radical innovators podcast

Tired of HR being relegated to a back-office "function?" Then join us for an inspiring conversation with Ola Snow, CHRO of Fortune 16 healthcare giant Cardinal Health, who proves that HR must not only have a seat, but the most important seat at the table.In this episode, Frank Congiu sits down with Ola to dive deep into how she spent almost 24 years relentlessly focusing on business leadership first and building an authentic, mission-driven culture.This episode is packed with practical strategies for any HR leader or talent professional looking to leverage authenticity and hoping to create a high-trust, high-performing organization.

In this episode of Radical Innovators, we’re joined by Payal Sahni, the chief people experience officer and executive vice president at Pfizer. She shares her unique career path, from studying Psychology to finding her way into HR, and how her experiences have shaped her into a more collaborative and adaptable leader. Payal also discusses Pfizer's approach to cultivating a culture of curiosity and adaptability, highlighting its intentional focus on internal talent development and how it is leveraging new tools and strategies, including AI, to enhance the employee experience and drive business innovation.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Allison Ausband, EVP and chief people officer at Delta Air Lines. Allison began her 40-year journey with Delta as a flight attendant. She shares how this unique, frontline-first perspective shapes Delta's "people-first philosophy" and drives their commitment to culture as their single greatest competitive advantage. Discover Delta’s high-return practice of "listen, act and respond," the power of cultivating a shared, empathetic culture (even on humanity's worst days), and how they tangibly recognize employees through programs like their industry-leading profit-sharing pool. This episode is a masterclass in leading from the front and making direct investments in your workforce to achieve unmatched performance.

Join us for this incredible conversation on the Radical Innovators podcast, with Lisa Chang, EVP and global chief people officer at Coca-Cola. Lisa shares her journey to the C-suite and the strategic shift underpinning Coca-Cola's innovative "Thrive" talent strategy, which prioritizes dynamic experiences and self-directed growth over rigid career paths.Discover how this iconic brand is:Embracing Generative AI to enhance the employee experience and streamline internal processesFocusing human capital on "headwork" and "heartwork" — the essential skills that cannot be automatedCultivating a strong culture of community and pride to attract and retain global talentLisa's insights offer a compelling look at how a global leader is adapting its workforce and culture for the future of work.

In today's episode, Frank Congiu is joined by Carolyn Roach, CHRO at XPO, one of the largest logistics companies in North America. Carolyn shares her unique career journey, which has included purposeful pivots into industries like finance and fiber optics. She discusses what it means to lead with authenticity across different workforces, from corporate offices to frontline drivers.Carolyn also details how her team is using a "field first" mindset to redefine its talent strategy and why she believes modern HR leaders must be equal parts strategist, operator and storyteller. The conversation also covers the integration of AI, how to encourage teams to experiment without fear and the importance of empowering employees with new technology. This episode is for anyone curious about leading cultural change and staying grounded in an evolving industry. 

In today’s episode, Frank Congiu sits down with Matt Walter, CHRO of Medtronic, for a compelling conversation on reimagining talent strategies in the face of rapid digital transformation.Matt shares his journey from aspiring sports psychologist to global HR leader, and unpacks how Medtronic is evolving its approach to talent — shifting from traditional FTE models to a dynamic, skills-first strategy that embraces gig talent, tech integration and purposeful culture building. If you're looking for real insights into how leading organizations are future-proofing their talent models while staying grounded in purpose, this one's for you.

In this energizing episode of the Radical Innovators series, Frank Congiu sits down with Jacqui Canney, chief people and AI enablement officer at ServiceNow, one of the most influential voices reshaping the future of work. Jacqui’s career spans iconic brands, and now she’s leading the charge in merging cutting-edge AI with human-first leadership.Jacqui shares the radical moves she’s making in her bold new role, the mindset shift HR needs in the digital era and why AI is not about replacing people, but unlocking their full potential. Whether you're a CHRO, a business leader or simply curious about the evolving world of work, this episode delivers powerful, practical insights on scaling impact and driving growth through tech-enabled people strategies.

Radical Innovators host Frank Congiu, has an insightful conversation with Stephanie Kramer, CHRO of L’Oréal USA, to explore how one of the world’s most iconic beauty brands is reinventing its people strategy for a world that’s anything but business as usual.Stephanie brings a refreshing, deeply human approach to HR — rooted in her unconventional journey through marketing, general management, authorship, and now, executive leadership. She shares how L’Oréal empowers people managers, redefining hybrid work as a mindset — not just a model — and building a culture of feedback, growth and resilience.Whether you’re in HR, leadership or just curious about what powers culture in high-performing organizations, this conversation is rich with insights that will help you lead with intention in complex times.

Welcome to episode four of the Radical Innovators series. In this episode, Frank Congiu is joined by Nickle LaMoreaux, CHRO at IBM, to explore how one of the world’s most iconic tech companies continues to lead with workforce strategy. Nickle shares her remarkable journey at IBM, insights on how risk-taking and disrupting traditional HR models have shaped her career, and how IBM’s enduring culture of innovation underpins its talent strategy today.From AI-driven HR transformation to building agile, high-impact HR teams, Nickle unpacks the radical moves IBM has made to stay ahead. Discover why embracing technology, evolving with intention and fostering a culture rooted in trust and client focus are essential for future-ready HR leadership.If you’re ready to rethink what’s possible in HR, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, we have an insightful conversation with Michael Fraccaro, CHRO of Mastercard, to explore how one of the world’s leading technology companies is reshaping its people strategy to thrive in a rapidly evolving world of work.Michael shares Mastercard’s shift to a skills-first approach—prioritizing capabilities over job titles—and how this model is transforming hiring, learning, and internal mobility. He also delves into the role of AI as both a business enabler and a talent development tool, and how Mastercard is cultivating a culture of continuous learning across its global workforce.Whether you're a HR leader or an aspiring people leader, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how HR can drive real impact in the business.