

HR Leaders
Chris Rainey
Join host Chris Rainey on the HR Leaders Podcast, where he sits down with top Chief People Officers, CHROs, and leading HR experts to uncover the strategies, trends, and insights shaping the future of human resources. Each episode dives into best practices in people management, leadership challenges, and transformative HR innovations that impact both business success and society at large. Whether you're an HR professional or simply passionate about modern workplace strategies, this podcast delivers expert advice, real-world experiences, and the latest trends in HR, making it your go-to resource for all things human resources.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 22, 2024 • 28min
The Retention Revolution: How to keep Employees Connected to your Company
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Erica Keswin, Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author, to shed new light on employee engagement in today's diverse workplace.👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Episode highlight and introduction01:02 - Erica's Background in HR and Human Capital01:36 - Inspiration Behind "The Retention Revolution"03:01 - Work Evolution and Flexibility Post-Pandemic03:12 - Keeping Employees Connected in Hybrid Work Environments03:59 - The Importance of Human Connection in the Workplace06:07 - The Role of Intentional Connections in Innovation and Culture06:37 - Kevin Kniffin's Firehouse Study07:44 - From Old Ideas to New Beginnings in Workplace Dynamics07:55 - From Ladders to Lilypads12:22 - Developing Future Skills and Talent Mobility13:08 - Talent Mobility and Mentorship Programs in Siemens and Ubisoft14:09 - Change Management and Managerial Mindset Shifts15:31 - Elevating and Celebrating the Role of Managers17:53 - Recognizing and Rewarding Managers18:20 - L'Oreal's People Manager Town hall and Learning Development19:17 - Managerial Challenges and Opportunities for Connection19:39 - Practical Tools for Manager and Employee Engagement21:04 - Maintaining Humanity in Leadership and Management23:07 - Implementing Connection Strategies in Schools24:29 - Key Takeaways from Erica's Book26:48 - Vulnerability, Empathy, and Experimentation in Leadership27:31 - Connecting with Erica and Closing RemarksAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 17, 2024 • 33min
Connectable: How Leaders Can Move Teams From Isolated to All In
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Steven Van Cohen, a Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author and Partner at SyncLX. Steven brings valuable insights from his extensive experience as a leadership consultant, particularly in the context of creating cohesive teams and addressing workplace loneliness.👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Episode Highlight00:23 - Welcoming Steven Van Cohen00:31 - Steve’s Journey in Leadership and HR Consulting03:26 - The Role of Pandemic in Workplace Dynamics04:52 - Addressing Workplace Loneliness06:45 - Awareness of Loneliness in the Workplace08:59 - The Science Behind Loneliness10:13 - Major Factors Driving Workplace Loneliness12:27 - Communication vs. Connection in Remote Work13:23 - Structured Time for Team Bonding15:50 - The ‘Boosters and Blockers’ Exercise16:23 - The Significance Effect in Leadership18:27 - Practical Examples of the Significance Effect20:31 - The Power of Recognition and ‘Crush Sessions’21:30 - Simple, Impactful Strategies for Connection23:34 - The Role of Energy and Emotions in Connection25:54 - Influencing Through Vulnerability28:23 - Effectively Communicating in Leadership30:08 - Promoting Collaborative Problem-Solving32:27 - Where to Grab a Copy of the BookAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 12, 2024 • 32min
The Platinum Rule: Why Treating Employees Uniquely Matters
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Geri Morgan, Chief People Officer at Intellum, about crafting a purpose-driven and personalized employee experience.👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Episode highlight01:30 - Geri's background in HR03:00 - What attracted Jerry to Intellum05:00 - Intellum's mission to improve learning07:00 - Importance of mission for engagement09:00 - Bringing values to life in the culture11:00 - Evolving needs beyond work schedule13:00 - Personalized wellbeing strategies15:00 - Supporting connections remotely17:00 - Technology enabling engagement19:00 - Preparing leaders for connections21:00 - Low-cost cultural connection activities23:00 - Emerging HR trends25:00 - Upskilling to address talent gaps27:00 - Incorporating AI thoughtfully29:00 - Advice for future HR leadersAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 10, 2024 • 38min
Cultivating Culture in Hypergrowth: Rivian's Roadmap to Success
In this episode of the HR Leaders podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome Helen Russell, the Chief People Officer at Rivian. She joined us to share how Rivian successfully maintained its aspirational culture while experiencing explosive growth, scaling from 1,000 to over 16,000 employees in just a few years. Stay tuned for some fascinating insights!👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Episode highlight01:30 - Helen's background04:00 - Making the leap into startups06:00 - What is Rivian and the culture it embodies08:30 - Embedding culture into every process11:30 - Retaining culture while scaling rapidly14:30 - Hiring leaders fit for a scaling environment17:00 - The importance of first-principles thinking19:30 - Anticipating milestones to motivate teams22:00 - Balancing working in and on the business24:30 - Taking time to ensure strong hiring27:00 - Evolving HR in a startup environment29:30 - The personal challenges amidst hypergrowthAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 5, 2024 • 38min
Beyond Orders: The Transformation to a Trusted Learning Advisor
Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning & Development Officer at BDO, discusses his new book 'The Trusted Learning Advisor.' Topics include evolving L&D and HR, establishing credibility, effective stakeholder relationships, becoming a trusted advisor, business conversations, relationship building, and the role of frontline workers

Dec 11, 2023 • 36min
Harnessing Mindful Analytics to Elevate the Human Experience
