The Future of HR is the only podcast whose mission is to inspire the next generation of HR Leaders. In each episode, JP Elliott interviews successful HR executives and thought leaders who share their career journeys, lessons learned, and advice on how to take our field and your career to the next level. If you are a next-gen HR leader looking to fast-track your career, this is the podcast for you.
How can you turn HR data into insights that drive decisions? Why do leaders make decisions based on their experience and instinct, not just data? My guest on this episode is Morgan Depenbusch, Data Storytelling & Influence Expert During our conversation Morgan and I discuss: How to tell what data is interesting from what data is decision relevant Why one reason to say no can beat twenty reasons to say yes Why you should see yourself as the guide and the leader as the hero How to surface a leader's real objection before the meeting and name it first Why AI gives HR more dashboards and signals but not more influence Connecting with Morgan: Connect with Morgan Depenbusch on LinkedIn Learn more about Morgan’s HR Data Storytelling and Influence Playbook Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can HR transform meetings into a competitive advantage? Why is the one-on-one the one meeting that leaders should never cancel? My guest on this episode is Steven Rogelberg, author of “The Surprising Science of Meetings” and “Glad We Met: The Art & Science of 1:1 Meetings” During our conversation Steven and I discuss: Why a world without meetings is worse than a world with them Why the person who called the meeting is usually the only one who thinks it went well. Why measurement is the missing piece as engagement surveys almost never ask about meetings. Why framing your agenda as questions to be answered clarifies who to invite, what success looks like, and whether you even need to meet. Why the one-on-one belongs to the employee, not the manager Connecting with Steven Rogelberg: Connect with Steven Rogelberg on LinkedIn Learn more about Steven, his books, and work to make meetings matter Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How does human capital create value in private equity? What does it take to be a successful HR leader in private equity? My guest on this episode is David Cohen, Partner, Human Capital at Kelso During our conversation David and I discuss: Why the role of the human capital partner in private equity is to unlock value through people, not to run HR for the firm itself. What is takes to be successful as a CHRO in a private equity backed company. Why human capital value creation comes down to org design, the right people in the right seats, and senior team performance. How the "bullseye" model helps identify the right senior leader for a PE-backed company. Why breadth of experience matters more than titles in your 20s and 30s. Connecting with David Cohen: Connect with David Cohen on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
In this solo episode, I make the case that being a strategic business partner is no longer enough. I share the shift I believe is coming next, from business partner to business builder, and the three mindset shifts and behaviors that separate the two. Here are a few key takeaways from the episode: Why being a strategic business partner is no longer enough, and what the next evolution of HR asks of us. How the move from business partner to business builder is a mindset, not a job title. Why execution excellence has become the price of admission rather than the proof that HR is strategic and adding value. Why the real AI risk to HR is being bypassed, not being automated. Why making fewer, bigger bets turns HR priorities into business priorities. How choosing one big goal a year that scares you can change the course of your career.
Why is organizational design much more than org charts and who reports to whom? How can HR guide, facilitate and drive effective an organizational design process? My guest on this episode is Amy Kates who is organizational design expert and author of five books on the subject. During our conversation Amy and I discuss: Why the purpose of organizational design is to design human behavior at scale Why matrix organizations are set up for good conflict and how best to manage it The six business problems that leaders seek to solve through organizational design Why organizational design is not about org charts and who reports to whom The role that HR leaders should play and not play in the organizational design process. Advice for HR leaders who are about to start an organizational design project Connecting with Amy Kates: Connect with Amy Kates on LinkedIn Learn more about Amy’s work at Operating Model & Organization Design LinkedIn page Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can workforce readiness become mission readiness? Why is a people strategy not the same thing as a business strategy? My guest on this episode is Kathleen McCarthy, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer, SAIC During our conversation Kathleen and I discuss the following: Why a people strategy is not a business strategy Why "progress over perfection" beats waiting for the perfect plan How CHROs are shifting from business partners to enterprise capability builders Why workforce readiness is a moving target, not a fixed destination Why you can't hire your way out of the readiness gap Connecting with Kathleen: Connect with Kathleen on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can you think and communicate like an executive? Why is your strategy only as good as your ability to communicate it? My guest on this episode is Vicky Zhao, Founder, School of Human Intellect and Speaking With Frameworks. During our conversation Vicky and I discuss the following: Why the clearest idea, not the best idea, is the one that wins How the GPS framework (Goal, Problem, Solution) elevates your point of view Why the hardest shift is moving from a doer mindset to a leader mindset Why you should put the bottom line up front, using the pyramid principle Why giving yourself permission to