Heroes of HR https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/heroes-of-hr en All rights reserved by WRKdefined Heroes of HR is your backstage pass to the unsung champions of every workplace—the People Heroes. This limited-series podcast, brought to you by isolved, cuts through the fluff to highlight the real leaders, innovators, and change-makers redefining HR, payroll, and talent management. Each short, bingeable episode hits the big questions head-on: What’s keeping you up at night? What’s got you fired up about 2025? How do you explain isolved to someone who’s never heard of HR tech? And how do you recharge when the grind gets real? We’re talking bold insights, no BS, and stories that’ll stick with you. If you’re in the trenches of HR or just curious about the people shaping the future of work, this series delivers the goods. Ready to meet the People Heroes redefining what’s possible? Hit play. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/905c4bac-b88a-11ef-aef8-3793ba0c2a4c/image/3d79797cbbbb16289eddb41bfb2ace78.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress Heroes of HR https://wrkdefined.com/podcast/heroes-of-hr no episodic Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network WRKdefined Podcast Network Heroes of HR is your backstage pass to the unsung champions of every workplace—the People Heroes. This limited-series podcast, brought to you by isolved, cuts through the fluff to highlight the real leaders, innovators, and change-makers redefining HR, payroll, and talent management. Each short, bingeable episode hits the big questions head-on: What’s keeping you up at night? What’s got you fired up about 2025? How do you explain isolved to someone who’s never heard of HR tech? And how do you recharge when the grind gets real? We’re talking bold insights, no BS, and stories that’ll stick with you. If you’re in the trenches of HR or just curious about the people shaping the future of work, this series delivers the goods. Ready to meet the People Heroes redefining what’s possible? Hit play. Heroes of HR is your backstage pass to the unsung champions of every workplace—the People Heroes. This limited-series podcast, brought to you by isolved, cuts through the fluff to highlight the real leaders, innovators, and change-makers redefining HR, payroll, and talent management.

Each short, bingeable episode hits the big questions head-on: What’s keeping you up at night? What’s got you fired up about 2025? How do you explain isolved to someone who’s never heard of HR tech? And how do you recharge when the grind gets real?

We’re talking bold insights, no BS, and stories that’ll stick with you. If you’re in the trenches of HR or just curious about the people shaping the future of work, this series delivers the goods.

Ready to meet the People Heroes redefining what’s possible? Hit play.

]]> WRKdefined wrkdefined@gmail.com How earned wage access is reshaping financial wellness, recruiting, and retention Payday used to be a fixed point. Now it’s a pressure point. As more employees live paycheck to paycheck, access to earned wages has become less about convenience and more about survival. This conversation digs into why financial stress shows up at work, how payroll and benefits are evolving to meet that reality, and why employers can no longer ignore the role money plays in engagement, performance, and trust. In this episode, we talk about earned wage access, employee financial wellness, payroll integration, and the growing partnership between ZayZoon and isolved. The discussion moves from how employees actually use early wage access for basics like groceries and gas, to why instant access to money is becoming a recruiting and retention advantage, to how small fees compare to the real cost of overdrafts, payday loans, and side hustles. Key Takeaways Earned wage access gives employees access to money they have already earned, removing the artificial wait for payday. For many workers, this is not about impulse spending. It is about covering essentials and avoiding financial emergencies that spiral into bigger problems. A significant portion of the workforce is financially fragile, with roughly two-thirds of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. That reality shows up in stress, distraction, absenteeism, and turnover. Financial wellness is no longer separate from workforce strategy. ZayZoon’s partnership with isolved embeds earned wage access directly into payroll, making it simple for employers to offer and easy for employees to use. When financial tools live inside systems people already trust, adoption increases and friction drops. The cost comparison matters. A small flat fee for accessing earned wages is materially different from overdraft fees, payday loans, or credit card interest. For many employees, earned wage access is a way to lose less money, not spend more. Employers are starting to see earned wage access as a recruiting and retention lever, not just a benefit. In a market driven by instant access and flexibility, waiting two weeks for pay can feel outdated and out of touch. Access to earned wages can also reduce the need for side gigs and financial scrambling. When employees are less stressed about cash flow, they show up more focused, more engaged, and more likely to stay. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Context 03:14 Understanding Earned Wage Access 06:04 The Role of ZayZoon in Employee Financial Wellness 09:03 Recruitment and Retention Strategies Guest Kauley Claypool: Partner Growth Manager, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kauley-claypool-03184594/ Garth Dmyterko, Sales Development, ZayZoon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garth-dmyterko-b6335275/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:03:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Why Waiting for Payday Is Becoming a Dealbreaker at Work Payday used to be a fixed point. Now it’s a pressure point. As more employees live paycheck to paycheck, access to earned wages has become less about convenience and more about survival. This conversation digs into why financial stress shows up at work, how payroll and benefits are evolving to meet that reality, and why employers can no longer ignore the role money plays in engagement, performance, and trust. In this episode, we talk about earned wage access, employee financial wellness, payroll integration, and the growing partnership between ZayZoon and isolved. The discussion moves from how employees actually use early wage access for basics like groceries and gas, to why instant access to money is becoming a recruiting and retention advantage, to how small fees compare to the real cost of overdrafts, payday loans, and side hustles. Key Takeaways Earned wage access gives employees access to money they have already earned, removing the artificial wait for payday. For many workers, this is not about impulse spending. It is about covering essentials and avoiding financial emergencies that spiral into bigger problems. A significant portion of the workforce is financially fragile, with roughly two-thirds of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. That reality shows up in stress, distraction, absenteeism, and turnover. Financial wellness is no longer separate from workforce strategy. ZayZoon’s partnership with isolved embeds earned wage access directly into payroll, making it simple for employers to offer and easy for employees to use. When financial tools live inside systems people already trust, adoption increases and friction drops. The cost comparison matters. A small flat fee for accessing earned wages is materially different from overdraft fees, payday loans, or credit card interest. For many employees, earned wage access is a way to lose less money, not spend more. Employers are starting to see earned wage access as a recruiting and retention lever, not just a benefit. In a market driven by instant access and flexibility, waiting two weeks for pay can feel outdated and out of touch. Access to earned wages can also reduce the need for side gigs and financial scrambling. When employees are less stressed about cash flow, they show up more focused, more engaged, and more likely to stay. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Context 03:14 Understanding Earned Wage Access 06:04 The Role of ZayZoon in Employee Financial Wellness 09:03 Recruitment and Retention Strategies Guest Kauley Claypool: Partner Growth Manager, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kauley-claypool-03184594/ Garth Dmyterko, Sales Development, ZayZoon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garth-dmyterko-b6335275/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Payday used to be a fixed point. Now it’s a pressure point. As more employees live paycheck to paycheck, access to earned wages has become less about convenience and more about survival. This conversation digs into why financial stress shows up at work, how payroll and benefits are evolving to meet that reality, and why employers can no longer ignore the role money plays in engagement, performance, and trust.

In this episode, we talk about earned wage access, employee financial wellness, payroll integration, and the growing partnership between ZayZoon and isolved. The discussion moves from how employees actually use early wage access for basics like groceries and gas, to why instant access to money is becoming a recruiting and retention advantage, to how small fees compare to the real cost of overdrafts, payday loans, and side hustles.

Key Takeaways

  • Earned wage access gives employees access to money they have already earned, removing the artificial wait for payday. For many workers, this is not about impulse spending. It is about covering essentials and avoiding financial emergencies that spiral into bigger problems.
  • A significant portion of the workforce is financially fragile, with roughly two-thirds of Americans living paycheck to paycheck. That reality shows up in stress, distraction, absenteeism, and turnover. Financial wellness is no longer separate from workforce strategy.
  • ZayZoon’s partnership with isolved embeds earned wage access directly into payroll, making it simple for employers to offer and easy for employees to use. When financial tools live inside systems people already trust, adoption increases and friction drops.
  • The cost comparison matters. A small flat fee for accessing earned wages is materially different from overdraft fees, payday loans, or credit card interest. For many employees, earned wage access is a way to lose less money, not spend more.
  • Employers are starting to see earned wage access as a recruiting and retention lever, not just a benefit. In a market driven by instant access and flexibility, waiting two weeks for pay can feel outdated and out of touch.
  • Access to earned wages can also reduce the need for side gigs and financial scrambling. When employees are less stressed about cash flow, they show up more focused, more engaged, and more likely to stay.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context

03:14 Understanding Earned Wage Access

06:04 The Role of ZayZoon in Employee Financial Wellness

09:03 Recruitment and Retention Strategies


Guest

Kauley Claypool: Partner Growth Manager, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kauley-claypool-03184594/

Garth Dmyterko, Sales Development, ZayZoon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garth-dmyterko-b6335275/


Connect with Us

William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 604 What fandom, parenting, and tech say about honesty, engagement, and modern work Modern life feels loud, fast, and constantly online, yet people still find connection in the strangest places. This conversation moves through sports fandom, parenting, technology, and generational differences to unpack how people actually relate to each other today. From shared misery over teams we love, to how phones shape honesty and attention, to why work often feels busier but less thoughtful, the discussion connects everyday experiences to deeper questions about engagement, communication, and community. In this episode, we talk about sports culture, technology habits, parenting challenges, generational expectations, social media honesty, and workplace engagement. The discussion moves from how sports create shared identity and suffering, to how different generations use and interpret technology, to why intentional communication and quiet time matter more than ever at work and at home. Key Takeaways Sports fandom creates community through shared misery as much as shared wins. That emotional bond mirrors how people connect at work, through struggle, humor, and mutual understanding more than polished success stories. Generational differences shape how people use technology and interpret engagement. What feels responsive to one group can feel distracting or performative to another. Leaders who ignore this gap often misread motivation and intent. Parenting exposes how hard real communication actually is. Mistakes are inevitable, and honesty matters more than perfection. Those same dynamics show up at work, where transparency often builds more trust than polished messaging. Social media blurs honesty and performance. People curate versions of themselves that can distort reality and expectations, both personally and professionally. That tension affects how teams communicate and how authentic engagement feels. Workplace engagement suffers when pace replaces thoughtfulness. Constant motion creates the illusion of productivity while crowding out reflection. Creating quiet space is not a luxury. It is a requirement for better decisions and deeper work. Technology connects and isolates at the same time. Used well, it strengthens community. Used carelessly, it fragments attention and weakens trust. Engagement improves when tools support conversation instead of replacing it. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 02:58 Sports Fan Misery and Community 05:55 Generational Differences in Technology Use 08:58 Parenting Challenges and Communication 11:58 Workplace Engagement and Productivity 14:58 Honesty in Relationships and Social Media Guest Karen Wallace Lipson, Director, Human Resources Operations, Marelene Meyerson JCC Manhattan LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-wallace-lipson/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:03:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Why We’re All Tired, Online, and Still Weirdly Bonded by Sports Modern life feels loud, fast, and constantly online, yet people still find connection in the strangest places. This conversation moves through sports fandom, parenting, technology, and generational differences to unpack how people actually relate to each other today. From shared misery over teams we love, to how phones shape honesty and attention, to why work often feels busier but less thoughtful, the discussion connects everyday experiences to deeper questions about engagement, communication, and community. In this episode, we talk about sports culture, technology habits, parenting challenges, generational expectations, social media honesty, and workplace engagement. The discussion moves from how sports create shared identity and suffering, to how different generations use and interpret technology, to why intentional communication and quiet time matter more than ever at work and at home. Key Takeaways Sports fandom creates community through shared misery as much as shared wins. That emotional bond mirrors how people connect at work, through struggle, humor, and mutual understanding more than polished success stories. Generational differences shape how people use technology and interpret engagement. What feels responsive to one group can feel distracting or performative to another. Leaders who ignore this gap often misread motivation and intent. Parenting exposes how hard real communication actually is. Mistakes are inevitable, and honesty matters more than perfection. Those same dynamics show up at work, where transparency often builds more trust than polished messaging. Social media blurs honesty and performance. People curate versions of themselves that can distort reality and expectations, both personally and professionally. That tension affects how teams communicate and how authentic engagement feels. Workplace engagement suffers when pace replaces thoughtfulness. Constant motion creates the illusion of productivity while crowding out reflection. Creating quiet space is not a luxury. It is a requirement for better decisions and deeper work. Technology connects and isolates at the same time. Used well, it strengthens community. Used carelessly, it fragments attention and weakens trust. Engagement improves when tools support conversation instead of replacing it. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 02:58 Sports Fan Misery and Community 05:55 Generational Differences in Technology Use 08:58 Parenting Challenges and Communication 11:58 Workplace Engagement and Productivity 14:58 Honesty in Relationships and Social Media Guest Karen Wallace Lipson, Director, Human Resources Operations, Marelene Meyerson JCC Manhattan LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-wallace-lipson/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Modern life feels loud, fast, and constantly online, yet people still find connection in the strangest places. This conversation moves through sports fandom, parenting, technology, and generational differences to unpack how people actually relate to each other today. From shared misery over teams we love, to how phones shape honesty and attention, to why work often feels busier but less thoughtful, the discussion connects everyday experiences to deeper questions about engagement, communication, and community.

In this episode, we talk about sports culture, technology habits, parenting challenges, generational expectations, social media honesty, and workplace engagement. The discussion moves from how sports create shared identity and suffering, to how different generations use and interpret technology, to why intentional communication and quiet time matter more than ever at work and at home.

Key Takeaways

  • Sports fandom creates community through shared misery as much as shared wins. That emotional bond mirrors how people connect at work, through struggle, humor, and mutual understanding more than polished success stories.
  • Generational differences shape how people use technology and interpret engagement. What feels responsive to one group can feel distracting or performative to another. Leaders who ignore this gap often misread motivation and intent.
  • Parenting exposes how hard real communication actually is. Mistakes are inevitable, and honesty matters more than perfection. Those same dynamics show up at work, where transparency often builds more trust than polished messaging.
  • Social media blurs honesty and performance. People curate versions of themselves that can distort reality and expectations, both personally and professionally. That tension affects how teams communicate and how authentic engagement feels.
  • Workplace engagement suffers when pace replaces thoughtfulness. Constant motion creates the illusion of productivity while crowding out reflection. Creating quiet space is not a luxury. It is a requirement for better decisions and deeper work.
  • Technology connects and isolates at the same time. Used well, it strengthens community. Used carelessly, it fragments attention and weakens trust. Engagement improves when tools support conversation instead of replacing it.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

02:58 Sports Fan Misery and Community

05:55 Generational Differences in Technology Use

08:58 Parenting Challenges and Communication

11:58 Workplace Engagement and Productivity

14:58 Honesty in Relationships and Social Media


Guest

Karen Wallace Lipson, Director, Human Resources Operations, Marelene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-wallace-lipson/


Connect with Us

William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 1078 Why Selling Cars Is Harder Than Ever and Why Most People Wash Out Automotive sales looks simple from the outside. It isn’t. Between long sales cycles, multiple stakeholders, emotional buyers, and relentless pressure, dealerships are struggling to hire, train, and retain the right people. This conversation breaks down why turnover is so high, why leadership roles are harder to fill than anyone admits, and how customer experience lives or dies with the people on the floor. In this episode, we talk about automotive recruitment, sales training, dealership dynamics, customer experience, and the growing role of technology in sales enablement. The discussion moves from why General Manager roles are so difficult to fill, to how mental toughness separates survivors from burnout, to how training programs and direct-to-consumer models are changing what success looks like in modern dealerships. Key Takeaways The General Manager role is often the hardest position to fill because it requires operational discipline, sales leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience all at once. Few candidates fully understand the scope until they are already in the seat. Sales roles experience constant turnover because many candidates underestimate the emotional and mental demands of the job. Rejection, long hours, and inconsistent wins test people fast, especially in high-pressure dealership environments. Mental toughness is not a nice-to-have in automotive sales. It is the baseline. The ability to handle rejection, stay focused, and keep momentum directly impacts both performance and longevity. Customer relationships drive repeat business more than any script or incentive. Buyers remember how they were treated, not just what they paid. Trust compounds faster than discounts. Sales training is evolving beyond in-person shadowing and trial by fire. Online learning systems, structured onboarding, and continuous reinforcement are becoming essential to keeping teams sharp and confident. Technology is reshaping how dealerships train and sell, but tools only work when paired with real coaching. Tech can enhance learning and consistency, but it cannot replace accountability or human connection. Direct-to-consumer models are forcing dealerships to rethink the sales experience. Transparency, education, and speed now matter as much as persuasion, changing how sales teams must be trained and supported. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Who is Adam and Phil Long Dealerships Dealerships 03:00 Challenges in Automotive Recruitment 06:00 Sales Dynamics and Customer Experience 08:54 Training and Development in Sales 11:59 The Role of Technology in Sales Training 15:01 Conclusion and Reflections Guest Adam Cavender, Variable Operations Recruiter, Phil Long Dealerships LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-cavender-26a2b685/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:02:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Automotive sales looks simple from the outside. It isn’t. Between long sales cycles, multiple stakeholders, emotional buyers, and relentless pressure, dealerships are struggling to hire, train, and retain the right people. This conversation breaks down why turnover is so high, why leadership roles are harder to fill than anyone admits, and how customer experience lives or dies with the people on the floor. In this episode, we talk about automotive recruitment, sales training, dealership dynamics, customer experience, and the growing role of technology in sales enablement. The discussion moves from why General Manager roles are so difficult to fill, to how mental toughness separates survivors from burnout, to how training programs and direct-to-consumer models are changing what success looks like in modern dealerships. Key Takeaways The General Manager role is often the hardest position to fill because it requires operational discipline, sales leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience all at once. Few candidates fully understand the scope until they are already in the seat. Sales roles experience constant turnover because many candidates underestimate the emotional and mental demands of the job. Rejection, long hours, and inconsistent wins test people fast, especially in high-pressure dealership environments. Mental toughness is not a nice-to-have in automotive sales. It is the baseline. The ability to handle rejection, stay focused, and keep momentum directly impacts both performance and longevity. Customer relationships drive repeat business more than any script or incentive. Buyers remember how they were treated, not just what they paid. Trust compounds faster than discounts. Sales training is evolving beyond in-person shadowing and trial by fire. Online learning systems, structured onboarding, and continuous reinforcement are becoming essential to keeping teams sharp and confident. Technology is reshaping how dealerships train and sell, but tools only work when paired with real coaching. Tech can enhance learning and consistency, but it cannot replace accountability or human connection. Direct-to-consumer models are forcing dealerships to rethink the sales experience. Transparency, education, and speed now matter as much as persuasion, changing how sales teams must be trained and supported. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Who is Adam and Phil Long Dealerships Dealerships 03:00 Challenges in Automotive Recruitment 06:00 Sales Dynamics and Customer Experience 08:54 Training and Development in Sales 11:59 The Role of Technology in Sales Training 15:01 Conclusion and Reflections Guest Adam Cavender, Variable Operations Recruiter, Phil Long Dealerships LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-cavender-26a2b685/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Automotive sales looks simple from the outside. It isn’t. Between long sales cycles, multiple stakeholders, emotional buyers, and relentless pressure, dealerships are struggling to hire, train, and retain the right people. This conversation breaks down why turnover is so high, why leadership roles are harder to fill than anyone admits, and how customer experience lives or dies with the people on the floor.

In this episode, we talk about automotive recruitment, sales training, dealership dynamics, customer experience, and the growing role of technology in sales enablement. The discussion moves from why General Manager roles are so difficult to fill, to how mental toughness separates survivors from burnout, to how training programs and direct-to-consumer models are changing what success looks like in modern dealerships.

Key Takeaways

  • The General Manager role is often the hardest position to fill because it requires operational discipline, sales leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience all at once. Few candidates fully understand the scope until they are already in the seat.
  • Sales roles experience constant turnover because many candidates underestimate the emotional and mental demands of the job. Rejection, long hours, and inconsistent wins test people fast, especially in high-pressure dealership environments.
  • Mental toughness is not a nice-to-have in automotive sales. It is the baseline. The ability to handle rejection, stay focused, and keep momentum directly impacts both performance and longevity.
  • Customer relationships drive repeat business more than any script or incentive. Buyers remember how they were treated, not just what they paid. Trust compounds faster than discounts.
  • Sales training is evolving beyond in-person shadowing and trial by fire. Online learning systems, structured onboarding, and continuous reinforcement are becoming essential to keeping teams sharp and confident.
  • Technology is reshaping how dealerships train and sell, but tools only work when paired with real coaching. Tech can enhance learning and consistency, but it cannot replace accountability or human connection.
  • Direct-to-consumer models are forcing dealerships to rethink the sales experience. Transparency, education, and speed now matter as much as persuasion, changing how sales teams must be trained and supported.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Chapters

00:00 Who is Adam and Phil Long Dealerships Dealerships

03:00 Challenges in Automotive Recruitment

06:00 Sales Dynamics and Customer Experience

08:54 Training and Development in Sales

11:59 The Role of Technology in Sales Training

15:01 Conclusion and Reflections


Guest

Adam Cavender, Variable Operations Recruiter, Phil Long Dealerships

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-cavender-26a2b685/


Connect with Us

William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 995 Why HR Finally Feels Seen, Heard, and Celebrated HR doesn’t usually get the spotlight. At isolved Connect in Philadelphia, that changed. This conversation captures what happens when HR professionals are treated like the drivers of the business, not the back office. From real customer conversations to broker dynamics to celebrating People Heroes, the episode reflects a shift in how HR is valued, supported, and invested in. In this episode, we talk about isolved Connect, customer awards, the role of brokers in HR decisions, the People Heroes initiative, AI’s growing influence, and the importance of community in talent acquisition and employee experience. The discussion moves from why customer stories matter, to how brokers shape buying behavior, to why HR leaders are finally being given permission to invest in themselves. Key Takeaways Customer conversations are energizing because they reflect growth, resilience, and real career journeys. Hearing how HR leaders navigate challenges reinforces why this work matters and why recognition is overdue. AI is top of mind for HR leaders, but fear is giving way to practical use cases. The focus is shifting from disruption anxiety to how AI can actually support HR teams without replacing human judgment. Brokers play a critical role in influencing HR technology decisions. Making it easy for brokers to work with platforms like iSolved is no longer optional. It is a strategic advantage. The People Heroes initiative shines a light on HR professionals who rarely get celebrated. Recognizing their impact builds pride, community, and momentum across the industry. Investing in HR professionals is essential for long-term success. When HR leaders are supported, educated, and connected, the entire organization benefits. Community engagement around HR has grown dramatically. Events like iSolved Connect show how powerful it is when people come together to share stories, challenges, and wins. Celebrating small and mid-sized businesses through their HR stories brings authenticity back into the conversation. These are the teams doing the hardest work with the fewest resources. Great software still matters, but service and partnership are what create loyalty. HR leaders remember who shows up and makes their jobs easier. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to isolved Connect 02:59 Customer Conversations and Awards 06:09 The Role of Brokers in HR 08:58 People Heroes: Celebrating HR Professionals 11:51 Investing in HR and the Power of Community Guest Amberly Dressler, SVP Brand and Experience LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Inside iSolved Connect, People Heroes, brokers, and the power of HR community HR doesn’t usually get the spotlight. At isolved Connect in Philadelphia, that changed. This conversation captures what happens when HR professionals are treated like the drivers of the business, not the back office. From real customer conversations to broker dynamics to celebrating People Heroes, the episode reflects a shift in how HR is valued, supported, and invested in. In this episode, we talk about isolved Connect, customer awards, the role of brokers in HR decisions, the People Heroes initiative, AI’s growing influence, and the importance of community in talent acquisition and employee experience. The discussion moves from why customer stories matter, to how brokers shape buying behavior, to why HR leaders are finally being given permission to invest in themselves. Key Takeaways Customer conversations are energizing because they reflect growth, resilience, and real career journeys. Hearing how HR leaders navigate challenges reinforces why this work matters and why recognition is overdue. AI is top of mind for HR leaders, but fear is giving way to practical use cases. The focus is shifting from disruption anxiety to how AI can actually support HR teams without replacing human judgment. Brokers play a critical role in influencing HR technology decisions. Making it easy for brokers to work with platforms like iSolved is no longer optional. It is a strategic advantage. The People Heroes initiative shines a light on HR professionals who rarely get celebrated. Recognizing their impact builds pride, community, and momentum across the industry. Investing in HR professionals is essential for long-term success. When HR leaders are supported, educated, and connected, the entire organization benefits. Community engagement around HR has grown dramatically. Events like iSolved Connect show how powerful it is when people come together to share stories, challenges, and wins. Celebrating small and mid-sized businesses through their HR stories brings authenticity back into the conversation. These are the teams doing the hardest work with the fewest resources. Great software still matters, but service and partnership are what create loyalty. HR leaders remember who shows up and makes their jobs easier. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to isolved Connect 02:59 Customer Conversations and Awards 06:09 The Role of Brokers in HR 08:58 People Heroes: Celebrating HR Professionals 11:51 Investing in HR and the Power of Community Guest Amberly Dressler, SVP Brand and Experience LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ HR doesn’t usually get the spotlight. At isolved Connect in Philadelphia, that changed. This conversation captures what happens when HR professionals are treated like the drivers of the business, not the back office. From real customer conversations to broker dynamics to celebrating People Heroes, the episode reflects a shift in how HR is valued, supported, and invested in.

In this episode, we talk about isolved Connect, customer awards, the role of brokers in HR decisions, the People Heroes initiative, AI’s growing influence, and the importance of community in talent acquisition and employee experience. The discussion moves from why customer stories matter, to how brokers shape buying behavior, to why HR leaders are finally being given permission to invest in themselves.


Key Takeaways

  • Customer conversations are energizing because they reflect growth, resilience, and real career journeys. Hearing how HR leaders navigate challenges reinforces why this work matters and why recognition is overdue.
  • AI is top of mind for HR leaders, but fear is giving way to practical use cases. The focus is shifting from disruption anxiety to how AI can actually support HR teams without replacing human judgment.
  • Brokers play a critical role in influencing HR technology decisions. Making it easy for brokers to work with platforms like iSolved is no longer optional. It is a strategic advantage.
  • The People Heroes initiative shines a light on HR professionals who rarely get celebrated. Recognizing their impact builds pride, community, and momentum across the industry.
  • Investing in HR professionals is essential for long-term success. When HR leaders are supported, educated, and connected, the entire organization benefits.
  • Community engagement around HR has grown dramatically. Events like iSolved Connect show how powerful it is when people come together to share stories, challenges, and wins. Celebrating small and mid-sized businesses through their HR stories brings authenticity back into the conversation. These are the teams doing the hardest work with the fewest resources.
  • Great software still matters, but service and partnership are what create loyalty. HR leaders remember who shows up and makes their jobs easier.


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Chapters

00:00 Welcome to isolved Connect

02:59 Customer Conversations and Awards

06:09 The Role of Brokers in HR

08:58 People Heroes: Celebrating HR Professionals

11:51 Investing in HR and the Power of Community


Guest

Amberly Dressler, SVP Brand and Experience

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/


Connect with Us

William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 923 Why Local Restaurants Win or Lose on Hiring, Community, and Burritos Local restaurants are fighting a very different battle than big brands. They’re competing for talent, attention, and loyalty in communities where relationships matter more than polish and margins are always thin. This conversation digs into how small operators think about hiring, marketing, and customer engagement, and why community connection is often the real differentiator when resources are limited. In this episode, we talk about local business ownership, restaurant hiring challenges, marketing strategies, technology adoption, and customer engagement. The discussion moves from competing with bigger industries for talent, to how soft benefits and culture keep people around, to why apps, online presence, and community storytelling now play a critical role in restaurant success. Key Takeaways Local businesses shape community identity in ways large brands never can. Restaurants become gathering places, not just service providers, and that emotional connection drives loyalty when times get tough. Hiring is especially hard when restaurants are competing with higher-paying industries for the same workforce. Owners are being forced to rethink what attracts people beyond hourly wages, including flexibility, respect, and growth opportunities. Technology is no longer optional for customer engagement. Apps, online ordering, and digital marketing help local restaurants stay visible, relevant, and connected to customers who expect convenience without losing authenticity. Soft benefits matter more than many operators realize. Schedule flexibility, culture, and feeling valued often outweigh small pay differences and can be the deciding factor in retention. A strong online presence is essential for survival, not vanity. Customers discover, judge, and recommend restaurants digitally, even when the experience itself is deeply local and personal. The industry is evolving by transitioning roles, not eliminating them. Technology changes how work gets done, but human interaction, hospitality, and local knowledge remain irreplaceable. Community relationships drive long-term success. Word of mouth, personal stories, and genuine engagement outperform generic marketing when trust is the currency. Understanding local culture matters. Restaurants that reflect their neighborhood, not just trends, are better positioned to grow and adapt. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Guest Lacey Davidson, Human Resources Manager, JumBurrito LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-davidson-59b61b94/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:58:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network What small operators are learning about talent, tech, and customer loyalty Local restaurants are fighting a very different battle than big brands. They’re competing for talent, attention, and loyalty in communities where relationships matter more than polish and margins are always thin. This conversation digs into how small operators think about hiring, marketing, and customer engagement, and why community connection is often the real differentiator when resources are limited. In this episode, we talk about local business ownership, restaurant hiring challenges, marketing strategies, technology adoption, and customer engagement. The discussion moves from competing with bigger industries for talent, to how soft benefits and culture keep people around, to why apps, online presence, and community storytelling now play a critical role in restaurant success. Key Takeaways Local businesses shape community identity in ways large brands never can. Restaurants become gathering places, not just service providers, and that emotional connection drives loyalty when times get tough. Hiring is especially hard when restaurants are competing with higher-paying industries for the same workforce. Owners are being forced to rethink what attracts people beyond hourly wages, including flexibility, respect, and growth opportunities. Technology is no longer optional for customer engagement. Apps, online ordering, and digital marketing help local restaurants stay visible, relevant, and connected to customers who expect convenience without losing authenticity. Soft benefits matter more than many operators realize. Schedule flexibility, culture, and feeling valued often outweigh small pay differences and can be the deciding factor in retention. A strong online presence is essential for survival, not vanity. Customers discover, judge, and recommend restaurants digitally, even when the experience itself is deeply local and personal. The industry is evolving by transitioning roles, not eliminating them. Technology changes how work gets done, but human interaction, hospitality, and local knowledge remain irreplaceable. Community relationships drive long-term success. Word of mouth, personal stories, and genuine engagement outperform generic marketing when trust is the currency. Understanding local culture matters. Restaurants that reflect their neighborhood, not just trends, are better positioned to grow and adapt. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Guest Lacey Davidson, Human Resources Manager, JumBurrito LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-davidson-59b61b94/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Local restaurants are fighting a very different battle than big brands. They’re competing for talent, attention, and loyalty in communities where relationships matter more than polish and margins are always thin. This conversation digs into how small operators think about hiring, marketing, and customer engagement, and why community connection is often the real differentiator when resources are limited.

In this episode, we talk about local business ownership, restaurant hiring challenges, marketing strategies, technology adoption, and customer engagement. The discussion moves from competing with bigger industries for talent, to how soft benefits and culture keep people around, to why apps, online presence, and community storytelling now play a critical role in restaurant success.

Key Takeaways

  • Local businesses shape community identity in ways large brands never can. Restaurants become gathering places, not just service providers, and that emotional connection drives loyalty when times get tough.
  • Hiring is especially hard when restaurants are competing with higher-paying industries for the same workforce. Owners are being forced to rethink what attracts people beyond hourly wages, including flexibility, respect, and growth opportunities.
  • Technology is no longer optional for customer engagement. Apps, online ordering, and digital marketing help local restaurants stay visible, relevant, and connected to customers who expect convenience without losing authenticity.
  • Soft benefits matter more than many operators realize. Schedule flexibility, culture, and feeling valued often outweigh small pay differences and can be the deciding factor in retention.
  • A strong online presence is essential for survival, not vanity. Customers discover, judge, and recommend restaurants digitally, even when the experience itself is deeply local and personal.
  • The industry is evolving by transitioning roles, not eliminating them. Technology changes how work gets done, but human interaction, hospitality, and local knowledge remain irreplaceable.
  • Community relationships drive long-term success. Word of mouth, personal stories, and genuine engagement outperform generic marketing when trust is the currency. Understanding local culture matters. Restaurants that reflect their neighborhood, not just trends, are better positioned to grow and adapt.


