People and Strategy

From Starbucks barista to executive, Paul Johnson’s career journey has taken many paths. Today, he is VP of People and Culture and Chief Diversity Officer for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. In this episode of People and Strategy, Johnson shares his insights on redefining traditional leadership paradigms, the role of continuous learning, and the differences between HR roles in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.Note: All views expressed are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

What was your entry point into the workforce? In this episode of People and Strategy, Denny’s SVP of HR and CLO Fasika Melaku discusses how the service industry tends to be that first door to employment. She reflects on her experience as an immigrant, working in the hospitality industry, and creating employee development programs at Denny's.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

Increasing access to care among underserved populations can advance health equity. In this episode of People and Strategy, Boston Scientific’s vice president of HR and global chief diversity officer Camille Chang Gilmore discusses the medical technology company’s Close the Gap Health Equity Initiative, tying inclusion goals to measurable outcomes, her tips for successful leadership, and more.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

An organization’s workplace culture represents an opportunity to align with the communities it serves. In this episode of People and Strategy, DeRetta Rhodes, chief culture officer at the Atlanta Braves discusses how to enhance workplace culture — from the importance of giving employees a voice to how community involvement can create a sense of belonging.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

Using data-driven insights can help create higher performing teams. In this episode of People and Strategy, Wendy Miller, chief people officer at McKinsey & Company, discusses the power of people analytics to help HR executives and business leaders solve problems, AI’s potential impact, and more.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

The first 90 to 180 days are critical to a new leader’s success, and they often benefit from executive coaching during this transitional period. In this episode of People and Strategy, Christine Mixan, talent planning lead at General Motors, shares her STEPS model for coaching leaders through transitions. She also shares the ROIs associated with executive coaching, how long coaching should last, and more.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

While working as a practicing lawyer, Nathalie Grenache landed on a career in HR “completely by accident” after a teammate requested her legal assistance with an expat employee’s immigration status. Grenache now serves as the Senior VP of People and Culture at Sanofi, a Paris-based global pharmaceutical company. She is based in Boston and is responsible for providing strategic HR leadership to Sanofi’s North American operations and Global Specialty Care.In this episode of People and Strategy, Grenache joins host Mo Fathelbab to discuss topics including what HR leaders in the U.S. can learn from the rest of the world about diversity and inclusion, the importance of viewing talent acquisition as a function that stretches beyond HR, her thoughts on the future of succession planning, and much more.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

Betty Thompson got her start in HR as an entry-level employee at IBM when she had to turn to the department to navigate a difficult personnel situation. Now, as Chief People Officer at Booz Allen Hamilton, she oversees all aspects of talent for the firm's more than 36,000 employees across the globe. In this episode of People and Strategy, Thompson speaks with host Mo Fathelbab on how necessary changes in education, diversity and inclusion, and civility will shape the next decade’s workforce.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network. 

Rhonda Morris, Vice President and CHRO of Chevron Corporation, describes her 31-year career with the company as non-traditional and “portfolio-esque” in the sense that she’s held a number of non-HR roles that have included marketing, running a P&L and working outside the U.S. In this episode of People and Strategy, Morris joins host Mo Fathelbab to discuss topics including the development of strong corporate culture, bringing mental health support to the workplace, as well as how she has leveraged her lifelong love of handwritten letters to engage Chevron’s employees.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.

In the fall of 2015, Betsy Rodriguez was the CHRO of the University of Missouri when the university president announced his sudden resignation on national television. The university needed to provide a rapid response to the unfolding scenario, and the board turned to Rodriguez for guidance and advice, highlighting the CHRO’s critical role in navigating executive transitions. In this episode of People and Strategy, host Mo Fathelbab speaks with Rodriguez about the valuable lessons she has learned during her career related to managing C-suite transitions - both well-planned and sudden – and other insights from her time as an HR executive.Episode transcriptFollow People and Strategy wherever you listen to podcasts; rate and review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Learn more about the SHRM Executive Network.