The Modern People Leader: Forward-Thinking HR

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.

Yemi Akisanya, Head of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) at Axon, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about how the DEI conversation is evolving post-2020, why quotas are being replaced with performance-aligned strategies, and how Axon is making inclusion measurable and mission-critical.---- Sponsor Links:🔗 Talk to the team at Ethena.🔗 Request a demo of ChartHop.MPL Links:🔗 Go sign up for MPL Build.---- (06:24) Yemi’s Life & Career Update: From Groupon to Axon(08:51) What is Axon? Tech That Protects Life (Explained Simply)(11:46) The Current State of DEI: Legal Risks, Compliance, and Backlash(13:04) How 2020 Changed the DEI Landscape—And Where It Went Off Track(15:28) The Rise and Fall of Quota-Based DEI and Legal Pushback(17:53) The New DEI Mandate: Must Be Performance-Driven and Legally Sound(19:30) Title VII and the Legal Boundaries of Hiring Decisions(22:49) Axon’s Hiring Funnel Strategy: Focus on Top-of-Funnel Diversity(24:17) Why Diverse Input Without Inclusion Breeds Tokenism(26:48) Stephen’s Experience as a Diversity Officer (2009–2011)(29:39) The Unintended Consequences of Quota-Driven Metrics(32:26) What’s Changed? Not the Law, but the Enforcement & Tone(34:06) Clarifying What Legal vs. Illegal DEI Looks Like Today(38:29) Expanding the Talent Funnel: Tactics Axon Uses to Diversify Without Quotas(41:44) Events, Job Boards, and Global Outreach to Source Talent(42:59) Applying a Funnel Mindset: DEI as Performance Marketing(45:10) Did DEI Practitioners Go Too Far? Owning the Missteps(48:03) Why Bias Isn’t Bad—But It Must Be Checked and Understood(50:30) Inclusion Surveys as Strategic Input: Measuring What Holds People Back(51:15) Daniel’s 2020 ERG Experience: Culture Celebration vs. Business Impact(53:43) Evolving ERGs into Performance Assets (Not Just Event Groups)(56:47) Performance-Driven DEI: Monitoring Ratings, Promotions, Engagement(58:47) Training for All, Cultural Context, and Blending Communities(01:01:13) Localizing DEI Efforts Globally: Lessons from Groupon(01:03:32) Axon’s Inclusion Programs, Pay Equity Audits, and Cross-Cultural Equity(01:08:20) Who Should We Have Next? Shoutout to Elizabeth Hart at Axon---- 📬 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.

Jessica Zwaan, COO at Talentful and author of Built for People, dives into the fascinating world of AI in HR. She discusses the challenges of AI abstinence versus open use, likening tools to an Iron Man suit for decision-making. Jessica introduces her 4Bs framework—Bot, Build, Borrow, Buy—for smart adoption. The conversation touches on overcoming stigma around AI, making thoughtful investment decisions, and creating effective organizational policies. It's a thought-provoking exploration of balancing innovation and ethics in the workplace.

Pilar Muner, VP of People & Talent at ChartHop, shares her career journey from law to HR and the importance of setting boundaries in a fractional work life. She discusses how ChartHop leverages AI to streamline HR processes while ensuring data integrity. Pilar provides a crucial AI vendor checklist for HR leaders, emphasizing security and effective decision-making. She also highlights the innovative data architecture of ChartHop’s platform, showcasing how it accommodates evolving HR needs and fosters a strong internal culture.

JooBee Yeow, founder of Learngility and an innovative HR leader, joins to explore how HR can shift from administrative roles to strategic revenue drivers. She emphasizes the need for HR to diagnose business problems rather than jumping to solutions. JooBee discusses the common trap HR faces as companies grow, especially around the 50-employee mark. She introduces two essential questions for prioritizing HR work and reveals key revenue leak scenarios that HR can influence, advocating for a more proactive, business-savvy HR approach.