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Guest

Lacey Davidson, Human Resources Manager, JumBurrito

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-davidson-59b61b94/


Connect with Us

William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 912 How product teams balance AI ambition, customer reality, and business pressure without breaking trust with Sydney Ridge, isovled Product development today is less about shipping features and more about orchestration. Platform teams are navigating AI integration, customer feedback, and business goals at the same time, often with competing incentives pulling in different directions. This conversation explores how modern product orgs are structured into pods, why AI adoption is harder than it looks, and what it actually takes to earn trust from users and internal teams. It also connects product thinking to audience engagement during speaking engagements, showing how communication, incentives, and feedback loops shape adoption both onstage and inside the product. In this episode, we talk about platform strategy, AI integration, product development tradeoffs, customer feedback, trust in AI, and audience engagement. The discussion moves from how product teams are organized into pods, to why incentives matter more than hype for AI adoption, to how engineering skillsets are evolving as AI reshapes how products are built, explained, and adopted. Key Takeaways Product platforms are increasingly organized into focused pods, each owning a specific slice of HCM or functionality. This structure speeds execution but also forces tighter alignment across teams, especially as AI becomes a shared dependency instead of a side feature. Platform is no longer just infrastructure. It is the strategy layer. AI integration is not optional anymore, but adoption is fragile. Teams underestimate how much trust, clarity, and repetition it takes before users actually change behavior. AI works when it feels obvious, helpful, and safe. If users have to think too hard, they simply opt out. Customer feedback is necessary but dangerous if it is followed blindly. Strong product teams listen closely, then filter that input through business goals, technical reality, and long-term vision. The hard part is saying no while still making customers feel heard and respected. Trust is the real bottleneck in AI adoption. Users worry about accuracy, intent, and outcomes, not just features. Transparency, incentives, and communication matter more than model sophistication. Adoption follows belief, not capability. Speaking engagements mirror product launches more than most people admit. Audience engagement, clarity of message, and post-event reflection directly impact how ideas land and spread. The best speakers treat every talk like user research for their thinking and their product story. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 The Platform and Its Role 02:17 The Future of Product Development and AI Integration 05:23 Balancing Customer Feedback and Business Goals 08:57 Adopting AI: Building Trust and Encouraging Use 11:35 Reflections on Speaking Engagements and Audience Engagement Guest: Sydney Ridge, Leader of Product Management, isolved LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sydney-ridge-b2a55871 Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:57:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Product development today is less about shipping features and more about orchestration. Platform teams are navigating AI integration, customer feedback, and business goals at the same time, often with competing incentives pulling in different directions. This conversation explores how modern product orgs are structured into pods, why AI adoption is harder than it looks, and what it actually takes to earn trust from users and internal teams. It also connects product thinking to audience engagement during speaking engagements, showing how communication, incentives, and feedback loops shape adoption both onstage and inside the product. In this episode, we talk about platform strategy, AI integration, product development tradeoffs, customer feedback, trust in AI, and audience engagement. The discussion moves from how product teams are organized into pods, to why incentives matter more than hype for AI adoption, to how engineering skillsets are evolving as AI reshapes how products are built, explained, and adopted. Key Takeaways Product platforms are increasingly organized into focused pods, each owning a specific slice of HCM or functionality. This structure speeds execution but also forces tighter alignment across teams, especially as AI becomes a shared dependency instead of a side feature. Platform is no longer just infrastructure. It is the strategy layer. AI integration is not optional anymore, but adoption is fragile. Teams underestimate how much trust, clarity, and repetition it takes before users actually change behavior. AI works when it feels obvious, helpful, and safe. If users have to think too hard, they simply opt out. Customer feedback is necessary but dangerous if it is followed blindly. Strong product teams listen closely, then filter that input through business goals, technical reality, and long-term vision. The hard part is saying no while still making customers feel heard and respected. Trust is the real bottleneck in AI adoption. Users worry about accuracy, intent, and outcomes, not just features. Transparency, incentives, and communication matter more than model sophistication. Adoption follows belief, not capability. Speaking engagements mirror product launches more than most people admit. Audience engagement, clarity of message, and post-event reflection directly impact how ideas land and spread. The best speakers treat every talk like user research for their thinking and their product story. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 The Platform and Its Role 02:17 The Future of Product Development and AI Integration 05:23 Balancing Customer Feedback and Business Goals 08:57 Adopting AI: Building Trust and Encouraging Use 11:35 Reflections on Speaking Engagements and Audience Engagement Guest: Sydney Ridge, Leader of Product Management, isolved LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sydney-ridge-b2a55871 Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Product development today is less about shipping features and more about orchestration. Platform teams are navigating AI integration, customer feedback, and business goals at the same time, often with competing incentives pulling in different directions. This conversation explores how modern product orgs are structured into pods, why AI adoption is harder than it looks, and what it actually takes to earn trust from users and internal teams. It also connects product thinking to audience engagement during speaking engagements, showing how communication, incentives, and feedback loops shape adoption both onstage and inside the product.

In this episode, we talk about platform strategy, AI integration, product development tradeoffs, customer feedback, trust in AI, and audience engagement. The discussion moves from how product teams are organized into pods, to why incentives matter more than hype for AI adoption, to how engineering skillsets are evolving as AI reshapes how products are built, explained, and adopted.

Key Takeaways

  • Product platforms are increasingly organized into focused pods, each owning a specific slice of HCM or functionality. This structure speeds execution but also forces tighter alignment across teams, especially as AI becomes a shared dependency instead of a side feature. Platform is no longer just infrastructure. It is the strategy layer.
  • AI integration is not optional anymore, but adoption is fragile. Teams underestimate how much trust, clarity, and repetition it takes before users actually change behavior. AI works when it feels obvious, helpful, and safe. If users have to think too hard, they simply opt out.
  • Customer feedback is necessary but dangerous if it is followed blindly. Strong product teams listen closely, then filter that input through business goals, technical reality, and long-term vision. The hard part is saying no while still making customers feel heard and respected.
  • Trust is the real bottleneck in AI adoption. Users worry about accuracy, intent, and outcomes, not just features. Transparency, incentives, and communication matter more than model sophistication. Adoption follows belief, not capability.
  • Speaking engagements mirror product launches more than most people admit. Audience engagement, clarity of message, and post-event reflection directly impact how ideas land and spread. The best speakers treat every talk like user research for their thinking and their product story.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Chapters

00:00 The Platform and Its Role

02:17 The Future of Product Development and AI Integration

05:23 Balancing Customer Feedback and Business Goals

08:57 Adopting AI: Building Trust and Encouraging Use

11:35 Reflections on Speaking Engagements and Audience Engagement


Guest:

Sydney Ridge, Leader of Product Management, isolved

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sydney-ridge-b2a55871


Connect with Us

William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 1232 Why Passwords Are Dying and What That Means for Payroll, HR, and Security Security is no longer an IT problem. It is a business problem. As companies scale globally, adopt cloud infrastructure, and rely more heavily on AI, the attack surface keeps expanding. This conversation looks at how payroll and HR platforms are evolving alongside rising cybersecurity threats, from spoofing and credential theft to the growing risks of BYOD environments. It also digs into why legacy security models are breaking down and what modern organizations need to do differently to protect both systems and people. In this episode, we talk about the evolution of P&I, cybersecurity threats, passkeys and biometrics, cloud security, penetration testing, AI-driven protection, spoof sites, and managing security in a BYOD world. The discussion moves from how payroll platforms have scaled globally, to why passwords are failing, to how AI and vetted applications can reduce risk while still improving user experience. Key Takeaways P&I’s evolution from a regional provider to a global platform reflects a broader shift in payroll and HR technology. Scale introduces complexity, and complexity demands stronger security foundations. Global payroll is no longer just about compliance. It is about resilience. Passwords are becoming a liability. Passkeys and biometric authentication reduce friction while closing common attack vectors tied to credential reuse and phishing. Simpler login experiences can actually improve security when implemented correctly. Cybersecurity threats are more sophisticated and more deceptive. Spoof sites and impersonation attacks are increasingly common, targeting both employees and administrators. Education alone is not enough. Systems must be designed to assume users will be targeted. Penetration testing and continuous security assessments are essential, not optional. Cloud environments move too fast for static defenses. Organizations need ongoing validation that their controls actually work under real-world attack scenarios. BYOD environments introduce convenience and risk at the same time. Strong policies, vetted applications, and clear boundaries are critical to protecting sensitive data without killing productivity. Security has to meet users where they are. AI is becoming a force multiplier for security and operations. When used responsibly, it can help verify information, detect anomalies, and improve client interactions. The risk is not AI itself. The risk is deploying it without guardrails or trust. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Who is Nicholas Holcomb 01:16 Overview of P&I and Global Expansion 02:45 Cybersecurity Challenges and Strategies 04:10 The Shift from Passwords to Passkeys 08:12 Penetration Testing and Cloud Security 11:33 Emerging Cyber Threats and Spoofing 14:17 The Role of AI in Modern Business 18:17 Managing BYOD and Security Policies Guest Nicholas Holcomb, PNI, HCM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pnihcm/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:55:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Security is no longer an IT problem. It is a business problem. As companies scale globally, adopt cloud infrastructure, and rely more heavily on AI, the attack surface keeps expanding. This conversation looks at how payroll and HR platforms are evolving alongside rising cybersecurity threats, from spoofing and credential theft to the growing risks of BYOD environments. It also digs into why legacy security models are breaking down and what modern organizations need to do differently to protect both systems and people. In this episode, we talk about the evolution of P&I, cybersecurity threats, passkeys and biometrics, cloud security, penetration testing, AI-driven protection, spoof sites, and managing security in a BYOD world. The discussion moves from how payroll platforms have scaled globally, to why passwords are failing, to how AI and vetted applications can reduce risk while still improving user experience. Key Takeaways P&I’s evolution from a regional provider to a global platform reflects a broader shift in payroll and HR technology. Scale introduces complexity, and complexity demands stronger security foundations. Global payroll is no longer just about compliance. It is about resilience. Passwords are becoming a liability. Passkeys and biometric authentication reduce friction while closing common attack vectors tied to credential reuse and phishing. Simpler login experiences can actually improve security when implemented correctly. Cybersecurity threats are more sophisticated and more deceptive. Spoof sites and impersonation attacks are increasingly common, targeting both employees and administrators. Education alone is not enough. Systems must be designed to assume users will be targeted. Penetration testing and continuous security assessments are essential, not optional. Cloud environments move too fast for static defenses. Organizations need ongoing validation that their controls actually work under real-world attack scenarios. BYOD environments introduce convenience and risk at the same time. Strong policies, vetted applications, and clear boundaries are critical to protecting sensitive data without killing productivity. Security has to meet users where they are. AI is becoming a force multiplier for security and operations. When used responsibly, it can help verify information, detect anomalies, and improve client interactions. The risk is not AI itself. The risk is deploying it without guardrails or trust. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Who is Nicholas Holcomb 01:16 Overview of P&I and Global Expansion 02:45 Cybersecurity Challenges and Strategies 04:10 The Shift from Passwords to Passkeys 08:12 Penetration Testing and Cloud Security 11:33 Emerging Cyber Threats and Spoofing 14:17 The Role of AI in Modern Business 18:17 Managing BYOD and Security Policies Guest Nicholas Holcomb, PNI, HCM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pnihcm/ Connect with Us William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Security is no longer an IT problem. It is a business problem. As companies scale globally, adopt cloud infrastructure, and rely more heavily on AI, the attack surface keeps expanding. This conversation looks at how payroll and HR platforms are evolving alongside rising cybersecurity threats, from spoofing and credential theft to the growing risks of BYOD environments. It also digs into why legacy security models are breaking down and what modern organizations need to do differently to protect both systems and people.

In this episode, we talk about the evolution of P&I, cybersecurity threats, passkeys and biometrics, cloud security, penetration testing, AI-driven protection, spoof sites, and managing security in a BYOD world. The discussion moves from how payroll platforms have scaled globally, to why passwords are failing, to how AI and vetted applications can reduce risk while still improving user experience.

Key Takeaways

  • P&I’s evolution from a regional provider to a global platform reflects a broader shift in payroll and HR technology. Scale introduces complexity, and complexity demands stronger security foundations. Global payroll is no longer just about compliance. It is about resilience.
  • Passwords are becoming a liability. Passkeys and biometric authentication reduce friction while closing common attack vectors tied to credential reuse and phishing. Simpler login experiences can actually improve security when implemented correctly.
  • Cybersecurity threats are more sophisticated and more deceptive. Spoof sites and impersonation attacks are increasingly common, targeting both employees and administrators. Education alone is not enough. Systems must be designed to assume users will be targeted.
  • Penetration testing and continuous security assessments are essential, not optional. Cloud environments move too fast for static defenses. Organizations need ongoing validation that their controls actually work under real-world attack scenarios.
  • BYOD environments introduce convenience and risk at the same time. Strong policies, vetted applications, and clear boundaries are critical to protecting sensitive data without killing productivity. Security has to meet users where they are.
  • AI is becoming a force multiplier for security and operations. When used responsibly, it can help verify information, detect anomalies, and improve client interactions. The risk is not AI itself. The risk is deploying it without guardrails or trust.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Philadelphia, Pa. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Chapters

00:00 Who is Nicholas Holcomb

01:16 Overview of P&I and Global Expansion

02:45 Cybersecurity Challenges and Strategies

04:10 The Shift from Passwords to Passkeys

08:12 Penetration Testing and Cloud Security

11:33 Emerging Cyber Threats and Spoofing

14:17 The Role of AI in Modern Business

18:17 Managing BYOD and Security Policies


Guest

Nicholas Holcomb, PNI, HCM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pnihcm/


Connect with Us

William Tincup: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 1266 The Future of HR Tech: Insights from Yutaka Takagi HR tech moves fast, but Yutaka Takagi has a way of grounding all the noise into what actually matters. His world sits at the intersection of customer stories, product innovation, and the real people outcomes leaders are chasing. He talks about AI as something that’s already woven into daily life, the rising demand for personalization, and the way community impact quietly shapes stronger businesses. His lens is practical and human, and it cuts through the trend cycle. In this episode we talk about HR tech, AI, personalization, people leadership, business outcomes, employee experience, technology trends, customer insights, and the push toward measurable results in 2026. Yutaka breaks down how product evangelism works in the real world, why listening to customers drives better innovation, and how employee and community pride turn into real business momentum. Key Takeaways: Yutaka explains what product evangelism really looks like inside a modern HCM company. It’s not hype. It’s connecting customer stories to product decisions and making sure innovation solves real problems. AI sits underneath that work, becoming less of a headline and more of a quiet layer in everyone’s day. Personalization is the next frontier, and leaders who ignore it are going to feel the consequences fast. He digs into the shift HR leaders are facing as they head toward 2026. The market wants outcomes, not talk. Teams need tools that help people feel supported, known, and understood. That’s where AI shows up again, helping scale personalization without losing the human touch. Engagement becomes a by-product of being treated like an individual, not a role. Community impact plays a bigger role in leadership than most admit. Yutaka highlights a customer story that shows how pride, belonging, and local engagement strengthen culture more than any program. Businesses that lean into their community build loyalty that carries into the workplace. People outcomes and business outcomes end up being the same thing. Vendor relationships matter. The best results come from collaboration, transparency, and teams that listen on both sides. Innovation moves faster when customers feel heard and product teams stay connected. The companies that embrace that dynamic will stay ahead as HR tech keeps accelerating. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Yutaka Takagi and His Role 03:03 Exploring Macro Trends in HR Tech 05:57 The Future of AI in the Workplace 08:36 Personalization in People Leadership 11:41 Success Stories: Impact on Community and Employees Guest: Yutaka Takagi, Principal Product Evangelist at isolved LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yutakatakagi/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:16:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation on AI, personalization, and the power of community-driven leadership HR tech moves fast, but Yutaka Takagi has a way of grounding all the noise into what actually matters. His world sits at the intersection of customer stories, product innovation, and the real people outcomes leaders are chasing. He talks about AI as something that’s already woven into daily life, the rising demand for personalization, and the way community impact quietly shapes stronger businesses. His lens is practical and human, and it cuts through the trend cycle. In this episode we talk about HR tech, AI, personalization, people leadership, business outcomes, employee experience, technology trends, customer insights, and the push toward measurable results in 2026. Yutaka breaks down how product evangelism works in the real world, why listening to customers drives better innovation, and how employee and community pride turn into real business momentum. Key Takeaways: Yutaka explains what product evangelism really looks like inside a modern HCM company. It’s not hype. It’s connecting customer stories to product decisions and making sure innovation solves real problems. AI sits underneath that work, becoming less of a headline and more of a quiet layer in everyone’s day. Personalization is the next frontier, and leaders who ignore it are going to feel the consequences fast. He digs into the shift HR leaders are facing as they head toward 2026. The market wants outcomes, not talk. Teams need tools that help people feel supported, known, and understood. That’s where AI shows up again, helping scale personalization without losing the human touch. Engagement becomes a by-product of being treated like an individual, not a role. Community impact plays a bigger role in leadership than most admit. Yutaka highlights a customer story that shows how pride, belonging, and local engagement strengthen culture more than any program. Businesses that lean into their community build loyalty that carries into the workplace. People outcomes and business outcomes end up being the same thing. Vendor relationships matter. The best results come from collaboration, transparency, and teams that listen on both sides. Innovation moves faster when customers feel heard and product teams stay connected. The companies that embrace that dynamic will stay ahead as HR tech keeps accelerating. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Yutaka Takagi and His Role 03:03 Exploring Macro Trends in HR Tech 05:57 The Future of AI in the Workplace 08:36 Personalization in People Leadership 11:41 Success Stories: Impact on Community and Employees Guest: Yutaka Takagi, Principal Product Evangelist at isolved LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yutakatakagi/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ HR tech moves fast, but Yutaka Takagi has a way of grounding all the noise into what actually matters. His world sits at the intersection of customer stories, product innovation, and the real people outcomes leaders are chasing. He talks about AI as something that’s already woven into daily life, the rising demand for personalization, and the way community impact quietly shapes stronger businesses. His lens is practical and human, and it cuts through the trend cycle.

In this episode we talk about HR tech, AI, personalization, people leadership, business outcomes, employee experience, technology trends, customer insights, and the push toward measurable results in 2026. Yutaka breaks down how product evangelism works in the real world, why listening to customers drives better innovation, and how employee and community pride turn into real business momentum.


Key Takeaways:

  • Yutaka explains what product evangelism really looks like inside a modern HCM company. It’s not hype. It’s connecting customer stories to product decisions and making sure innovation solves real problems. AI sits underneath that work, becoming less of a headline and more of a quiet layer in everyone’s day. Personalization is the next frontier, and leaders who ignore it are going to feel the consequences fast.

  • He digs into the shift HR leaders are facing as they head toward 2026. The market wants outcomes, not talk. Teams need tools that help people feel supported, known, and understood. That’s where AI shows up again, helping scale personalization without losing the human touch. Engagement becomes a by-product of being treated like an individual, not a role.

  • Community impact plays a bigger role in leadership than most admit. Yutaka highlights a customer story that shows how pride, belonging, and local engagement strengthen culture more than any program. Businesses that lean into their community build loyalty that carries into the workplace. People outcomes and business outcomes end up being the same thing.

  • Vendor relationships matter. The best results come from collaboration, transparency, and teams that listen on both sides. Innovation moves faster when customers feel heard and product teams stay connected. The companies that embrace that dynamic will stay ahead as HR tech keeps accelerating.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Yutaka Takagi and His Role

03:03 Exploring Macro Trends in HR Tech

05:57 The Future of AI in the Workplace

08:36 Personalization in People Leadership

11:41 Success Stories: Impact on Community and Employees


Guest:

Yutaka Takagi, Principal Product Evangelist at isolved

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yutakatakagi/


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 956 Embracing Change in HR with Mary Kay Kirgis, Guttenberg Municipal Hospitals and Clinics Employee engagement in a rural hospital isn’t theory. It’s personal. In this conversation, Mary Kay Kirgis talks through twelve years of building trust, navigating staffing shortages, and keeping a small healthcare system moving when everyone wears multiple hats. Her lens is grounded, human, and honest about the work. Change isn’t optional. It’s the job. In this episode we talk about HR, employee engagement, healthcare, rural staffing, change management, employee experience, leadership, technology in HR, the nursing shortage, and career development. Mary Kay breaks down what actually moves people in a small-town environment, how relationships drive retention, and why understanding employee needs matters more than any engagement program. Key Takeaways: Embracing change becomes a survival skill in HR. The teams that thrive are the ones willing to adjust roles, workflows, and expectations instead of clinging to old habits. Rural healthcare adds its own complexity, forcing leaders to be creative with staffing and flexible with responsibilities. Building real relationships is what keeps people loyal. When employees feel seen, listened to, and supported, they show up differently. Small gestures go further than surface-level perks, and meaningful engagement comes from consistent, human connection rather than manufactured culture pushes. Innovation shows up in unexpected ways. Sometimes it’s a new staffing model. Sometimes it’s cross-training. Sometimes it’s simply taking the time to understand what each person actually wants from their career. Clear development paths matter, and authenticity is what makes them believable. Listening drives real improvements. When leaders pay attention to what employees are actually saying, engagement stops being a guessing game and becomes a partnership. Employee experience becomes the backbone of retention, especially in smaller communities where every role carries weight. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Mary Kay and Her Role 02:46 Embracing Change in HR 05:55 Navigating Employee Growth and Development 08:47 Employee Experience in Healthcare 11:50 Innovative Strategies for Staffing in Rural Areas 14:47 Building Relationships Through Engagement Guest: Mary Kay Kirgis, HR Director at Guttenberg Municipal Hospitals and Clinics LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mary-kay-kirgis-40ba8b4a Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:16:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation on leadership, engagement, and the realities of rural healthcare Employee engagement in a rural hospital isn’t theory. It’s personal. In this conversation, Mary Kay Kirgis talks through twelve years of building trust, navigating staffing shortages, and keeping a small healthcare system moving when everyone wears multiple hats. Her lens is grounded, human, and honest about the work. Change isn’t optional. It’s the job. In this episode we talk about HR, employee engagement, healthcare, rural staffing, change management, employee experience, leadership, technology in HR, the nursing shortage, and career development. Mary Kay breaks down what actually moves people in a small-town environment, how relationships drive retention, and why understanding employee needs matters more than any engagement program. Key Takeaways: Embracing change becomes a survival skill in HR. The teams that thrive are the ones willing to adjust roles, workflows, and expectations instead of clinging to old habits. Rural healthcare adds its own complexity, forcing leaders to be creative with staffing and flexible with responsibilities. Building real relationships is what keeps people loyal. When employees feel seen, listened to, and supported, they show up differently. Small gestures go further than surface-level perks, and meaningful engagement comes from consistent, human connection rather than manufactured culture pushes. Innovation shows up in unexpected ways. Sometimes it’s a new staffing model. Sometimes it’s cross-training. Sometimes it’s simply taking the time to understand what each person actually wants from their career. Clear development paths matter, and authenticity is what makes them believable. Listening drives real improvements. When leaders pay attention to what employees are actually saying, engagement stops being a guessing game and becomes a partnership. Employee experience becomes the backbone of retention, especially in smaller communities where every role carries weight. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Mary Kay and Her Role 02:46 Embracing Change in HR 05:55 Navigating Employee Growth and Development 08:47 Employee Experience in Healthcare 11:50 Innovative Strategies for Staffing in Rural Areas 14:47 Building Relationships Through Engagement Guest: Mary Kay Kirgis, HR Director at Guttenberg Municipal Hospitals and Clinics LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mary-kay-kirgis-40ba8b4a Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Employee engagement in a rural hospital isn’t theory. It’s personal. In this conversation, Mary Kay Kirgis talks through twelve years of building trust, navigating staffing shortages, and keeping a small healthcare system moving when everyone wears multiple hats. Her lens is grounded, human, and honest about the work. Change isn’t optional. It’s the job.

In this episode we talk about HR, employee engagement, healthcare, rural staffing, change management, employee experience, leadership, technology in HR, the nursing shortage, and career development. Mary Kay breaks down what actually moves people in a small-town environment, how relationships drive retention, and why understanding employee needs matters more than any engagement program.


Key Takeaways:

  • Embracing change becomes a survival skill in HR. The teams that thrive are the ones willing to adjust roles, workflows, and expectations instead of clinging to old habits. Rural healthcare adds its own complexity, forcing leaders to be creative with staffing and flexible with responsibilities.

  • Building real relationships is what keeps people loyal. When employees feel seen, listened to, and supported, they show up differently. Small gestures go further than surface-level perks, and meaningful engagement comes from consistent, human connection rather than manufactured culture pushes.

  • Innovation shows up in unexpected ways. Sometimes it’s a new staffing model. Sometimes it’s cross-training. Sometimes it’s simply taking the time to understand what each person actually wants from their career. Clear development paths matter, and authenticity is what makes them believable.

  • Listening drives real improvements. When leaders pay attention to what employees are actually saying, engagement stops being a guessing game and becomes a partnership. Employee experience becomes the backbone of retention, especially in smaller communities where every role carries weight.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Mary Kay and Her Role

02:46 Embracing Change in HR

05:55 Navigating Employee Growth and Development

08:47 Employee Experience in Healthcare

11:50 Innovative Strategies for Staffing in Rural Areas

14:47 Building Relationships Through Engagement


Guest:

Mary Kay Kirgis, HR Director at Guttenberg Municipal Hospitals and Clinics

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mary-kay-kirgis-40ba8b4a


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 1005 Building Loyalty in the Workplace Employee loyalty isn’t luck. It’s built. Jill Fish and Lisa Walker from Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center walk through nearly two decades of working side by side and what it takes to create a workplace people genuinely want to stay in. Their story highlights how benefits, communication, culture, and technology all shape the employee experience in ways that actually move the needle. In this episode we talk about HR, employee experience, benefits, loyalty, compensation, diabetes care, technology in HR, employee engagement, workplace culture, and healthcare. Jill and Lisa share what has kept their team together, why employees return even after leaving, and how a supportive culture translates into recognition for exceptional employee experience. Key Takeaways: Loyalty isn’t random. Jill and Lisa’s 18 and 25 year tenure shows what happens when a workplace prioritizes stability, communication, and human connection. When people feel supported and valued, they stay, and in Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center’s case, many even return. Benefits only matter when employees understand them. Clear communication around total compensation gives people a sense of security and appreciation. Innovative options like FinFit and Zeyzoon show how modern benefits can solve real problems for employees and build trust across the organization. Technology is becoming a central part of the employee experience. Streamlined HR processes free up time for more meaningful engagement and help employees feel like the company is evolving with their needs. But culture still comes from personal connection, not software. Recognition matters. Awards and acknowledgments don’t just celebrate wins. They reinforce that the effort to build a positive workplace is seen and appreciated. A strong culture forms when people feel respected, supported, and part of something that grows with them. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast 02:44 The Loyalty Factor in Employment 05:45 Creating a Positive Employee Experience 08:44 Benefits That Matter 11:49 Understanding Total Compensation 14:42 Innovative Benefits and Employee Engagement 17:40 The Role of Technology in HR 20:35 Conclusion and Award Recognition Guests: Lisa Walker, Business Office Manager, Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-walker-3a14aa16/ Jill Fish, Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:16:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation on longevity, benefits, and what makes employees stay Employee loyalty isn’t luck. It’s built. Jill Fish and Lisa Walker from Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center walk through nearly two decades of working side by side and what it takes to create a workplace people genuinely want to stay in. Their story highlights how benefits, communication, culture, and technology all shape the employee experience in ways that actually move the needle. In this episode we talk about HR, employee experience, benefits, loyalty, compensation, diabetes care, technology in HR, employee engagement, workplace culture, and healthcare. Jill and Lisa share what has kept their team together, why employees return even after leaving, and how a supportive culture translates into recognition for exceptional employee experience. Key Takeaways: Loyalty isn’t random. Jill and Lisa’s 18 and 25 year tenure shows what happens when a workplace prioritizes stability, communication, and human connection. When people feel supported and valued, they stay, and in Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center’s case, many even return. Benefits only matter when employees understand them. Clear communication around total compensation gives people a sense of security and appreciation. Innovative options like FinFit and Zeyzoon show how modern benefits can solve real problems for employees and build trust across the organization. Technology is becoming a central part of the employee experience. Streamlined HR processes free up time for more meaningful engagement and help employees feel like the company is evolving with their needs. But culture still comes from personal connection, not software. Recognition matters. Awards and acknowledgments don’t just celebrate wins. They reinforce that the effort to build a positive workplace is seen and appreciated. A strong culture forms when people feel respected, supported, and part of something that grows with them. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast 02:44 The Loyalty Factor in Employment 05:45 Creating a Positive Employee Experience 08:44 Benefits That Matter 11:49 Understanding Total Compensation 14:42 Innovative Benefits and Employee Engagement 17:40 The Role of Technology in HR 20:35 Conclusion and Award Recognition Guests: Lisa Walker, Business Office Manager, Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-walker-3a14aa16/ Jill Fish, Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Employee loyalty isn’t luck. It’s built. Jill Fish and Lisa Walker from Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center walk through nearly two decades of working side by side and what it takes to create a workplace people genuinely want to stay in. Their story highlights how benefits, communication, culture, and technology all shape the employee experience in ways that actually move the needle.

In this episode we talk about HR, employee experience, benefits, loyalty, compensation, diabetes care, technology in HR, employee engagement, workplace culture, and healthcare. Jill and Lisa share what has kept their team together, why employees return even after leaving, and how a supportive culture translates into recognition for exceptional employee experience.

Key Takeaways:

  • Loyalty isn’t random. Jill and Lisa’s 18 and 25 year tenure shows what happens when a workplace prioritizes stability, communication, and human connection. When people feel supported and valued, they stay, and in Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center’s case, many even return.

  • Benefits only matter when employees understand them. Clear communication around total compensation gives people a sense of security and appreciation. Innovative options like FinFit and Zeyzoon show how modern benefits can solve real problems for employees and build trust across the organization.

  • Technology is becoming a central part of the employee experience. Streamlined HR processes free up time for more meaningful engagement and help employees feel like the company is evolving with their needs. But culture still comes from personal connection, not software.

  • Recognition matters. Awards and acknowledgments don’t just celebrate wins. They reinforce that the effort to build a positive workplace is seen and appreciated. A strong culture forms when people feel respected, supported, and part of something that grows with them.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast

02:44 The Loyalty Factor in Employment

05:45 Creating a Positive Employee Experience

08:44 Benefits That Matter

11:49 Understanding Total Compensation

14:42 Innovative Benefits and Employee Engagement

17:40 The Role of Technology in HR

20:35 Conclusion and Award Recognition


Guests:

Lisa Walker, Business Office Manager, Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-walker-3a14aa16/

Jill Fish, Rocky Mountain Diabetes Center


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 1400 The Future of Human Resources with Stacy Harris and Tami Nutt HR is shifting from support function to strategic engine, and Stacey Harris and Tami Nutt make the case clearly. They walk through how HR leaders can elevate their role by understanding how their organizations actually generate revenue, how AI is reshaping people's decisions, and why personalization matters in every HR tech interaction. In this episode we talk about HR, AI, compliance, personalization, strategic HR, research, insights, leadership, and technology. Stacey and Tami dig into the realities of ethical AI, the questions HR pros should be asking vendors, and the traps that come from relying on biased data. The message is simple. HR gets stronger when it understands the business and uses technology with intention. Key Takeaways: HR can’t stay reactive. It becomes powerful when it understands the organization’s mission and revenue streams, and uses that insight to guide people decisions. Leaders who elevate HR treat it as a strategic partner, not an administrative necessity. AI is hitting HR fast, and compliance matters as much as innovation. Personalization in HR technology makes tools easier to use and more human, but it also raises hard questions about bias, data quality, and vendor accountability. Ethical AI isn’t optional anymore. HR pros need to ask sharper questions when evaluating AI. What data is being used? How is bias being monitored? How are decisions being validated? Training and education are critical because the tools only work when the people running them understand their risks and limits. Being a people hero today means understanding and leveraging human qualities as much as technology. The leaders who thrive will be the ones who combine insight, curiosity, and a willingness to push HR forward into its strategic era. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to HR Insights 01:52 Elevating the HR Role 04:38 AI in HR Compliance 08:02 Personalization in HR Technology 11:58 Defining a People Hero Guests: Stacey Harris, Chief Research Officer & Managing Partner, Sapient Insights Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceyharris/ Tami Nutt, VP Research & Insights, Aspect43 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taminutt/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:16:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation on strategy, AI, compliance, and what HR leadership needs next HR is shifting from support function to strategic engine, and Stacey Harris and Tami Nutt make the case clearly. They walk through how HR leaders can elevate their role by understanding how their organizations actually generate revenue, how AI is reshaping people's decisions, and why personalization matters in every HR tech interaction. In this episode we talk about HR, AI, compliance, personalization, strategic HR, research, insights, leadership, and technology. Stacey and Tami dig into the realities of ethical AI, the questions HR pros should be asking vendors, and the traps that come from relying on biased data. The message is simple. HR gets stronger when it understands the business and uses technology with intention. Key Takeaways: HR can’t stay reactive. It becomes powerful when it understands the organization’s mission and revenue streams, and uses that insight to guide people decisions. Leaders who elevate HR treat it as a strategic partner, not an administrative necessity. AI is hitting HR fast, and compliance matters as much as innovation. Personalization in HR technology makes tools easier to use and more human, but it also raises hard questions about bias, data quality, and vendor accountability. Ethical AI isn’t optional anymore. HR pros need to ask sharper questions when evaluating AI. What data is being used? How is bias being monitored? How are decisions being validated? Training and education are critical because the tools only work when the people running them understand their risks and limits. Being a people hero today means understanding and leveraging human qualities as much as technology. The leaders who thrive will be the ones who combine insight, curiosity, and a willingness to push HR forward into its strategic era. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to HR Insights 01:52 Elevating the HR Role 04:38 AI in HR Compliance 08:02 Personalization in HR Technology 11:58 Defining a People Hero Guests: Stacey Harris, Chief Research Officer & Managing Partner, Sapient Insights Group LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceyharris/ Tami Nutt, VP Research & Insights, Aspect43 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taminutt/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ HR is shifting from support function to strategic engine, and Stacey Harris and Tami Nutt make the case clearly. They walk through how HR leaders can elevate their role by understanding how their organizations actually generate revenue, how AI is reshaping people's decisions, and why personalization matters in every HR tech interaction.