contribute is the first step to showing up like an executive Connecting with Vicky: Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Subscribe to Vicky’s YouTube channel Learn more about Vicky’s course, Speaking With Frameworks Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can HR use data to drive change? Why is being “data driven” no longer a nice to have, but rather an expectation for HR leaders My guest on this episode is Sebastian Wernicke, author of “Data Inspired” During our conversation Sebastian and I discuss the following: How the best data work starts by trying to prove yourself wrong Why HR leaders must become critical consumers of data How to start with the business problem, not the available data Why data-inspired organizations rest on three foundations: data literacy, a digital mindset, and a data culture Connecting with Sebastian: Connect with Sebastian on LinkedIn Learn more about Sebastian’s new book, Data Inspired Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
Why should HR think of themselves as the business instead of supporting the business? How can AI amplify human potential and performance? My guest on this episode is Vicki Walia, Chief People and Experience Officer at Prudential Financial During our conversation Vicki and I discuss the following: Why HR leaders need to see themselves as part of the business, not partners to it. How AI can amplify human potential and performance. How Vicki thinks about the AI "time dividend” and who should get the benefit. Why a high performance culture starts at the individual level. Why clarity, tools, and candid feedback are the three ingredients teams need. Connecting with Vicki: Connect with Vicki on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can the power of the pause make you an even more effective HR leader? Why do HR leaders need to have a point of view and the courage to share it? My guest on this episode is Michael Fraccaro, Former CPO at Mastercard, Senior Advisor at Egon Zehnder During our conversation Michael and I discuss the following: Why your credibility as a CHRO is built on your understanding of the business, not HR How the power of the pause transforms decision quality Why culture is a leadership behavior, not a program How courage, not technical knowledge is the real differentiator for HR leaders who want to move from good to great Why the CHRO pipeline challenge is less about technical skills and more about mindset, grit, and learning agility Connecting with Michael: Connect with Michael on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can you build an AI-Ready workforce? Why is AI a leadership issue and not a technology issue? My guest on this episode is Charlene Li, author of “Winning with AI,” speaker, and disruptive leadership expert During our conversation Charlene and I discuss the following: Why AI-first is the wrong frame for most organizations, and how AI-ready puts your people and strategy back at the center How AI fluency differs from AI literacy Why tools, training, and time are the three T's every leader needs to invest in How to think about agentic AI through four practical questions Why automating existing processes is not enough and we use AI to rethink the work itself Connecting with Charlene: Connect with Charlene on LinkedIn Learn more about Charlene and her book, “Winning with AI” Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can HR leaders learn to sell without selling? Why should every HR leader think of themselves as a salesperson? My guest on this episode is Brendan McAdams, B2B Sales Coach & Consultant and author of ‘Sales Craft’ During our conversation Brendan and I discuss the following: Why every HR leader is already in sales, whether they call it that or not How sales is really the work of helping someone make a better decision that is right for them Why status quo is often the strongest competitor to any HR initiative, and what to do about it. How surfacing objections out loud ("killing the deal") builds trust and accelerates real buy-in Why "if we do this, who loses?" is one of the most useful questions an HR leader can ask Connecting with Brendan: Connect with Brendan on LinkedIn Learn more about Brendan’s company Kiinetics Download Brendan’s Stakeholder Meeting Prep Worksheet Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can organizations use executive assessments to make better decisions? Why do you need to build your Executive Assessment fluency to have more impact as an HR leader? My guest on this episode is Mina Morris, Managing Director and Head of Assessments at Accenture During our conversation Mina and I discuss the following: Why executive assessment should start with business strategy, not tools, models, or methodologies. How using multiple data sources creates a more complete and accurate view of executive talent. Why executive assessment should be the start of the development conversation, not the end. How executive assessment helps organizations identify “diamonds in the rough” within their leadership pipeline. Why executive assessment without development is just measurement. Connecting with Mina: Connect with Mina on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can your culture become a competitive advantage? Why is engagement not just an HR metric, but a driver of business performance? My guest on this episode is Bala Sathyanarayanan, EVP and CHRO, Greif Inc. During our conversation Bala and I discuss the following: Why culture is the operating system that determines whether strategy succeeds or fails. Why engagement is not just an HR metric, but a leading indicator of customer and business performance. How organizations that focus on systems outperform those that focus only on outcomes. Why HR’s credibility depends on its ability to create measurable business value. Why great organizations are never “great,” they are always chasing it. Connecting with Bala: Connect with Bala on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can we reclaim control when it feels like work has hijacked our lives? Why is managing stress becoming more important than reducing it? My guest on this episode is Guy Winch, psychologist, TED speaker, and author of the new book “Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life” During our conversation Guy and I discuss the following: Why burnout continues to rise despite increased investment in wellbeing programs. How work is increasingly “hijacking” people’s time, attention, and relationships. Why high performers are often the most vulnerable to burnout. How a simple end-of-day ritual can train your brain to shift from work mode to personal life. How more open conversations about stress can prevent burnout before it becomes a crisis. Connecting with Guy: Connect with Guy Winch on LinkedIn Learn more about Guy’s book, “ Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life.” Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can leaders make work both fun and drive high-performance? Why do the high performers find joy in intense work? My guests on this episode are Bree Groff, workplace expert and author of “Today was Fun,” and Mary Kate Stimmler, Practitioner Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Sciences at Stanford During our conversation, Bree, Mary Kate, and I discuss the following: Why the belief that high performance requires pressure and sacrifice is flawed How leaders can design work that creates energy, not burnout Why “fun” at work is about experience, not perks Why stress undermines creativity and long-term performance How small, everyday moments shape culture more than large-scale initiatives Connecting with Bree and Mary Kate presenters: Connect with Bree Groff on LinkedIn Learn more about Bree’s book, “Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously) Connect with Mary Kate Stimmler on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
This is Part 2 of our live at the CHRO Association's annual CHRO Summit in Orlando, Florida. I was honored to be invited to the CHRO Association's annual CHRO Summit that brought together more than 300 CHROs and senior HR leaders for strategic conversations truly shaping the future of work. With 25 presenters and panelists on the agenda, I was able to sit down and interview seven of those amazing speakers and bring their insights directly to you across these two episodes (EP 186 & EP 187). In this episode, Part 2 - we’re going to hear from three more incredible leaders: Darrell Ford, Vice Chair of the CHRO Association and Executive Vice President and CHRO at UPS Rebecca Hinds, PhD, Head of the Work AI Institute and Thought Leadership at Glean, and author of Your Best Meeting Ever Kevin Cox, Former CHRO at General Electric and President of LKC Advisory LLC Connecting with CHRO Summit presenters: Connect with Darrell Ford on LinkedIn Connect with Rebecca Hinds on LinkedIn Connect with Kevin Cox on LinkedIn Learn more about CHRO Association Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
This is a very special episode recorded live at the CHRO Association's annual CHRO Summit in Orlando, Florida. Over two days, more than 300 CHROs and senior HR leaders came together for strategic conversations truly shaping the future of work. With 25 presenters and panelists on the agenda, I was fortunate enough to sit down and interview seven of those amazing speakers and bring their insights directly to you. The conversations were so good and in-depth that we're making this a two-part series to ensure we do each conversation justice. This is Part 1. In this episode, you'll hear from: Tim Bartl, CEO of the CHRO Association Tim Richmond, Chair of the CHRO Association and former EVP and CHRO at AbbVie Kristi Hummel, Chief People Officer at Optum Ethan Mollick, Innovation Expert, AI Thought Leader, and Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Wharton School of Business Connecting with CHRO Summit presenters: Connect with Tim Bartl on LinkedIn Connect with Tim Richmond on LinkedIn Connect with Kristi Hummel on LinkedIn Connect with Ethan Mollick on LinkedIn Learn more about CHRO Association Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can HR Rethink Performance Management? Why is Performance Management broken and what can HR do about it? My guests on this episode are Edie Goldberg & Alan Colquitt, co-authors of “Performance Enablement: A New Model for Driving Organizational Performance.” During our conversation, Edie, Alan, and I discuss the following: Why traditional performance management systems were built for a different era of work. How performance management became more about compensation than improving performance. Why shifting from performance management to performance enablement changes the leadership mindset. How continuous coaching and feedback outperform annual reviews and performance ratings. Why team-based goals better reflect how work actually gets done in modern organizations. Connecting with Edie and Alan: Connect with Edie Goldberg on LinkedIn Connect with Alan Colquitt on LinkedIn Learn more about Edie’s firm and Performance Enablement Learn more about Alan’s firm and Performance Enablement Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
How can HR Operations help transform the function and drive business impact? Why should HR shift from People First to People Forward strategy? My guest on this episode is Girish Ganesan, Chief People Officer, S&P Global During our conversation, Girish and I discuss the following: Why HR operations are the foundation of real impact Why credibility requires understanding the work beneath the work How HR teams can shift from "People First" to "People Forward" Why execution is becoming a defining capability for next-generation HR leaders. Why adaptive leadership is critical in the age of AI. Connecting with Girish: Connect with Girish on LinkedIn Episode Sponsor: Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leaders HR Leader’s Blueprint - 18 pages of real-world advice from 100+ HR thought leaders. Simple, actionable, and proven strategies to advance your career. Succession Planning Playbook : In this focused 1-page resource, I cut through the noise to give you the vital elements that define what “great” succession planning looks like.
