, values-driven leadership delivers results for both people and organizations during uncertain times.

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HR's Secret Weapon: Decoding Human Potential with Jackie Dube Apr 24, 2025

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Ever wonder why traditional hiring processes fail so often? In this eye-opening conversation, The Predictive Index's Chief People Officer Jackie Dube reveals how data-driven talent optimization transformed their approach to finding and developing exceptional talent.
Jackie shares the compelling evolution of PI's interview process with host Bob Goodwin. She explains how their behavioral assessments help identify which candidates will thrive in specific roles without using them as rigid filters. "It's about understanding humans and what drives them," Jackie explains, highlighting how this approach transcends the limitations of resume-based hiring.
The most profound revelation comes when Jackie shares PI's commitment to skills-based hiring. "We care about curiosity and attitude," she states firmly, revealing how this philosophy enabled remarkable transformations within their organization. Their current director of engineering began as a product marketer, and when faced with unexpected leadership departures, they seamlessly transitioned their VP of product design to lead their sales department—with outstanding results. This internal mobility has created a culture where talent thrives and adapts to changing business needs.
Perhaps most fascinating is PI's innovative "culture interview" conducted by someone outside the hiring team. This unique approach ensures candidates experience the broader company culture beyond their potential teammates and provides valuable perspective on cultural alignment with their "THREADS" values (teamwork, honesty, reliability, energy, action, drive, scope). As Jackie notes with a smile, "We do have a no-jackass policy."
For HR professionals navigating today's challenging talent landscape, Jackie offers practical advice: look beyond resumes, avoid assumptions about employment gaps, provide clear communication throughout the process, and recognize that the right attitude and curiosity often matter more than direct experience. "Don't be a bystander," she urges, encouraging listeners to leverage all available tools—from assessments to emerging AI—to make better talent decisions.
Ready to transform your approach to talent? Listen now and discover how understanding human drives could revolutionize your hiring success.

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The Art of Learning and Development with David Hayden Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the HRchat show, Bill Banham is joined by David Hayden. David has a background in L&D, organisation design, recruitment and lean engineering.

David says has seen his profession move from traditional training functions to multi-digital approaches to learning and development.
David has contributed to CIPD content on L&D, including podcasts, research reports, factsheets, and member learning resources. He was employed by the CIPD for 10 years. He is also the co-author of two books: Adjacent Learning with Steve George and Learning and Development Practice in the Workplace with Kathy Beevers and Andrew Rae. He is currently putting the finishing touches to the next edition of L&D Practice in the Workplace with Kathy Beevers due for release in November 2025.

He currently works freelance, on the associate books for a few different organisations and is a Director at The Learning Network.
Questions for David include:

With the vast array of L&D books on the market, why L&D Practice in the Workplace?
What makes this version different from the previous 4 editions?
How has AI impacted the L&D profession over the past few years?
What advice would you give someone entering into the world of L&D?
We all think there is a book inside of us, what are your tips on undertaking the writing process?

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