In this episode we talk about HR, AI, compliance, personalization, strategic HR, research, insights, leadership, and technology. Stacey and Tami dig into the realities of ethical AI, the questions HR pros should be asking vendors, and the traps that come from relying on biased data. The message is simple. HR gets stronger when it understands the business and uses technology with intention.

Key Takeaways:

  • HR can’t stay reactive. It becomes powerful when it understands the organization’s mission and revenue streams, and uses that insight to guide people decisions. Leaders who elevate HR treat it as a strategic partner, not an administrative necessity.

  • AI is hitting HR fast, and compliance matters as much as innovation. Personalization in HR technology makes tools easier to use and more human, but it also raises hard questions about bias, data quality, and vendor accountability. Ethical AI isn’t optional anymore.

  • HR pros need to ask sharper questions when evaluating AI. What data is being used? How is bias being monitored? How are decisions being validated? Training and education are critical because the tools only work when the people running them understand their risks and limits.

  • Being a people hero today means understanding and leveraging human qualities as much as technology. The leaders who thrive will be the ones who combine insight, curiosity, and a willingness to push HR forward into its strategic era.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to HR Insights

01:52 Elevating the HR Role

04:38 AI in HR Compliance

08:02 Personalization in HR Technology

11:58 Defining a People Hero


Guests:

Stacey Harris, Chief Research Officer & Managing Partner, Sapient Insights Group

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceyharris/

Tami Nutt, VP Research & Insights, Aspect43

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taminutt/


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 925 The Evolution of Org Charts with Jacob Peña Org charts aren’t paperwork. They’re the nervous system of the company. In this conversation, Jacob Peña breaks down how organizations finally get clarity when you stop treating org charts like a static PDF and start treating them like living data. His take hits on broken workflows, the real value of HR heroes, and why automation isn’t replacing anyone. It’s giving them their time back. In this episode we talk about org charts, HR technology, workforce planning, automation, and innovation. Jacob walks through sixteen years in the org chart trenches and what he’s learned as companies scale, break, rebuild, and finally realize they don’t actually know who reports to who. The big theme is simple. Better structure equals better decisions. Key Takeaways: Org charts aren’t just a diagram. They’re the backbone of onboarding, compliance, and day to day planning. Most companies still build them manually, which burns hours and hides problems that only show up when someone finally maps out how the work actually flows. Jacob has spent sixteen years swimming in every version of organizational chaos you can imagine. His biggest insight is simple. HR pros are the quiet heroes holding the structure together while juggling messy data, shifting teams, and leaders who often don’t know their own reporting lines. Automation is finally catching up. It frees HR from endless admin work and cleanup loops, replacing repetitive tasks with tools that actually reflect how the organization operates. That clarity makes workforce planning real because leaders can finally see the current state instead of guessing. Seeing your org visually changes everything. Gaps become obvious. Misalignment jumps out. And sometimes the emotional impact is real because it’s the first time a company sees its structure clearly. Org tech innovation is moving fast, and the companies that embrace it are making better decisions, faster. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Jacob Peña and Org Charts 02:57 The Importance of Org Charts in Organizations 06:00 The Role of HR and People Heroes 08:41 Innovations in Org Chart Technology 11:07 Future Trends in Workforce Planning Guest: Jacob Peña, Director of Acquisition Sales at OrgChartLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobpena Connect with us: William Tincup, Co-host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary, Co-host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:16:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network How org charts, automation, and HR heroes shape the real backbone of a company Org charts aren’t paperwork. They’re the nervous system of the company. In this conversation, Jacob Peña breaks down how organizations finally get clarity when you stop treating org charts like a static PDF and start treating them like living data. His take hits on broken workflows, the real value of HR heroes, and why automation isn’t replacing anyone. It’s giving them their time back. In this episode we talk about org charts, HR technology, workforce planning, automation, and innovation. Jacob walks through sixteen years in the org chart trenches and what he’s learned as companies scale, break, rebuild, and finally realize they don’t actually know who reports to who. The big theme is simple. Better structure equals better decisions. Key Takeaways: Org charts aren’t just a diagram. They’re the backbone of onboarding, compliance, and day to day planning. Most companies still build them manually, which burns hours and hides problems that only show up when someone finally maps out how the work actually flows. Jacob has spent sixteen years swimming in every version of organizational chaos you can imagine. His biggest insight is simple. HR pros are the quiet heroes holding the structure together while juggling messy data, shifting teams, and leaders who often don’t know their own reporting lines. Automation is finally catching up. It frees HR from endless admin work and cleanup loops, replacing repetitive tasks with tools that actually reflect how the organization operates. That clarity makes workforce planning real because leaders can finally see the current state instead of guessing. Seeing your org visually changes everything. Gaps become obvious. Misalignment jumps out. And sometimes the emotional impact is real because it’s the first time a company sees its structure clearly. Org tech innovation is moving fast, and the companies that embrace it are making better decisions, faster. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Jacob Peña and Org Charts 02:57 The Importance of Org Charts in Organizations 06:00 The Role of HR and People Heroes 08:41 Innovations in Org Chart Technology 11:07 Future Trends in Workforce Planning Guest: Jacob Peña, Director of Acquisition Sales at OrgChartLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobpena Connect with us: William Tincup, Co-host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary, Co-host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Org charts aren’t paperwork. They’re the nervous system of the company. In this conversation, Jacob Peña breaks down how organizations finally get clarity when you stop treating org charts like a static PDF and start treating them like living data. His take hits on broken workflows, the real value of HR heroes, and why automation isn’t replacing anyone. It’s giving them their time back.

In this episode we talk about org charts, HR technology, workforce planning, automation, and innovation. Jacob walks through sixteen years in the org chart trenches and what he’s learned as companies scale, break, rebuild, and finally realize they don’t actually know who reports to who. The big theme is simple. Better structure equals better decisions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Org charts aren’t just a diagram. They’re the backbone of onboarding, compliance, and day to day planning. Most companies still build them manually, which burns hours and hides problems that only show up when someone finally maps out how the work actually flows.

  • Jacob has spent sixteen years swimming in every version of organizational chaos you can imagine. His biggest insight is simple. HR pros are the quiet heroes holding the structure together while juggling messy data, shifting teams, and leaders who often don’t know their own reporting lines.

  • Automation is finally catching up. It frees HR from endless admin work and cleanup loops, replacing repetitive tasks with tools that actually reflect how the organization operates. That clarity makes workforce planning real because leaders can finally see the current state instead of guessing.

  • Seeing your org visually changes everything. Gaps become obvious. Misalignment jumps out. And sometimes the emotional impact is real because it’s the first time a company sees its structure clearly. Org tech innovation is moving fast, and the companies that embrace it are making better decisions, faster.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Jacob Peña and Org Charts

02:57 The Importance of Org Charts in Organizations

06:00 The Role of HR and People Heroes

08:41 Innovations in Org Chart Technology

11:07 Future Trends in Workforce Planning


Guest:

Jacob Peña, Director of Acquisition Sales at OrgChartLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobpena

Connect with us:

William Tincup, Co-host

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary, Co-host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/


]]> 739 Innovating HR: The Future of Employee Management Innovation in HR isn’t just a tech story. It’s a people story. Jan, HR director at Community Living Concepts, breaks down how nonprofits can modernize their HR practices without losing sight of their mission. From choosing the right software to empowering employees through upskilling, she shares how thoughtful technology and intentional leadership can change the trajectory of a team. In this episode we talk about HR, technology, nonprofits, employee empowerment, software selection, innovation, upskilling, community living, isolved, and growth. Jan explains what long-term partnerships with software providers look like, why outdated systems hold organizations back, and how better training can transform both confidence and performance. Key Takeaways: Innovation is a mindset. Community Living Concepts’ mission-driven work adds another layer, proving that even nonprofits need modern systems to support people effectively. Software selection can make or break an organization’s workflow. Long-term relationships with vendors help, but only when paired with thorough research and team involvement. Transitioning away from outdated tools is tough, yet necessary, especially when budget constraints force nonprofits to be strategic. Upskilling employees unlocks opportunity. Investing in training helps people grow, strengthens morale, and opens the door for internal promotions. When employees feel supported in learning new skills, their confidence rises and the entire culture shifts. Innovative HR technology streamlines processes and frees leaders to focus on people. Training programs, when executed well, become life changing for employees who may have never been given structured development before. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast 02:53 The Importance of Innovation in HR Technology 05:49 Navigating Software Selection for Nonprofits 08:37 Empowering Employees Through Upskilling Guest: Jan Mack, HR Director at Community Living Concepts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-mack-1839a53/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:16:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation on technology, nonprofit challenges, and building people up Innovation in HR isn’t just a tech story. It’s a people story. Jan, HR director at Community Living Concepts, breaks down how nonprofits can modernize their HR practices without losing sight of their mission. From choosing the right software to empowering employees through upskilling, she shares how thoughtful technology and intentional leadership can change the trajectory of a team. In this episode we talk about HR, technology, nonprofits, employee empowerment, software selection, innovation, upskilling, community living, isolved, and growth. Jan explains what long-term partnerships with software providers look like, why outdated systems hold organizations back, and how better training can transform both confidence and performance. Key Takeaways: Innovation is a mindset. Community Living Concepts’ mission-driven work adds another layer, proving that even nonprofits need modern systems to support people effectively. Software selection can make or break an organization’s workflow. Long-term relationships with vendors help, but only when paired with thorough research and team involvement. Transitioning away from outdated tools is tough, yet necessary, especially when budget constraints force nonprofits to be strategic. Upskilling employees unlocks opportunity. Investing in training helps people grow, strengthens morale, and opens the door for internal promotions. When employees feel supported in learning new skills, their confidence rises and the entire culture shifts. Innovative HR technology streamlines processes and frees leaders to focus on people. Training programs, when executed well, become life changing for employees who may have never been given structured development before. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast 02:53 The Importance of Innovation in HR Technology 05:49 Navigating Software Selection for Nonprofits 08:37 Empowering Employees Through Upskilling Guest: Jan Mack, HR Director at Community Living Concepts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-mack-1839a53/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Innovation in HR isn’t just a tech story. It’s a people story. Jan, HR director at Community Living Concepts, breaks down how nonprofits can modernize their HR practices without losing sight of their mission. From choosing the right software to empowering employees through upskilling, she shares how thoughtful technology and intentional leadership can change the trajectory of a team.

In this episode we talk about HR, technology, nonprofits, employee empowerment, software selection, innovation, upskilling, community living, isolved, and growth. Jan explains what long-term partnerships with software providers look like, why outdated systems hold organizations back, and how better training can transform both confidence and performance.

Key Takeaways:

  • Innovation is a mindset. Community Living Concepts’ mission-driven work adds another layer, proving that even nonprofits need modern systems to support people effectively.

  • Software selection can make or break an organization’s workflow. Long-term relationships with vendors help, but only when paired with thorough research and team involvement. Transitioning away from outdated tools is tough, yet necessary, especially when budget constraints force nonprofits to be strategic.

  • Upskilling employees unlocks opportunity. Investing in training helps people grow, strengthens morale, and opens the door for internal promotions. When employees feel supported in learning new skills, their confidence rises and the entire culture shifts.

  • Innovative HR technology streamlines processes and frees leaders to focus on people. Training programs, when executed well, become life changing for employees who may have never been given structured development before.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast

02:53 The Importance of Innovation in HR Technology

05:49 Navigating Software Selection for Nonprofits

08:37 Empowering Employees Through Upskilling


Guest:

Jan Mack, HR Director at Community Living Concepts

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-mack-1839a53/

Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/


]]> 605 Unlocking Financial Freedom: The Power of Earned Wage Access with ZayZoon Financial stress doesn’t stay at home when people walk into work. Jaryn and Ivan from ZayZoon dig into earned wage access as a real solution for the employees who feel that pressure the most. They break down what EWA actually is, why it matters for deskless and hourly workers, and how it’s reshaping the way companies think about benefits. Their take is grounded in what employees are actually struggling with and how employers can step up without adding complexity or cost. In this episode we talk about earned wage access, financial wellness, employee retention, recruitment strategies, the gig economy, workplace satisfaction, employee benefits, and how financial stress reshapes the employee experience. Jaryn and Ivan explain the misconceptions around EWA, why it’s nothing like a payday loan, and how small shifts in access can build trust, stability, and loyalty across the workforce. Key Takeaways: Jaryn and Ivan walk through why earned wage access has exploded post-COVID. Workers want control and predictability, especially those in hourly and deskless roles who face the highest day-to-day financial swings. EWA gives people breathing room without trapping them in debt, and employers who offer it differentiate themselves in a tight hiring market. They get into what employees actually use earned wages for. It’s not luxury spending. It’s the essentials. Rent. Groceries. Gas. The real stuff that keeps life moving. When companies meet that need without judgment or friction, employee satisfaction goes up and financial stress goes down, which shows up in performance and retention. The conversation digs into the misconceptions too. EWA is often confused with payday loans, even though the mechanics and fees are entirely different. ZayZoon structures their model to avoid predatory patterns and to create a benefit that supports long-term stability. That’s a major part of why employers are adopting it as a frontline recruitment and retention tool. They close with a reminder that HR professionals are the connective tissue in all of this. People heroes. The ones who push benefits forward, advocate for employee well-being, and create cultures where workers feel like humans instead of just headcount. When companies support financial wellness, everything improves. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Earned Wage Access 00:50 Understanding ZayZoon's Role in Financial Wellness 02:11 Impact of Earned Wage Access on Various Industries 03:03 Usage Patterns of Earned Wages 04:31 Debunking Myths: Earned Wage Access vs. Predatory Loans 06:18 Employee Retention and Recruitment Strategies 09:00 The Concept of People Heroes in HR Guests: Jaryn Friesen and Ivan Alumia from ZayZoon Website: https://www.zayzoon.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary Linked://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:15:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation on financial wellness, employee stress, and why the right benefits change everything Financial stress doesn’t stay at home when people walk into work. Jaryn and Ivan from ZayZoon dig into earned wage access as a real solution for the employees who feel that pressure the most. They break down what EWA actually is, why it matters for deskless and hourly workers, and how it’s reshaping the way companies think about benefits. Their take is grounded in what employees are actually struggling with and how employers can step up without adding complexity or cost. In this episode we talk about earned wage access, financial wellness, employee retention, recruitment strategies, the gig economy, workplace satisfaction, employee benefits, and how financial stress reshapes the employee experience. Jaryn and Ivan explain the misconceptions around EWA, why it’s nothing like a payday loan, and how small shifts in access can build trust, stability, and loyalty across the workforce. Key Takeaways: Jaryn and Ivan walk through why earned wage access has exploded post-COVID. Workers want control and predictability, especially those in hourly and deskless roles who face the highest day-to-day financial swings. EWA gives people breathing room without trapping them in debt, and employers who offer it differentiate themselves in a tight hiring market. They get into what employees actually use earned wages for. It’s not luxury spending. It’s the essentials. Rent. Groceries. Gas. The real stuff that keeps life moving. When companies meet that need without judgment or friction, employee satisfaction goes up and financial stress goes down, which shows up in performance and retention. The conversation digs into the misconceptions too. EWA is often confused with payday loans, even though the mechanics and fees are entirely different. ZayZoon structures their model to avoid predatory patterns and to create a benefit that supports long-term stability. That’s a major part of why employers are adopting it as a frontline recruitment and retention tool. They close with a reminder that HR professionals are the connective tissue in all of this. People heroes. The ones who push benefits forward, advocate for employee well-being, and create cultures where workers feel like humans instead of just headcount. When companies support financial wellness, everything improves. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Earned Wage Access 00:50 Understanding ZayZoon's Role in Financial Wellness 02:11 Impact of Earned Wage Access on Various Industries 03:03 Usage Patterns of Earned Wages 04:31 Debunking Myths: Earned Wage Access vs. Predatory Loans 06:18 Employee Retention and Recruitment Strategies 09:00 The Concept of People Heroes in HR Guests: Jaryn Friesen and Ivan Alumia from ZayZoon Website: https://www.zayzoon.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary Linked://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Financial stress doesn’t stay at home when people walk into work. Jaryn and Ivan from ZayZoon dig into earned wage access as a real solution for the employees who feel that pressure the most. They break down what EWA actually is, why it matters for deskless and hourly workers, and how it’s reshaping the way companies think about benefits. Their take is grounded in what employees are actually struggling with and how employers can step up without adding complexity or cost.

In this episode we talk about earned wage access, financial wellness, employee retention, recruitment strategies, the gig economy, workplace satisfaction, employee benefits, and how financial stress reshapes the employee experience. Jaryn and Ivan explain the misconceptions around EWA, why it’s nothing like a payday loan, and how small shifts in access can build trust, stability, and loyalty across the workforce.


Key Takeaways:

  • Jaryn and Ivan walk through why earned wage access has exploded post-COVID. Workers want control and predictability, especially those in hourly and deskless roles who face the highest day-to-day financial swings. EWA gives people breathing room without trapping them in debt, and employers who offer it differentiate themselves in a tight hiring market.

  • They get into what employees actually use earned wages for. It’s not luxury spending. It’s the essentials. Rent. Groceries. Gas. The real stuff that keeps life moving. When companies meet that need without judgment or friction, employee satisfaction goes up and financial stress goes down, which shows up in performance and retention.

  • The conversation digs into the misconceptions too. EWA is often confused with payday loans, even though the mechanics and fees are entirely different. ZayZoon structures their model to avoid predatory patterns and to create a benefit that supports long-term stability. That’s a major part of why employers are adopting it as a frontline recruitment and retention tool.

  • They close with a reminder that HR professionals are the connective tissue in all of this. People heroes. The ones who push benefits forward, advocate for employee well-being, and create cultures where workers feel like humans instead of just headcount. When companies support financial wellness, everything improves.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Earned Wage Access

00:50 Understanding ZayZoon's Role in Financial Wellness

02:11 Impact of Earned Wage Access on Various Industries

03:03 Usage Patterns of Earned Wages

04:31 Debunking Myths: Earned Wage Access vs. Predatory Loans

06:18 Employee Retention and Recruitment Strategies

09:00 The Concept of People Heroes in HR


Guests:

Jaryn Friesen and Ivan Alumia from ZayZoon

Website: https://www.zayzoon.com/


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary Linked://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 792 How Small Wins Shape Real Leadership with Amy Mosher, Chief People Officer at isolved Some leaders grow companies by accident. Others do it with intention. Amy Moser is the second kind. As Chief People Officer at isolved, she sits in the middle of growth, culture, and technology and sees how every small adjustment ripples through an organization. Her take on leadership is hands-on and human. She talks about mentorship without the ceremony, technology without the buzzwords, and career development without the corporate shine. It’s real, simple, and rooted in actually helping people move forward. In this episode we talk about employee experience, leadership style, HR technology, small wins, the People Hero panel, mentorship, career growth, and how organizations shift as they scale. Amy brings clarity to the work most leaders overcomplicate. She cuts through process and goes straight to what makes a team feel supported. Key Takeaways: Technology only matters if it makes people’s days easier. Amy keeps the focus on the basics. Tools have to work. Information has to be findable. Leaders should stop tripping over processes that should have been fixed years ago. When the noise drops, people settle in and do better work. It’s not complicated. Mentorship comes up a lot, but Amy treats it like something that happens in real life, not a corporate rollout. The best mentors are the ones who show up without being assigned. They pull you forward, give you straight reads, and make you feel like you’re capable of more. You can’t manufacture that. You just have to be someone people trust enough to learn from. Leadership growth comes from tiny moments people forget to count. Letting someone take the wheel for once. Letting them try something you’d normally grab back. Giving them room to figure it out. Those small chances stack up. People build confidence from that, not from some big announcement or title change. The People Hero idea hits home because it’s grounded in reality. It’s not a badge. It’s someone who shows up for others even when the work is invisible. It’s someone who pays attention, nudges careers forward, and makes sure people don’t get stuck. That kind of support changes teams in ways most dashboards will never capture. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Amy Moser and isolved 01:49 Optimizing Technology for Employee Experience 05:06 People Hero Panel Insights 11:10 Small Wins and Leadership Lessons 14:36 The Importance of Mentorship 19:02 Defining a People Hero Guest: Amy Moser, Chief People Officer, isolved LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amy-m-mosher Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:15:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Technology, mentorship, and the quiet moments that build strong people teams Some leaders grow companies by accident. Others do it with intention. Amy Moser is the second kind. As Chief People Officer at isolved, she sits in the middle of growth, culture, and technology and sees how every small adjustment ripples through an organization. Her take on leadership is hands-on and human. She talks about mentorship without the ceremony, technology without the buzzwords, and career development without the corporate shine. It’s real, simple, and rooted in actually helping people move forward. In this episode we talk about employee experience, leadership style, HR technology, small wins, the People Hero panel, mentorship, career growth, and how organizations shift as they scale. Amy brings clarity to the work most leaders overcomplicate. She cuts through process and goes straight to what makes a team feel supported. Key Takeaways: Technology only matters if it makes people’s days easier. Amy keeps the focus on the basics. Tools have to work. Information has to be findable. Leaders should stop tripping over processes that should have been fixed years ago. When the noise drops, people settle in and do better work. It’s not complicated. Mentorship comes up a lot, but Amy treats it like something that happens in real life, not a corporate rollout. The best mentors are the ones who show up without being assigned. They pull you forward, give you straight reads, and make you feel like you’re capable of more. You can’t manufacture that. You just have to be someone people trust enough to learn from. Leadership growth comes from tiny moments people forget to count. Letting someone take the wheel for once. Letting them try something you’d normally grab back. Giving them room to figure it out. Those small chances stack up. People build confidence from that, not from some big announcement or title change. The People Hero idea hits home because it’s grounded in reality. It’s not a badge. It’s someone who shows up for others even when the work is invisible. It’s someone who pays attention, nudges careers forward, and makes sure people don’t get stuck. That kind of support changes teams in ways most dashboards will never capture. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Amy Moser and isolved 01:49 Optimizing Technology for Employee Experience 05:06 People Hero Panel Insights 11:10 Small Wins and Leadership Lessons 14:36 The Importance of Mentorship 19:02 Defining a People Hero Guest: Amy Moser, Chief People Officer, isolved LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amy-m-mosher Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Some leaders grow companies by accident. Others do it with intention. Amy Moser is the second kind. As Chief People Officer at isolved, she sits in the middle of growth, culture, and technology and sees how every small adjustment ripples through an organization. Her take on leadership is hands-on and human. She talks about mentorship without the ceremony, technology without the buzzwords, and career development without the corporate shine. It’s real, simple, and rooted in actually helping people move forward.

In this episode we talk about employee experience, leadership style, HR technology, small wins, the People Hero panel, mentorship, career growth, and how organizations shift as they scale. Amy brings clarity to the work most leaders overcomplicate. She cuts through process and goes straight to what makes a team feel supported.


Key Takeaways:

  • Technology only matters if it makes people’s days easier. Amy keeps the focus on the basics. Tools have to work. Information has to be findable. Leaders should stop tripping over processes that should have been fixed years ago. When the noise drops, people settle in and do better work. It’s not complicated.

  • Mentorship comes up a lot, but Amy treats it like something that happens in real life, not a corporate rollout. The best mentors are the ones who show up without being assigned. They pull you forward, give you straight reads, and make you feel like you’re capable of more. You can’t manufacture that. You just have to be someone people trust enough to learn from.

  • Leadership growth comes from tiny moments people forget to count. Letting someone take the wheel for once. Letting them try something you’d normally grab back. Giving them room to figure it out. Those small chances stack up. People build confidence from that, not from some big announcement or title change.

  • The People Hero idea hits home because it’s grounded in reality. It’s not a badge. It’s someone who shows up for others even when the work is invisible. It’s someone who pays attention, nudges careers forward, and makes sure people don’t get stuck. That kind of support changes teams in ways most dashboards will never capture.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Amy Moser and isolved

01:49 Optimizing Technology for Employee Experience

05:06 People Hero Panel Insights

11:10 Small Wins and Leadership Lessons

14:36 The Importance of Mentorship

19:02 Defining a People Hero


Guest:

Amy Moser, Chief People Officer, isolved

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amy-m-mosher


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 1386 The Heart of HR: Supporting Employees in Healthcare Community health doesn’t give you the luxury of distance. We talk about what it means to stay accessible, to carry the emotional weight of the team, and to keep a small organization moving even when everyone is stretched thin. Her world is built on trust, straight talk, and the kind of support that never fits neatly into a job description. In this episode we talk about HR in community health, employee experience, accessibility, emotional labor, community support, employee relations, and how small organizations run on people stepping up instead of passing problems down the line. Key Takeaways: Employees don’t show up neutral. They walk into work with whatever life threw at them before clocking in. The fear, the stress, the family issues. Accessibility isn’t a philosophy for her. It’s the only way the work gets done. People come to her office because they trust her to hold space for what’s really going on, not just the surface-level stuff. HR turns into a steady hand when the room gets heavy. Some days it looks like traditional HR. Most days it looks like counseling without the title. People need direction, perspective, and someone who can absorb the emotion without losing the truth. Small organizations don’t offer escape routes. You’re switching hats all day. Payroll in the morning. Conflict at lunch. A personal crisis in the afternoon. You learn fast whether you’re built for this or not. The only way to make it work is honesty — with yourself and with your team. Pretending everything is fine just burns everyone out faster. The community piece sits underneath all of it. When a nurse faced a personal crisis, the entire town wrapped around her without hesitation. No policy required. No memo. Just people taking care of people because that’s what community health really is. Moments like that remind you why this work matters even when it feels impossible. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Community Health HR 02:54 The Role of HR in Community Health 05:44 Employee Experience and Accessibility 08:53 Impactful HR Stories and Community Support Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:15:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation about the real work behind community health HR Community health doesn’t give you the luxury of distance. We talk about what it means to stay accessible, to carry the emotional weight of the team, and to keep a small organization moving even when everyone is stretched thin. Her world is built on trust, straight talk, and the kind of support that never fits neatly into a job description. In this episode we talk about HR in community health, employee experience, accessibility, emotional labor, community support, employee relations, and how small organizations run on people stepping up instead of passing problems down the line. Key Takeaways: Employees don’t show up neutral. They walk into work with whatever life threw at them before clocking in. The fear, the stress, the family issues. Accessibility isn’t a philosophy for her. It’s the only way the work gets done. People come to her office because they trust her to hold space for what’s really going on, not just the surface-level stuff. HR turns into a steady hand when the room gets heavy. Some days it looks like traditional HR. Most days it looks like counseling without the title. People need direction, perspective, and someone who can absorb the emotion without losing the truth. Small organizations don’t offer escape routes. You’re switching hats all day. Payroll in the morning. Conflict at lunch. A personal crisis in the afternoon. You learn fast whether you’re built for this or not. The only way to make it work is honesty — with yourself and with your team. Pretending everything is fine just burns everyone out faster. The community piece sits underneath all of it. When a nurse faced a personal crisis, the entire town wrapped around her without hesitation. No policy required. No memo. Just people taking care of people because that’s what community health really is. Moments like that remind you why this work matters even when it feels impossible. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Community Health HR 02:54 The Role of HR in Community Health 05:44 Employee Experience and Accessibility 08:53 Impactful HR Stories and Community Support Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Community health doesn’t give you the luxury of distance. We talk about what it means to stay accessible, to carry the emotional weight of the team, and to keep a small organization moving even when everyone is stretched thin. Her world is built on trust, straight talk, and the kind of support that never fits neatly into a job description.

In this episode we talk about HR in community health, employee experience, accessibility, emotional labor, community support, employee relations, and how small organizations run on people stepping up instead of passing problems down the line.


Key Takeaways:

  • Employees don’t show up neutral. They walk into work with whatever life threw at them before clocking in. The fear, the stress, the family issues. Accessibility isn’t a philosophy for her. It’s the only way the work gets done. People come to her office because they trust her to hold space for what’s really going on, not just the surface-level stuff.

  • HR turns into a steady hand when the room gets heavy. Some days it looks like traditional HR. Most days it looks like counseling without the title. People need direction, perspective, and someone who can absorb the emotion without losing the truth.

  • Small organizations don’t offer escape routes. You’re switching hats all day. Payroll in the morning. Conflict at lunch. A personal crisis in the afternoon. You learn fast whether you’re built for this or not. The only way to make it work is honesty — with yourself and with your team. Pretending everything is fine just burns everyone out faster.

  • The community piece sits underneath all of it. When a nurse faced a personal crisis, the entire town wrapped around her without hesitation. No policy required. No memo. Just people taking care of people because that’s what community health really is. Moments like that remind you why this work matters even when it feels impossible.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Community Health HR

02:54 The Role of HR in Community Health

05:44 Employee Experience and Accessibility

08:53 Impactful HR Stories and Community Support


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 744 Navigating Labor Law Compliance with Poster Elite with Hannah Peterson, Poster Elite Compliance doesn’t sound exciting until something breaks. Hannah Peterson from Poster Elite brings clarity to a topic most teams ignore until it's too late. She talks about why labor law posters matter, how fast regulations shift, and the real consequences companies face when they fall behind. Her story is grounded in the work, the culture that kept her growing inside Poster Elite, and the responsibility HR carries as the last line of defense for employee rights. In this episode we talk about labor law compliance, workplace posters, employee rights, HR challenges, communication, culture, compliance automation, and how a simple process can prevent serious risk. Hannah explains what businesses often overlook, why updates hit so frequently in states like California, and how good-faith compliance shows up in legal situations. Key Takeaways: Companies think compliance is boring until it bites them. One missed update and suddenly that cheap poster in the breakroom becomes a liability. Poster Elite lives in that chaos. They catch the stuff nobody has time for, especially in states where the rules change like the weather. Most leaders don’t realize how exposed they are until someone like Hannah shows them the gaps. The real story is how little employees know about their rights because nobody tells them. Posters aren’t decor. They’re the one place you can’t hide the truth. When people know what they’re allowed to ask for, the whole tone of a workplace changes. And when HR isn’t manually chasing updates, they finally get to breathe a little. What stuck out is the culture inside Poster Elite. These folks stay. Not because of gimmicks, but because they’re treated like adults. Clear expectations. No drama. Room to grow. That’s why they’ve got people there for a decade plus. Leadership sets the temperature. Everything else follows from that. And at the end of the day, HR is carrying the weight. They’re the ones keeping the place upright while everyone else pretends compliance is optional. It isn’t. It’s one of the few levers that protects both the company and the people in it. When HR gets this right, everything runs smoother. When they don’t, everyone feels it. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Poster Elite and Labor Law Compliance 02:46 The Importance of Labor Law Posters 05:49 Consequences of Non-Compliance 08:47 The Role of HR Professionals as Everyday Heroes Guest: Hannah Peterson, Poster Elite LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hannah-peterson-40588160 Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:13:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Employee rights, workplace culture, and why compliance still shapes everything Compliance doesn’t sound exciting until something breaks. Hannah Peterson from Poster Elite brings clarity to a topic most teams ignore until it's too late. She talks about why labor law posters matter, how fast regulations shift, and the real consequences companies face when they fall behind. Her story is grounded in the work, the culture that kept her growing inside Poster Elite, and the responsibility HR carries as the last line of defense for employee rights. In this episode we talk about labor law compliance, workplace posters, employee rights, HR challenges, communication, culture, compliance automation, and how a simple process can prevent serious risk. Hannah explains what businesses often overlook, why updates hit so frequently in states like California, and how good-faith compliance shows up in legal situations. Key Takeaways: Companies think compliance is boring until it bites them. One missed update and suddenly that cheap poster in the breakroom becomes a liability. Poster Elite lives in that chaos. They catch the stuff nobody has time for, especially in states where the rules change like the weather. Most leaders don’t realize how exposed they are until someone like Hannah shows them the gaps. The real story is how little employees know about their rights because nobody tells them. Posters aren’t decor. They’re the one place you can’t hide the truth. When people know what they’re allowed to ask for, the whole tone of a workplace changes. And when HR isn’t manually chasing updates, they finally get to breathe a little. What stuck out is the culture inside Poster Elite. These folks stay. Not because of gimmicks, but because they’re treated like adults. Clear expectations. No drama. Room to grow. That’s why they’ve got people there for a decade plus. Leadership sets the temperature. Everything else follows from that. And at the end of the day, HR is carrying the weight. They’re the ones keeping the place upright while everyone else pretends compliance is optional. It isn’t. It’s one of the few levers that protects both the company and the people in it. When HR gets this right, everything runs smoother. When they don’t, everyone feels it. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Poster Elite and Labor Law Compliance 02:46 The Importance of Labor Law Posters 05:49 Consequences of Non-Compliance 08:47 The Role of HR Professionals as Everyday Heroes Guest: Hannah Peterson, Poster Elite LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hannah-peterson-40588160 Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Compliance doesn’t sound exciting until something breaks. Hannah Peterson from Poster Elite brings clarity to a topic most teams ignore until it's too late. She talks about why labor law posters matter, how fast regulations shift, and the real consequences companies face when they fall behind. Her story is grounded in the work, the culture that kept her growing inside Poster Elite, and the responsibility HR carries as the last line of defense for employee rights.

