In this episode of Nine to Thrive HR, host Cindy Koetzle speaks with OrgChart CEO Tom McCarty about why strategic workforce planning is more important than ever as organizations face rapid growth, transformation, and the growing influence of AI. The conversation explores how leaders can better prepare for the future by defining a clear long-term vision, understanding their current organizational structure and talent landscape, and continuously monitoring progress through scenario planning and agile decision-making. They also discuss the limits of spreadsheet-based planning and the value of visual, real-time workforce data in helping HR leaders move beyond administrative tasks and into more strategic, human-centered conversations that support both business goals and employee success.

The workplace is shifting again and HR is caught in the middle. In this episode, we explore isolved’s HR’s New Balancing Act: 7 Trends to Watch in 2026 report and what it reveals about today’s talent market, the rise of AI in HR and the growing importance of trust and clarity. From rethinking hiring and upskilling to simplifying benefits and protecting employee data, this conversation breaks down how HR leaders can balance business needs with employee expectations and turn change into a strategic advantage in 2026.

After surveying over 1,000 HR leaders, AbsenceSoft's 2026 State of Leave and Accommodations report revealed that the nature of leave and accommodations requests has fundamentally shifted in ways most compliance professionals aren't prepared for. For the third year running, caseloads continue climbing, but it's not just the volume that's changed. The types of requests employees are making, the tools HR teams are using to manage them, and the compliance risks lurking in seemingly helpful shortcuts are creating a perfect storm. If you're still managing your programs the way you did three years ago, or if you think AI is just a future concern, this conversation will change how you think about risk, resources, and what it takes to stay compliant in 2026.

Host Cindi Koetzle welcomes David Ly, CEO and Founder of Iveda, for a practical conversation on how AI is moving from buzzword to business-critical tool in HR, learning, and operations. Drawing on more than two decades in AI-powered video and vision technology, David explains why AI is suddenly “everywhere” now—affordable computing power, accessible interfaces, and off-the-shelf solutions—despite having been in the background of our lives for years in tools like streaming recommendations and automated data organization. He and Cindi explore how AI can transform onboarding and training by using video, computer vision, and augmented reality to capture best practices from tenured employees, provide real-time guidance to new hires, and act as a “force multiplier” for coaches and trainers. They also tackle employee concerns about job loss, reframing AI as a shift in roles rather than a replacement for humans, and discuss how better training, fewer errors, and faster support ultimately improve customer experience and ROI.

Host Cindi Koetzle welcomes Robert Hargrove—author and founder of the Harvard Leadership Research Project, Masterful Coaching. Hargrove offers a window into his current experiences of HR practitioners existing in organizations' pre strategic business partner model. A bold reminder to continue the work of capability building to prepare, partner and perform alongside the business to elevate strategic HR roles into trusted, collaborative and valuable players. After Hargrove shares his observations of underutilized HR professionals, they talk change management, crafting a shared vision and building alignment—the latter demanding far more time, intention, and relationship-building. If you are interested in learning more about the Strategic Human Resource Business Partner model certification course, check us out at hci.org

On this episode of Nine to Thrive HR, host Cindi Koetzle chats with Kerry Hecht, Founder and CEO of 10K Humans, to explore the powerful intersection of market research and HR. Drawing on decades in an empathy-driven research field and her experience as a small-business owner, Kerry explains how customer insights translate into people strategies: attracting the right candidates, strengthening engagement, and retaining talent. The conversation unpacks why validated feedback loops matter, how employee engagement correlates with customer satisfaction, and what to do about common pitfalls—stakeholder bias, “respondent fatigue,” and the gap between stated values and lived experience. Kerry highlights the rise of personalization at scale through data and technology, and offers practical ways HR can borrow from research playbooks—continuous listening, iterative refinement, and persona development (including AI-assisted personas) to bring workforce data to life. Whether you’re designing programs, influencing senior stakeholders, or steering change one “toothpick turn” at a time, this episode delivers actionable ideas to make organizations more human-centric and competitive.

What can HR learn from a company with 350,000 independent agents and 8,000 employees spread across 100+ countries? In this episode of Nine to Thrive HR, host Cindi Koetzle sits down with Tanya Reu-Narvaez, Chief People Officer at Anywhere Real Estate—the umbrella behind brands including Century 21, Coldwell Banker, and Sotheby’s International Realty. Tanya shares how the organization moved from 92% in-office to a remote-first model and, counterintuitively, became more connected. She unpacks the practices that broke down brand silos—enterprise learning, cross-company teaming, ERGs with 20% active participation, “Focus Fridays,” and a common culture codified as The Anywhere Way—and how those choices drove retention to a five-year high. The conversation also explores reimagined onboarding via the new People Hub and practical wins with GenAI (think job descriptions in minutes), plus what’s next: “Next-Level HR,” a shift to People Enablement, human-centric leadership, and skills-based talent strategies. It’s a field guide to building connection at scale—remote, hybrid, or otherwise.

Payroll fraud is evolving and small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are in the crossfire. In this episode of Nine to Thrive HR, Steve Lenderman, Head of Fraud Prevention, unpacks the rising threat of payroll fraud and why SMBs are often the easiest targets. With schemes averaging $2,800 in losses per month and going undetected for over a year, the stakes are higher than ever.

In this episode, we sit down with Sharthok Chakraborty, a former HR practitioner turned tech executive to explore the evolving world of performance management and the growing role of AI in shaping the future of work. We discuss the inspiration behind founding Klaar, the challenges of building tools that solve real workplace problems, and how empathy and human judgment can be preserved in AI-enabled solutions. From eliminating friction in performance reviews to ensuring insights turn into real action, we dive deep into the opportunities and risks AI presents for people leaders. Sharthok shares his vision for the next five years of performance management, the broader impact of AI in talent management, and what he hopes the future of work will finally get right, without losing what matters most. Whether you’re an HR leader, a tech innovator, or simply curious about the intersection of people and technology, this conversation offers practical insights and forward-looking ideas to help navigate what’s next.

Why are fast-moving teams moving away from full-time hires? In this episode, we speak with Yakov Filippenko, founder of Intch, a platform connecting professionals through intent-based, AI-powered networking. Yakov shares how part-time and project-based work is no longer a fallback option — it’s becoming the smart, strategic choice for startups, lean teams, and even big companies looking to stay flexible. We talk about the shift in mindset post-layoffs, the rise of global talent through nomad visas, and how hiring today is less about résumés and more about solving real business problems. From AI bias in recruitment to the hidden value of “non-traditional” candidates, this episode explores what hiring looks like when we stop playing by outdated rules.

In this episode of Nine to Thrive HR, host Cindi Koetzle chats with Dr. Meesha Dogan, CEO of Cardio Diagnostics, to explore how AI and epigenetics are transforming cardiovascular health in the workplace. They discuss the ripple effects of heart disease on productivity, benefits costs, and team dynamics—and how employers can take a proactive role through technology-driven prevention and wellness strategies. With a focus on actionable insights and employee well-being, this episode offers HR leaders new ways to support health and retention across their organizations.