What differentiates the best HR leaders from the rest?

Why isn’t enough to “know the business, you must love the business

My guest on this episode is Marc Effron, President, Talent Strategy Group.

During our conversation, Marc and I discuss the following:

• Marc’s career journey and what led him to co-author One Page Talent Management
• The unforgettable advice that Marshall Goldsmith gave to Marc
• The one question that will help advance your career
• What differentiates the best HR leaders from the rest

Connecting with Marc:

Connect with Marc Effron on LinkedIn or at Talent Strategy Group

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 redesign work to boost both engagement and well-being?

Why is “fit for purpose” more important than “best practice” when it comes to designing work?

My guest in this episode is Rachel Cooke, Founder of Lead Above Noise & Host of the Modern Mentor podcast.

During our conversation Rachel and I discuss:

• Why today’s leaders are under greater pressure than ever before, especially with expanding spans of control and higher expectations.
• How leaders can increase engagement and embed wellbeing directly into how work actually happens
• The importance of asking those closest to the work to redesign the work
• How to create custom solutions for your team by seeking “right practices” rather than following industry “best practices.”

Connecting with Rachel:

Connect with Rachel Cooke on LinkedIn

Learn more about Rachel and Lead Above Noise

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 executive compensation shape company culture, performance and deliver shareholder value?

Why should CHROs think of executive compensation as a communication tool?

My guests in this episode are Ani Huang, President of Policy and Practice at the CHRO Association and Charlie Tharp, Senior Advisor for Research & Practice at the CHRO Association and the Center On Executive Compensation

During our conversation Ani, Charlie, and I discuss:

• Why executive compensation is a strategic communication system that signals culture, priorities, and long-term value.
• How executive compensation aligns to the business strategy and drives long-term value.
• Why effective executive compensation starts with developing deep financial and business acumen.
• What builds fairness and transparency in pay systems.
• How executive compensation can impact the broader pay philosophy.

Connecting with Ani and Charlie:

Connect with Ani Huang on LinkedIn

Connect with Charlie Tharp 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 you build learning into how work gets done?

Why should organizations think of learning as a system, not as a function?

My guest in this episode are Kati Clement-Frazier, Director, School of Leadership at DaVita and Michele Graham, President of Intel and Learn at Amplity

During our conversation Kati, Michele, and I discuss:

• Why learning must be treated as an organizational capability, not a set of programs.
• How psychological safety and reflection accelerate meaningful learning and behavior change.
• Why “flow of work” learning is about team routines, relationships, and work design—not microlearning.
• Why the future of learning requires new metrics and new mindsets.
• Why compliance-driven cultures limit experimentation, agility, and capability building.

Connecting with Kati & Michele:

Connect with Kati Clement-Frazier on LinkedIn

Connect with Michele Graham on LinkedIn

Learn more about The Learning Forum’s CLO LIFT Initiative

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 balance people, profit, and purpose?

Why do the most effective HR leaders focus on both intention and impact?

My guest in this episode is Michelle Nettles, Global Chief People and Legal Officer at ManpowerGroup

During our conversation Michelle and I discuss:

• How HR leaders can balance people, profit, and purpose to drive performance and impact.
• What it means to be a values-driven leader
• Why organizations should be focusing on capabilities over credentials.
• Why human skills: curiosity, adaptability, empathy, will define the future of work.
• Why outdated work models and ideas will be challenged by the next generation of HR leaders

Connecting with Michelle:

Connect with Michelle Nettles on LinkedIn

Episode Sponsor:

Next-Gen HR Accelerator - Learn more about this best-in-class leadership development program for next-gen HR leader

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 are CEO expectations for CHROs changing?

Why are more CEOs looking for CHROs with non-HR backgrounds?

My guests on this episode are Jennifer Wilson and Brad Warga, Partners and Global Co-Heads of the Human Resources Officers Practice at Heidrick & Struggles

During our conversation Jennifer, Brad and I discuss:

• Why CEOs are rethinking what great HR leadership looks like.
• Why CEOs are prioritizing candidates from strategy, finance, and other non-HR backgrounds.
• The growing expectation for CHROs to lead enterprise-wide AI strategies
• The widening gap between CHROs and their succession-ready direct reports
• Practical and actionable career advice for aspiring CHROs

Connecting with Jennifer and Brad:

Connect with Jennifer Wilson on LinkedIn

Connect with Brad Warga on LinkedIn

Read the Chief People Officer of 2030 report by Heidrick & Struggles

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 belonging unlock performance?

Why should we focus on activation, not empowerment to drive innovation?

My guest on this episode is with Brian Miller, Chief Talent and D&I Officer at Levi Strauss & Co

During our conversation Brian and I discuss:

• How belonging drives performance by creating cultures where people feel valued, heard, and stretched.
• Why he believes activation is more important than empowerment
• Why believability is becoming a critical measure of modern leadership.
• How AI-driven talent analytics will unlock HR’s next big opportunity.
• What it means to intentionally build belonging, not just measure it.

Connecting with Brian:

Connect with Brian Miller 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 identify and reframe your limiting beliefs?

Why is awareness not enough to get unblocked?

My guest on this episode is with Muriel Wilkins, Founder & CEO of Paravis Partners and author of “Leadership Unblocked.”

During our conversation Muriel and I discuss:

• Why leaders are often their own biggest obstacle
• How limiting beliefs quietly undermine our leadership and how to spot them
• The hidden blockers successful people carry and how they can stall your progress
• The myth of “If I can do it, so can you”—and why true leaders meet people where they are
• Muriel’s practical three-step roadmap: uncover, unpack, and unblock your limiting beliefs

Connecting with Muriel:

Connect with Muriel Wilkins on LinkedIn

Learn more about Muriel’s firm, Paravis Partners

Order her newest book, Leadership Unblocked: Break Through the Beliefs That Limit Your Potential.

How can culture become an operating system that drives business performance?

Why does leadership behavior matter more than systems in driving culture?

My guest on this episode is Paulo Pisano, CHRO, Booking Holdings & Chief People Officer, Booking.com

During our conversation Paulo and I discuss:

• Why culture is an operating system and how it connects directly to business performance.
• The three levers that shape culture: behaviors, symbols, and systems—and how to align them with strategy.
• The importance of experimentation culture for AI adoption and innovation.
• Why HR leaders must understand business drivers first before designing their programs.
• How to position HR as "chief simplifiers" who reduce complexity rather than add to it.

Connecting with Paulo

Connect with Paulo 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 develop leaders that have future-ready skills?

Why is HR critical to rethinking leadership in the age of AI?

My guest on this episode is Brian Glaser, VP & Chief Learning Officer at Google

During our conversation Brian and I discuss:

• Why leadership today requires curiosity, courage, and the willingness to be wrong.
• How Google uses next practices to develop leaders who can navigate unprecedented complexity.
• The role of HR in shaping culture and driving organizational reinvention.
• How AI can amplify human leadership skills instead of replacing them.
• Why personalized and in-the-flow learning is essential for high-impact leadership development.

Connecting with Brian

Connect with Brian 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 leaders build an AI-first mindset that drives real culture change?

Why is AI adoption more about people than technology?

My guest on this episode is Tina Gupta, SVP, Talent Management for New York Life Insurance.

During our conversation Tina and I discuss:

• Why AI adoption is more about people than technology
• How New York Life is scaling AI across 12,000 team members
• What happens when employees are empowered to innovate with AI
• Why managers need to rethink their roles in an AI-driven world

Connecting with Tina

Connect with Tina 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.