In this episode we talk about labor law compliance, workplace posters, employee rights, HR challenges, communication, culture, compliance automation, and how a simple process can prevent serious risk. Hannah explains what businesses often overlook, why updates hit so frequently in states like California, and how good-faith compliance shows up in legal situations.


Key Takeaways:

  • Companies think compliance is boring until it bites them. One missed update and suddenly that cheap poster in the breakroom becomes a liability. Poster Elite lives in that chaos. They catch the stuff nobody has time for, especially in states where the rules change like the weather. Most leaders don’t realize how exposed they are until someone like Hannah shows them the gaps.

  • The real story is how little employees know about their rights because nobody tells them. Posters aren’t decor. They’re the one place you can’t hide the truth. When people know what they’re allowed to ask for, the whole tone of a workplace changes. And when HR isn’t manually chasing updates, they finally get to breathe a little.

  • What stuck out is the culture inside Poster Elite. These folks stay. Not because of gimmicks, but because they’re treated like adults. Clear expectations. No drama. Room to grow. That’s why they’ve got people there for a decade plus. Leadership sets the temperature. Everything else follows from that.

  • And at the end of the day, HR is carrying the weight. They’re the ones keeping the place upright while everyone else pretends compliance is optional. It isn’t. It’s one of the few levers that protects both the company and the people in it. When HR gets this right, everything runs smoother. When they don’t, everyone feels it.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Poster Elite and Labor Law Compliance

02:46 The Importance of Labor Law Posters

05:49 Consequences of Non-Compliance

08:47 The Role of HR Professionals as Everyday Heroes


Guest:

Hannah Peterson, Poster Elite

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hannah-peterson-40588160


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 714 Keeping Remote Teams Connected Across 60 Properties Remote teams sound simple on paper until you’re the one holding it together. Aubrey Yankee lives that reality every day at Biltmore Properties, where sixty scattered housing sites across Arizona depend on her to make the work feel human. Her world is federal housing, tight margins, rotating staff, and teams that rarely see each other in person. She talks about what it takes to keep people plugged in when geography is working against you. Her approach is grounded, practical, and built on the idea that engagement is not a program. It is a habit. In this episode we talk about employee experience, remote work, communication systems, performance reviews, housing organizations, onboarding, technology, and how HR keeps culture steady when teams never share a building. Aubrey breaks down what actually keeps people connected, what tools matter, and where personal touch still beats process. Key Takeaways: The reality she works in is messy. Employees are spread across the state, communication changes constantly, and everyone needs something at the same time. Tools like isolved become more than software. They become the anchor that keeps people synced. Centralizing documents, certifications, and communication gives employees one place to land. When people know where to go for answers, everything gets lighter. Personal details matter more than anyone admits. A profile photo, a few onboarding questions, a sliver of personality. These tiny signals take the edge off remote work and help people see each other as humans again. When a team is spread thin, connection comes from the smallest touchpoints. Aubrey uses them well. Performance reviews are usually a chore. She flipped that script by removing the pressure. Let the employee talk. Give them space. Let them write without someone hovering. Supervisors stop dreading the process, employees take more ownership, and the whole thing feels less like a judgment and more like a conversation about growth. Support is the unglamorous part of HR. Everyone leans on HR when things get heavy. Aubrey’s focus is making the workload lighter for the supervisors carrying too much. When communication flows and approvals stop clogging, supervisors breathe. Teams breathe. The organization runs cleaner because HR is solving real friction instead of policing forms. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Biltmore Properties and the HR landscape 02:01 Connecting sixty remote properties 04:33 Personalizing the employee experience 07:15 Rethinking performance reviews 10:22 Supporting supervisors and easing operational weight Guest: Aubrey Yankee, Accounting Manager and HR Leader, Biltmore Properties Website: Biltmore Properties Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:12:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation about tech, trust, and how real engagement happens when people stop feeling invisible Remote teams sound simple on paper until you’re the one holding it together. Aubrey Yankee lives that reality every day at Biltmore Properties, where sixty scattered housing sites across Arizona depend on her to make the work feel human. Her world is federal housing, tight margins, rotating staff, and teams that rarely see each other in person. She talks about what it takes to keep people plugged in when geography is working against you. Her approach is grounded, practical, and built on the idea that engagement is not a program. It is a habit. In this episode we talk about employee experience, remote work, communication systems, performance reviews, housing organizations, onboarding, technology, and how HR keeps culture steady when teams never share a building. Aubrey breaks down what actually keeps people connected, what tools matter, and where personal touch still beats process. Key Takeaways: The reality she works in is messy. Employees are spread across the state, communication changes constantly, and everyone needs something at the same time. Tools like isolved become more than software. They become the anchor that keeps people synced. Centralizing documents, certifications, and communication gives employees one place to land. When people know where to go for answers, everything gets lighter. Personal details matter more than anyone admits. A profile photo, a few onboarding questions, a sliver of personality. These tiny signals take the edge off remote work and help people see each other as humans again. When a team is spread thin, connection comes from the smallest touchpoints. Aubrey uses them well. Performance reviews are usually a chore. She flipped that script by removing the pressure. Let the employee talk. Give them space. Let them write without someone hovering. Supervisors stop dreading the process, employees take more ownership, and the whole thing feels less like a judgment and more like a conversation about growth. Support is the unglamorous part of HR. Everyone leans on HR when things get heavy. Aubrey’s focus is making the workload lighter for the supervisors carrying too much. When communication flows and approvals stop clogging, supervisors breathe. Teams breathe. The organization runs cleaner because HR is solving real friction instead of policing forms. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Biltmore Properties and the HR landscape 02:01 Connecting sixty remote properties 04:33 Personalizing the employee experience 07:15 Rethinking performance reviews 10:22 Supporting supervisors and easing operational weight Guest: Aubrey Yankee, Accounting Manager and HR Leader, Biltmore Properties Website: Biltmore Properties Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Remote teams sound simple on paper until you’re the one holding it together. Aubrey Yankee lives that reality every day at Biltmore Properties, where sixty scattered housing sites across Arizona depend on her to make the work feel human. Her world is federal housing, tight margins, rotating staff, and teams that rarely see each other in person. She talks about what it takes to keep people plugged in when geography is working against you. Her approach is grounded, practical, and built on the idea that engagement is not a program. It is a habit.

In this episode we talk about employee experience, remote work, communication systems, performance reviews, housing organizations, onboarding, technology, and how HR keeps culture steady when teams never share a building. Aubrey breaks down what actually keeps people connected, what tools matter, and where personal touch still beats process.


Key Takeaways:

  • The reality she works in is messy. Employees are spread across the state, communication changes constantly, and everyone needs something at the same time. Tools like isolved become more than software. They become the anchor that keeps people synced. Centralizing documents, certifications, and communication gives employees one place to land. When people know where to go for answers, everything gets lighter.

  • Personal details matter more than anyone admits. A profile photo, a few onboarding questions, a sliver of personality. These tiny signals take the edge off remote work and help people see each other as humans again. When a team is spread thin, connection comes from the smallest touchpoints. Aubrey uses them well.

  • Performance reviews are usually a chore. She flipped that script by removing the pressure. Let the employee talk. Give them space. Let them write without someone hovering. Supervisors stop dreading the process, employees take more ownership, and the whole thing feels less like a judgment and more like a conversation about growth.

  • Support is the unglamorous part of HR. Everyone leans on HR when things get heavy. Aubrey’s focus is making the workload lighter for the supervisors carrying too much. When communication flows and approvals stop clogging, supervisors breathe. Teams breathe. The organization runs cleaner because HR is solving real friction instead of policing forms.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Biltmore Properties and the HR landscape

02:01 Connecting sixty remote properties

04:33 Personalizing the employee experience

07:15 Rethinking performance reviews

10:22 Supporting supervisors and easing operational weight


Guest:

Aubrey Yankee, Accounting Manager and HR Leader, Biltmore Properties

Website: Biltmore Properties


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 605 Unlocking the Power of Prepaid Legal Services with Tom Von Jess, LegalShield Most employees carry more legal stress than they ever admit. Tickets, landlord disputes, custody questions, identity theft scares, wills they avoid for years. None of it stays outside the workplace. Tom Von Jess breaks down why prepaid legal services matter more than most leaders think. His angle is simple. When you give people affordable access to real legal help, they show up differently. They’re calmer. They’re less distracted. They feel supported in ways that actually move the needle on engagement. In this episode we talk about prepaid legal services, voluntary benefits, identity theft, employee engagement, retention, legal workload, workplace benefits, adoption strategies, and what really drives participation. Tom pulls apart how these programs get used, how people decide to trust them, and why affordability decides everything. Key Takeaways: Legal problems hit quietly. People sit on them until the pressure gets uncomfortable. This benefit gives them a place to go before things spin out. When the barrier to entry drops, you see employees tackle the stuff they’ve been avoiding for years. Estate planning. Real estate questions. Financial concerns that keep them up at night. Year two and year three always spike because people finally realize they can use it without getting burned. Participation tells its own story. Fifteen to twenty percent is strong because legal help is personal. People use it when they trust it. They use it when the examples feel real. Education is what makes or breaks adoption, not handouts or slide decks. When someone hears a scenario that mirrors their world, they engage. When they understand the cost compared to hiring a lawyer solo, they stay. What sticks is the employer effect. When a company offers something that actually helps with life’s heavy problems, employees take note. It creates a quiet kind of loyalty. Not the forced cheerleading kind. The real kind. The kind that shows up in how committed they feel on an average Tuesday. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 01:12 Understanding Prepaid Legal Services 02:50 Voluntary Benefits and Employee Engagement 07:23 Driving Adoption of Legal Services 09:10 Measuring Success and Utilization 11:16 Categories of Legal Services Utilization 13:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Guest: Tom Von Jess, National Sales Director, Strategic Partnerships, LegalShield LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-von-jess/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:12:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Voluntary benefits, everyday legal stress, and why employees lean on help when life gets loud Most employees carry more legal stress than they ever admit. Tickets, landlord disputes, custody questions, identity theft scares, wills they avoid for years. None of it stays outside the workplace. Tom Von Jess breaks down why prepaid legal services matter more than most leaders think. His angle is simple. When you give people affordable access to real legal help, they show up differently. They’re calmer. They’re less distracted. They feel supported in ways that actually move the needle on engagement. In this episode we talk about prepaid legal services, voluntary benefits, identity theft, employee engagement, retention, legal workload, workplace benefits, adoption strategies, and what really drives participation. Tom pulls apart how these programs get used, how people decide to trust them, and why affordability decides everything. Key Takeaways: Legal problems hit quietly. People sit on them until the pressure gets uncomfortable. This benefit gives them a place to go before things spin out. When the barrier to entry drops, you see employees tackle the stuff they’ve been avoiding for years. Estate planning. Real estate questions. Financial concerns that keep them up at night. Year two and year three always spike because people finally realize they can use it without getting burned. Participation tells its own story. Fifteen to twenty percent is strong because legal help is personal. People use it when they trust it. They use it when the examples feel real. Education is what makes or breaks adoption, not handouts or slide decks. When someone hears a scenario that mirrors their world, they engage. When they understand the cost compared to hiring a lawyer solo, they stay. What sticks is the employer effect. When a company offers something that actually helps with life’s heavy problems, employees take note. It creates a quiet kind of loyalty. Not the forced cheerleading kind. The real kind. The kind that shows up in how committed they feel on an average Tuesday. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene 01:12 Understanding Prepaid Legal Services 02:50 Voluntary Benefits and Employee Engagement 07:23 Driving Adoption of Legal Services 09:10 Measuring Success and Utilization 11:16 Categories of Legal Services Utilization 13:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Guest: Tom Von Jess, National Sales Director, Strategic Partnerships, LegalShield LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-von-jess/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Most employees carry more legal stress than they ever admit. Tickets, landlord disputes, custody questions, identity theft scares, wills they avoid for years. None of it stays outside the workplace. Tom Von Jess breaks down why prepaid legal services matter more than most leaders think. His angle is simple. When you give people affordable access to real legal help, they show up differently. They’re calmer. They’re less distracted. They feel supported in ways that actually move the needle on engagement.

In this episode we talk about prepaid legal services, voluntary benefits, identity theft, employee engagement, retention, legal workload, workplace benefits, adoption strategies, and what really drives participation. Tom pulls apart how these programs get used, how people decide to trust them, and why affordability decides everything.


Key Takeaways:

  • Legal problems hit quietly. People sit on them until the pressure gets uncomfortable. This benefit gives them a place to go before things spin out. When the barrier to entry drops, you see employees tackle the stuff they’ve been avoiding for years. Estate planning. Real estate questions. Financial concerns that keep them up at night. Year two and year three always spike because people finally realize they can use it without getting burned.

  • Participation tells its own story. Fifteen to twenty percent is strong because legal help is personal. People use it when they trust it. They use it when the examples feel real. Education is what makes or breaks adoption, not handouts or slide decks. When someone hears a scenario that mirrors their world, they engage. When they understand the cost compared to hiring a lawyer solo, they stay.

  • What sticks is the employer effect. When a company offers something that actually helps with life’s heavy problems, employees take note. It creates a quiet kind of loyalty. Not the forced cheerleading kind. The real kind. The kind that shows up in how committed they feel on an average Tuesday.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

01:12 Understanding Prepaid Legal Services

02:50 Voluntary Benefits and Employee Engagement

07:23 Driving Adoption of Legal Services

09:10 Measuring Success and Utilization

11:16 Categories of Legal Services Utilization

13:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


Guest:

Tom Von Jess, National Sales Director, Strategic Partnerships, LegalShield

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-von-jess/


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

]]> 898 Navigating the New Talent Experience with Tara Cooper, Mercer Summary: The talent experience is shifting fast, and this conversation makes it real. Tara Cooper and her son Aiden walk through the gap between what employers think candidates want and what candidates actually need. Growth, honesty, clarity, and real feedback matter more than ever. The companies winning today are the ones willing to rethink how people learn, how they apply, and how they build trust. In this episode we talk about HR, talent experience, upskilling, generational differences, job applications, feedback, AI in hiring, workplace culture, employee engagement, and career growth. Tara and Aiden break down why the old hiring playbook is fading and why organizations need to co-create the experience with their people, not for them. Key Takeaways: The talent experience has become a shared effort between employers and employees. Trust is breaking down in many organizations, and that directly affects engagement. Candidates want growth they can see, not promises that evaporate once they start. Employers need to be upfront about what a job is and what it isn’t. Generational differences shape how people approach learning. Younger workers expect ongoing upskilling, while older generations may see it as optional or risky. Fair pay is directly tied to willingness to learn. When compensation is off, motivation collapses and engagement tools feel empty. The job application process is still too complicated. Candidates want something that feels human and accessible. Honest feedback shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be part of the process. Clear, respectful communication builds trust even when the answer is no. AI is reshaping the job market and the hiring experience, but it won’t solve broken processes on its own. Organizations need to adapt to changing expectations and invest in cultures that support growth. When employees feel supported and seen, they invest back into the company. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast 02:17 Exploring the Talent Experience 06:38 Generational Perspectives on Upskilling 11:26 The Job Application Process: A New Perspective 18:24 Feedback in the Job Market: A Call for Honesty 23:26 The Future of Talent Development Guest: Tara Cooper and Aiden Cooper LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/taracooper1/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Sat, 06 Dec 2025 00:03:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation on growth, expectations, and how the workforce is changing Summary: The talent experience is shifting fast, and this conversation makes it real. Tara Cooper and her son Aiden walk through the gap between what employers think candidates want and what candidates actually need. Growth, honesty, clarity, and real feedback matter more than ever. The companies winning today are the ones willing to rethink how people learn, how they apply, and how they build trust. In this episode we talk about HR, talent experience, upskilling, generational differences, job applications, feedback, AI in hiring, workplace culture, employee engagement, and career growth. Tara and Aiden break down why the old hiring playbook is fading and why organizations need to co-create the experience with their people, not for them. Key Takeaways: The talent experience has become a shared effort between employers and employees. Trust is breaking down in many organizations, and that directly affects engagement. Candidates want growth they can see, not promises that evaporate once they start. Employers need to be upfront about what a job is and what it isn’t. Generational differences shape how people approach learning. Younger workers expect ongoing upskilling, while older generations may see it as optional or risky. Fair pay is directly tied to willingness to learn. When compensation is off, motivation collapses and engagement tools feel empty. The job application process is still too complicated. Candidates want something that feels human and accessible. Honest feedback shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be part of the process. Clear, respectful communication builds trust even when the answer is no. AI is reshaping the job market and the hiring experience, but it won’t solve broken processes on its own. Organizations need to adapt to changing expectations and invest in cultures that support growth. When employees feel supported and seen, they invest back into the company. This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale.  The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast 02:17 Exploring the Talent Experience 06:38 Generational Perspectives on Upskilling 11:26 The Job Application Process: A New Perspective 18:24 Feedback in the Job Market: A Call for Honesty 23:26 The Future of Talent Development Guest: Tara Cooper and Aiden Cooper LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/taracooper1/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Summary:

The talent experience is shifting fast, and this conversation makes it real. Tara Cooper and her son Aiden walk through the gap between what employers think candidates want and what candidates actually need. Growth, honesty, clarity, and real feedback matter more than ever. The companies winning today are the ones willing to rethink how people learn, how they apply, and how they build trust.

In this episode we talk about HR, talent experience, upskilling, generational differences, job applications, feedback, AI in hiring, workplace culture, employee engagement, and career growth. Tara and Aiden break down why the old hiring playbook is fading and why organizations need to co-create the experience with their people, not for them.


Key Takeaways:

  • The talent experience has become a shared effort between employers and employees. Trust is breaking down in many organizations, and that directly affects engagement. Candidates want growth they can see, not promises that evaporate once they start. Employers need to be upfront about what a job is and what it isn’t.

  • Generational differences shape how people approach learning. Younger workers expect ongoing upskilling, while older generations may see it as optional or risky. Fair pay is directly tied to willingness to learn. When compensation is off, motivation collapses and engagement tools feel empty.

  • The job application process is still too complicated. Candidates want something that feels human and accessible. Honest feedback shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be part of the process. Clear, respectful communication builds trust even when the answer is no.

  • AI is reshaping the job market and the hiring experience, but it won’t solve broken processes on its own. Organizations need to adapt to changing expectations and invest in cultures that support growth. When employees feel supported and seen, they invest back into the company.

This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect in Scottsdale. 

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Heroes of HR Podcast

02:17 Exploring the Talent Experience

06:38 Generational Perspectives on Upskilling

11:26 The Job Application Process: A New Perspective

18:24 Feedback in the Job Market: A Call for Honesty

23:26 The Future of Talent Development


Guest:

Tara Cooper and Aiden Cooper

LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/taracooper1/


Connect with Us:

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/


]]> 1515 Darlene Winfield and Yira Coleman on leading with purpose, humor, and heart in HR Recorded live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025, this episode brings together two voices who embody what it means to be a “people hero.” Darlene Winfield and Yira Coleman join William Tincup and Ryan Leary for a heartfelt—and often hilarious—conversation about impact, purpose, and the power of showing up for others. Yira reflects on how encouragement drives her both personally and professionally. She shares the transcendent moment that led her to write a children’s book series inspired by the Fruit of the Spirit. Darlene channels her inner Wonder Woman, describing how she wields her “golden lasso” to pull people and processes together for good. The conversation flows from faith to fatherhood to the unexpected realities of managing HR in parks and rec—including graveyards. This one has range—and heart. Timestamps 00:00 — Bald jokes and wedding stories set the tone 00:49 — The mic’d-up altar moment that made it to the family DVD 02:14 — What’s your superpower? Yira brings the encouragement, Darlene brings the lasso 03:55 — Behind the scenes of Darlene’s HR podcast “Connections” 04:21 — What it means to be a “people hero” from hire to expire 05:08 — Yes, Darlene’s team manages a real graveyard 05:50 — Yira names her ultimate people hero—and it gets spiritual 06:40 — Faith, fake-outs, and Fort Worth front desks 07:40 — The transcendent career moment that inspired Yira’s children’s book series 09:20 — Stellar Strawberry and Barnabas Banana—how characters teach core virtues 10:00 — Darlene shares the quiet HR wins that never make headlines 11:07 — Why advocacy at work changes everything 11:29 — Work as a place where encouragement matters most 11:52 — Closing out with gratitude and a reminder of the everyday impact of HR This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Recorded live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025, this episode brings together two voices who embody what it means to be a “people hero.” Darlene Winfield and Yira Coleman join William Tincup and Ryan Leary for a heartfelt—and often hilarious—conversation about impact, purpose, and the power of showing up for others. Yira reflects on how encouragement drives her both personally and professionally. She shares the transcendent moment that led her to write a children’s book series inspired by the Fruit of the Spirit. Darlene channels her inner Wonder Woman, describing how she wields her “golden lasso” to pull people and processes together for good. The conversation flows from faith to fatherhood to the unexpected realities of managing HR in parks and rec—including graveyards. This one has range—and heart. Timestamps 00:00 — Bald jokes and wedding stories set the tone 00:49 — The mic’d-up altar moment that made it to the family DVD 02:14 — What’s your superpower? Yira brings the encouragement, Darlene brings the lasso 03:55 — Behind the scenes of Darlene’s HR podcast “Connections” 04:21 — What it means to be a “people hero” from hire to expire 05:08 — Yes, Darlene’s team manages a real graveyard 05:50 — Yira names her ultimate people hero—and it gets spiritual 06:40 — Faith, fake-outs, and Fort Worth front desks 07:40 — The transcendent career moment that inspired Yira’s children’s book series 09:20 — Stellar Strawberry and Barnabas Banana—how characters teach core virtues 10:00 — Darlene shares the quiet HR wins that never make headlines 11:07 — Why advocacy at work changes everything 11:29 — Work as a place where encouragement matters most 11:52 — Closing out with gratitude and a reminder of the everyday impact of HR This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Recorded live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025, this episode brings together two voices who embody what it means to be a “people hero.” Darlene Winfield and Yira Coleman join William Tincup and Ryan Leary for a heartfelt—and often hilarious—conversation about impact, purpose, and the power of showing up for others.

Yira reflects on how encouragement drives her both personally and professionally. She shares the transcendent moment that led her to write a children’s book series inspired by the Fruit of the Spirit. Darlene channels her inner Wonder Woman, describing how she wields her “golden lasso” to pull people and processes together for good. The conversation flows from faith to fatherhood to the unexpected realities of managing HR in parks and rec—including graveyards. This one has range—and heart.

Timestamps

00:00 — Bald jokes and wedding stories set the tone

00:49 — The mic’d-up altar moment that made it to the family DVD

02:14 — What’s your superpower? Yira brings the encouragement, Darlene brings the lasso

03:55 — Behind the scenes of Darlene’s HR podcast “Connections”

04:21 — What it means to be a “people hero” from hire to expire

05:08 — Yes, Darlene’s team manages a real graveyard

05:50 — Yira names her ultimate people hero—and it gets spiritual

06:40 — Faith, fake-outs, and Fort Worth front desks

07:40 — The transcendent career moment that inspired Yira’s children’s book series

09:20 — Stellar Strawberry and Barnabas Banana—how characters teach core virtues

10:00 — Darlene shares the quiet HR wins that never make headlines

11:07 — Why advocacy at work changes everything

11:29 — Work as a place where encouragement matters most

11:52 — Closing out with gratitude and a reminder of the everyday impact of HR


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:


]]> 773 no Creating structure from chaos: Seychelle Padgett, Yanick Goens, and Jessica Michniacki on HR with heart This episode was recorded live at the isolved booth during SHRM 25 in San Diego. William Tincup sat down with Seychelle Hercules Padgett, Yanick Goens, and Jessica Michniacki. Each guest brought a different take on what it means to lead with empathy and courage in HR. Jessica explained how she helps clients through terminations. She does the hard work with calm and compassion. Yanick shared how he manages daily conflict by showing up in person and listening first. Seychelle described how she rebuilt her career after a layoff and found new purpose by helping others do the same. The conversation moved quickly, but each answer left an impact. These professionals do not just talk about people-first culture. They live it. Timestamps 00:00 — William Tincup kicks off from the SHRM floor 00:28 — Jessica owns the nickname “The Terminator” by leading hard conversations 01:11 — William calls out the emotional cost of termination work 01:33 — Yanick explains why comfort should never follow tough decisions 01:54 — Seychelle finds her edge by bringing order to dysfunction 02:29 — William draws a connection between chaos theory and HR 02:40 — Seychelle compares good HR to good jazz 02:54 — Yanick keeps things from burning down by leading with presence 03:25 — Yanick tells the moment he protected both the company and the person 04:09 — Seychelle reflects on losing her job and gaining her voice 05:17 — Jessica returns to her first company and mentors the next wave 06:06 — Seychelle embraces failure as fuel 07:05 — William recalls how NASA made failure part of the plan 07:29 — Seychelle defines people heroes as those who lift others 08:07 — William compares career confidence to body dysmorphia 08:13 — Jessica points to leaders who never ask for credit 08:48 — Yanick shares why floor time builds trust 09:40 — The group agrees HR works best when it feels human This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/⁠ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network This episode was recorded live at the isolved booth during SHRM 25 in San Diego. William Tincup sat down with Seychelle Hercules Padgett, Yanick Goens, and Jessica Michniacki. Each guest brought a different take on what it means to lead with empathy and courage in HR. Jessica explained how she helps clients through terminations. She does the hard work with calm and compassion. Yanick shared how he manages daily conflict by showing up in person and listening first. Seychelle described how she rebuilt her career after a layoff and found new purpose by helping others do the same. The conversation moved quickly, but each answer left an impact. These professionals do not just talk about people-first culture. They live it. Timestamps 00:00 — William Tincup kicks off from the SHRM floor 00:28 — Jessica owns the nickname “The Terminator” by leading hard conversations 01:11 — William calls out the emotional cost of termination work 01:33 — Yanick explains why comfort should never follow tough decisions 01:54 — Seychelle finds her edge by bringing order to dysfunction 02:29 — William draws a connection between chaos theory and HR 02:40 — Seychelle compares good HR to good jazz 02:54 — Yanick keeps things from burning down by leading with presence 03:25 — Yanick tells the moment he protected both the company and the person 04:09 — Seychelle reflects on losing her job and gaining her voice 05:17 — Jessica returns to her first company and mentors the next wave 06:06 — Seychelle embraces failure as fuel 07:05 — William recalls how NASA made failure part of the plan 07:29 — Seychelle defines people heroes as those who lift others 08:07 — William compares career confidence to body dysmorphia 08:13 — Jessica points to leaders who never ask for credit 08:48 — Yanick shares why floor time builds trust 09:40 — The group agrees HR works best when it feels human This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/⁠ This episode was recorded live at the isolved booth during SHRM 25 in San Diego. William Tincup sat down with Seychelle Hercules Padgett, Yanick Goens, and Jessica Michniacki. Each guest brought a different take on what it means to lead with empathy and courage in HR.

Jessica explained how she helps clients through terminations. She does the hard work with calm and compassion. Yanick shared how he manages daily conflict by showing up in person and listening first. Seychelle described how she rebuilt her career after a layoff and found new purpose by helping others do the same. The conversation moved quickly, but each answer left an impact. These professionals do not just talk about people-first culture. They live it.


Timestamps

00:00 — William Tincup kicks off from the SHRM floor

00:28 — Jessica owns the nickname “The Terminator” by leading hard conversations

01:11 — William calls out the emotional cost of termination work

01:33 — Yanick explains why comfort should never follow tough decisions

01:54 — Seychelle finds her edge by bringing order to dysfunction

02:29 — William draws a connection between chaos theory and HR

02:40 — Seychelle compares good HR to good jazz

02:54 — Yanick keeps things from burning down by leading with presence

03:25 — Yanick tells the moment he protected both the company and the person

04:09 — Seychelle reflects on losing her job and gaining her voice

05:17 — Jessica returns to her first company and mentors the next wave

06:06 — Seychelle embraces failure as fuel

07:05 — William recalls how NASA made failure part of the plan

07:29 — Seychelle defines people heroes as those who lift others

08:07 — William compares career confidence to body dysmorphia

08:13 — Jessica points to leaders who never ask for credit

08:48 — Yanick shares why floor time builds trust

09:40 — The group agrees HR works best when it feels human


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 649 no Jennifer Conway on California compliance, AI fear, and why HR needs warmth and clarity This live conversation from the SHRM floor in San Diego features Jennifer Conway of Coastal Payroll—an isolved partner who brings boots-on-the-ground insight into what’s keeping HR leaders up at night. She joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary to unpack the big three: compliance risk, the slow-but-steady rise of AI, and what makes someone a true people hero. Jennifer shares why California remains ground zero for wage and hour anxiety, how small businesses struggle without full-time HR staff, and why her own CHRO stands out for being both blunt and deeply human. From AI curiosity to compliance fear, this one hits the pain points HR leaders are quietly navigating—while offering a little hope, too. Timestamps 00:00 — Live from SHRM San Diego with Jennifer Conway 00:45 — Jennifer explains Coastal Payroll’s role in the isolved network 01:18 — The HR help small businesses desperately need 01:51 — California compliance fears and rising legal risk 02:07 — What “people hero” means to Jennifer 02:19 — Why her CHRO stands out in a risk-heavy world 03:01 — Making HR relatable to business owners 03:36 — The real conversation around AI adoption 03:58 — Last year’s hype vs this year’s real interest 04:27 — DIY AI regret and turning to isolved too late 04:45 — Some HR leaders still hesitate, but curiosity is rising 04:59 — Jennifer’s one piece of advice: get proactive on compliance now This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network This live conversation from the SHRM floor in San Diego features Jennifer Conway of Coastal Payroll—an isolved partner who brings boots-on-the-ground insight into what’s keeping HR leaders up at night. She joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary to unpack the big three: compliance risk, the slow-but-steady rise of AI, and what makes someone a true people hero. Jennifer shares why California remains ground zero for wage and hour anxiety, how small businesses struggle without full-time HR staff, and why her own CHRO stands out for being both blunt and deeply human. From AI curiosity to compliance fear, this one hits the pain points HR leaders are quietly navigating—while offering a little hope, too. Timestamps 00:00 — Live from SHRM San Diego with Jennifer Conway 00:45 — Jennifer explains Coastal Payroll’s role in the isolved network 01:18 — The HR help small businesses desperately need 01:51 — California compliance fears and rising legal risk 02:07 — What “people hero” means to Jennifer 02:19 — Why her CHRO stands out in a risk-heavy world 03:01 — Making HR relatable to business owners 03:36 — The real conversation around AI adoption 03:58 — Last year’s hype vs this year’s real interest 04:27 — DIY AI regret and turning to isolved too late 04:45 — Some HR leaders still hesitate, but curiosity is rising 04:59 — Jennifer’s one piece of advice: get proactive on compliance now This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ This live conversation from the SHRM floor in San Diego features Jennifer Conway of Coastal Payroll—an isolved partner who brings boots-on-the-ground insight into what’s keeping HR leaders up at night.

She joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary to unpack the big three: compliance risk, the slow-but-steady rise of AI, and what makes someone a true people hero. Jennifer shares why California remains ground zero for wage and hour anxiety, how small businesses struggle without full-time HR staff, and why her own CHRO stands out for being both blunt and deeply human.

From AI curiosity to compliance fear, this one hits the pain points HR leaders are quietly navigating—while offering a little hope, too.


Timestamps

00:00 — Live from SHRM San Diego with Jennifer Conway

00:45 — Jennifer explains Coastal Payroll’s role in the isolved network

01:18 — The HR help small businesses desperately need

01:51 — California compliance fears and rising legal risk

02:07 — What “people hero” means to Jennifer

02:19 — Why her CHRO stands out in a risk-heavy world

03:01 — Making HR relatable to business owners

03:36 — The real conversation around AI adoption

03:58 — Last year’s hype vs this year’s real interest

04:27 — DIY AI regret and turning to isolved too late

04:45 — Some HR leaders still hesitate, but curiosity is rising

04:59 — Jennifer’s one piece of advice: get proactive on compliance now

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 393 no Sabrina S Sakhrani on confidence, compassion, and astrology at SHRM 2025 Recorded live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode brings a burst of spontaneity and soul with guest Sabrina S Sakhrani from Merch.com. What starts as a casual riff on cities, nightlife, and favorite TV shows quickly turns into a deeper conversation on transformation, empathy, and identity. Sabrina shares how she went from painfully shy to confidently appearing live on TV during COVID—then drops a twist about an ex-boyfriend calling in while she was on air. Her take on empathy as both a strength and a challenge hits a nerve, and her belief in astrological compatibility makes for one of the most entertaining detours of the conference. This one’s part career, part chaos—and completely unforgettable. Timestamps 00:00 — William and Ryan kick off live from SHRM 2025 00:45 — Sabrina joins and the Vegas vs. Atlanta debate begins 01:50 — Why Atlanta beats LA for food, fun, and affordability 02:52 — The origin of “Sabrina S” and a Hong Kong birth certificate mix-up 03:22 — Working in business development at Merch.com (not Match.com) 04:07 — What a “people hero” means to Sabrina 04:39 — Her TV debut during COVID and how it changed her confidence 07:02 — A live caller twist: her ex-boyfriend crashes the show 08:09 — From shy boarding school kid to confident speaker 08:55 — Sabrina’s superpower is empathy—to a fault 10:21 — Astrology deep dive: sun, moon, rising, and dating compatibility 13:53 — Why she loves Atlanta (and why her Sagittarius is secretly obsessed) 15:59 — Wrapping up with laughs, gratitude, and one unforgettable conversation This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Recorded live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode brings a burst of spontaneity and soul with guest Sabrina S Sakhrani from Merch.com. What starts as a casual riff on cities, nightlife, and favorite TV shows quickly turns into a deeper conversation on transformation, empathy, and identity. Sabrina shares how she went from painfully shy to confidently appearing live on TV during COVID—then drops a twist about an ex-boyfriend calling in while she was on air. Her take on empathy as both a strength and a challenge hits a nerve, and her belief in astrological compatibility makes for one of the most entertaining detours of the conference. This one’s part career, part chaos—and completely unforgettable. Timestamps 00:00 — William and Ryan kick off live from SHRM 2025 00:45 — Sabrina joins and the Vegas vs. Atlanta debate begins 01:50 — Why Atlanta beats LA for food, fun, and affordability 02:52 — The origin of “Sabrina S” and a Hong Kong birth certificate mix-up 03:22 — Working in business development at Merch.com (not Match.com) 04:07 — What a “people hero” means to Sabrina 04:39 — Her TV debut during COVID and how it changed her confidence 07:02 — A live caller twist: her ex-boyfriend crashes the show 08:09 — From shy boarding school kid to confident speaker 08:55 — Sabrina’s superpower is empathy—to a fault 10:21 — Astrology deep dive: sun, moon, rising, and dating compatibility 13:53 — Why she loves Atlanta (and why her Sagittarius is secretly obsessed) 15:59 — Wrapping up with laughs, gratitude, and one unforgettable conversation This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Recorded live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode brings a burst of spontaneity and soul with guest Sabrina S Sakhrani from Merch.com. What starts as a casual riff on cities, nightlife, and favorite TV shows quickly turns into a deeper conversation on transformation, empathy, and identity.

Sabrina shares how she went from painfully shy to confidently appearing live on TV during COVID—then drops a twist about an ex-boyfriend calling in while she was on air. Her take on empathy as both a strength and a challenge hits a nerve, and her belief in astrological compatibility makes for one of the most entertaining detours of the conference.

This one’s part career, part chaos—and completely unforgettable.


Timestamps

00:00 — William and Ryan kick off live from SHRM 2025

00:45 — Sabrina joins and the Vegas vs. Atlanta debate begins

01:50 — Why Atlanta beats LA for food, fun, and affordability

02:52 — The origin of “Sabrina S” and a Hong Kong birth certificate mix-up

03:22 — Working in business development at Merch.com (not Match.com)

04:07 — What a “people hero” means to Sabrina

04:39 — Her TV debut during COVID and how it changed her confidence

07:02 — A live caller twist: her ex-boyfriend crashes the show

08:09 — From shy boarding school kid to confident speaker

08:55 — Sabrina’s superpower is empathy—to a fault

10:21 — Astrology deep dive: sun, moon, rising, and dating compatibility

13:53 — Why she loves Atlanta (and why her Sagittarius is secretly obsessed)

15:59 — Wrapping up with laughs, gratitude, and one unforgettable conversation


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1021 no Latisha Hurdle and Heidi Barnett on empathy, hiring and the human side of leadership This live episode from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 brings real talk and big energy. Hosts William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two powerhouse women in HR—Latisha Hurdle of Rivers Casino and Heidi Barnett of Utah-based operations—to unpack what it really means to lead with heart. Latisha shares how she helps frontline talent rise through the ranks with empathy and structure, revealing how small shifts—like a changed shift time or a bonus day—can radically impact someone's trajectory. Heidi opens up about guiding working moms and seeing people’s potential before they see it in themselves. Both leaders drop raw stories on loyalty, intuition, and why hard conversations should never be sugarcoated. It’s HR storytelling at its most grounded—funny, human, and full of moments that hit harder than you’d expect. Timestamps 00:00 — Setting the tone live from the SHRM 2025 floor 00:38 — Latisha shares her journey from high school sweetheart to HR leader 02:00 — Heidi celebrates 20 years of marriage and stats on lasting partnerships 03:36 — The real key to strong relationships (and staying in them) 05:01 — What makes a "people hero" in the workplace 06:18 — HR as a champion for unseen talent 07:36 — Heidi helps a new mom see she doesn’t have to choose career or motherhood 09:08 — Latisha shares how a small scheduling change helped unlock leadership potential 11:00 — Why empathy in leadership matters more than ever 12:00 — Latisha’s superpower: trusting intuition when no one else does 14:45 — Heidi’s gift for breaking down complexity and reading people early 16:10 — The art of turning “no” into the next opportunity 17:50 — Why clear feedback beats soft landings 19:02 — Generational shifts in interview behavior and how HR is adapting 23:00 — The recruitment challenge at Rivers Casino and staying ahead of new competition 24:45 — Bonus days, hot meals, and betting on internal growth 26:46 — Latisha's dealer school program and commitment to internal mobility 27:16 — Final reflections on culture shock, coaching, and building people-first systems This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network This live episode from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 brings real talk and big energy. Hosts William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two powerhouse women in HR—Latisha Hurdle of Rivers Casino and Heidi Barnett of Utah-based operations—to unpack what it really means to lead with heart. Latisha shares how she helps frontline talent rise through the ranks with empathy and structure, revealing how small shifts—like a changed shift time or a bonus day—can radically impact someone's trajectory. Heidi opens up about guiding working moms and seeing people’s potential before they see it in themselves. Both leaders drop raw stories on loyalty, intuition, and why hard conversations should never be sugarcoated. It’s HR storytelling at its most grounded—funny, human, and full of moments that hit harder than you’d expect. Timestamps 00:00 — Setting the tone live from the SHRM 2025 floor 00:38 — Latisha shares her journey from high school sweetheart to HR leader 02:00 — Heidi celebrates 20 years of marriage and stats on lasting partnerships 03:36 — The real key to strong relationships (and staying in them) 05:01 — What makes a "people hero" in the workplace 06:18 — HR as a champion for unseen talent 07:36 — Heidi helps a new mom see she doesn’t have to choose career or motherhood 09:08 — Latisha shares how a small scheduling change helped unlock leadership potential 11:00 — Why empathy in leadership matters more than ever 12:00 — Latisha’s superpower: trusting intuition when no one else does 14:45 — Heidi’s gift for breaking down complexity and reading people early 16:10 — The art of turning “no” into the next opportunity 17:50 — Why clear feedback beats soft landings 19:02 — Generational shifts in interview behavior and how HR is adapting 23:00 — The recruitment challenge at Rivers Casino and staying ahead of new competition 24:45 — Bonus days, hot meals, and betting on internal growth 26:46 — Latisha's dealer school program and commitment to internal mobility 27:16 — Final reflections on culture shock, coaching, and building people-first systems This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ This live episode from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 brings real talk and big energy. Hosts William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two powerhouse women in HR—Latisha Hurdle of Rivers Casino and Heidi Barnett of Utah-based operations—to unpack what it really means to lead with heart.

Latisha shares how she helps frontline talent rise through the ranks with empathy and structure, revealing how small shifts—like a changed shift time or a bonus day—can radically impact someone's trajectory. Heidi opens up about guiding working moms and seeing people’s potential before they see it in themselves. Both leaders drop raw stories on loyalty, intuition, and why hard conversations should never be sugarcoated.

It’s HR storytelling at its most grounded—funny, human, and full of moments that hit harder than you’d expect.


Timestamps

00:00 — Setting the tone live from the SHRM 2025 floor

00:38 — Latisha shares her journey from high school sweetheart to HR leader

02:00 — Heidi celebrates 20 years of marriage and stats on lasting partnerships

03:36 — The real key to strong relationships (and staying in them)

05:01 — What makes a "people hero" in the workplace

06:18 — HR as a champion for unseen talent

07:36 — Heidi helps a new mom see she doesn’t have to choose career or motherhood

09:08 — Latisha shares how a small scheduling change helped unlock leadership potential

11:00 — Why empathy in leadership matters more than ever

12:00 — Latisha’s superpower: trusting intuition when no one else does

14:45 — Heidi’s gift for breaking down complexity and reading people early

16:10 — The art of turning “no” into the next opportunity

17:50 — Why clear feedback beats soft landings

19:02 — Generational shifts in interview behavior and how HR is adapting

23:00 — The recruitment challenge at Rivers Casino and staying ahead of new competition

24:45 — Bonus days, hot meals, and betting on internal growth

26:46 — Latisha's dealer school program and commitment to internal mobility

27:16 — Final reflections on culture shock, coaching, and building people-first systems


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:


]]> 1705 no Lisa Perez on HR’s hidden burden: caregiving, culture, and the future of remote leadership Recorded live at the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode features Lisa Perez, founder of HBL Resources and creator of National Management Training Week. She joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary for a vibrant conversation on what HR leaders need to hear—but often overlook. Lisa breaks down the rising workplace crisis no one talks about—employee caregiving—and why it’s HR’s responsibility to step up with real resources. She shares insights from her SHRM session, her book The Complete Manager Makeover, and her vision for transforming how leaders manage people with empathy and clarity. From growing up in old-school Brooklyn to crafting wedding centerpieces as a self-proclaimed “craft geek,” Lisa brings energy, perspective, and actionable wisdom to the booth. This one blends laughter, life experience, and serious takeaways about the future of leadership—and how HR can meet it with heart. Timestamps 00:00 — Live from SHRM San Diego with William, Ryan, and Lisa 00:56 — Lisa introduces National Management Training Week 02:19 — Why caregiving in the workplace matters more than ever 02:50 — One in six employees is a caregiver—HR needs to notice 03:12 — Lisa’s personal background and multigenerational family life 04:22 — Why grandparents have the best job 05:01 — Craft geek, business owner, speaker, wife—Lisa does it all 06:01 — Cultural traditions, cash gifts, and the economics of weddings 07:04 — What “people hero” means to Lisa: servant leadership in action 07:40 — HR must bring solutions, not just rules 08:01 — Why Lisa visits the expo: to find real resources for real problems 08:27 — Highlight: childcare benefits that HR should know about 08:49 — Training managers on the human side of leadership 09:58 — Stop saying “disciplinary conversation”—Lisa explains why 10:53 — The aging workforce, remote work, and shifting manager mindsets 12:25 — Where to find The Complete Manager Makeover and connect with Lisa This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Recorded live at the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode features Lisa Perez, founder of HBL Resources and creator of National Management Training Week. She joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary for a vibrant conversation on what HR leaders need to hear—but often overlook. Lisa breaks down the rising workplace crisis no one talks about—employee caregiving—and why it’s HR’s responsibility to step up with real resources. She shares insights from her SHRM session, her book The Complete Manager Makeover, and her vision for transforming how leaders manage people with empathy and clarity. From growing up in old-school Brooklyn to crafting wedding centerpieces as a self-proclaimed “craft geek,” Lisa brings energy, perspective, and actionable wisdom to the booth. This one blends laughter, life experience, and serious takeaways about the future of leadership—and how HR can meet it with heart. Timestamps 00:00 — Live from SHRM San Diego with William, Ryan, and Lisa 00:56 — Lisa introduces National Management Training Week 02:19 — Why caregiving in the workplace matters more than ever 02:50 — One in six employees is a caregiver—HR needs to notice 03:12 — Lisa’s personal background and multigenerational family life 04:22 — Why grandparents have the best job 05:01 — Craft geek, business owner, speaker, wife—Lisa does it all 06:01 — Cultural traditions, cash gifts, and the economics of weddings 07:04 — What “people hero” means to Lisa: servant leadership in action 07:40 — HR must bring solutions, not just rules 08:01 — Why Lisa visits the expo: to find real resources for real problems 08:27 — Highlight: childcare benefits that HR should know about 08:49 — Training managers on the human side of leadership 09:58 — Stop saying “disciplinary conversation”—Lisa explains why 10:53 — The aging workforce, remote work, and shifting manager mindsets 12:25 — Where to find The Complete Manager Makeover and connect with Lisa This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Recorded live at the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode features Lisa Perez, founder of HBL Resources and creator of National Management Training Week. She joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary for a vibrant conversation on what HR leaders need to hear—but often overlook.

Lisa breaks down the rising workplace crisis no one talks about—employee caregiving—and why it’s HR’s responsibility to step up with real resources. She shares insights from her SHRM session, her book The Complete Manager Makeover, and her vision for transforming how leaders manage people with empathy and clarity. From growing up in old-school Brooklyn to crafting wedding centerpieces as a self-proclaimed “craft geek,” Lisa brings energy, perspective, and actionable wisdom to the booth.

This one blends laughter, life experience, and serious takeaways about the future of leadership—and how HR can meet it with heart.


Timestamps

00:00 — Live from SHRM San Diego with William, Ryan, and Lisa

00:56 — Lisa introduces National Management Training Week

02:19 — Why caregiving in the workplace matters more than ever

02:50 — One in six employees is a caregiver—HR needs to notice

03:12 — Lisa’s personal background and multigenerational family life

04:22 — Why grandparents have the best job

05:01 — Craft geek, business owner, speaker, wife—Lisa does it all

06:01 — Cultural traditions, cash gifts, and the economics of weddings

07:04 — What “people hero” means to Lisa: servant leadership in action

07:40 — HR must bring solutions, not just rules

08:01 — Why Lisa visits the expo: to find real resources for real problems

08:27 — Highlight: childcare benefits that HR should know about

08:49 — Training managers on the human side of leadership

09:58 — Stop saying “disciplinary conversation”—Lisa explains why

10:53 — The aging workforce, remote work, and shifting manager mindsets

12:25 — Where to find The Complete Manager Makeover and connect with Lisa

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 825 no Vision, empathy, and disruption: Matt McCune and Thomas Daglis on what real people heroes do Recorded live at the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode features two industry voices with very different superpowers—Matt McCune and Thomas Daglis. Hosted by William Tincup and Ryan Leary, the conversation digs into the unexpected traits of true HR heroes and why it takes more than empathy to make a difference. Matt explains how his company bet against the status quo twenty years ago—risking everything to fight back against a broken healthcare system. He breaks down how putting the employee first meant redefining the economics of healthcare itself. Thomas brings a data-first lens, showing how predictive analytics can transform retention strategy into a science of trust. Together, they paint a picture of leadership that doesn’t just protect the business—it changes the game. Timestamps 00:00 — Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego 00:21 — Why the phrase “people hero” means more than just empathy 01:15 — Vision and compassion enter the conversation for the first time 02:10 — Matt’s superpower: turning complexity into clarity 02:30 — Why simplifying jargon matters more than selling features 03:32 — Thomas’ superpower: predicting trends through data 04:27 — A Picasso anecdote that reframes failure and creative volume 05:14 — The moment Matt knew he made a difference 05:51 — How one bold healthcare decision rewired the status quo 06:33 — Putting employees at the center of a high-stakes pivot 07:45 — From whiteboard skepticism to market leadership 08:58 — Internal pressure, financial risk, and the cost of disruption 09:34 — The Uber analogy that put it all in perspective 10:15 — Thomas’ moment of impact: using data to reduce turnover 10:50 — Running live experiments on praise, incentives, and trust 11:32 — Why retention is really about investing in humans This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Recorded live at the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode features two industry voices with very different superpowers—Matt McCune and Thomas Daglis. Hosted by William Tincup and Ryan Leary, the conversation digs into the unexpected traits of true HR heroes and why it takes more than empathy to make a difference. Matt explains how his company bet against the status quo twenty years ago—risking everything to fight back against a broken healthcare system. He breaks down how putting the employee first meant redefining the economics of healthcare itself. Thomas brings a data-first lens, showing how predictive analytics can transform retention strategy into a science of trust. Together, they paint a picture of leadership that doesn’t just protect the business—it changes the game. Timestamps 00:00 — Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego 00:21 — Why the phrase “people hero” means more than just empathy 01:15 — Vision and compassion enter the conversation for the first time 02:10 — Matt’s superpower: turning complexity into clarity 02:30 — Why simplifying jargon matters more than selling features 03:32 — Thomas’ superpower: predicting trends through data 04:27 — A Picasso anecdote that reframes failure and creative volume 05:14 — The moment Matt knew he made a difference 05:51 — How one bold healthcare decision rewired the status quo 06:33 — Putting employees at the center of a high-stakes pivot 07:45 — From whiteboard skepticism to market leadership 08:58 — Internal pressure, financial risk, and the cost of disruption 09:34 — The Uber analogy that put it all in perspective 10:15 — Thomas’ moment of impact: using data to reduce turnover 10:50 — Running live experiments on praise, incentives, and trust 11:32 — Why retention is really about investing in humans This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Recorded live at the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, this episode features two industry voices with very different superpowers—Matt McCune and Thomas Daglis. Hosted by William Tincup and Ryan Leary, the conversation digs into the unexpected traits of true HR heroes and why it takes more than empathy to make a difference.

Matt explains how his company bet against the status quo twenty years ago—risking everything to fight back against a broken healthcare system. He breaks down how putting the employee first meant redefining the economics of healthcare itself. Thomas brings a data-first lens, showing how predictive analytics can transform retention strategy into a science of trust. Together, they paint a picture of leadership that doesn’t just protect the business—it changes the game.


Timestamps

00:00 — Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego

00:21 — Why the phrase “people hero” means more than just empathy

01:15 — Vision and compassion enter the conversation for the first time

02:10 — Matt’s superpower: turning complexity into clarity

02:30 — Why simplifying jargon matters more than selling features

03:32 — Thomas’ superpower: predicting trends through data

04:27 — A Picasso anecdote that reframes failure and creative volume

05:14 — The moment Matt knew he made a difference

05:51 — How one bold healthcare decision rewired the status quo

06:33 — Putting employees at the center of a high-stakes pivot

07:45 — From whiteboard skepticism to market leadership

08:58 — Internal pressure, financial risk, and the cost of disruption

09:34 — The Uber analogy that put it all in perspective

10:15 — Thomas’ moment of impact: using data to reduce turnover

10:50 — Running live experiments on praise, incentives, and trust

11:32 — Why retention is really about investing in humans


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 770 no Margie Rubio and Nafeesah Bashir on incivility, emotional intelligence, and the power of self-awareness Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two powerhouse voices in workplace transformation—Coach Margie Rubio and Coach Nafeesah Bashir. The vibe? Zero script, all impact. The moment they sat down, the conversation took off. Margie and Nafeesah dig into the real roots of workplace incivility—from self-awareness gaps to emotional climate blind spots. They share the concept behind the Civility Index, their code of conduct for emotional intelligence, and how they help leaders shift culture with practical, non-performative tools. Margie speaks on her work with active and former gang members. Nafeesah shares how trauma-informed yoga became a corporate unlock. The energy is real, the takeaways hit hard—and they’re just getting started. Timestamps 00:00 — Margie and Nafeesah join the show without being asked 00:45 — The group jumps into incivility and emotional climate at work 01:40 — What it means to be a "people hero" in practice 02:28 — Margie shares her HR superpower and how empathy meets boundaries 03:25 — Nafeesah explains how she leads with love and teaches by example 04:32 — The fear behind vulnerability and what keeps people guarded 05:15 — Why life experience determines how you show up at work 06:20 — How to assess team dynamics using a “weather forecast” model 07:13 — The Civility Index and what it reveals about workplace culture 08:26 — How practical tools and emotional intelligence can shift behavior 09:40 — Leaders don’t need to fix people—they need to own their self-awareness 11:00 — The EI Code of Conduct and why self-awareness comes first 12:45 — “Look in the mirror, not out the window”—why perspective matters 14:06 — Margie reflects on teaching mindset to former gang members 15:20 — Nafeesah shares how her Helicon yoga program changed the room 17:35 — They announce their own podcast focused on EI and incivility 18:45 — A shoutout to isolved’s HR team and the vibe of the booth itself This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two powerhouse voices in workplace transformation—Coach Margie Rubio and Coach Nafeesah Bashir. The vibe? Zero script, all impact. The moment they sat down, the conversation took off. Margie and Nafeesah dig into the real roots of workplace incivility—from self-awareness gaps to emotional climate blind spots. They share the concept behind the Civility Index, their code of conduct for emotional intelligence, and how they help leaders shift culture with practical, non-performative tools. Margie speaks on her work with active and former gang members. Nafeesah shares how trauma-informed yoga became a corporate unlock. The energy is real, the takeaways hit hard—and they’re just getting started. Timestamps 00:00 — Margie and Nafeesah join the show without being asked 00:45 — The group jumps into incivility and emotional climate at work 01:40 — What it means to be a "people hero" in practice 02:28 — Margie shares her HR superpower and how empathy meets boundaries 03:25 — Nafeesah explains how she leads with love and teaches by example 04:32 — The fear behind vulnerability and what keeps people guarded 05:15 — Why life experience determines how you show up at work 06:20 — How to assess team dynamics using a “weather forecast” model 07:13 — The Civility Index and what it reveals about workplace culture 08:26 — How practical tools and emotional intelligence can shift behavior 09:40 — Leaders don’t need to fix people—they need to own their self-awareness 11:00 — The EI Code of Conduct and why self-awareness comes first 12:45 — “Look in the mirror, not out the window”—why perspective matters 14:06 — Margie reflects on teaching mindset to former gang members 15:20 — Nafeesah shares how her Helicon yoga program changed the room 17:35 — They announce their own podcast focused on EI and incivility 18:45 — A shoutout to isolved’s HR team and the vibe of the booth itself This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two powerhouse voices in workplace transformation—Coach Margie Rubio and Coach Nafeesah Bashir. The vibe? Zero script, all impact. The moment they sat down, the conversation took off.

Margie and Nafeesah dig into the real roots of workplace incivility—from self-awareness gaps to emotional climate blind spots. They share the concept behind the Civility Index, their code of conduct for emotional intelligence, and how they help leaders shift culture with practical, non-performative tools. Margie speaks on her work with active and former gang members. Nafeesah shares how trauma-informed yoga became a corporate unlock. The energy is real, the takeaways hit hard—and they’re just getting started.

Timestamps

00:00 — Margie and Nafeesah join the show without being asked

00:45 — The group jumps into incivility and emotional climate at work

01:40 — What it means to be a "people hero" in practice

02:28 — Margie shares her HR superpower and how empathy meets boundaries

03:25 — Nafeesah explains how she leads with love and teaches by example

04:32 — The fear behind vulnerability and what keeps people guarded

05:15 — Why life experience determines how you show up at work

06:20 — How to assess team dynamics using a “weather forecast” model

07:13 — The Civility Index and what it reveals about workplace culture

08:26 — How practical tools and emotional intelligence can shift behavior

09:40 — Leaders don’t need to fix people—they need to own their self-awareness

11:00 — The EI Code of Conduct and why self-awareness comes first

12:45 — “Look in the mirror, not out the window”—why perspective matters

14:06 — Margie reflects on teaching mindset to former gang members

15:20 — Nafeesah shares how her Helicon yoga program changed the room

17:35 — They announce their own podcast focused on EI and incivility

18:45 — A shoutout to isolved’s HR team and the vibe of the booth itself


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1301 Authenticity and impact shape how these HR leaders define success and leadership This episode was recorded live at SHRM 2025 in San Diego. William Tincup sat down with D’Mar Phillips, Bill Chval, and Franz Schreiner. Each guest brought a unique lens to the idea of people leadership. They spoke with clarity. They answered without polish. They showed what real influence looks like inside a company. D'Mar explained why strong relationships matter more than surface-level connection. Bill revealed how motivation depends on knowing what others need before they ask. Franz shared how product success starts with diagnosing the right problem. They did not try to impress. They told stories. They reflected on turning points. They spoke about feedback that hurt but helped. They showed how leadership means staying grounded even when you want to retreat. They made it clear that legacy begins with how you show up every day. Timestamps 00:00 — Why they start with HR superpowers instead of job titles 01:10 — William explains how motivation fails without personalization 02:00 — “What did you hear?” creates clarity through reflection 03:10 — Franz explains the gap between customer asks and real problems 04:20 — Bill defines a people hero as someone who makes a difference 05:40 — Bill uses a kitchen whiteboard to reinforce what matters 06:30 — Franz explains why Bill leads the same way at home and work 07:40 — D'Mar reframes heroism as the courage to be authentic 08:30 — William embraces blunt honesty but checks for permission 09:20 — Franz explains how inspiration helped shape his leadership 11:00 — Franz reveals why transparency matters more than pretending 12:20 — A project failure at Uber taught Franz to lead with honesty 13:10 — Feedback without sugarcoating builds long-term trust 14:10 — Bill recalls when a stranger wanted to work for him 16:20 — D'Mar shares what Feeding America’s CEO taught him about feedback 17:50 — He explains why you should never leave just to escape something This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network This episode was recorded live at SHRM 2025 in San Diego. William Tincup sat down with D’Mar Phillips, Bill Chval, and Franz Schreiner. Each guest brought a unique lens to the idea of people leadership. They spoke with clarity. They answered without polish. They showed what real influence looks like inside a company. D'Mar explained why strong relationships matter more than surface-level connection. Bill revealed how motivation depends on knowing what others need before they ask. Franz shared how product success starts with diagnosing the right problem. They did not try to impress. They told stories. They reflected on turning points. They spoke about feedback that hurt but helped. They showed how leadership means staying grounded even when you want to retreat. They made it clear that legacy begins with how you show up every day. Timestamps 00:00 — Why they start with HR superpowers instead of job titles 01:10 — William explains how motivation fails without personalization 02:00 — “What did you hear?” creates clarity through reflection 03:10 — Franz explains the gap between customer asks and real problems 04:20 — Bill defines a people hero as someone who makes a difference 05:40 — Bill uses a kitchen whiteboard to reinforce what matters 06:30 — Franz explains why Bill leads the same way at home and work 07:40 — D'Mar reframes heroism as the courage to be authentic 08:30 — William embraces blunt honesty but checks for permission 09:20 — Franz explains how inspiration helped shape his leadership 11:00 — Franz reveals why transparency matters more than pretending 12:20 — A project failure at Uber taught Franz to lead with honesty 13:10 — Feedback without sugarcoating builds long-term trust 14:10 — Bill recalls when a stranger wanted to work for him 16:20 — D'Mar shares what Feeding America’s CEO taught him about feedback 17:50 — He explains why you should never leave just to escape something This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ This episode was recorded live at SHRM 2025 in San Diego. William Tincup sat down with D’Mar Phillips, Bill Chval, and Franz Schreiner. Each guest brought a unique lens to the idea of people leadership. They spoke with clarity. They answered without polish. They showed what real influence looks like inside a company.

D'Mar explained why strong relationships matter more than surface-level connection. Bill revealed how motivation depends on knowing what others need before they ask. Franz shared how product success starts with diagnosing the right problem. They did not try to impress. They told stories. They reflected on turning points. They spoke about feedback that hurt but helped. They showed how leadership means staying grounded even when you want to retreat. They made it clear that legacy begins with how you show up every day.


Timestamps

00:00 — Why they start with HR superpowers instead of job titles

01:10 — William explains how motivation fails without personalization

02:00 — “What did you hear?” creates clarity through reflection

03:10 — Franz explains the gap between customer asks and real problems

04:20 — Bill defines a people hero as someone who makes a difference

05:40 — Bill uses a kitchen whiteboard to reinforce what matters

06:30 — Franz explains why Bill leads the same way at home and work

07:40 — D'Mar reframes heroism as the courage to be authentic

08:30 — William embraces blunt honesty but checks for permission

09:20 — Franz explains how inspiration helped shape his leadership

11:00 — Franz reveals why transparency matters more than pretending

12:20 — A project failure at Uber taught Franz to lead with honesty

13:10 — Feedback without sugarcoating builds long-term trust

14:10 — Bill recalls when a stranger wanted to work for him

16:20 — D'Mar shares what Feeding America’s CEO taught him about feedback

17:50 — He explains why you should never leave just to escape something


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1167 no Most Leaders Don’t Build Culture - They Inherit Excuses This episode was recorded live at SHRM from the isolved booth in San Diego. William Tincup and Ryan Leary spoke with Alain Hunkins and Tim Sackett about what culture actually looks like inside real companies. Alain explained why simple rituals can completely shift team energy without using policies or budgets. Tim pushed back on whether leaders even know how to build culture in the first place. They both argued that most teams never see culture modeled in action. They said that leaders usually confuse tasks for people. They described how rituals during interviews can help candidates understand whether they belong. They also explained why bad leaders often stay in power. They perform well. They bring in money. They meet goals. But they never learn how to lead. Timestamps 00:52 — Alain sings Happy Birthday to show how rituals shift energy 02:17 — Leaders build culture through ritual. Bad managers don’t 03:21 — Alain explains how people-first leadership changes performance 03:44 — Tim questions whether leaders know how to build culture at all 04:07 — Alain shares a check-in ritual that changes team meetings 05:20 — Most people never learn culture because they never see it 05:39 — Tim asks why interviews don’t include real culture cues 06:54 — People should walk away from interviews if it’s not a fit 07:35 — Tim explains how performance rankings reveal real expectations 08:48 — Feedback should feel intense in the first 90 days 09:14 — Alain warns that buzzwords won’t fix culture 10:05 — Ryan asks whether bad culture is just bad fit 10:50 — Culture is your boss. Not the brand 11:30 — Alain explains why bad leaders get protected 13:08 — Tim defines a people hero as someone who balances business and care 14:56 — Alain says people heroes speak truth to power and lead with kindness This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network This episode was recorded live at SHRM from the isolved booth in San Diego. William Tincup and Ryan Leary spoke with Alain Hunkins and Tim Sackett about what culture actually looks like inside real companies. Alain explained why simple rituals can completely shift team energy without using policies or budgets. Tim pushed back on whether leaders even know how to build culture in the first place. They both argued that most teams never see culture modeled in action. They said that leaders usually confuse tasks for people. They described how rituals during interviews can help candidates understand whether they belong. They also explained why bad leaders often stay in power. They perform well. They bring in money. They meet goals. But they never learn how to lead. Timestamps 00:52 — Alain sings Happy Birthday to show how rituals shift energy 02:17 — Leaders build culture through ritual. Bad managers don’t 03:21 — Alain explains how people-first leadership changes performance 03:44 — Tim questions whether leaders know how to build culture at all 04:07 — Alain shares a check-in ritual that changes team meetings 05:20 — Most people never learn culture because they never see it 05:39 — Tim asks why interviews don’t include real culture cues 06:54 — People should walk away from interviews if it’s not a fit 07:35 — Tim explains how performance rankings reveal real expectations 08:48 — Feedback should feel intense in the first 90 days 09:14 — Alain warns that buzzwords won’t fix culture 10:05 — Ryan asks whether bad culture is just bad fit 10:50 — Culture is your boss. Not the brand 11:30 — Alain explains why bad leaders get protected 13:08 — Tim defines a people hero as someone who balances business and care 14:56 — Alain says people heroes speak truth to power and lead with kindness This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ This episode was recorded live at SHRM from the isolved booth in San Diego. William Tincup and Ryan Leary spoke with Alain Hunkins and Tim Sackett about what culture actually looks like inside real companies. Alain explained why simple rituals can completely shift team energy without using policies or budgets. Tim pushed back on whether leaders even know how to build culture in the first place.

