Bringing the Human back to Human Resources

290. Slow Down to Speed Up: The Real Cost of Bad Execution Ft Kevin Ertell

This week's episode is about why most strategies fail at execution, and what leaders can do differently to actually get results. Traci sits down with Kevin Ertell, a veteran executive and advisor with more than 30 years of experience leading transformations at brands like Nike, Tower Records, and Sur La Table. As founder and CEO of Mistere Advisory, Kevin helps companies turn strategy into action, and he just published his first book, The Strategy Trap: Why Companies Fail at Execution and How to Get It Right, pulling together insights from over 60 operators across industries. In this episode: Why up to 90% of strategies fail, and it's not the strategy itself The "slow down to speed up" mindset that feels wrong to every Type A leader Kevin's six C system for turning ideas into results The isolation trap that quietly kills good strategies before they launch Why jargon is sabotaging your rollout more than you think The difference between empathy and curiosity, and why one moves teams further What Kevin's book reveals after interviewing 60+ operators about what actually works Where to find The Strategy Trap and Kevin's audiobook Connect with Kevin Ertell: LinkedIn | Book: The Strategy Trap: Why Companies Fail at Execution and How to Get It Right | Mistere Advisory Connect with Traci: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

289. Policy Pulse: The Trojan Horse Hiding in Your Next Team Meeting

This Policy Pulse episode breaks down three major employment law developments HR leaders need on their radar right now: a Supreme Court ruling that changes how federal agencies operate, an update on the Workday AI discrimination lawsuit, and a new Maryland law restricting mandatory workplace meetings. Traci and Bryan dig into what each of these means for how you operate day to day, and why "wait and see" isn't always the wrong move. In this episode: The Supreme Court just overturned a hundred year old precedent, and it changes who controls the NLRB and EEOC Why HR leaders should brace for more whiplash every time a new president takes office An update on the Workday AI hiring lawsuit, and why the EEOC backing off doesn't mean you're in the clear The specific employer mistake that can trigger a bias claim even without ever asking about disability Why state level enforcement might matter more than federal enforcement going forward Maryland's new law banning mandatory political and anti-union meetings, and why there's no small employer exception The real reason this law is being called a Trojan horse for union busting Why having someone dedicated to regional compliance is becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity Got thoughts or questions on this episode? Email Traci at contact@hrtraci.com and share your feedback in the comments wherever you're listening. Connect with Bryan Driscoll: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanjohndriscoll/ Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

288. Agentic AI and the HR Strategy Gap feat. Joey Price

Agentic AI is already changing how HR teams buy technology, lead their people, and think about who belongs in the room when decisions about the future of work get made — and most HR leaders don't have a strategy for any of it. This week Traci sits down with Joey Price, CEO of Jumpstart HR, a TEDx speaker on AI in the workplace, and author of The Power of HR: How to Make an Organizational Impact as a People Professional. A SHRM Top 30 Under 30 alum and one of the top 100 HR tech influencers of 2025, Joey also hosts his own podcast, While We Were Working, and brings years of hands-on experience helping HR teams navigate technology decisions with humanity at the center. What We Cover - Why "if you're not at the table for digital transformation, you're on the menu" - The framework Joey built to help HR leaders actually buy technology the right way - The surprising number of HR leaders who don't have an AI strategy at all - The five workforce archetypes and where your organization actually falls - Whether AI is coming for your job, and what to do about it either way Connect with Joey Price: LinkedIn | JumpStartHR.com | The Power of HR Book | Podcast Connect with Traci: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

287. Policy Pulse: The New DEI Lawsuit Every HR Leader Should Know About

This week's Policy Pulse segment tackles three major legal developments HR leaders need to know about: the EEOC's lawsuit against The New York Times over its DEI program, Colorado's rollback of its AI hiring law, and a Supreme Court case that could give the president the power to fire agency heads at the EEOC and NLRB without cause. Bryan Driscoll returns for another Policy Pulse segment, bringing his employment law expertise to break down the cases and policy shifts shaping workplace compliance right now. As our resident legal expert, Bryan helps translate the legal jargon into what it actually means for your business. In this episode: - The EEOC just sued The New York Times over its own DEI program, and the case could reshape how discrimination claims get proven going forward. - Colorado gutted its AI hiring law, but that doesn't mean the compliance risk disappeared. - Your AI chat history could end up as evidence in a lawsuit. - A Supreme Court case could hand the president the power to fire the heads of the EEOC and NLRB at will. - Good intentions won't protect you from a discrimination claim if your documentation doesn't back them up. Connect with Bryan Driscoll, JD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanjohndriscoll/ Connect with Traci: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

