Designing Work that Can Work for Everyone

Hosts: Steve Boese and Trish Steed

Guest: Cali Williams Yost, CEO & Founder of the Flex+Strategy Group

Summary

In this episode of At Work in America, Steve and Trish meet with Callie Williams Yost to discuss the evolving landscape of workplace flexibility. They explore the impact of the pandemic on work design, the importance of intentionality in creating flexible work models, and the need for organizations to adapt to changing employee expectations. The conversation highlights the significance of data-driven discussions with leadership, the role of AI in shaping the future of work, and the necessity of engaging employees in the process of reimagining work. Additionally, they touch on the importance of physical space in supporting work activities and the ongoing challenges leaders face in navigating these changes.

Chapters

00:00 The Evolution of Work Design

04:12 Flexibility in the Workplace

07:32 Engaging Leadership in Change

13:15 The importance of Employee Engagement

16:23 Rethinking Productivity and Work Models

26:13 Holistic Approaches to Work Coordination

32:15 Building Trust and Collaboration in Teams

41:00 Reimagining Work Post-Pandemic

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman. By some estimates, over 80% of AI projects fail because of bad data. But here’s some good news for HR: when AI leverages the rich, authentic data of employee recognition, you get something truly unique. Human Intelligence from Workhuman, creators of the world’s #1 recognition platform. Human intelligence unlocks insights into performance and skills, culture and engagement. And helps surface feel-good stories that illustrate the best of your company culture. To learn more about Human Intelligence, go to Workhuman.com.

System of Record: The AI Powered Future of HR Tech

Host: Steve Boese

Guest: Dan Beck, President and Chief Product Officer, SAP SuccessFactors

Summary

In this inaugural episode of System of Record, host Steve Boese welcomes Dan Beck, President and Chief Product Officer at SAP SuccessFactors. They discuss the current trends in HR technology, focusing on the impact of AI and the importance of skills management. Dan shares insights from his extensive experience in the HR tech space, emphasizing the need for organizations to get their foundational systems right before exploring advanced technologies. The conversation highlights the excitement surrounding AI adoption, the challenges of implementation, and the future potential of AI in enhancing user experiences and operational efficiencies in HR processes.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to System of Record

02:21 Current Trends in HR Tech: AI and Skills

05:25 Customer Priorities: Fundamentals and AI Adoption

10:57 Contextual AI: Enhancing User Experience

15:25 The Future of AI Use Cases in HR Tech

18:25 Adoption Challenges and Considerations for AI

25:43 Looking Ahead: Business Data Cloud and AI Integration

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman. By some estimates, over 80% of AI projects fail because of bad data. But here's some good news for HR: when AI leverages the rich, authentic data of employee recognition, you get something truly unique. Human Intelligence from Workhuman, creators of the world's #1 recognition platform. Human intelligence unlocks insights into performance and skills, culture and engagement. And helps surface feel-good stories that illustrate the best of your company culture. To learn more about Human Intelligence, go to Workhuman.com.

How Gen Z is Redefining Home Ownership and a Sustainable Future

Hosts: Jack McFarlane & Nick Schlemmer

Summary

In this episode of The Play by Play, Jack and Nick discuss the evolving landscape of home buying for Gen Z. They reflect on personal experiences and the challenges faced by their generation, including rising costs and the desire for sustainable living. The conversation explores the impact of technology on home searching and financing options, as well as the changing preferences for location due to remote work opportunities. The episode concludes with a fun quiz to determine Nick's alignment with Gen Z characteristics - join in the fun!

Chapters

1:21 Gen Z Home Buying Trends

04:29 Sustainable Housing Preferences

08:13 Finding Homes in the Digital Age

09:38 Innovative Financing Models

17:49 Are you Gen Z? (Game)

33:08 Final Results and Reflections

37:13 Quote of the Show

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman. By some estimates, over 80% of AI projects fail because of bad data. But here's some good news for HR: when AI leverages the rich, authentic data of employee recognition, you get something truly unique. Human Intelligence from Workhuman, creators of the world's #1 recognition platform. Human intelligence unlocks insights into performance and skills, culture and engagement. And helps surface feel-good stories that illustrate the best of your company culture. To learn more about Human Intelligence, go to Workhuman.com.