They both argued that most teams never see culture modeled in action. They said that leaders usually confuse tasks for people. They described how rituals during interviews can help candidates understand whether they belong. They also explained why bad leaders often stay in power. They perform well. They bring in money. They meet goals. But they never learn how to lead.


Timestamps

00:52 — Alain sings Happy Birthday to show how rituals shift energy

02:17 — Leaders build culture through ritual. Bad managers don’t

03:21 — Alain explains how people-first leadership changes performance

03:44 — Tim questions whether leaders know how to build culture at all

04:07 — Alain shares a check-in ritual that changes team meetings

05:20 — Most people never learn culture because they never see it

05:39 — Tim asks why interviews don’t include real culture cues

06:54 — People should walk away from interviews if it’s not a fit

07:35 — Tim explains how performance rankings reveal real expectations

08:48 — Feedback should feel intense in the first 90 days

09:14 — Alain warns that buzzwords won’t fix culture

10:05 — Ryan asks whether bad culture is just bad fit

10:50 — Culture is your boss. Not the brand

11:30 — Alain explains why bad leaders get protected

13:08 — Tim defines a people hero as someone who balances business and care

14:56 — Alain says people heroes speak truth to power and lead with kindness


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 926 no Brittany Dvorak and Katie Leonard reveal how HR becomes real when people decide to show up This episode takes place live at the isolved booth during SHRM 2025. William Tincup and Ryan Leary invite two guests who had no plan to be recorded. Brittany Dvorak and Katie Leonard join the conversation without warning. What follows feels honest. Nothing sounds rehearsed. Brittany explains why being blunt earns trust when it comes from care. She shares how speaking up changes more than policy. Katie talks about showing up at every location, even when others forget to. She recalls the moment a worker thanked her for explaining benefits. Both women share stories that reveal what it means to help someone feel seen. They make it clear that real HR happens when people remember to be human. Timestamps 00:00 — Two strangers walk in and agree to record without a script 00:43 — They find common ground through football and conference fatigue 01:26 — Brittany calls for wine and honesty in professional spaces 02:25 — Katie explains how her boss earns trust by fighting for fairness 03:26 — Brittany defines a people hero as someone who disrupts when it counts 04:16 — William says real leadership means speaking truth to power 04:27 — Brittany owns her bluntness and explains why it builds stronger teams 06:38 — Katie says she shows up when others don’t and makes people feel included 07:44 — Brittany shares how a check-in helped someone choose to stay alive 10:06 — They reflect on how empathy showed up during COVID but faded too fast 11:15 — Katie remembers the moment she knew HR was the right path 12:44 — William reminds everyone that great HR begins with listening This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/⁠ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network This episode takes place live at the isolved booth during SHRM 2025. William Tincup and Ryan Leary invite two guests who had no plan to be recorded. Brittany Dvorak and Katie Leonard join the conversation without warning. What follows feels honest. Nothing sounds rehearsed. Brittany explains why being blunt earns trust when it comes from care. She shares how speaking up changes more than policy. Katie talks about showing up at every location, even when others forget to. She recalls the moment a worker thanked her for explaining benefits. Both women share stories that reveal what it means to help someone feel seen. They make it clear that real HR happens when people remember to be human. Timestamps 00:00 — Two strangers walk in and agree to record without a script 00:43 — They find common ground through football and conference fatigue 01:26 — Brittany calls for wine and honesty in professional spaces 02:25 — Katie explains how her boss earns trust by fighting for fairness 03:26 — Brittany defines a people hero as someone who disrupts when it counts 04:16 — William says real leadership means speaking truth to power 04:27 — Brittany owns her bluntness and explains why it builds stronger teams 06:38 — Katie says she shows up when others don’t and makes people feel included 07:44 — Brittany shares how a check-in helped someone choose to stay alive 10:06 — They reflect on how empathy showed up during COVID but faded too fast 11:15 — Katie remembers the moment she knew HR was the right path 12:44 — William reminds everyone that great HR begins with listening This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/⁠ This episode takes place live at the isolved booth during SHRM 2025. William Tincup and Ryan Leary invite two guests who had no plan to be recorded. Brittany Dvorak and Katie Leonard join the conversation without warning. What follows feels honest. Nothing sounds rehearsed.

Brittany explains why being blunt earns trust when it comes from care. She shares how speaking up changes more than policy. Katie talks about showing up at every location, even when others forget to. She recalls the moment a worker thanked her for explaining benefits. Both women share stories that reveal what it means to help someone feel seen. They make it clear that real HR happens when people remember to be human.


Timestamps

00:00 — Two strangers walk in and agree to record without a script

00:43 — They find common ground through football and conference fatigue

01:26 — Brittany calls for wine and honesty in professional spaces

02:25 — Katie explains how her boss earns trust by fighting for fairness

03:26 — Brittany defines a people hero as someone who disrupts when it counts

04:16 — William says real leadership means speaking truth to power

04:27 — Brittany owns her bluntness and explains why it builds stronger teams

06:38 — Katie says she shows up when others don’t and makes people feel included

07:44 — Brittany shares how a check-in helped someone choose to stay alive

10:06 — They reflect on how empathy showed up during COVID but faded too fast

11:15 — Katie remembers the moment she knew HR was the right path

12:44 — William reminds everyone that great HR begins with listening


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 840 no Kindness dealers and second chances: HR leaders on what it means to be a people hero Live from isolved’s booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup grabs three HR leaders just before bingo hour—and asks them what heroism in the workplace really looks like. Trica Walters (CHRO, Tulsa), Dr. Kelly Drummond (HR Director, City of Knoxville), and Laquita Jaouani (HR Specialist, Easily Blessed Media) each bring a unique lens. They talk about the power of connection, the gift of calm under pressure, and the magic that happens when humor breaks down walls. Their stories go beyond policy—they touch on sobriety, foster care, and hard-fought personal growth. It’s a fast-paced, heartfelt chat about the real work behind HR—the quiet moments that build trust, and the bold ones that change lives. Timestamps 00:00 — Recorded live from the isolved booth just before a prize giveaway 00:32 — Meet Trica, Laquita, and Dr. Kelly—HR leaders from Tulsa to Knoxville 01:00 — What does “people hero” mean? Each guest shares a distinct view 01:45 — Trica explains how kindness can lead to deep transformation 02:08 — HR superpowers revealed—from humor to K-pop to crisis calm 03:01 — Laquita’s BTS collection sparks real-world connections at work 03:10 — Dr. Kelly explains how staying calm anchors her team during chaos 04:12 — William’s pitbull metaphor for emotional leadership in HR 04:30 — What’s your transcendent moment? The guests reflect 04:45 — Laquita shares how a former foster youth changed her life 05:23 — Dr. Kelly recalls helping someone find peace, purpose, and passion 05:43 — Trica’s story of a terminated employee who returned in recovery 06:24 — Why second chances shape culture more than policy ever can 06:56 — Trica rebrands herself as a “kindness dealer”—mic drop moment before bingo This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/⁠ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from isolved’s booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup grabs three HR leaders just before bingo hour—and asks them what heroism in the workplace really looks like. Trica Walters (CHRO, Tulsa), Dr. Kelly Drummond (HR Director, City of Knoxville), and Laquita Jaouani (HR Specialist, Easily Blessed Media) each bring a unique lens. They talk about the power of connection, the gift of calm under pressure, and the magic that happens when humor breaks down walls. Their stories go beyond policy—they touch on sobriety, foster care, and hard-fought personal growth. It’s a fast-paced, heartfelt chat about the real work behind HR—the quiet moments that build trust, and the bold ones that change lives. Timestamps 00:00 — Recorded live from the isolved booth just before a prize giveaway 00:32 — Meet Trica, Laquita, and Dr. Kelly—HR leaders from Tulsa to Knoxville 01:00 — What does “people hero” mean? Each guest shares a distinct view 01:45 — Trica explains how kindness can lead to deep transformation 02:08 — HR superpowers revealed—from humor to K-pop to crisis calm 03:01 — Laquita’s BTS collection sparks real-world connections at work 03:10 — Dr. Kelly explains how staying calm anchors her team during chaos 04:12 — William’s pitbull metaphor for emotional leadership in HR 04:30 — What’s your transcendent moment? The guests reflect 04:45 — Laquita shares how a former foster youth changed her life 05:23 — Dr. Kelly recalls helping someone find peace, purpose, and passion 05:43 — Trica’s story of a terminated employee who returned in recovery 06:24 — Why second chances shape culture more than policy ever can 06:56 — Trica rebrands herself as a “kindness dealer”—mic drop moment before bingo This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/⁠ Live from isolved’s booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup grabs three HR leaders just before bingo hour—and asks them what heroism in the workplace really looks like.

Trica Walters (CHRO, Tulsa), Dr. Kelly Drummond (HR Director, City of Knoxville), and Laquita Jaouani (HR Specialist, Easily Blessed Media) each bring a unique lens. They talk about the power of connection, the gift of calm under pressure, and the magic that happens when humor breaks down walls. Their stories go beyond policy—they touch on sobriety, foster care, and hard-fought personal growth.

It’s a fast-paced, heartfelt chat about the real work behind HR—the quiet moments that build trust, and the bold ones that change lives.


Timestamps

00:00 — Recorded live from the isolved booth just before a prize giveaway

00:32 — Meet Trica, Laquita, and Dr. Kelly—HR leaders from Tulsa to Knoxville

01:00 — What does “people hero” mean? Each guest shares a distinct view

01:45 — Trica explains how kindness can lead to deep transformation

02:08 — HR superpowers revealed—from humor to K-pop to crisis calm

03:01 — Laquita’s BTS collection sparks real-world connections at work

03:10 — Dr. Kelly explains how staying calm anchors her team during chaos

04:12 — William’s pitbull metaphor for emotional leadership in HR

04:30 — What’s your transcendent moment? The guests reflect

04:45 — Laquita shares how a former foster youth changed her life

05:23 — Dr. Kelly recalls helping someone find peace, purpose, and passion

05:43 — Trica’s story of a terminated employee who returned in recovery

06:24 — Why second chances shape culture more than policy ever can

06:56 — Trica rebrands herself as a “kindness dealer”—mic drop moment before bingo


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 492 no Leaders who show up: Angela Carranza and Vilma Brager on real HR courage and empathy Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two sharp, grounded HR pros who lead with both heart and action. Angela Carranza, Controller at NEOpal, and Vilma Brager, Co-founder and CEO of Insight HR Consulting, bring real stories of trust, empathy, and courageous leadership into the spotlight. Angela talks through how auditing a forgotten PTO error helped an employee feel truly seen—and what that small act says about leading with care. Vilma shares how showing up for an employee during a personal crisis became a defining moment in her career. They both weigh in on what it means to be a “people hero”—and why performative leadership doesn’t cut it anymore. This one’s honest, unscripted, and packed with human-first insight. Timestamps 00:00 — Live at the isolved booth in San Diego 00:44 — Meet Angela Carranza and Vilma Brager 01:15 — What’s your HR superpower? 02:01 — Vilma on the power of difficult conversations 03:08 — Angela shares why empathy guides her leadership 04:00 — Sympathy vs empathy: how leaders get it wrong 05:21 — Defining “people heroes” in the HR world 06:04 — What it looks like when leaders roll up their sleeves 07:18 — Performative leadership vs authentic action 08:29 — Ryan shares a powerful CEO story from Kenexa 09:40 — Angela’s story: fixing a long-missed vacation accrual 10:58 — “I feel seen”: when small actions make a big impact 11:18 — Vilma on holding space for mental health before it was common 12:46 — Helping employees access resources with compassion 13:29 — Pre-COVID mental health stigma and how far we’ve come 13:56 — Final laughs and a mission to find the Aflac duck This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two sharp, grounded HR pros who lead with both heart and action. Angela Carranza, Controller at NEOpal, and Vilma Brager, Co-founder and CEO of Insight HR Consulting, bring real stories of trust, empathy, and courageous leadership into the spotlight. Angela talks through how auditing a forgotten PTO error helped an employee feel truly seen—and what that small act says about leading with care. Vilma shares how showing up for an employee during a personal crisis became a defining moment in her career. They both weigh in on what it means to be a “people hero”—and why performative leadership doesn’t cut it anymore. This one’s honest, unscripted, and packed with human-first insight. Timestamps 00:00 — Live at the isolved booth in San Diego 00:44 — Meet Angela Carranza and Vilma Brager 01:15 — What’s your HR superpower? 02:01 — Vilma on the power of difficult conversations 03:08 — Angela shares why empathy guides her leadership 04:00 — Sympathy vs empathy: how leaders get it wrong 05:21 — Defining “people heroes” in the HR world 06:04 — What it looks like when leaders roll up their sleeves 07:18 — Performative leadership vs authentic action 08:29 — Ryan shares a powerful CEO story from Kenexa 09:40 — Angela’s story: fixing a long-missed vacation accrual 10:58 — “I feel seen”: when small actions make a big impact 11:18 — Vilma on holding space for mental health before it was common 12:46 — Helping employees access resources with compassion 13:29 — Pre-COVID mental health stigma and how far we’ve come 13:56 — Final laughs and a mission to find the Aflac duck This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Live from the isolved booth at SHRM 2025 in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two sharp, grounded HR pros who lead with both heart and action. Angela Carranza, Controller at NEOpal, and Vilma Brager, Co-founder and CEO of Insight HR Consulting, bring real stories of trust, empathy, and courageous leadership into the spotlight.

Angela talks through how auditing a forgotten PTO error helped an employee feel truly seen—and what that small act says about leading with care. Vilma shares how showing up for an employee during a personal crisis became a defining moment in her career. They both weigh in on what it means to be a “people hero”—and why performative leadership doesn’t cut it anymore. This one’s honest, unscripted, and packed with human-first insight.

Timestamps

00:00 — Live at the isolved booth in San Diego

00:44 — Meet Angela Carranza and Vilma Brager

01:15 — What’s your HR superpower?

02:01 — Vilma on the power of difficult conversations

03:08 — Angela shares why empathy guides her leadership

04:00 — Sympathy vs empathy: how leaders get it wrong

05:21 — Defining “people heroes” in the HR world

06:04 — What it looks like when leaders roll up their sleeves

07:18 — Performative leadership vs authentic action

08:29 — Ryan shares a powerful CEO story from Kenexa

09:40 — Angela’s story: fixing a long-missed vacation accrual

10:58 — “I feel seen”: when small actions make a big impact

11:18 — Vilma on holding space for mental health before it was common

12:46 — Helping employees access resources with compassion

13:29 — Pre-COVID mental health stigma and how far we’ve come

13:56 — Final laughs and a mission to find the Aflac duck

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 896 no Workforce planning meets real life: Tom McCarty on empowering HR with better org design tools Tom McCarty, CEO of OrgChart, joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary live at SHRM 2025 in San Diego to talk org charts, AI fears, and why spreadsheets are failing HR. The trio digs into how HR teams can own strategic workforce decisions when given the right tools—and what happens when finance tries to go it alone. Tom shares how OrgChart helps HR visualize both present and future states of the org so they can lead with insight, not outdated data. From Dell call centers to coaching trees in football, Tom opens up about what drives him: creating life-changing opportunities. He recounts a transformational moment from early in his career that shaped how he leads today—and why investing in people always pays off. This episode hits on the tension between tech and trust, the risk of modeling people like numbers, and the irreplaceable superpower of HR pros who do more with less. Timestamps 00:00 — Tom McCarty joins from the floor at SHRM 2025 in San Diego 01:00 — How OrgChart helps HR visualize current and future org structures 02:30 — Why modeling workforce changes needs more than a spreadsheet 04:00 — AI in HR: where it’s being embraced and where fear still lingers 05:00 — Sensitive data, slow adoption, and the AI trust gap 06:00 — Finance wants in—why people data is becoming a CFO priority 07:15 — Spreadsheets vs org charts: the fight for visibility and accuracy 08:30 — HR + finance collaboration: shared goals, different tools 09:30 — Who HR heroes really are and why doing more with less defines them 10:30 — Tom’s superpower and why coaching beats managing 11:30 — College football analogies and coaching trees as leadership models 14:30 — A moment at Dell that changed how Tom views opportunity 16:30 — The ripple effect of lifting people up—inside and outside of work This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Tom McCarty, CEO of OrgChart, joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary live at SHRM 2025 in San Diego to talk org charts, AI fears, and why spreadsheets are failing HR. The trio digs into how HR teams can own strategic workforce decisions when given the right tools—and what happens when finance tries to go it alone. Tom shares how OrgChart helps HR visualize both present and future states of the org so they can lead with insight, not outdated data. From Dell call centers to coaching trees in football, Tom opens up about what drives him: creating life-changing opportunities. He recounts a transformational moment from early in his career that shaped how he leads today—and why investing in people always pays off. This episode hits on the tension between tech and trust, the risk of modeling people like numbers, and the irreplaceable superpower of HR pros who do more with less. Timestamps 00:00 — Tom McCarty joins from the floor at SHRM 2025 in San Diego 01:00 — How OrgChart helps HR visualize current and future org structures 02:30 — Why modeling workforce changes needs more than a spreadsheet 04:00 — AI in HR: where it’s being embraced and where fear still lingers 05:00 — Sensitive data, slow adoption, and the AI trust gap 06:00 — Finance wants in—why people data is becoming a CFO priority 07:15 — Spreadsheets vs org charts: the fight for visibility and accuracy 08:30 — HR + finance collaboration: shared goals, different tools 09:30 — Who HR heroes really are and why doing more with less defines them 10:30 — Tom’s superpower and why coaching beats managing 11:30 — College football analogies and coaching trees as leadership models 14:30 — A moment at Dell that changed how Tom views opportunity 16:30 — The ripple effect of lifting people up—inside and outside of work This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tom McCarty, CEO of OrgChart, joins William Tincup and Ryan Leary live at SHRM 2025 in San Diego to talk org charts, AI fears, and why spreadsheets are failing HR. The trio digs into how HR teams can own strategic workforce decisions when given the right tools—and what happens when finance tries to go it alone. Tom shares how OrgChart helps HR visualize both present and future states of the org so they can lead with insight, not outdated data.

From Dell call centers to coaching trees in football, Tom opens up about what drives him: creating life-changing opportunities. He recounts a transformational moment from early in his career that shaped how he leads today—and why investing in people always pays off. This episode hits on the tension between tech and trust, the risk of modeling people like numbers, and the irreplaceable superpower of HR pros who do more with less.

Timestamps

00:00 — Tom McCarty joins from the floor at SHRM 2025 in San Diego

01:00 — How OrgChart helps HR visualize current and future org structures

02:30 — Why modeling workforce changes needs more than a spreadsheet

04:00 — AI in HR: where it’s being embraced and where fear still lingers

05:00 — Sensitive data, slow adoption, and the AI trust gap

06:00 — Finance wants in—why people data is becoming a CFO priority

07:15 — Spreadsheets vs org charts: the fight for visibility and accuracy

08:30 — HR + finance collaboration: shared goals, different tools

09:30 — Who HR heroes really are and why doing more with less defines them

10:30 — Tom’s superpower and why coaching beats managing

11:30 — College football analogies and coaching trees as leadership models

14:30 — A moment at Dell that changed how Tom views opportunity

16:30 — The ripple effect of lifting people up—inside and outside of work


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1102 no Christine Allen and Caleb Larkin recap the SHRM crowd frenzy and isolved booth madness Live from the isolved booth at SHRM Annual in San Diego, Christine Allen and Caleb Larkin join William Tincup and Ryan Leary to wrap the event with laughs, insight, and a little chaos. This wasn’t just another tradeshow—it was a full-on activation. Caleb breaks down how isolved’s infamous text-based bingo game drew over 400 participants—and why designer purses turned the booth into a mob scene. Christine dishes on crowd control, social energy, and what surprised her most about the experience. William and Ryan reflect on what worked this year—including the flow between podcast guests and sales—and share their favorite unscripted podcast moments from the show floor. It’s equal parts hype, hilarity, and hard-earned takeaways. Timestamps 00:00 — End-of-day chaos as the team wraps the final show 00:27 — Why isolved’s SHRM booth drew record-breaking traffic 01:06 — Caleb breaks down the isolved bingo game strategy 02:10 — The text message game that teaches software features on the fly 02:34 — Crowd frenzy over designer purse giveaways hits a boiling point 04:46 — Managing crowd control and accidental fire hazards 06:07 — Lessons from running a high-traffic booth 06:50 — Podcasting meets sales: integration finally clicks 07:57 — “Do y’all have Jesus in your heart?”—Tincup’s Sunday kickoff 08:19 — The surprising impact of live podcast pairings 09:20 — First-time guests bond over astrology, end up collaborating 10:13 — Two random coaches walk up—then deliver gold on the mic 11:10 — How the booth’s layout encouraged authenticity and connection 11:45 — Encouraging nervous guests: “It’s just like Starbucks” 12:26 — Cold pitches, warm leads, and hilarious rejections 13:10 — What Christine and Caleb would tweak for next year 13:51 — Running out of swag for the first time ever 14:45 — 500 water bottles, infused flavors, and fan-favorite ginger water 15:22 — Final reflections on energy, team effort, and booth success This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from the isolved booth at SHRM Annual in San Diego, Christine Allen and Caleb Larkin join William Tincup and Ryan Leary to wrap the event with laughs, insight, and a little chaos. This wasn’t just another tradeshow—it was a full-on activation. Caleb breaks down how isolved’s infamous text-based bingo game drew over 400 participants—and why designer purses turned the booth into a mob scene. Christine dishes on crowd control, social energy, and what surprised her most about the experience. William and Ryan reflect on what worked this year—including the flow between podcast guests and sales—and share their favorite unscripted podcast moments from the show floor. It’s equal parts hype, hilarity, and hard-earned takeaways. Timestamps 00:00 — End-of-day chaos as the team wraps the final show 00:27 — Why isolved’s SHRM booth drew record-breaking traffic 01:06 — Caleb breaks down the isolved bingo game strategy 02:10 — The text message game that teaches software features on the fly 02:34 — Crowd frenzy over designer purse giveaways hits a boiling point 04:46 — Managing crowd control and accidental fire hazards 06:07 — Lessons from running a high-traffic booth 06:50 — Podcasting meets sales: integration finally clicks 07:57 — “Do y’all have Jesus in your heart?”—Tincup’s Sunday kickoff 08:19 — The surprising impact of live podcast pairings 09:20 — First-time guests bond over astrology, end up collaborating 10:13 — Two random coaches walk up—then deliver gold on the mic 11:10 — How the booth’s layout encouraged authenticity and connection 11:45 — Encouraging nervous guests: “It’s just like Starbucks” 12:26 — Cold pitches, warm leads, and hilarious rejections 13:10 — What Christine and Caleb would tweak for next year 13:51 — Running out of swag for the first time ever 14:45 — 500 water bottles, infused flavors, and fan-favorite ginger water 15:22 — Final reflections on energy, team effort, and booth success This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Live from the isolved booth at SHRM Annual in San Diego, Christine Allen and Caleb Larkin join William Tincup and Ryan Leary to wrap the event with laughs, insight, and a little chaos. This wasn’t just another tradeshow—it was a full-on activation.

Caleb breaks down how isolved’s infamous text-based bingo game drew over 400 participants—and why designer purses turned the booth into a mob scene. Christine dishes on crowd control, social energy, and what surprised her most about the experience. William and Ryan reflect on what worked this year—including the flow between podcast guests and sales—and share their favorite unscripted podcast moments from the show floor. It’s equal parts hype, hilarity, and hard-earned takeaways.

Timestamps

00:00 — End-of-day chaos as the team wraps the final show

00:27 — Why isolved’s SHRM booth drew record-breaking traffic

01:06 — Caleb breaks down the isolved bingo game strategy

02:10 — The text message game that teaches software features on the fly

02:34 — Crowd frenzy over designer purse giveaways hits a boiling point

04:46 — Managing crowd control and accidental fire hazards

06:07 — Lessons from running a high-traffic booth

06:50 — Podcasting meets sales: integration finally clicks

07:57 — “Do y’all have Jesus in your heart?”—Tincup’s Sunday kickoff

08:19 — The surprising impact of live podcast pairings

09:20 — First-time guests bond over astrology, end up collaborating

10:13 — Two random coaches walk up—then deliver gold on the mic

11:10 — How the booth’s layout encouraged authenticity and connection

11:45 — Encouraging nervous guests: “It’s just like Starbucks”

12:26 — Cold pitches, warm leads, and hilarious rejections

13:10 — What Christine and Caleb would tweak for next year

13:51 — Running out of swag for the first time ever

14:45 — 500 water bottles, infused flavors, and fan-favorite ginger water

15:22 — Final reflections on energy, team effort, and booth success


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1002 no Alain Hunkins and Tim Sackett explain how rituals fix culture and expose bad leadership This episode was recorded live at SHRM from the isolved booth in San Diego. William Tincup and Ryan Leary spoke with Alain Hunkins and Tim Sackett about what culture actually looks like inside real companies. Alain explained why simple rituals can completely shift team energy without using policies or budgets. Tim pushed back on whether leaders even know how to build culture in the first place. They both argued that most teams never see culture modeled in action. They said that leaders usually confuse tasks for people. They described how rituals during interviews can help candidates understand whether they belong. They also explained why bad leaders often stay in power. They perform well. They bring in money. They meet goals. But they never learn how to lead. Timestamps 00:00 — The SHRM booth goes live with William and Ryan 00:52 — Alain sings Happy Birthday to show how rituals shift energy 02:17 — Leaders build culture through ritual. Bad managers don’t 03:21 — Alain explains how people-first leadership changes performance 03:44 — Tim questions whether leaders know how to build culture at all 04:07 — Alain shares a check-in ritual that changes team meetings 05:20 — Most people never learn culture because they never see it 05:39 — Tim asks why interviews don’t include real culture cues 06:54 — People should walk away from interviews if it’s not a fit 07:35 — Tim explains how performance rankings reveal real expectations 08:48 — Feedback should feel intense in the first 90 days 09:14 — Alain warns that buzzwords won’t fix culture 10:05 — Ryan asks whether bad culture is just bad fit 10:50 — Culture is your boss. Not the brand 11:30 — Alain explains why bad leaders get protected 13:08 — Tim defines a people hero as someone who balances business and care 14:56 — Alain says people heroes speak truth to power and lead with kindness This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/⁠ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network This episode was recorded live at SHRM from the isolved booth in San Diego. William Tincup and Ryan Leary spoke with Alain Hunkins and Tim Sackett about what culture actually looks like inside real companies. Alain explained why simple rituals can completely shift team energy without using policies or budgets. Tim pushed back on whether leaders even know how to build culture in the first place. They both argued that most teams never see culture modeled in action. They said that leaders usually confuse tasks for people. They described how rituals during interviews can help candidates understand whether they belong. They also explained why bad leaders often stay in power. They perform well. They bring in money. They meet goals. But they never learn how to lead. Timestamps 00:00 — The SHRM booth goes live with William and Ryan 00:52 — Alain sings Happy Birthday to show how rituals shift energy 02:17 — Leaders build culture through ritual. Bad managers don’t 03:21 — Alain explains how people-first leadership changes performance 03:44 — Tim questions whether leaders know how to build culture at all 04:07 — Alain shares a check-in ritual that changes team meetings 05:20 — Most people never learn culture because they never see it 05:39 — Tim asks why interviews don’t include real culture cues 06:54 — People should walk away from interviews if it’s not a fit 07:35 — Tim explains how performance rankings reveal real expectations 08:48 — Feedback should feel intense in the first 90 days 09:14 — Alain warns that buzzwords won’t fix culture 10:05 — Ryan asks whether bad culture is just bad fit 10:50 — Culture is your boss. Not the brand 11:30 — Alain explains why bad leaders get protected 13:08 — Tim defines a people hero as someone who balances business and care 14:56 — Alain says people heroes speak truth to power and lead with kindness This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/⁠ This episode was recorded live at SHRM from the isolved booth in San Diego. William Tincup and Ryan Leary spoke with Alain Hunkins and Tim Sackett about what culture actually looks like inside real companies. Alain explained why simple rituals can completely shift team energy without using policies or budgets. Tim pushed back on whether leaders even know how to build culture in the first place.

They both argued that most teams never see culture modeled in action. They said that leaders usually confuse tasks for people. They described how rituals during interviews can help candidates understand whether they belong. They also explained why bad leaders often stay in power. They perform well. They bring in money. They meet goals. But they never learn how to lead.


Timestamps

00:00 — The SHRM booth goes live with William and Ryan

00:52 — Alain sings Happy Birthday to show how rituals shift energy

02:17 — Leaders build culture through ritual. Bad managers don’t

03:21 — Alain explains how people-first leadership changes performance

03:44 — Tim questions whether leaders know how to build culture at all

04:07 — Alain shares a check-in ritual that changes team meetings

05:20 — Most people never learn culture because they never see it

05:39 — Tim asks why interviews don’t include real culture cues

06:54 — People should walk away from interviews if it’s not a fit

07:35 — Tim explains how performance rankings reveal real expectations

08:48 — Feedback should feel intense in the first 90 days

09:14 — Alain warns that buzzwords won’t fix culture

10:05 — Ryan asks whether bad culture is just bad fit

10:50 — Culture is your boss. Not the brand

11:30 — Alain explains why bad leaders get protected

13:08 — Tim defines a people hero as someone who balances business and care

14:56 — Alain says people heroes speak truth to power and lead with kindness


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1023 no Servant leaders in sync: Ashantae Brooks and Tiana Houston on HR impact and talent moments At the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary brought together two HR pros who had never met—Ashantae Brooks and Tiana Houston—and uncovered an instant connection. From their shared commitment to servant leadership to their passion for helping others thrive, the conversation quickly turned into a lively, heartfelt exchange. Ashantae, a Bronx-born talent whisperer now shaping purpose-driven careers, shared how empathy fuels her recruiting. Tiana, a Southern connector with a mission to uplift young professionals, reflected on the moment she helped a student land a dream job after months of mentorship. They both lit up when talking about superpowers—and both pointed to human connection as the key to lasting impact in HR. With jokes about Atlanta strip clubs, regional rivalries, and zodiac signs mixed in, the episode never loses its sense of realness. But beneath the laughs sits a core truth: the best HR leaders show up not just with skills, but with heart. Timestamps 00:00 — Two HR pros meet for the first time—instant vibes 00:44 — From Harlem to Atlanta—backgrounds, accents, and favorite local spots 02:21 — Strip club recommendations and airport celebrity sightings 03:34 — What makes a “people hero” in HR? 04:31 — Ashantae sees her role as servant leadership through talent conversations 05:25 — Tiana surprises everyone—servant leadership is in her bio 06:05 — SEC pride and southern hospitality decoded 07:40 — Bless your heart—Southern slang gets personal 08:00 — Tiana shares her proudest HR moment: an intern gets the job 08:35 — Ashantae almost passed on a candidate—until he blew her away 10:11 — Superpowers revealed: empathy, connection, and Olivia Pope energy 11:27 — Why talent acquisition means helping people find work they believe in 12:56 — No sugarcoating—honesty as a hiring asset 13:15 — Active vs passive candidates: does it matter if the fit and mission align? 14:16 — Would you turn down a dream job in the Caymans? Probably not. 15:19 — Final thoughts and big thanks to two new people heroes This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network At the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary brought together two HR pros who had never met—Ashantae Brooks and Tiana Houston—and uncovered an instant connection. From their shared commitment to servant leadership to their passion for helping others thrive, the conversation quickly turned into a lively, heartfelt exchange. Ashantae, a Bronx-born talent whisperer now shaping purpose-driven careers, shared how empathy fuels her recruiting. Tiana, a Southern connector with a mission to uplift young professionals, reflected on the moment she helped a student land a dream job after months of mentorship. They both lit up when talking about superpowers—and both pointed to human connection as the key to lasting impact in HR. With jokes about Atlanta strip clubs, regional rivalries, and zodiac signs mixed in, the episode never loses its sense of realness. But beneath the laughs sits a core truth: the best HR leaders show up not just with skills, but with heart. Timestamps 00:00 — Two HR pros meet for the first time—instant vibes 00:44 — From Harlem to Atlanta—backgrounds, accents, and favorite local spots 02:21 — Strip club recommendations and airport celebrity sightings 03:34 — What makes a “people hero” in HR? 04:31 — Ashantae sees her role as servant leadership through talent conversations 05:25 — Tiana surprises everyone—servant leadership is in her bio 06:05 — SEC pride and southern hospitality decoded 07:40 — Bless your heart—Southern slang gets personal 08:00 — Tiana shares her proudest HR moment: an intern gets the job 08:35 — Ashantae almost passed on a candidate—until he blew her away 10:11 — Superpowers revealed: empathy, connection, and Olivia Pope energy 11:27 — Why talent acquisition means helping people find work they believe in 12:56 — No sugarcoating—honesty as a hiring asset 13:15 — Active vs passive candidates: does it matter if the fit and mission align? 14:16 — Would you turn down a dream job in the Caymans? Probably not. 15:19 — Final thoughts and big thanks to two new people heroes This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ At the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary brought together two HR pros who had never met—Ashantae Brooks and Tiana Houston—and uncovered an instant connection. From their shared commitment to servant leadership to their passion for helping others thrive, the conversation quickly turned into a lively, heartfelt exchange.