286. AI Readiness: What Your Workforce Needs First Ft. Reimund Neienaber

AI is reshaping how companies hire and how job seekers land interviews, and this week's guest is building the tools making it happen. Traci sits down with Reimund Nienaber, a seasoned HR leader and global talent development expert with more than 20 years of experience spanning telecommunications, expat HR leadership across five continents, and now consulting work at Edligo. As Director of Consulting and Customer Success, Reimund helps organizations figure out what their people actually know, where the gaps are, and how to close them as AI reshapes roles across every department. What We Talked About: Will AI Really Give Us a Two Day Work Week? Meet the AI Recruiter Agent Changing the Game The CV Feedback Job Seekers Never Get From Germany to Latin America: A Career Built on Skills, The Competency Gap Killing AI Transformation Projects The Simple Question That Starts Every Successful Learning Culture Connect with Reimund Nienaber: LinkedIn | Edligo Learning and Talent Analytics LinkedIn | Edligo.net Contact Traci: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

283. What HR Gets Wrong About Developing Future Leaders feat. Michael Timms

Michael Timms joins the podcast to break down why most "succession planning" in organizations is actually just replacement planning in disguise, and why that distinction matters more than most HR leaders realize. Michael Timms is an internationally sought after speaker, consultant, and bestselling author who teaches leaders how to inspire accountability. He's the author of How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability, the basis for his TEDx talk "How to Claim Your Leadership Power," and Succession Planning That Works. Through his company, Avail Leadership, he partners with organizations to build high performance cultures of teamwork and accountability. What We Cover: – The real difference between succession planning and replacement planning, and why most organizations are only doing one of them – Why the nine box might be doing more harm than good in your organization – The uncomfortable truth about who actually gets to decide someone's "potential" – What the research says about how much your manager actually shapes your performance – Why most leadership competency lists accidentally describe an impossible person – The handful of behaviors that actually predict great leadership, and how to find them – A better, less political way to identify who's ready to grow – The employee headcount where succession planning actually starts to matter – Why developing people, even the ones who might leave, is never a loss Michael challenges a lot of what HR has been taught to accept as best practice, and this conversation is a great reminder of why it's worth questioning the tools we default to. Be sure to check out his TEDx talk, linked in the show notes, for more on claiming your leadership power. Connect with Michael Timms: LinkedIn | YouTube | Website | TED Talk Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

282. Why Good Employees Leave and What Actually Makes Them Stay

Traci welcomes Dr. Carrie Graham, PhD, a training strategist specializing in scalable talent development who guides small and mid-sized organizations to achieve measurable results through strategic employee training programs. Dr. Graham's research reveals that toxic work environments aren't just unpleasant, they produce real, life-altering mental and physical health consequences for the people inside them, particularly for high-achieving women who were promised development opportunities that never materialized. What We Cover: Why retention strategies miss the point and what to focus on instead Good people leave bad managers and what makes someone actually unequipped to lead The real cost of a toxic environment and Dr. Graham's research findings on health outcomes for employees When employees outgrow their role and how social roles shift over time and what that demands of employers Why development starts with the individual, not what you think they bring, but everything they haven't told you yet The free recruiting tool most companies are ignoring and how former employees become brand advocates What job seekers can and should ask and the questions candidates have every right to put on the table Connect with Dr. Carrie Graham: LinkedIn | drcarriegraham.com | YouTube | Instagram Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

281. Three Kids, a Career, and a Podcast: The Honest Update

In this episode, Traci shares what her return to work has looked like with three kids under three, a demanding career, and a podcast. She opens up about what that took to admit, and why the "have it all" pressure lands differently when both your career and your family are simultaneously demanding more of you. She also gets into what she actually wishes workplaces understood about flexibility, and why the traditional nine-to-five model isn't built for the reality most people are living. What We Cover: — Why the show is going biweekly and what that decision actually cost Traci to make — The "100% problem" and why splitting it a million ways doesn't work — What it's like when both your career and your family are on an upward trajectory at the same time — Why "working mom" and "career mom" don't even feel like the same thing — The pseudo-flexibility trap and what true workplace flexibility would actually look like — Why HR business partners face a specific challenge when it comes to flexible work — What Traci would change if she could wave a magic wand for every woman in her situation Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