Speak Up. Stand Out. Be Remembered.

Hosts: Steve Boese and Trish Steed

Guest: Bill McGowan, Founder & CEO of Clarity Media Group, Journalist, and Bestselling Author

Summary

On this episode of At Work in America, Steve and Trish sit down with Bill McGowan, founder of Clarity Media Group and author of Speak Memorably, to uncover the secrets to powerful communication and unforgettable presentations.

From mastering storytelling and weaving in humor to the art of preparation, Bill shares real-world strategies to connect with any audience, whether you're speaking on stage or through a screen. Drawing from his rich background in journalism and executive coaching, he reveals why the best communicators are remembered. In a world buzzing with distractions, this episode is your guide to standing out, being clear, and making your message stick.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Communication Skills

06:26 Engaging Your Audience: Techniques and Tips

12:37 Crafting Memorable Presentations

15:25 The Role of Empathy in Communication

23:40 Effective Communication in Meetings

26:50 The Importance of Preparation

35:01 Using Humor and Analogies

43:46 Communication Skills in the Age of AI

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

HR is about to change for good with the power of Human Intelligence.

By combining AI and the rich data of Workhuman’s #1 rated employee recognition platform, Human Intelligence answers HR’s most demanding needs…

…unlocking insights and capabilities that redefine talent management, cultural transformation, and employee engagement — ultimately elevating performance and, above all, people.

The future of HR has arrived. Will you – and your company – be a part of it?

Learn about Human Intelligence at Workhuman.com and join their force for good.

This episode of At Work in America is sponsored by Paychex, one of the leading providers of HR, payroll, retirement, and insurance solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Are you ready to crush the year ahead? The 2025 Priorities for Business Leaders Report from our friends at Paychex is here, and it's packed with insights from 600 companies on how to drive growth and get ahead.

This isn't your average data dump — it includes actionable strategies on everything from attracting new hires to improving employee retention, managing HR compliance, and leveraging technology to stay competitive.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve and tackle 2025 with confidence, download the report today at paychex.com/awia.

It’s free, it’s insightful, and it might just give you the edge you need.

AI's Impact on HR and Hiring

Host: Mervyn Dinnen

Guest: Felix Wetzel, VP of Product Management, Cielo

In this podcast interview Mervyn talks with Felix Wetzel, VP of Product Management at HR Services company Cielo, about how AI can help HR and talent acquisition teams shift from process-driven to more consultative, human-centric approaches.

During the conversation they discuss:

- How AI exposes flaws in the hiring and onboarding process

- AI's potential to transform recruiters into talent strategists

- Potential risk that using AI could reinforce biases

- What does the best AI-Human integration look like

- Shifting from process-driven approaches to more consultative, human approaches

- Importance of thinking about people and process when acquiring new technologies

- HRs role in deciding which tasks need human involvement as opposed to AI

Thanks for listening! Remember to subscribe to all of the HR Happy Hour Media Network shows on your favorite podcast app!

You're listening to the HR Happy Hour Network, sponsored by Workhuman. By some estimates, over 80% of AI projects fail because of bad data. But here's some good news for HR: when AI leverages the rich, authentic data of employee recognition, you get something truly unique. Human Intelligence from Workhuman, creators of the world's #1 recognition platform. Human intelligence unlocks insights into performance and skills, culture and engagement. And helps surface feel-good stories that illustrate the best of your company culture. To learn more about Human Intelligence, go to Workhuman.com.

The Evolution of AI: Past, Present, and Future

Host: Steve Boese

Guest: Miranda Nash, Group Vice President of Applications Development Strategy, Oracle

Summary

In this episode of the HR Happy Hour Show, Steve Boese interviews Miranda Nash, Group VP of Applications Development Strategy at Oracle, discussing the transformative impact of AI in enterprise applications. They explore the evolution of AI from predictive models to generative and agentic AI, emphasizing the importance of security, reliability, and data management. Miranda shares insights on how Oracle is leveraging AI to automate complex processes and enhance user experience, while also addressing the future of AI in enterprise solutions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Enterprise

3:17 Understanding Enterprise AI vs Consumer AI

6:10 The Evolution of AI: From Predictive to Generative

09:16 Agentic AI: A New Frontier

11:14 Real-World Applications of Agentic AI

14:05 The Future of AI in Enterprise

17:12 Advice for Organizations Adopting AI

20:20 Conclusion and Future Outlook

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

These days, it feels like there isn’t much good to go around in the world of work.