Ashantae, a Bronx-born talent whisperer now shaping purpose-driven careers, shared how empathy fuels her recruiting. Tiana, a Southern connector with a mission to uplift young professionals, reflected on the moment she helped a student land a dream job after months of mentorship. They both lit up when talking about superpowers—and both pointed to human connection as the key to lasting impact in HR.

With jokes about Atlanta strip clubs, regional rivalries, and zodiac signs mixed in, the episode never loses its sense of realness. But beneath the laughs sits a core truth: the best HR leaders show up not just with skills, but with heart.


Timestamps

00:00 — Two HR pros meet for the first time—instant vibes

00:44 — From Harlem to Atlanta—backgrounds, accents, and favorite local spots

02:21 — Strip club recommendations and airport celebrity sightings

03:34 — What makes a “people hero” in HR?

04:31 — Ashantae sees her role as servant leadership through talent conversations

05:25 — Tiana surprises everyone—servant leadership is in her bio

06:05 — SEC pride and southern hospitality decoded

07:40 — Bless your heart—Southern slang gets personal

08:00 — Tiana shares her proudest HR moment: an intern gets the job

08:35 — Ashantae almost passed on a candidate—until he blew her away

10:11 — Superpowers revealed: empathy, connection, and Olivia Pope energy

11:27 — Why talent acquisition means helping people find work they believe in

12:56 — No sugarcoating—honesty as a hiring asset

13:15 — Active vs passive candidates: does it matter if the fit and mission align?

14:16 — Would you turn down a dream job in the Caymans? Probably not.

15:19 — Final thoughts and big thanks to two new people heroes


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 963 no Michael Bach on why inclusion works best when everyone’s part of the conversation Live from the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Michael Bach—CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and longtime DEI data advocate. What starts as a light-hearted nod to Bach’s rainbow pocket square quickly turns into a sharp critique of performative allyship, corporate backsliding, and the real reason inclusion still meets resistance in the workplace. Bach doesn’t pull punches. He makes the case that DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about profit, retention, and basic business sense. He explains why some companies never truly committed, how guilt distracts from progress, and what happens when white men are excluded from the inclusion narrative. From George Floyd to corporate walk-backs, this one packs perspective—and a little heat. Timestamps 00:00 — Michael Bach shows up loud and proud at SHRM 01:00 — Why visibility matters when you’re part of the “invisible minority” 02:15 — Inclusion is not seasonal—stop treating Pride like a one-month campaign 03:00 — Measuring DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about business outcomes 04:45 — George Floyd sparked urgency, but companies rushed without real buy-in 06:10 — Why performative support failed and which brands are paying the price 07:30 — Boycotts, corporate reckoning, and the lesson from South Africa 08:40 — You can’t fix the past—but you have to move forward from it 10:00 — The gender pay gap hurts more than fairness—it stunts the economy 11:15 — Business should do better because it’s profitable—not because it’s noble 12:10 — Acronyms confuse people—start with business language instead 13:45 — Inclusion failed when it excluded straight, white, able-bodied men 15:10 — Real DEI includes everyone—even the traditionally overrepresented 16:30 — Why “people heroes” are anyone who intentionally makes work more inclusive 17:45 — The future of inclusion depends on action, not awareness campaigns 18:40 — Final laughs: gym memberships, Palm Springs heat, and Bob Hope myths This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Michael Bach—CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and longtime DEI data advocate. What starts as a light-hearted nod to Bach’s rainbow pocket square quickly turns into a sharp critique of performative allyship, corporate backsliding, and the real reason inclusion still meets resistance in the workplace. Bach doesn’t pull punches. He makes the case that DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about profit, retention, and basic business sense. He explains why some companies never truly committed, how guilt distracts from progress, and what happens when white men are excluded from the inclusion narrative. From George Floyd to corporate walk-backs, this one packs perspective—and a little heat. Timestamps 00:00 — Michael Bach shows up loud and proud at SHRM 01:00 — Why visibility matters when you’re part of the “invisible minority” 02:15 — Inclusion is not seasonal—stop treating Pride like a one-month campaign 03:00 — Measuring DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about business outcomes 04:45 — George Floyd sparked urgency, but companies rushed without real buy-in 06:10 — Why performative support failed and which brands are paying the price 07:30 — Boycotts, corporate reckoning, and the lesson from South Africa 08:40 — You can’t fix the past—but you have to move forward from it 10:00 — The gender pay gap hurts more than fairness—it stunts the economy 11:15 — Business should do better because it’s profitable—not because it’s noble 12:10 — Acronyms confuse people—start with business language instead 13:45 — Inclusion failed when it excluded straight, white, able-bodied men 15:10 — Real DEI includes everyone—even the traditionally overrepresented 16:30 — Why “people heroes” are anyone who intentionally makes work more inclusive 17:45 — The future of inclusion depends on action, not awareness campaigns 18:40 — Final laughs: gym memberships, Palm Springs heat, and Bob Hope myths This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Live from the isolved booth at SHRM San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Michael Bach—CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion and longtime DEI data advocate. What starts as a light-hearted nod to Bach’s rainbow pocket square quickly turns into a sharp critique of performative allyship, corporate backsliding, and the real reason inclusion still meets resistance in the workplace.

Bach doesn’t pull punches. He makes the case that DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about profit, retention, and basic business sense. He explains why some companies never truly committed, how guilt distracts from progress, and what happens when white men are excluded from the inclusion narrative. From George Floyd to corporate walk-backs, this one packs perspective—and a little heat.


Timestamps

00:00 — Michael Bach shows up loud and proud at SHRM

01:00 — Why visibility matters when you’re part of the “invisible minority”

02:15 — Inclusion is not seasonal—stop treating Pride like a one-month campaign

03:00 — Measuring DEI isn’t about politics—it’s about business outcomes

04:45 — George Floyd sparked urgency, but companies rushed without real buy-in

06:10 — Why performative support failed and which brands are paying the price

07:30 — Boycotts, corporate reckoning, and the lesson from South Africa

08:40 — You can’t fix the past—but you have to move forward from it

10:00 — The gender pay gap hurts more than fairness—it stunts the economy

11:15 — Business should do better because it’s profitable—not because it’s noble

12:10 — Acronyms confuse people—start with business language instead

13:45 — Inclusion failed when it excluded straight, white, able-bodied men

15:10 — Real DEI includes everyone—even the traditionally overrepresented

16:30 — Why “people heroes” are anyone who intentionally makes work more inclusive

17:45 — The future of inclusion depends on action, not awareness campaigns

18:40 — Final laughs: gym memberships, Palm Springs heat, and Bob Hope myths

This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1323 no Brock Arnold and Rita Kusi on defining people heroes and building purpose from hardship Live from the isolved booth at SHRM in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two guests who’ve never met—but leave with a shared outlook on HR leadership, family, and purpose. Brock Arnold and Rita Kusi bring two powerful, personal takes on what it means to be a “people hero”—and how life, work, and service intersect when you’re truly committed to others. Rita shares how she left her corporate job and moved back to Ghana to build an HR consultancy from the ground up. She talks about her passion for remote team development and the power of global inclusion. Brock opens up about the emotional impact of his son’s leukemia diagnosis and how it reshaped his values. That moment sparked the creation of Thrive Life Project, a nonprofit helping families facing trauma find peace and connection through healthy meals and hands-on activities. This one hits hard—and sticks with you. It’s about listening better, caring deeper, and remembering what really matters when the noise fades away. Timestamps 00:00 — Two strangers meet at the booth, but values connect fast 01:35 — What “people hero” really means in today’s workplace 02:26 — HR in a cape: Rita’s image of unsung heroes 03:29 — Brock breaks down empathy as action, not performance 04:08 — Giving without expectations becomes the core value 04:19 — Rita’s radical move to Ghana to give back through HR 05:18 — Brock’s world shifts with his son’s leukemia diagnosis 06:13 — The moment that led to founding Thrive Life Project 07:25 — What “barely surviving” looks like for families in crisis 09:07 — Why decision fatigue makes dinner feel impossible 10:07 — Bringing families together with meals and STEM—not screens 10:46 — Rita’s HR superpower: building remote teams across borders 12:19 — Why global synergy drives her passion for technology and people 12:33 — Brock’s superpower: empathetic listening that builds real trust 13:18 — Why culture doesn’t shift unless people feel understood 13:39 — Final reflections on timing, connection, and serving others when it matters most This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from the isolved booth at SHRM in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two guests who’ve never met—but leave with a shared outlook on HR leadership, family, and purpose. Brock Arnold and Rita Kusi bring two powerful, personal takes on what it means to be a “people hero”—and how life, work, and service intersect when you’re truly committed to others. Rita shares how she left her corporate job and moved back to Ghana to build an HR consultancy from the ground up. She talks about her passion for remote team development and the power of global inclusion. Brock opens up about the emotional impact of his son’s leukemia diagnosis and how it reshaped his values. That moment sparked the creation of Thrive Life Project, a nonprofit helping families facing trauma find peace and connection through healthy meals and hands-on activities. This one hits hard—and sticks with you. It’s about listening better, caring deeper, and remembering what really matters when the noise fades away. Timestamps 00:00 — Two strangers meet at the booth, but values connect fast 01:35 — What “people hero” really means in today’s workplace 02:26 — HR in a cape: Rita’s image of unsung heroes 03:29 — Brock breaks down empathy as action, not performance 04:08 — Giving without expectations becomes the core value 04:19 — Rita’s radical move to Ghana to give back through HR 05:18 — Brock’s world shifts with his son’s leukemia diagnosis 06:13 — The moment that led to founding Thrive Life Project 07:25 — What “barely surviving” looks like for families in crisis 09:07 — Why decision fatigue makes dinner feel impossible 10:07 — Bringing families together with meals and STEM—not screens 10:46 — Rita’s HR superpower: building remote teams across borders 12:19 — Why global synergy drives her passion for technology and people 12:33 — Brock’s superpower: empathetic listening that builds real trust 13:18 — Why culture doesn’t shift unless people feel understood 13:39 — Final reflections on timing, connection, and serving others when it matters most This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/⁠ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/⁠ Connect with us on social: Site: ⁠http://www.wrkdefined.com⁠ TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/⁠ Twitter (X): ⁠https://twitter.com/WRKdefined⁠ Substack: ⁠https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Live from the isolved booth at SHRM in San Diego, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with two guests who’ve never met—but leave with a shared outlook on HR leadership, family, and purpose. Brock Arnold and Rita Kusi bring two powerful, personal takes on what it means to be a “people hero”—and how life, work, and service intersect when you’re truly committed to others.

Rita shares how she left her corporate job and moved back to Ghana to build an HR consultancy from the ground up. She talks about her passion for remote team development and the power of global inclusion. Brock opens up about the emotional impact of his son’s leukemia diagnosis and how it reshaped his values. That moment sparked the creation of Thrive Life Project, a nonprofit helping families facing trauma find peace and connection through healthy meals and hands-on activities.

This one hits hard—and sticks with you. It’s about listening better, caring deeper, and remembering what really matters when the noise fades away.


Timestamps

00:00 — Two strangers meet at the booth, but values connect fast

01:35 — What “people hero” really means in today’s workplace

02:26 — HR in a cape: Rita’s image of unsung heroes

03:29 — Brock breaks down empathy as action, not performance

04:08 — Giving without expectations becomes the core value

04:19 — Rita’s radical move to Ghana to give back through HR

05:18 — Brock’s world shifts with his son’s leukemia diagnosis

06:13 — The moment that led to founding Thrive Life Project

07:25 — What “barely surviving” looks like for families in crisis

09:07 — Why decision fatigue makes dinner feel impossible

10:07 — Bringing families together with meals and STEM—not screens

10:46 — Rita’s HR superpower: building remote teams across borders

12:19 — Why global synergy drives her passion for technology and people

12:33 — Brock’s superpower: empathetic listening that builds real trust

13:18 — Why culture doesn’t shift unless people feel understood

13:39 — Final reflections on timing, connection, and serving others when it matters most


This episode was recorded live with isolved at the SHRM Annual Conference in San Diego.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: ⁠https://www.isolvedhcm.com/⁠


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 913 no From Filing Cabinets to Frontline Advocacy: Paige La Fever on Community, Customers, and Culture at isolved What do a basement full of paper records, a ferry ride to work, and a thriving customer advisory board have in common? They're all part of the story behind isolved’s “people heroes” movement. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Paige La Fever, Director of Community Relations at isolved, to unpack how HR tech companies can build real trust—not just tools. Paige reveals how isolved’s community evolved from a tactical advocacy platform into a strategic growth engine, giving HR pros a voice, visibility, and an actual seat at the product table. From leveraging Influitive to activate customer networks to letting executives take live feedback on the chin, this episode is a crash course in customer intimacy at scale. She also shares why letting clients leave gracefully is the key to long-term retention—and why some do come back. And in the middle of it all? A payroll hero from Alaska who went from paper trails to panel talks. If your idea of “community” still involves newsletters and a Slack channel, this conversation will recalibrate your playbook. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from isolved Connect: conference formats, partner strategy, and a face for radio 01:14 — Meet Paige: reputation, advocacy, references, and a whole lot more 02:30 — People Heroes origins: how a tactical program turned into a customer-led movement 03:42 — How isolved uses Influitive to power connection, feedback, and activation 05:00 — Why most vendor communities fail—and why this one didn’t 06:22 — Transparency in action: when product feedback gets answered on the spot 07:53 — Advisory boards, real feedback, and expanding by industry or size 09:34 — Customer story: Jaylene in Alaska, from file cabinets to featured panelist 11:03 — What “People Heroes” really means—and why isolved sees itself as the sidekick 12:04 — Winning over new HR leaders who didn’t choose isolved 13:25 — Why a graceful offboarding is the best retention strategy 14:46 — The part of isolved people don’t see: it still feels like family 16:07 — Analyst relations, vendor bias, and navigating credibility in paid ecosystems 18:34 — Wrapping with Irish goodbyes and party predictions This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 8 WRKdefined Podcast Network What do a basement full of paper records, a ferry ride to work, and a thriving customer advisory board have in common? They're all part of the story behind isolved’s “people heroes” movement. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Paige La Fever, Director of Community Relations at isolved, to unpack how HR tech companies can build real trust—not just tools. Paige reveals how isolved’s community evolved from a tactical advocacy platform into a strategic growth engine, giving HR pros a voice, visibility, and an actual seat at the product table. From leveraging Influitive to activate customer networks to letting executives take live feedback on the chin, this episode is a crash course in customer intimacy at scale. She also shares why letting clients leave gracefully is the key to long-term retention—and why some do come back. And in the middle of it all? A payroll hero from Alaska who went from paper trails to panel talks. If your idea of “community” still involves newsletters and a Slack channel, this conversation will recalibrate your playbook. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from isolved Connect: conference formats, partner strategy, and a face for radio 01:14 — Meet Paige: reputation, advocacy, references, and a whole lot more 02:30 — People Heroes origins: how a tactical program turned into a customer-led movement 03:42 — How isolved uses Influitive to power connection, feedback, and activation 05:00 — Why most vendor communities fail—and why this one didn’t 06:22 — Transparency in action: when product feedback gets answered on the spot 07:53 — Advisory boards, real feedback, and expanding by industry or size 09:34 — Customer story: Jaylene in Alaska, from file cabinets to featured panelist 11:03 — What “People Heroes” really means—and why isolved sees itself as the sidekick 12:04 — Winning over new HR leaders who didn’t choose isolved 13:25 — Why a graceful offboarding is the best retention strategy 14:46 — The part of isolved people don’t see: it still feels like family 16:07 — Analyst relations, vendor bias, and navigating credibility in paid ecosystems 18:34 — Wrapping with Irish goodbyes and party predictions This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  What do a basement full of paper records, a ferry ride to work, and a thriving customer advisory board have in common? They're all part of the story behind isolved’s “people heroes” movement.

Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Paige La Fever, Director of Community Relations at isolved, to unpack how HR tech companies can build real trust—not just tools.

Paige reveals how isolved’s community evolved from a tactical advocacy platform into a strategic growth engine, giving HR pros a voice, visibility, and an actual seat at the product table. From leveraging Influitive to activate customer networks to letting executives take live feedback on the chin, this episode is a crash course in customer intimacy at scale.

She also shares why letting clients leave gracefully is the key to long-term retention—and why some do come back.

And in the middle of it all? A payroll hero from Alaska who went from paper trails to panel talks.

If your idea of “community” still involves newsletters and a Slack channel, this conversation will recalibrate your playbook.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from isolved Connect: conference formats, partner strategy, and a face for radio

01:14 — Meet Paige: reputation, advocacy, references, and a whole lot more

02:30 — People Heroes origins: how a tactical program turned into a customer-led movement

03:42 — How isolved uses Influitive to power connection, feedback, and activation

05:00 — Why most vendor communities fail—and why this one didn’t

06:22 — Transparency in action: when product feedback gets answered on the spot

07:53 — Advisory boards, real feedback, and expanding by industry or size

09:34 — Customer story: Jaylene in Alaska, from file cabinets to featured panelist

11:03 — What “People Heroes” really means—and why isolved sees itself as the sidekick

12:04 — Winning over new HR leaders who didn’t choose isolved

13:25 — Why a graceful offboarding is the best retention strategy

14:46 — The part of isolved people don’t see: it still feels like family

16:07 — Analyst relations, vendor bias, and navigating credibility in paid ecosystems

18:34 — Wrapping with Irish goodbyes and party predictions


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 1226 no Beyond the Bank: Art Kimball on Financial Access, Earned Wage Ethics, and Getting Paid Your Way What do Walmart cash pickups, DoorDash paychecks, and AI-powered wage access have in common? A future where your job doesn’t need a bank to pay you. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Art Kimball from Green Dot’s rapid! division to explore the evolving world of pay distribution and why traditional payroll systems are failing today’s workforce. From unbanked middle-class workers to Gen Z avoiding resumes altogether, this episode unpacks how earned wage access is reshaping employee expectations—and why choice, ethics, and transparency matter more than ever. Art also breaks down why payroll needs guardrails, how predatory models are slipping through, and what HR leaders should be asking before rolling out any pay-on-demand solution. If you think early access to pay is just a “nice-to-have,” you’re already behind. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: Kimball museums, DNA detectives, and HR talk derailed 03:20 — What is Green Dot? Financial inclusion and the unbanked 04:56 — Earned wage access: how rapid! gives employees control 05:25 — Walmart cash pickup: payroll without a bank 06:46 — Breaking payroll traditions: why the biweekly check is outdated 07:11 — rapid! vs Green Dot: B2B vs DTC, and launching with Samsung 09:13 — Text-to-pay: money movement through mobile 10:21 — The client sell: helping HR leaders compete with gig work 11:10 — Why fast food led the earned wage revolution 13:00 — The hidden trap: taxes, benefits, and getting it wrong 14:34 — Net vs gross access: how rapid! protects employees and employers 15:45 — Guardrails, fee caps, and the ethics of access 16:27 — The payday loan problem: not all wage access is created equal 18:33 — Financial literacy: the real challenge isn’t access, it’s behavior 20:09 — Why delivery mechanisms matter more than you think 20:40 — People Heroes defined: showing up, staying human, and doing the work This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 2 WRKdefined Podcast Network What do Walmart cash pickups, DoorDash paychecks, and AI-powered wage access have in common? A future where your job doesn’t need a bank to pay you. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Art Kimball from Green Dot’s rapid! division to explore the evolving world of pay distribution and why traditional payroll systems are failing today’s workforce. From unbanked middle-class workers to Gen Z avoiding resumes altogether, this episode unpacks how earned wage access is reshaping employee expectations—and why choice, ethics, and transparency matter more than ever. Art also breaks down why payroll needs guardrails, how predatory models are slipping through, and what HR leaders should be asking before rolling out any pay-on-demand solution. If you think early access to pay is just a “nice-to-have,” you’re already behind. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: Kimball museums, DNA detectives, and HR talk derailed 03:20 — What is Green Dot? Financial inclusion and the unbanked 04:56 — Earned wage access: how rapid! gives employees control 05:25 — Walmart cash pickup: payroll without a bank 06:46 — Breaking payroll traditions: why the biweekly check is outdated 07:11 — rapid! vs Green Dot: B2B vs DTC, and launching with Samsung 09:13 — Text-to-pay: money movement through mobile 10:21 — The client sell: helping HR leaders compete with gig work 11:10 — Why fast food led the earned wage revolution 13:00 — The hidden trap: taxes, benefits, and getting it wrong 14:34 — Net vs gross access: how rapid! protects employees and employers 15:45 — Guardrails, fee caps, and the ethics of access 16:27 — The payday loan problem: not all wage access is created equal 18:33 — Financial literacy: the real challenge isn’t access, it’s behavior 20:09 — Why delivery mechanisms matter more than you think 20:40 — People Heroes defined: showing up, staying human, and doing the work This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  What do Walmart cash pickups, DoorDash paychecks, and AI-powered wage access have in common? A future where your job doesn’t need a bank to pay you.

Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Art Kimball from Green Dot’s rapid! division to explore the evolving world of pay distribution and why traditional payroll systems are failing today’s workforce.

From unbanked middle-class workers to Gen Z avoiding resumes altogether, this episode unpacks how earned wage access is reshaping employee expectations—and why choice, ethics, and transparency matter more than ever.

Art also breaks down why payroll needs guardrails, how predatory models are slipping through, and what HR leaders should be asking before rolling out any pay-on-demand solution.

If you think early access to pay is just a “nice-to-have,” you’re already behind.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: Kimball museums, DNA detectives, and HR talk derailed

03:20 — What is Green Dot? Financial inclusion and the unbanked

04:56 — Earned wage access: how rapid! gives employees control

05:25 — Walmart cash pickup: payroll without a bank

06:46 — Breaking payroll traditions: why the biweekly check is outdated

07:11 — rapid! vs Green Dot: B2B vs DTC, and launching with Samsung

09:13 — Text-to-pay: money movement through mobile

10:21 — The client sell: helping HR leaders compete with gig work

11:10 — Why fast food led the earned wage revolution

13:00 — The hidden trap: taxes, benefits, and getting it wrong

14:34 — Net vs gross access: how rapid! protects employees and employers

15:45 — Guardrails, fee caps, and the ethics of access

16:27 — The payday loan problem: not all wage access is created equal

18:33 — Financial literacy: the real challenge isn’t access, it’s behavior

20:09 — Why delivery mechanisms matter more than you think

20:40 — People Heroes defined: showing up, staying human, and doing the work


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 1332 no Champagne, Change, and the CPO's Playbook: Amy Amy Mosher and Celia Fleischaker on HR’s Real AI Shift Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary finally catch up with Amy Mosher (Chief People Officer) and Celia Fleischaker (Chief Marketing Officer) after a few tech hurdles and plenty of banter. This conversation blends HR leadership with real-time transformation, as Amy and Celia break down what HR teams are actually dealing with—beyond the buzzwords. They dive into the results from isolved’s latest HR Leaders Report, exposing the real tensions between employer priorities and employee well-being, and why HR now has to do more with less—again. Amy brings the CPO perspective: where AI isn't a looming threat but a practical tool to give time back to people. Celia adds insight on how adoption is happening—not everywhere, but in the right places—and why optimization isn’t about buying more software, but using it better. The episode closes with personal reflections on “People Heroes,” a term that becomes more than just branding—framing HR as mission-driven professionals navigating change, empathy, and impact. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: chaos, chemistry, and pink champagne 02:12 — Keynote preview: HR Leader Report, product solutions, and real-world application 04:46 — Why live feedback loops between customers and product matter 06:19 — The HR pendulum: shifting power back to the employer 07:13 — AI trust is rising, but clarity still determines adoption 08:47 — Amy on what AI is—and isn’t—replacing in HR 09:52 — Understanding leads to acceptance: the human side of HR tech 12:00 — Pandemic reflections and the return of real empathy in business 13:34 — Are HR teams actually adopting new tech? Where, how, and why 14:50 — Optimization over expansion: using what you already have 17:01 — Amy defines People Heroes: HR on a mission to change the world 17:42 — Celia’s take: empathy, selflessness, and life-stage impact through HR 18:32 — Tearjerker warning and the last laugh with two of isolved’s best This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 1 WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary finally catch up with Amy Mosher (Chief People Officer) and Celia Fleischaker (Chief Marketing Officer) after a few tech hurdles and plenty of banter. This conversation blends HR leadership with real-time transformation, as Amy and Celia break down what HR teams are actually dealing with—beyond the buzzwords. They dive into the results from isolved’s latest HR Leaders Report, exposing the real tensions between employer priorities and employee well-being, and why HR now has to do more with less—again. Amy brings the CPO perspective: where AI isn't a looming threat but a practical tool to give time back to people. Celia adds insight on how adoption is happening—not everywhere, but in the right places—and why optimization isn’t about buying more software, but using it better. The episode closes with personal reflections on “People Heroes,” a term that becomes more than just branding—framing HR as mission-driven professionals navigating change, empathy, and impact. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: chaos, chemistry, and pink champagne 02:12 — Keynote preview: HR Leader Report, product solutions, and real-world application 04:46 — Why live feedback loops between customers and product matter 06:19 — The HR pendulum: shifting power back to the employer 07:13 — AI trust is rising, but clarity still determines adoption 08:47 — Amy on what AI is—and isn’t—replacing in HR 09:52 — Understanding leads to acceptance: the human side of HR tech 12:00 — Pandemic reflections and the return of real empathy in business 13:34 — Are HR teams actually adopting new tech? Where, how, and why 14:50 — Optimization over expansion: using what you already have 17:01 — Amy defines People Heroes: HR on a mission to change the world 17:42 — Celia’s take: empathy, selflessness, and life-stage impact through HR 18:32 — Tearjerker warning and the last laugh with two of isolved’s best This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary finally catch up with Amy Mosher (Chief People Officer) and Celia Fleischaker (Chief Marketing Officer) after a few tech hurdles and plenty of banter.

This conversation blends HR leadership with real-time transformation, as Amy and Celia break down what HR teams are actually dealing with—beyond the buzzwords. They dive into the results from isolved’s latest HR Leaders Report, exposing the real tensions between employer priorities and employee well-being, and why HR now has to do more with less—again.

Amy brings the CPO perspective: where AI isn't a looming threat but a practical tool to give time back to people. Celia adds insight on how adoption is happening—not everywhere, but in the right places—and why optimization isn’t about buying more software, but using it better.

The episode closes with personal reflections on “People Heroes,” a term that becomes more than just branding—framing HR as mission-driven professionals navigating change, empathy, and impact.


Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: chaos, chemistry, and pink champagne

02:12 — Keynote preview: HR Leader Report, product solutions, and real-world application

04:46 — Why live feedback loops between customers and product matter

06:19 — The HR pendulum: shifting power back to the employer

07:13 — AI trust is rising, but clarity still determines adoption

08:47 — Amy on what AI is—and isn’t—replacing in HR

09:52 — Understanding leads to acceptance: the human side of HR tech

12:00 — Pandemic reflections and the return of real empathy in business

13:34 — Are HR teams actually adopting new tech? Where, how, and why

14:50 — Optimization over expansion: using what you already have

17:01 — Amy defines People Heroes: HR on a mission to change the world

17:42 — Celia’s take: empathy, selflessness, and life-stage impact through HR

18:32 — Tearjerker warning and the last laugh with two of isolved’s best


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 1193 no From Teller to Talent: Carli on Climbing the HR Ladder and the Power of Doing the Hard Thing First What do RBF, flight anxiety, and bilingual recruiting have in common? For Carli, they’re just part of the ride. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Carli—former bank teller turned talent acquisition pro—for a fast-moving conversation on growth, grit, and giving candidates the truth. She shares how internal mobility and hands-on training set her up to thrive in TA, why knowing the roles you recruit for makes all the difference, and how showing up quiet doesn’t mean showing up small. From language gaps in candidate pools to avoiding week-long HR disasters, this episode dives into the real-life challenges of frontline recruiting—and how to face them head-on. If you’ve ever felt underestimated, misunderstood, or unprepared in your first HR gig, Carli’s path will hit home. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: First flights, Xanax jokes, and crash soundtracks 02:01 — Meet Carli: Teller to trainer to HR pro in under six years 03:06 — How teaching every job trained her for TA 04:10 — The bilingual candidate search: open house recruiting and community outreach 05:30 — Why job boards aren’t enough: doing the footwork 06:04 — Filtering 50+ applicants down to 5 that actually care 06:28 — Carli’s go-to interview question that reveals real character 07:07 — “How are you misunderstood?”: the secret question that changes interviews 09:00 — Being quiet, focused, and wrongly judged in the workplace 10:51 — Advice for newbies: be a sponge, take notes, don’t jump the gun 12:49 — “Being a People Hero means saving the day—and stopping the dumpster fires” 13:29 — The post-it mantra: Do first what you dread most 14:47 — Corporate pressure vs. real priorities: why one task done well beats 50 half-finished tasks This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 6 WRKdefined Podcast Network What do RBF, flight anxiety, and bilingual recruiting have in common? For Carli, they’re just part of the ride. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Carli—former bank teller turned talent acquisition pro—for a fast-moving conversation on growth, grit, and giving candidates the truth. She shares how internal mobility and hands-on training set her up to thrive in TA, why knowing the roles you recruit for makes all the difference, and how showing up quiet doesn’t mean showing up small. From language gaps in candidate pools to avoiding week-long HR disasters, this episode dives into the real-life challenges of frontline recruiting—and how to face them head-on. If you’ve ever felt underestimated, misunderstood, or unprepared in your first HR gig, Carli’s path will hit home. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: First flights, Xanax jokes, and crash soundtracks 02:01 — Meet Carli: Teller to trainer to HR pro in under six years 03:06 — How teaching every job trained her for TA 04:10 — The bilingual candidate search: open house recruiting and community outreach 05:30 — Why job boards aren’t enough: doing the footwork 06:04 — Filtering 50+ applicants down to 5 that actually care 06:28 — Carli’s go-to interview question that reveals real character 07:07 — “How are you misunderstood?”: the secret question that changes interviews 09:00 — Being quiet, focused, and wrongly judged in the workplace 10:51 — Advice for newbies: be a sponge, take notes, don’t jump the gun 12:49 — “Being a People Hero means saving the day—and stopping the dumpster fires” 13:29 — The post-it mantra: Do first what you dread most 14:47 — Corporate pressure vs. real priorities: why one task done well beats 50 half-finished tasks This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  What do RBF, flight anxiety, and bilingual recruiting have in common? For Carli, they’re just part of the ride.

Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Carli—former bank teller turned talent acquisition pro—for a fast-moving conversation on growth, grit, and giving candidates the truth.