280. Building Trust at Work: The Retention Strategy Nobody Talks About

This week, Traci sits down with Greg Roche, founder of Retention and Rewards Partners and author of The Fast and Easy Guide to Networking for Introverts, to explore why intentional connection is the most underrated retention strategy in any organization. Greg shares the "stepping over the line" framework he's used throughout his career in total rewards, walking through the exact moment an employee mentally checks out, why most organizations are trying to solve engagement from the top down when the real work happens between individuals, and what leaders can do right now to build the kind of trust that makes people genuinely want to stay. What We Cover: – The "stepping over the line" moment – what's actually happening in an employee's mind right before they quit – Why proximity created connection before 2020 and what we lost when it disappeared – Top-down engagement strategies vs. small intentional acts and why one actually works – The 15-minute calendar invite that could change how you're perceived in your organization – What happens in the brain when someone talks about themselves (and how to use it) – Why new leaders who skip relationship-building create stranger danger for the whole team – The one-question approach for building upward relationships without being awkward – How connection directly impacts talent reviews, succession planning, and career visibility – The Relationship First Playbook – five ways HR leaders can make connection a cultural value FREE GIFT: Download Greg's Relationship First Playbook for HR leaders at retentionandrewards.com/gift – five intentional practices you can put into place with your team today. Connect with Greg Roche: Retentionandrewards.com | LinkedIn Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

279. LEGO at Work: The Team Building Approach That Actually Sticks

This week's episode makes the case that your next team building session should involve a table full of LEGO bricks, and JoLynn Ledgerwood, certified LEGO Serious Play facilitator and learning and development specialist with over 25 years of experience, is here to explain exactly why. Most people have never heard of LEGO Serious Play. The ones who have? They usually want to get certified on the spot. JoLynn shares how this research-backed methodology uses hands-on building to surface what people can't always say out loud, create a genuine level playing field for every voice in the room, and reveal the limiting beliefs teams carry without ever realizing it. She also breaks down what makes LEGO Serious Play so different from the typical after-hours Topgolf outing, and why courageous leadership is the one thing every successful session requires. What We Cover: — What LEGO Serious Play actually is and why only about 100 facilitators are certified in the entire U.S. — How building with your hands activates 80% more brainpower and why that changes what comes out in the room — The tower exercise that quietly exposes every team's limiting beliefs before the session even really begins — Why introverts and extroverts finally get equal airtime in this format — How metaphor builds unlock things people didn't even know they wanted to say — What "simple guiding principles" are and how they keep momentum alive after the workshop ends — Why quarterly sessions compound the results and how new team members can catch up fast — The one thing a leader can do to kill all momentum in under ten seconds Connect with JoLynn Ledgerwood: | Elevateyourtalent.co | LinkedIn | Elevate Your Talent Blog | Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

278. Learning That Sticks: Why Most L&D Programs Stop at Content

This week, Traci sits down with Chris Taylor, founder of Actionable.co, a company that helps consultants prove the impact of their programs and build deeper, longer-lasting client relationships through behavior change technology, the Impact Certainty Methodology, and a global network of peers. Chris has spent 18 years making the case that the entire L&D industry is stuck measuring the wrong things, and that closing this gap is one of the most powerful levers a business has for driving real, lasting results. FREE RESOURCE: Chris's team put together a free toolkit covering everything the data shows makes learning actually stick, with nearly an hour of training included. Grab it at ⁠toolkit.actionable.co⁠. What We Cover: The knowing-doing gap: why consuming information is step one, and what it actually takes to get people to change Why 96% of business stakeholders believe L&D impact should be measured, yet less than 4% of programs do it well The three conditions for real behavior change: knowing how, having a strong enough reason, and a path that makes change easier than staying put Starting with strategy, not tactics: how aligning learning to business priorities changes every decision that follows The content commoditization reality: why AI has made content delivery the least valuable thing a consultant or L&D team can offer Synchronous vs. self-directed learning and why async formats make sustaining behavior change nearly impossible Social scaffolding: why the people participants interact with daily outweigh top-down culture in driving change What 100,000 behavior change commitments reveal about human motivation and willingness to grow How frontline leaders can drive real development even inside organizations that aren't walking the walk Connect with Chris Taylor: LinkedIn | Actionable.co Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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277. Leading From Within: Self-Awareness, Collaboration, & Human Connection at Work

