The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR

Darren Murph, a former leader at GitLab and Zillow, is a sought-after consultant on remote work. He discusses the four-pillar operating model essential for distributed teams, emphasizing knowledge management as the foundation. Murph explains why companies often misjudge their remote maturity and highlights the importance of fixing organizational systems rather than just individuals. He shares insights on treating knowledge like a product and showcases effective tools for documentation and project management, paving the way for improved performance in a distributed landscape.

Brandon Weber, Co-founder and CEO of Nava Benefits, shares his insights on revolutionizing employer healthcare. He explains why benefits have surged to the second-largest company expense and how HR can strategically manage this cost. The discussion also covers the complexities of healthcare plans, the emergence of the 'alt marketplace,' and tools to streamline benefits administration. Brandon emphasizes data-driven approaches to cut costs while enhancing employee outcomes, all while advocating for a more transparent healthcare system.

Andrew Golden, Chief People Officer at RetailNext, shares his insights on transforming HR by aligning it with business workflows. Known for his expertise in lean PX design, he discusses how RetailNext merges hardware and data for enhanced retail experiences. Andrew emphasizes the importance of HR-IT partnerships, the benefits of building in-house AI tools, and the optimism for HR's future. His journey includes redefining HR processes and advocating for agile solutions that tackle employee pain points directly.

Gena Smith, the CHRO of LVMH North America, boasts extensive experience in HR transformation across luxury brands. In this discussion, she highlights her role in spearheading LVMH’s AI transformation across 75 brands. Gena emphasizes the need for HR to lead in AI change management, reframing AI as a cultural advantage. She discusses overcoming employee reluctance toward AI and advocates for upskilling as essential for future-proofing careers. Her insights on creating internal narratives and normalizing AI adoption are both inspiring and actionable.

HR leaders expressed their unfiltered thoughts on AI at a recent tech conference. The discussion unveiled insights on agentic workflows versus autonomous agents and the essential need for governance in AI adoption. Participants highlighted connectivity issues as major blockers to progress and emphasized the significance of a living organizational brain. Fun wishes included automated payroll and smarter recruiting processes, while candid remarks revealed the struggles of managing change in a rapidly evolving landscape.

Angela Crossman, an experienced people leader, Hernan Chiosso, an AI advocate in HR, and Jean-Luc Charles, a people operations expert, discuss AI's transformative role in workplaces. They explore structured conversations that clarify AI adoption and the spectrum of HR maturity regarding AI. The trio debates the pros and cons of AI as a managerial coach while emphasizing HR's vital role in change management. They also highlight community-driven approaches to overcome challenges, and how AI can serve as an innovative thinking partner rather than a definitive answer.

Joy Rothschild, Chief Human Resources Officer at Omni Hotels & Resorts, shares insights from her extensive career in hospitality. She discusses the unique culture at Omni, emphasizing a balance between guests, owners, and associates. Joy explores how the company navigated crises like 9/11 and COVID, making bold investments despite challenges. She revives the 'Power of One' initiative with memorable principles that empower employees. Her heartfelt stories about guest experiences illustrate the importance of internal narratives and accountability in service excellence.

Jessica Zwaan joins MPL Build to show HR leaders how to craft business cases that CEOs actually approve, using BLUF, the So What test, and clear links to revenue and savings. We walk through conservative projections, objection handling, and a live role-play on adopting a performance platform in today’s fiscally skeptical environment.---- Sponsor Links:🔗 Talk to the team at Ethena.🔗 Request a demo of ChartHop.MPL Links:🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.---- (05:19) Jessica’s hierarchy: make money, save money, then time(08:45) Jessica’s shift from words to numbers and data(12:20) Tying HR work to revenue in practice(13:52) Choosing revenue vs savings and building the argument(15:42) “I cracked it” moment: McCann Worldgroup restructuring win(19:16) The “So What” Test explained and how to run it(21:57) Anticipating objections inside the deck(24:20) Role-play setup: $50k performance platform after HR Tech(25:32) Start with the problem: talent density and revenue leakage(26:08) Connecting performance signals to revenue and savings(28:31) From messy data to leading indicators leaders can use(30:23) Pitch format preferences(31:12) BLUF: Bottom line up front(32:39) Estimating impact and why to lean conservative(34:30) Standing behind numbers with board scrutiny(36:10) Is budget still tight and what fiscal skepticism means(37:43) Why rigor matters in an AI-saturated vendor landscape---- 📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn---- Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.

Kim Minnick, Founder of Code Traveller HR, is a seasoned expert in performance management and modern HR practices. She discusses why traditional performance reviews often miss the mark and emphasizes the need for continuous feedback. Kim advocates for decoupling performance from compensation, introducing creative, non-monetary rewards that align with company values. She also highlights the importance of transparency in compensation and offers insights on allowing employees to choose their rewards, fostering engagement and trust within organizations.

This episode of The Modern People Leader dives into the realities of leading through constant change, featuring guests Mita Mallick, Shelby Garrison, and Kelly Lohr. We discussed how HR leaders can navigate layoffs with transparency and humanity, the importance of supporting both exiting and remaining employees, and how to build resilience and adaptability into workplace culture.---- Sponsor Links:🔗 Get in contact with the Career Sandwich team.🔗 Request a demo of Workleap.🔗 Talk to the team at Ethena.MPL Links:🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.---- (07:13) Why Layoffs Feel Like a New Normal(09:25) Shelby on the Disconnect Between Job Reports and Employee Reality(14:27) Kelly on Building the Muscle to Adapt to Change(18:31) Mita on Transparency Before Layoffs Happen(21:27) The Shift in Employer Branding Conversations(22:37) Mistakes Companies Make During Layoffs That Damage Brand(25:04) Moments That Matter Most When Communicating Change(28:29) Shelby’s Two-Audience Approach to Layoff Planning(32:05) What Modern Support for Exiting Employees Looks Like(35:33) Balancing Empathy and Clarity in Layoff Conversations(38:58) Supporting Remaining Employees After Layoffs(45:17) Mita on Allowing Space to Acknowledge Those Who Left(47:11) Shelby on Bringing a Human-First Approach to Change(51:00) Q&A: The Problem with Silent Layoffs and How to Rebuild Trust---- 📬 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get episode recaps💡 Follow The Modern People Leader on LinkedIn😊 Follow Daniel Huerta on LinkedIn😊 Follow Stephen Huerta on LinkedIn---- Past guests on MPL include Brené Brown, Annie Dean (VP of Team Anywhere, Atlassian), Josh Bersin, Katie Burke (Chief People Officer, Harvey), Liz Fosslien, Helen Russell (Chief People Officer, HubSpot), Dave Scott (Chief People Officer, ADT), Melanie Rossenwasser (Chief People Officer, Dropbox), Crystal Boysen (Chief People Officer, Sprout Social), and many more.