In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I spoke with Gustavo Canton, CEO & Founder of imhmn, about using ethical AI to elevate human experiences at work.👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Episode highlight and Introduction02:00 - Gustavo's background04:00 - Emergence of people analytics field06:00 - Implications of AI and automation09:00 - Risks and ethical considerations with AI12:00 - Using AI in HR and people analytics15:00 - Adapting to remote work18:00 - Rethinking office space20:00 - Cultural differences in transformation23:00 - Implementing technology successfully26:00 - Advice for HR leaders on AIAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 4, 2023 • 38min
The Future of the Office: The Hard Choices We All Face
In this episode of the HR Leaders podcast, I'm joined by Peter Cappelli, Wharton Management Professor, to discuss The Future of the Office: the Hard Choices We All Face.👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Episode highlight01:30 - Peter's background03:10 - Workplace shifts in the 1980s06:30 - Entering an interesting period for HR08:20 - Failing to plan for post-pandemic offices10:40 - Rethinking necessity of in-person collaboration13:30 - Accounting rules driving poor talent decisions16:40 - Need for HR business case of turnover costs18:50 - CEOs balancing investor metrics with people outcomes22:20 - Overcoming barriers to people analytics24:30 - Progress needing data integration solutions26:40 - Potential for workforce insights with clean data29:00 - Improving post-pandemic work experiences31:20 - Remote work genie won't go back in bottle34:10 - Forcing strict in-office rules risks talent loss36:40 - Summary and concluding thoughtsAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 29, 2023 • 33min
How UiPath Drives Business Value Through Automation and Agile HR
In this episode of the HR Leaders podcast I'm joined by Brigette McInnis-Day, Chief People Officer at UiPath, to discuss How UiPath drives business value through automation and agile HR.👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Episode highlight and Introduction01:30 - UiPath's mission to optimize work through automation03:10 - Brigette's career journey in HR & passion for growth06:30 - Key findings from UiPath's automation generation report08:20 - Using automation to empower the workforce10:40 - Automating HR processes to increase productivity13:30 - Reorganizing talent functions to focus on experience16:40 - Importance of embracing digital transformation in HR18:50 - Role modelling HR automation for customers22:20 - Training HR team members on automation skills24:30 - Hacking HR processes through internal automationathons26:40 - Prioritizing automation over waiting on HCM platforms29:00 - Advice to future HR leaders on preparing for technologyAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 25, 2023 • 37min
How Fujitsu are Cultivating a Culture of Inclusivity and Wellbeing
In this episode of the HR Leaders podcast, I'm joined by Kelly Metcalf, Head of People Experience at Fujitsu, to discuss how Fujitsu are cultivating a culture of inclusivity and wellbeing.👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Highlight and Introduction01:20 - Kelly's Dual Roles at Fujitsu03:13 - Connecting Inclusion & Wellbeing06:19 - Practical Steps for an Inclusive Culture11:17 - Addressing the Gender Pay Gap15:28 - Benefits of Pay Gap Reporting16:35 - Ongoing Inclusion Challenges18:09 - Gen Z Reshaping Work Dynamics18:59 - Linking DEI & Sustainability21:50 - Fujitsu's Flexible Working Approach26:38 - Supporting New Joiner Integration29:55 - Excited About AI Possibilities35:06 - Parting Advice on Living PurposeAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 21, 2023 • 25min
The Crucial Role of 'Why' in Effective Workplace Communication
In this episode of the HR Leaders podcast I'm joined by Nina Kontos, Senior Director of Global Internal Communications, Employee Experience & Learning at Axonius. Nina draws from her diverse background to provide fresh perspectives on fostering an engaged, informed workforce to discuss the crucial role of 'Why' in effective workplace communication.👉 Subscribe to HR Leaders: http://bit.ly/2wFkCEq🎙️ Listen on your favourite platform: https://art19.com/shows/hr-leaders-podcast👤 Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisraineyhr/See Greatness Everywhere with EightfoldPowered by deep-learning AI, Eightfold’s unrivaled Talent Intelligence Platform shows you what you need, when you need it. Whether you’re finding or developing talent, their skills-driven approach backed by our unparalleled talent insights enables the outcomes you need to stay ahead. Explore the Platform: https://hubs.li/Q02jjSsT0Episode highlights00:00 - Introduction and overview00:20 - Personal journey: from New Yorker to wine enthusiast01:06 - The start in corporate America: sociology to public relations02:12 - Google experience: internal comms and leadership roles03:00 - Role at Axonius: global internal comms and employee experience03:27 - Leadership, people practices, and communication: the three-legged stool04:03 - Prioritizing key areas in a growing company04:38 - Effective change management and communication strategies05:07 - The importance of the 'why' in workplace communication06:03 - Adapting communication to different audiences07:01 - Benefits communication: making it clear and relatable08:54 - Using technology for personalized employee experiences10:03 - Humanizing corporate communication11:00 - Managing communications in a remote work environment12:03 - The role of HR in enhancing employee engagement13:30 - Integrating consistency in company communications14:01 - Building effective people practices and employee experience15:03 - Overcoming challenges in remote team management16:00 - The future of HR and employee experience17:00 - Personalizing the employee journey with technology18:50 - Implementing new health benefits and overcoming challenges20:00 - Evolving role of HR in employee health and well-being22:00 - Navigating the noise: effective communication in HR23:00 - Closing remarks and key takeawaysAbout HR Leaders Podcast: Join Chris Rainey as he chats with the world's top Chief People Officers, CHRO’s and industry experts who share their experience, insights, lessons learned and how they are shaping the future of work for business and society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.