This episode is about authentic leadership, self-awareness, and the quiet ways competition undermines collaboration in the workplace. Traci sits down with Archana Mohan, Chief Operations and Technology Officer in the finance sector and author of The Thru Line: How Understanding Who You Are Empowers How You Lead. Archana holds a BA from Brown, an MA from Columbia, and an MBA from Yale, but her most formative credential might be what she's carried from classrooms and boardrooms alike: the experience of not quite feeling like she belonged, and choosing to build something different because of it. What We Cover: Why authentic leadership starts from the inside, not from a title The two types of self-awareness and why most leaders only develop one of them Listening as the most undervalued skill in the workplace How school conditioned us to chase the right answer instead of ask better questions Why group impact is exponential, not just additive What collaboration actually looks like versus what leaders often mistake for it The key difference between competing with someone and competing against them Why not having the answer is just as valuable as having one How creating space for others to be seen fully changes what a team can achieve Connect with Archana Mohan: Archanamo.net | LinkedIn | The Thru Line: How Understanding Who You Are Empowers How You Lead. Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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276. Profit Sharing: The Business Strategy Most Leaders Overlook

This week, Traci sits down with Rob Gallaher, Entrepreneur and Founder of ProfitX, to dig into how profit sharing actually works, why most businesses aren't doing it, and what it takes to build a program that genuinely transforms how a team operates. What We Cover: What profit sharing actually is and why no real how-to guide existed before Rob wrote one Why his first program was a complete disaster and what he rebuilt from scratch The difference between profit sharing and employee stock ownership plans Why monthly payouts change daily employee behavior in ways quarterly or annual bonuses simply cannot How a profit sharing culture helps teams self-identify and resolve underperformance The retention math that makes profit sharing employees effectively earn above market rate Why Christmas bonuses and annual payouts are financially inefficient for growing businesses How companies like Procter and Gamble and Southwest Airlines approach shared success models The "gas tank" analogy that explains why payout timing is everything When this strategy becomes critical and why most business owners don't discover it until it's overdue Connect with Rob Gallaher: Profit Sharing, The Power of Shared Success | Website and course: https://profitx.co | Instagram and Facebook: @RobGallaher | LinkedIn Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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275. Fighting Back on Layoffs: An Employee Advocate's Playbook

This episode closes out the layoff series with a look at what employees are rarely told about severance, separation agreements, and their rights when a job ends. This week, Traci sits down with Dan Goodman, founder of Dan Goodman Employment Advisory (DGEA), a firm that has helped nearly 1,800 employees navigate some of the most high-stakes moments of their careers. What We Cover: Why severance exists and who it actually benefits The negotiation most employees don't know they're allowed to have The "pip or resign" trap and how employers use it to void unemployment eligibility What to document if you suspect your termination is retaliatory or discriminatory Review period protections based on age and layoff type Why at-will employment doesn't mean employers can terminate anyone for any reason The cost of blindsiding employees versus treating them with transparency on the way out How former employees can become a company's greatest advocates or its most vocal critics Connect with Dan Goodman: dangoodmanea.com | Dan Goodman Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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274. What to Do When You're The One Getting Laid Off

This week's episode is part three of the layoff series, and it's focused entirely on the employee side of the experience: what to actually do when you or someone you know is the one getting laid off. Spoiler alert: Over 40% of Americans have been laid off at least once in their careers. Statistically, this conversation is more relevant than most of us want to admit. This is a greatest hits episode worth another listen because the layoff conversation almost always centers on the company executing it. Traci flips the lens and walks through what employees actually need to know in the aftermath, from the immediate questions that surface in that first conversation to negotiating your severance, protecting your intellectual property, and separating your sense of self from your employer. What We Cover: That initial shock and what it might actually be telling you The questions you should absolutely ask in that room Separation agreements and why everything is negotiable The age 40 rule that changes your review timeline Healthcare continuation and what to ask for before COBRA ever enters the picture What your former employer can and can't say about why you left The intellectual property clause you might have already signed Why your resume should never be an emergency Untangling your identity from your job title Financial resources and moves worth having on your radar Connect with Traci here:https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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273. What Layoffs Cost the HR Professionals Managing Them

In part two of the four-part layoff series, Traci addresses what often goes unspoken in layoff conversations: the toll on the HR professionals managing them, and how to take care of yourself while taking care of everyone else. What We Cover: — The grief HR professionals carry that nobody talks about— Numbness as a warning sign, not a badge of honor— How to structure your day when the conversations are relentless— The end-of-day ritual that actually creates separation— Where to find HR peer support when you need people who get it— What survivors are feeling after the dust settles— Rebuilding morale without forcing it Connect with Traci here:https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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272. The Layoff Playbook: Soft Landings, Survivor's Guilt, and Trust