But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us.

It’s why they created the world’s # 1 employee recognition platform — and they didn’t stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more.

To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores, the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces.

Transforming Workplace Mental Health in 2025

Hosts: Steve Boese and Trish Steed

Guest: Dr. Nick Taylor, CEO of Unmind

Summary

In this episode of At Work in America, Steve and Dr. Nick Taylor discuss the critical importance of mental health in the workplace, emphasizing the need for early intervention and the role of AI in transforming mental health support. They explore the stigma surrounding mental health, generational shifts in awareness, and actionable steps organizations can take to improve employee wellbeing. The discussion highlights the necessity of training leaders to support mental health and the ethical considerations in deploying AI tools.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mental Health in the Workplace

05:02 The Importance of Early Intervention

08:15 Breaking the Stigma Around Mental Health

11:08 The Role of AI in Mental Health Support

17:18 AI's Impact on Mental Health Services

23:25 Scaling Mental Health Support with AI

29:13 Actionable Steps for Organizations

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

These days, it feels like there isn’t much good to go around in the world of work.

But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us.

It’s why they created the world’s # 1 employee recognition platform — and they didn’t stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more.

To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores, the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces.

This episode of At Work in America is sponsored by Paychex, one of the leading providers of HR, payroll, retirement, and insurance solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Listeners, quick question for you: How prepared is your business for a surprise I-9 audit? If that question made your stomach drop, you're not alone. Even if all your employees are authorized to work, small errors on your I-9 paperwork could lead to fines that rack up into the thousands.

That's where our friends at Paychex come in. With audits on the rise, they've got a free, on-demand webinar called I-9 Audits and ICE Raids: What Employers Need to Know to Stay Protected. It's a step-by-step guide to help you protect your business from expensive fines, stress, and confusion.

Don't wait until it's too late. Watch it today at paychex.com/awia.

It only takes 45 minutes to gain peace of mind.

Using People Analytics to Create Culture and Make Work More Human

Hosts: Steve Boese and Trish Steed

Guest: Meisha-ann Martin, PhD., VP, People Research, Workhuman

Summary

In this episode of the HR Happy Hour Show, hosts Steve Boese and Trish Steed discuss how People Analytics and rich recognition data can help leaders create culture, improve workplaces, and drive positive business outcomes with Dr. Meisha-ann Martin, VP, People Research at Workhuman.

On the show we talked about Meisha-ann's journey to People Research, how asking the right questions is key to understanding people data, how the emergence of new AI tools can help us make workplaces even more human. Additionally, Meisha-ann shared some ideas on how to make employee surveys more valuable, actionable, and meaningful for employees as well as leaders.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome and Sponsor thanks

1:20 Introduction to People Analytics and Recognition

02:54 Dr. Misha Ann Martin's Journey and Insights

09:41 The Role of Recognition in Workplace Culture

15:53 AI's Impact on Human Connection

20:08 Evolving Data Usage in HR

24:23 The Nirvana Approach to HR Strategy

28:44 Feedback Mechanisms and Continuous Listening

32:01 Two-Way Feedback and Empowering Employees

Thank you for your continued support of the show and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!

The HR Happy Hour Network is sponsored by Workhuman.

These days, it feels like there isn’t much good to go around in the world of work.

But Workhuman knows when we celebrate the good in each of us, we bring out the best in all of us.

It’s why they created the world’s # 1 employee recognition platform — and they didn’t stop there, combining rich recognition data with AI to create Human Intelligence, so you can get uniquely good insights into performance, skills, engagement and more.

To learn more about how you can join their force for good, go to Workhuman.com, or check out their own podcast, “How We Work,” which explores, the trends, issues, relationships, and experiences that shape our workplaces.