Traci sat down with Jena Dunay, founder of Recruit the Employer, to talk about conducting layoffs with dignity. We're bringing this one back as the first episode of our four-part layoff series because it's just as relevant now as it was when it first aired. What We Cover: Offboarding as seriously as onboarding What's at stake when there's no plan in place What outplacement actually is (hint: not George Clooney in Up in the Air) The communication plan every HR leader needs before they ever need it Legal landmines to think through before a single conversation happens Survivors' guilt and what leaders can actually do about it What owning leadership mistakes publicly really looks like Why middle management is the make-or-break layer in post-layoff recovery Connect with Jena Dunay: RecruittheEmpoyer.com | Recruiter Unlimited | LinkedIn Connect with Traci here:https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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271. What Group Benefits Get Wrong About Fertility Coverage feat. Flora Fertility

This week, Traci sits down with the co-founders of Flora Fertility to talk about why employer-sponsored fertility coverage is broken and what the first individually owned fertility insurance solution is doing to fix it. Dr. Christy Lane is a global leader in InsureTech, an investor, founder, and award-winning health scientist with expertise in AI, digital health, and wearable devices. She is the co-founder of Flora Fertility and the Stanford Wearable Health Lab, and a venture partner with IA Capital in New York. A mom of three who went through IVF herself, Dr. Lane has built her career in women's health research since the 1990s. Laura McDonald is the co-founder and CEO of Flora Fertility, the first individually owned insurance solution for fertility and women's health. She previously founded, scaled, and sold Canada's largest financial media company focused on women and wealth, and is the author of two bestselling personal finance books. A mother of four, Laura brings deep expertise in insurance, direct-to-consumer AI models, and bringing new financial products to market. What We Cover: Why fertility benefits tied to your employer are a risk most employees don't see coming The underwriting model that makes Flora unlike any fertility product on the market What most people get completely wrong about IVF and the fertility treatment spectrum Egg freezing vs. Flora and why it might not be the either/or choice you think it is How employers can offer Flora without open enrollment, utilization risk, or complicated admin The recent federal guidance that could change how fertility benefits are offered at work Connect with Dr. Christy Lane and Laura McDonald: HeyFlora.com | LinkedIn | IG: @heyflorahealth Connect with Traci here: https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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270. The Future of Work Is Here and HR Isn't Ready

This week, Traci sits down with Steve Cadigan to explore what the future of work actually demands from HR leaders and why most organizations are still building for a world that no longer exists. Steve is a globally recognized talent strategist, advisor, author, and founder of Cadigan Talent Ventures. Best known as LinkedIn's first CHRO, he helped scale the company from 400 employees through its IPO. His book Work Quake debuted as Amazon's #1 Hot New Release and a graduate-level course at Stanford was built around the culture he helped create. In this conversation, Steve shares the frameworks, hard lessons, and contrarian thinking that have shaped his career and what they mean for HR leaders navigating today's workplace. What We Cover: Why high turnover might actually be your competitive advantage The two things every HR leader must have and why you can't have one without the other What LinkedIn taught Steve about building HR completely from scratch Why working yourself out of a job makes you more valuable, not less The happiness trap that's quietly leading organizations toward mediocrity Why "Head of Diversity" might be creating more problems than it solves Where AI delivers the greatest leverage in HR right now Connect with Steve Cadigan: LinkedIn | TikTok | Podcast: Workplace Weekly | Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working Connect with Traci here:https://linktr.ee/HRTraci Disclaimer: Thoughts, opinions, and statements made on this podcast are not a reflection of the thoughts, opinions, and statements of the Company by whom Traci Chernoff is actively employed. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products or services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

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269. The HR Words Quietly Building a Dehumanized Future feat. Joshua Berry

This episode is about how the language we use to describe people at work is quietly shaping both workplace culture and the future of AI. Joshua Berry, author, speaker, and Director of Iconic, brought this conversation to the podcast last year and it has only gotten more relevant since. The business terms you've been using on autopilot (headcount, right-size, prospects) aren't neutral. They're belief systems, and they're being baked into the AI your organization will rely on tomorrow. What We Cover: Words are a symptom of your unconscious beliefs about people "Headcount" isn't neutral, and neither is "right-size" Your internal messages are actively training the next generation of AI We're at an inflection point where conscious language can reshape what AI believes about human value What HR professionals actually need to hear about AI and their jobs The custom ChatGPT setting that flags dehumanizing language before you hit send Connect with Joshua Berry: LinkedIn | Iconic Website | JoshuaBerry.com Connect with Traci here:

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