She shares how internal mobility and hands-on training set her up to thrive in TA, why knowing the roles you recruit for makes all the difference, and how showing up quiet doesn’t mean showing up small.

From language gaps in candidate pools to avoiding week-long HR disasters, this episode dives into the real-life challenges of frontline recruiting—and how to face them head-on.

If you’ve ever felt underestimated, misunderstood, or unprepared in your first HR gig, Carli’s path will hit home.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: First flights, Xanax jokes, and crash soundtracks

02:01 — Meet Carli: Teller to trainer to HR pro in under six years

03:06 — How teaching every job trained her for TA

04:10 — The bilingual candidate search: open house recruiting and community outreach

05:30 — Why job boards aren’t enough: doing the footwork

06:04 — Filtering 50+ applicants down to 5 that actually care

06:28 — Carli’s go-to interview question that reveals real character

07:07 — “How are you misunderstood?”: the secret question that changes interviews

09:00 — Being quiet, focused, and wrongly judged in the workplace

10:51 — Advice for newbies: be a sponge, take notes, don’t jump the gun

12:49 — “Being a People Hero means saving the day—and stopping the dumpster fires”

13:29 — The post-it mantra: Do first what you dread most

14:47 — Corporate pressure vs. real priorities: why one task done well beats 50 half-finished tasks


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 962 no From the Classroom to the C-Suite: Patty Kallman on Feedback, Trust, and Teaching People How to Work Better What do 8th graders, international trade shows, and HR feedback culture have in common? According to Patty Kallman—everything. Recorded live at isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Patty Kallman, Director of Professional Development at Kallman Worldwide, to unpack the parallels between education and leadership development. Patty brings a nontraditional HR lens to the table, drawing from her 16 years in the classroom and her PhD in education. The conversation digs into the real markers of disengagement, why pizza parties don’t solve burnout, and how to create safe, trust-driven work environments without hiding behind anonymous surveys. They cover the reality of post-COVID growth, hybrid work patterns, the psychology of feedback, and the surprising similarities between a high school dropout and a disengaged employee. Whether you're leading 50 people or 2,000, this episode drives home one point: trust isn't scalable without intention—and feedback without safety is noise. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: trade shows, podcast jokes, and teacher energy 00:54 — Patty's origin story: from high school classrooms to company leadership 02:55 — From 50 to 9 to 57: rebuilding a team post-COVID 03:45 — Disengagement red flags: the data behind absentee patterns 04:43 — Culture isn't bean bags: how post-COVID leadership must evolve 05:16 — The feedback gap: why most managers never ask the right questions 06:30 — Building feedback loops without fear or punishment 07:19 — Proactive vs reactive leadership in small orgs 08:10 — Anonymous feedback vs real conversations: what’s actually useful 08:52 — Trust is a two-way street: transparency, consistency, and intent 10:24 — Clear intent: what HR can learn from military command structures 12:17 — The power of storytelling to align managers and mission 14:14 — What being a “People Hero” actually looks like in practice 15:02 — Creating environments where people thrive, not just survive This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 9 WRKdefined Podcast Network What do 8th graders, international trade shows, and HR feedback culture have in common? According to Patty Kallman—everything. Recorded live at isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Patty Kallman, Director of Professional Development at Kallman Worldwide, to unpack the parallels between education and leadership development. Patty brings a nontraditional HR lens to the table, drawing from her 16 years in the classroom and her PhD in education. The conversation digs into the real markers of disengagement, why pizza parties don’t solve burnout, and how to create safe, trust-driven work environments without hiding behind anonymous surveys. They cover the reality of post-COVID growth, hybrid work patterns, the psychology of feedback, and the surprising similarities between a high school dropout and a disengaged employee. Whether you're leading 50 people or 2,000, this episode drives home one point: trust isn't scalable without intention—and feedback without safety is noise. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: trade shows, podcast jokes, and teacher energy 00:54 — Patty's origin story: from high school classrooms to company leadership 02:55 — From 50 to 9 to 57: rebuilding a team post-COVID 03:45 — Disengagement red flags: the data behind absentee patterns 04:43 — Culture isn't bean bags: how post-COVID leadership must evolve 05:16 — The feedback gap: why most managers never ask the right questions 06:30 — Building feedback loops without fear or punishment 07:19 — Proactive vs reactive leadership in small orgs 08:10 — Anonymous feedback vs real conversations: what’s actually useful 08:52 — Trust is a two-way street: transparency, consistency, and intent 10:24 — Clear intent: what HR can learn from military command structures 12:17 — The power of storytelling to align managers and mission 14:14 — What being a “People Hero” actually looks like in practice 15:02 — Creating environments where people thrive, not just survive This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  What do 8th graders, international trade shows, and HR feedback culture have in common? According to Patty Kallman—everything.

Recorded live at isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Patty Kallman, Director of Professional Development at Kallman Worldwide, to unpack the parallels between education and leadership development.

Patty brings a nontraditional HR lens to the table, drawing from her 16 years in the classroom and her PhD in education. The conversation digs into the real markers of disengagement, why pizza parties don’t solve burnout, and how to create safe, trust-driven work environments without hiding behind anonymous surveys.

They cover the reality of post-COVID growth, hybrid work patterns, the psychology of feedback, and the surprising similarities between a high school dropout and a disengaged employee.

Whether you're leading 50 people or 2,000, this episode drives home one point: trust isn't scalable without intention—and feedback without safety is noise.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: trade shows, podcast jokes, and teacher energy

00:54 — Patty's origin story: from high school classrooms to company leadership

02:55 — From 50 to 9 to 57: rebuilding a team post-COVID

03:45 — Disengagement red flags: the data behind absentee patterns

04:43 — Culture isn't bean bags: how post-COVID leadership must evolve

05:16 — The feedback gap: why most managers never ask the right questions

06:30 — Building feedback loops without fear or punishment

07:19 — Proactive vs reactive leadership in small orgs

08:10 — Anonymous feedback vs real conversations: what’s actually useful

08:52 — Trust is a two-way street: transparency, consistency, and intent

10:24 — Clear intent: what HR can learn from military command structures

12:17 — The power of storytelling to align managers and mission

14:14 — What being a “People Hero” actually looks like in practice

15:02 — Creating environments where people thrive, not just survive


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 997 no People Helping People: Kaitlin's Take on HR, Burnout, and the Feedback That Actually Works Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Kaitlin, an HR leader in the credit union space, for a grounded conversation on feedback, burnout, and why putting yourself first isn’t selfish—it’s survival. Kaitlin shares the mindset shift that changed her leadership style: learning how to give effective feedback as a people pleaser. She breaks down how holding others accountable doesn’t have to mean being harsh—and why the delivery matters just as much as the message. The conversation moves into burnout, boundary-setting, and the permission COVID gave everyone to finally say “no.” From the rise of AI anxiety to HR’s ongoing juggling act, Kaitlin offers a personal, practical perspective on how professionals—especially working moms—can protect their energy and still lead with empathy. They close out with a look into what “people heroes” really are and why the credit union model might just be HR’s best-kept secret. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: local shows, travel woes, and South Carolina roots 02:28 — Kaitlin on feedback: holding people accountable as a people pleaser 04:00 — The feedback model: public praise, private criticism 06:11 — What HR’s really going through: burnout, boundaries, and balance 07:16 — Giving yourself permission to leave early and take the break 08:46 — The lasting cultural impact of COVID: empathy and working hour boundaries 09:54 — Caitlin on AI: helpful for grammar, overwhelming as a trend 11:05 — Advice to her younger HR self: the task list can wait, personal development can’t 12:04 — What “people heroes” really means: helpers, problem-solvers, lifters 12:43 — HR in credit unions: people helping people isn’t just a slogan—it’s the structure This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 5 WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Kaitlin, an HR leader in the credit union space, for a grounded conversation on feedback, burnout, and why putting yourself first isn’t selfish—it’s survival. Kaitlin shares the mindset shift that changed her leadership style: learning how to give effective feedback as a people pleaser. She breaks down how holding others accountable doesn’t have to mean being harsh—and why the delivery matters just as much as the message. The conversation moves into burnout, boundary-setting, and the permission COVID gave everyone to finally say “no.” From the rise of AI anxiety to HR’s ongoing juggling act, Kaitlin offers a personal, practical perspective on how professionals—especially working moms—can protect their energy and still lead with empathy. They close out with a look into what “people heroes” really are and why the credit union model might just be HR’s best-kept secret. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: local shows, travel woes, and South Carolina roots 02:28 — Kaitlin on feedback: holding people accountable as a people pleaser 04:00 — The feedback model: public praise, private criticism 06:11 — What HR’s really going through: burnout, boundaries, and balance 07:16 — Giving yourself permission to leave early and take the break 08:46 — The lasting cultural impact of COVID: empathy and working hour boundaries 09:54 — Caitlin on AI: helpful for grammar, overwhelming as a trend 11:05 — Advice to her younger HR self: the task list can wait, personal development can’t 12:04 — What “people heroes” really means: helpers, problem-solvers, lifters 12:43 — HR in credit unions: people helping people isn’t just a slogan—it’s the structure This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Kaitlin, an HR leader in the credit union space, for a grounded conversation on feedback, burnout, and why putting yourself first isn’t selfish—it’s survival.

Kaitlin shares the mindset shift that changed her leadership style: learning how to give effective feedback as a people pleaser. She breaks down how holding others accountable doesn’t have to mean being harsh—and why the delivery matters just as much as the message.

The conversation moves into burnout, boundary-setting, and the permission COVID gave everyone to finally say “no.” From the rise of AI anxiety to HR’s ongoing juggling act, Kaitlin offers a personal, practical perspective on how professionals—especially working moms—can protect their energy and still lead with empathy.

They close out with a look into what “people heroes” really are and why the credit union model might just be HR’s best-kept secret.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: local shows, travel woes, and South Carolina roots

02:28 — Kaitlin on feedback: holding people accountable as a people pleaser

04:00 — The feedback model: public praise, private criticism

06:11 — What HR’s really going through: burnout, boundaries, and balance

07:16 — Giving yourself permission to leave early and take the break

08:46 — The lasting cultural impact of COVID: empathy and working hour boundaries

09:54 — Caitlin on AI: helpful for grammar, overwhelming as a trend

11:05 — Advice to her younger HR self: the task list can wait, personal development can’t

12:04 — What “people heroes” really means: helpers, problem-solvers, lifters

12:43 — HR in credit unions: people helping people isn’t just a slogan—it’s the structure


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 855 no Inside Payroll Fraud: Steve Lenderman on Synthetic Identities, Insider Risks, and the Battle for Trust Forget fire drills—most HR leaders don’t even know the building’s on fire. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Steve Lenderman, Head of Fraud Prevention at isolved, for a sobering look inside the underbelly of payroll fraud—and what most vendors aren’t telling you. From synthetic identities and device biometrics to dark web marketplaces and machine learning scams, Steve exposes how payroll fraud is evolving faster than most teams can keep up—and why treating payroll like a bank is the only path forward. This episode isn’t just a wake-up call—it’s a blueprint for survival in a world where one compromised login can bankrupt a business. If your payroll provider can’t answer basic questions about fraud prevention, you’re already at risk. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: small shows, real conversations 00:45 — Steve Lenderman joins: banking roots and the road to isolved 02:05 — Payroll is banking: incoming, outgoing, and holding funds 04:26 — First-party fraud: fictitious businesses and payroll float scams 07:00 — Third-party fraud: account takeovers, ghost employees, diverted funds 08:29 — Predictive vs. reactive fraud models: what payroll should learn from banks 10:05 — Digital identity: from mouse movements to behavioral biometrics 12:07 — Twins and bad data: how traditional identity checks fall short 14:05 — Synthetic identity: the rise of fully fake individuals and businesses 16:04 — The new dark web: fraud tactics now shared on open platforms 17:51 — Cyber ≠ fraud: most fraud starts with cyber, but ends with money 20:00 — The $10M problem: why local law enforcement won’t touch payroll fraud 20:57 — The knockout question: “What’s your fraud prevention posture?” 23:39 — Final warning: if fraud prevention isn’t baked into the product, run This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 11 WRKdefined Podcast Network Forget fire drills—most HR leaders don’t even know the building’s on fire. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Steve Lenderman, Head of Fraud Prevention at isolved, for a sobering look inside the underbelly of payroll fraud—and what most vendors aren’t telling you. From synthetic identities and device biometrics to dark web marketplaces and machine learning scams, Steve exposes how payroll fraud is evolving faster than most teams can keep up—and why treating payroll like a bank is the only path forward. This episode isn’t just a wake-up call—it’s a blueprint for survival in a world where one compromised login can bankrupt a business. If your payroll provider can’t answer basic questions about fraud prevention, you’re already at risk. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: small shows, real conversations 00:45 — Steve Lenderman joins: banking roots and the road to isolved 02:05 — Payroll is banking: incoming, outgoing, and holding funds 04:26 — First-party fraud: fictitious businesses and payroll float scams 07:00 — Third-party fraud: account takeovers, ghost employees, diverted funds 08:29 — Predictive vs. reactive fraud models: what payroll should learn from banks 10:05 — Digital identity: from mouse movements to behavioral biometrics 12:07 — Twins and bad data: how traditional identity checks fall short 14:05 — Synthetic identity: the rise of fully fake individuals and businesses 16:04 — The new dark web: fraud tactics now shared on open platforms 17:51 — Cyber ≠ fraud: most fraud starts with cyber, but ends with money 20:00 — The $10M problem: why local law enforcement won’t touch payroll fraud 20:57 — The knockout question: “What’s your fraud prevention posture?” 23:39 — Final warning: if fraud prevention isn’t baked into the product, run This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Forget fire drills—most HR leaders don’t even know the building’s on fire.

Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Steve Lenderman, Head of Fraud Prevention at isolved, for a sobering look inside the underbelly of payroll fraud—and what most vendors aren’t telling you.

From synthetic identities and device biometrics to dark web marketplaces and machine learning scams, Steve exposes how payroll fraud is evolving faster than most teams can keep up—and why treating payroll like a bank is the only path forward.

This episode isn’t just a wake-up call—it’s a blueprint for survival in a world where one compromised login can bankrupt a business.

If your payroll provider can’t answer basic questions about fraud prevention, you’re already at risk.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: small shows, real conversations

00:45 — Steve Lenderman joins: banking roots and the road to isolved

02:05 — Payroll is banking: incoming, outgoing, and holding funds

04:26 — First-party fraud: fictitious businesses and payroll float scams

07:00 — Third-party fraud: account takeovers, ghost employees, diverted funds

08:29 — Predictive vs. reactive fraud models: what payroll should learn from banks

10:05 — Digital identity: from mouse movements to behavioral biometrics

12:07 — Twins and bad data: how traditional identity checks fall short

14:05 — Synthetic identity: the rise of fully fake individuals and businesses

16:04 — The new dark web: fraud tactics now shared on open platforms

17:51 — Cyber ≠ fraud: most fraud starts with cyber, but ends with money

20:00 — The $10M problem: why local law enforcement won’t touch payroll fraud

20:57 — The knockout question: “What’s your fraud prevention posture?”

23:39 — Final warning: if fraud prevention isn’t baked into the product, run


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 1555 no AI, Ethics, and HR’s New Balancing Act: Tami Nutt on Risk, Responsibility, and What Comes Next What do audits, algorithms, and HR policy have in common? More than you think—and the consequences of getting it wrong are growing by the day. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Tami Nutt, VP at Aspect 43, to unpack the uncomfortable truths about AI in HR: what’s regulated, what’s not, and why HR leaders can’t afford to stay in the dark. Tami walks through the critical questions HR should be asking their vendors, the myth of in-house AI audits, and why ethical AI starts with knowing what not to automate. From compliance landmines in NYC to why “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” is the new HR tech mantra, this episode puts the spotlight on accountability. If your HR tech pitch doesn’t include third-party audits, transparent data sourcing, or human-centric design—this is your red flag. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: Texas shoutouts, Jersey slander, and opening laughs 02:07 — Tami 's keynote preview: AI, HR, and what compliance really means 03:00 — The compliance blind spot: why ethical AI matters now more than ever 04:27 — NYC laws, vendor audits, and who’s really on the hook for bad AI 05:34 — Buyer beware: the questions you must ask your HR tech vendors 06:44 — Risk, bias, and invisible decisions: the human cost of unchecked AI 07:58 — Can your sales rep explain your AI model? Why they should 08:50 — Proof, not pitch decks: how to verify real compliance claims 10:10 — Open vs closed models: training data, risk layers, and hybrid approaches 12:15 — Empathy over automation: where AI doesn’t belong 14:00 — Post-COVID reality: HR changed, but did leadership forget? 17:17 — Sales and cost savings now outrank recruiting—why HR is stuck in the middle 18:35 — HR’s new mandate: connect people strategy to business performance 19:38 — Live demos, real audits, and vendor red flags to watch 20:51 — Tami 's final takeaway: make AI actionable, human, and accountable now This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 12 WRKdefined Podcast Network What do audits, algorithms, and HR policy have in common? More than you think—and the consequences of getting it wrong are growing by the day. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Tami Nutt, VP at Aspect 43, to unpack the uncomfortable truths about AI in HR: what’s regulated, what’s not, and why HR leaders can’t afford to stay in the dark. Tami walks through the critical questions HR should be asking their vendors, the myth of in-house AI audits, and why ethical AI starts with knowing what not to automate. From compliance landmines in NYC to why “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” is the new HR tech mantra, this episode puts the spotlight on accountability. If your HR tech pitch doesn’t include third-party audits, transparent data sourcing, or human-centric design—this is your red flag. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: Texas shoutouts, Jersey slander, and opening laughs 02:07 — Tami 's keynote preview: AI, HR, and what compliance really means 03:00 — The compliance blind spot: why ethical AI matters now more than ever 04:27 — NYC laws, vendor audits, and who’s really on the hook for bad AI 05:34 — Buyer beware: the questions you must ask your HR tech vendors 06:44 — Risk, bias, and invisible decisions: the human cost of unchecked AI 07:58 — Can your sales rep explain your AI model? Why they should 08:50 — Proof, not pitch decks: how to verify real compliance claims 10:10 — Open vs closed models: training data, risk layers, and hybrid approaches 12:15 — Empathy over automation: where AI doesn’t belong 14:00 — Post-COVID reality: HR changed, but did leadership forget? 17:17 — Sales and cost savings now outrank recruiting—why HR is stuck in the middle 18:35 — HR’s new mandate: connect people strategy to business performance 19:38 — Live demos, real audits, and vendor red flags to watch 20:51 — Tami 's final takeaway: make AI actionable, human, and accountable now This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  What do audits, algorithms, and HR policy have in common? More than you think—and the consequences of getting it wrong are growing by the day.

Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Tami Nutt, VP at Aspect 43, to unpack the uncomfortable truths about AI in HR: what’s regulated, what’s not, and why HR leaders can’t afford to stay in the dark.

Tami walks through the critical questions HR should be asking their vendors, the myth of in-house AI audits, and why ethical AI starts with knowing what not to automate. From compliance landmines in NYC to why “just because you can doesn’t mean you should” is the new HR tech mantra, this episode puts the spotlight on accountability.

If your HR tech pitch doesn’t include third-party audits, transparent data sourcing, or human-centric design—this is your red flag.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: Texas shoutouts, Jersey slander, and opening laughs

02:07 — Tami 's keynote preview: AI, HR, and what compliance really means

03:00 — The compliance blind spot: why ethical AI matters now more than ever

04:27 — NYC laws, vendor audits, and who’s really on the hook for bad AI

05:34 — Buyer beware: the questions you must ask your HR tech vendors

06:44 — Risk, bias, and invisible decisions: the human cost of unchecked AI

07:58 — Can your sales rep explain your AI model? Why they should

08:50 — Proof, not pitch decks: how to verify real compliance claims

10:10 — Open vs closed models: training data, risk layers, and hybrid approaches

12:15 — Empathy over automation: where AI doesn’t belong

14:00 — Post-COVID reality: HR changed, but did leadership forget?

17:17 — Sales and cost savings now outrank recruiting—why HR is stuck in the middle

18:35 — HR’s new mandate: connect people strategy to business performance

19:38 — Live demos, real audits, and vendor red flags to watch

20:51 — Tami 's final takeaway: make AI actionable, human, and accountable now


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 


]]> 1363 no Paycheck to Purpose: Shae on Financial Autonomy, Empathy, and the Real Cost of Waiting for Payday Most employees aren't blowing their paychecks on luxury. They're buying diapers, groceries, and tires to get to work. So why are they still waiting weeks to access money they've already earned? Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Shae from ZayZoon to talk about the financial stress quietly crushing American workers—and what employers can actually do about it. They dig into the data (70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck), the misconceptions ("just budget better"), and the systems that make financial hardship worse, not better. Shae shares her personal story of walking out of a grocery store with $7 in her account and no way to pay for diapers—then explains how earned wage access could have changed everything. The trio also debates car leases, the pros and cons of renting, the psychology of Zoom calls, and why empathy—not judgment—needs to be core to every people strategy. If you think financial wellness is just a "nice to have" benefit, this episode is your reality check. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: plushies, people heroes, and payroll mascots 02:03 — Meet Shaye: ZayZoon, earned wage access, and fixing financial stress 03:15 — 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck—why it’s not just a “poor” problem 04:48 — Budgeting isn’t the solution when you're suddenly earning more 06:13 — Renting vs. owning: why fluid lifestyles shift financial priorities 08:16 — Shae's Tesla lease and working remote: new rules of money 10:00 — Do we really multitask, or just code switch poorly? 11:27 — HR’s retention problem: losing talent over $2/hour 13:12 — Why financial stress destroys engagement and how to fix it 14:46 — Shae's personal story: $7.57 in the bank and walking out of the grocery line 17:19 — What workers really use wage access for: essentials, not indulgence 18:11 — Teaching financial literacy as part of earned wage access 18:44 — Payday loans vs. autonomy: putting power back in workers’ hands 19:18 — The HR mindset shift: empathy over judgment 21:09 — What being a People Hero really means in practice 22:31 — Final word: awareness, availability, and recognition as leadership tools This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 10 WRKdefined Podcast Network Most employees aren't blowing their paychecks on luxury. They're buying diapers, groceries, and tires to get to work. So why are they still waiting weeks to access money they've already earned? Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Shae from ZayZoon to talk about the financial stress quietly crushing American workers—and what employers can actually do about it. They dig into the data (70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck), the misconceptions ("just budget better"), and the systems that make financial hardship worse, not better. Shae shares her personal story of walking out of a grocery store with $7 in her account and no way to pay for diapers—then explains how earned wage access could have changed everything. The trio also debates car leases, the pros and cons of renting, the psychology of Zoom calls, and why empathy—not judgment—needs to be core to every people strategy. If you think financial wellness is just a "nice to have" benefit, this episode is your reality check. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: plushies, people heroes, and payroll mascots 02:03 — Meet Shaye: ZayZoon, earned wage access, and fixing financial stress 03:15 — 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck—why it’s not just a “poor” problem 04:48 — Budgeting isn’t the solution when you're suddenly earning more 06:13 — Renting vs. owning: why fluid lifestyles shift financial priorities 08:16 — Shae's Tesla lease and working remote: new rules of money 10:00 — Do we really multitask, or just code switch poorly? 11:27 — HR’s retention problem: losing talent over $2/hour 13:12 — Why financial stress destroys engagement and how to fix it 14:46 — Shae's personal story: $7.57 in the bank and walking out of the grocery line 17:19 — What workers really use wage access for: essentials, not indulgence 18:11 — Teaching financial literacy as part of earned wage access 18:44 — Payday loans vs. autonomy: putting power back in workers’ hands 19:18 — The HR mindset shift: empathy over judgment 21:09 — What being a People Hero really means in practice 22:31 — Final word: awareness, availability, and recognition as leadership tools This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Most employees aren't blowing their paychecks on luxury. They're buying diapers, groceries, and tires to get to work. So why are they still waiting weeks to access money they've already earned?

Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Shae from ZayZoon to talk about the financial stress quietly crushing American workers—and what employers can actually do about it.

They dig into the data (70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck), the misconceptions ("just budget better"), and the systems that make financial hardship worse, not better. Shae shares her personal story of walking out of a grocery store with $7 in her account and no way to pay for diapers—then explains how earned wage access could have changed everything.

The trio also debates car leases, the pros and cons of renting, the psychology of Zoom calls, and why empathy—not judgment—needs to be core to every people strategy.

If you think financial wellness is just a "nice to have" benefit, this episode is your reality check.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: plushies, people heroes, and payroll mascots

02:03 — Meet Shaye: ZayZoon, earned wage access, and fixing financial stress

03:15 — 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck—why it’s not just a “poor” problem

04:48 — Budgeting isn’t the solution when you're suddenly earning more

06:13 — Renting vs. owning: why fluid lifestyles shift financial priorities

08:16 — Shae's Tesla lease and working remote: new rules of money

10:00 — Do we really multitask, or just code switch poorly?

11:27 — HR’s retention problem: losing talent over $2/hour

13:12 — Why financial stress destroys engagement and how to fix it

14:46 — Shae's personal story: $7.57 in the bank and walking out of the grocery line

17:19 — What workers really use wage access for: essentials, not indulgence

18:11 — Teaching financial literacy as part of earned wage access

18:44 — Payday loans vs. autonomy: putting power back in workers’ hands

19:18 — The HR mindset shift: empathy over judgment

21:09 — What being a People Hero really means in practice

22:31 — Final word: awareness, availability, and recognition as leadership tools


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 1440 no Global Workforce, Local Trust: Barry Flanagan and Steve McWright on Payroll Visibility, Compliance Risks, and Leading with Empathy Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Barry Flanagan and Steve McWright to dissect the mess of managing global payroll—and the unexpected consequences of getting it wrong. From pouring the perfect pint of Guinness to navigating compliance chaos in Poland and Argentina, this episode blends humor with hard truths. Barry and Steve share how hidden jurisdiction issues, fragmented systems, and reactive processes threaten not just legal standing, but employee trust. The solution? Full visibility, automation, and radical transparency. They walk through a success story of seven countries unified under one platform, and explain why access to accurate information isn't just operationally smart—it’s a philosophy for 2025. People heroes aren't just administrators. They’re leaders who consolidate, automate, and empathize. Timestamps: 00:00 — Guinness, rugby, and global context: the Irish connection to compliance 04:28 — The real challenge: payroll consolidation across countries and services 06:17 — Success story: 7 countries, 1 platform, total workforce clarity 07:39 — Compliance blind spots from COVID-era remote work 08:32 — Hyperinflation and policy reversals: Argentina, Poland, France 10:03 — The cost of non-compliance: lost benefits, broken trust 12:08 — Steve on the path forward: automate, empower, consolidate 13:00 — Barry on transparency as HR’s 2025 leadership mandate 14:07 — Defining People Heroes: empathy, leadership, and showing up This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 3 WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Barry Flanagan and Steve McWright to dissect the mess of managing global payroll—and the unexpected consequences of getting it wrong. From pouring the perfect pint of Guinness to navigating compliance chaos in Poland and Argentina, this episode blends humor with hard truths. Barry and Steve share how hidden jurisdiction issues, fragmented systems, and reactive processes threaten not just legal standing, but employee trust. The solution? Full visibility, automation, and radical transparency. They walk through a success story of seven countries unified under one platform, and explain why access to accurate information isn't just operationally smart—it’s a philosophy for 2025. People heroes aren't just administrators. They’re leaders who consolidate, automate, and empathize. Timestamps: 00:00 — Guinness, rugby, and global context: the Irish connection to compliance 04:28 — The real challenge: payroll consolidation across countries and services 06:17 — Success story: 7 countries, 1 platform, total workforce clarity 07:39 — Compliance blind spots from COVID-era remote work 08:32 — Hyperinflation and policy reversals: Argentina, Poland, France 10:03 — The cost of non-compliance: lost benefits, broken trust 12:08 — Steve on the path forward: automate, empower, consolidate 13:00 — Barry on transparency as HR’s 2025 leadership mandate 14:07 — Defining People Heroes: empathy, leadership, and showing up This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Barry Flanagan and Steve McWright to dissect the mess of managing global payroll—and the unexpected consequences of getting it wrong.

From pouring the perfect pint of Guinness to navigating compliance chaos in Poland and Argentina, this episode blends humor with hard truths. Barry and Steve share how hidden jurisdiction issues, fragmented systems, and reactive processes threaten not just legal standing, but employee trust.

The solution? Full visibility, automation, and radical transparency. They walk through a success story of seven countries unified under one platform, and explain why access to accurate information isn't just operationally smart—it’s a philosophy for 2025.

People heroes aren't just administrators. They’re leaders who consolidate, automate, and empathize.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Guinness, rugby, and global context: the Irish connection to compliance

04:28 — The real challenge: payroll consolidation across countries and services

06:17 — Success story: 7 countries, 1 platform, total workforce clarity

07:39 — Compliance blind spots from COVID-era remote work

08:32 — Hyperinflation and policy reversals: Argentina, Poland, France

10:03 — The cost of non-compliance: lost benefits, broken trust

12:08 — Steve on the path forward: automate, empower, consolidate

13:00 — Barry on transparency as HR’s 2025 leadership mandate

14:07 — Defining People Heroes: empathy, leadership, and showing up


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 1073 no From Point Solution to People Strategy: Bridget Fleagle on Hiring Help, Product Planning, and the Future of Talent Tech What happens when a standalone ATS evolves into a fully integrated talent strategy? You get a platform that doesn’t just fill roles—it fills gaps in bandwidth, strategy, and execution. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Bridget Fleagle to talk talent acquisition, product strategy, and how isolved Talent Services is reshaping support for small HR teams. Bridget shares the real reason standalone solutions still matter, why some HR pros don’t even know what tools they already have, and how isolved’s services team quietly does the heavy lifting for businesses too small to build an HR department. They also dig into the tension between adding features and killing them off—why product teams struggle to sunset, what "broccoli vs. chocolate" has to do with innovation, and how listening to customers is both a gift and a trap. For anyone building product, managing people, or just trying to hire faster with fewer hands, this one hits home. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: regional events, live crowds, and podcast energy 00:49 — Bridget’s origin story: from ApplicantPro to leading TA at isolved 02:27 — Rebranding and integration: from standalone ATS to isolved Talent Acquisition 03:40 — Turning on tools customers didn’t know they had 05:17 — Smart upsells vs. feature frustration 06:14 — Real customer stories and the power of data continuity 07:01 — Why isolved TA isn’t just “another ATS” 07:48 — Deep integrations and strategy alignment 08:00 — Presentation breakdown: candidate experience and talent services 09:01 — How isolved supports small teams lacking HR resources 10:15 — Screening, video interviewing, and hiring assessments explained 11:03 — Why trades and sub-50 headcount companies benefit most 12:09 — Inside the isolved product roadmap process 13:48 — The balance of agility and vision in product planning 14:54 — Feature bloat, user adoption, and killing your darlings 17:50 — Why product teams resist removing features (and why they shouldn’t) 20:02 — A deleted feature no one noticed: when silence is insight 21:22 — Chocolate vs. broccoli: stretching users past what they think they want 22:14 — Competitor analysis and the trap of roadmap smoke and mirrors 23:19 — Real product = live software, not demo videos 23:48 — People Heroes defined: energy, advocacy, and showing up for humans This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 4 WRKdefined Podcast Network What happens when a standalone ATS evolves into a fully integrated talent strategy? You get a platform that doesn’t just fill roles—it fills gaps in bandwidth, strategy, and execution. Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Bridget Fleagle to talk talent acquisition, product strategy, and how isolved Talent Services is reshaping support for small HR teams. Bridget shares the real reason standalone solutions still matter, why some HR pros don’t even know what tools they already have, and how isolved’s services team quietly does the heavy lifting for businesses too small to build an HR department. They also dig into the tension between adding features and killing them off—why product teams struggle to sunset, what "broccoli vs. chocolate" has to do with innovation, and how listening to customers is both a gift and a trap. For anyone building product, managing people, or just trying to hire faster with fewer hands, this one hits home. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: regional events, live crowds, and podcast energy 00:49 — Bridget’s origin story: from ApplicantPro to leading TA at isolved 02:27 — Rebranding and integration: from standalone ATS to isolved Talent Acquisition 03:40 — Turning on tools customers didn’t know they had 05:17 — Smart upsells vs. feature frustration 06:14 — Real customer stories and the power of data continuity 07:01 — Why isolved TA isn’t just “another ATS” 07:48 — Deep integrations and strategy alignment 08:00 — Presentation breakdown: candidate experience and talent services 09:01 — How isolved supports small teams lacking HR resources 10:15 — Screening, video interviewing, and hiring assessments explained 11:03 — Why trades and sub-50 headcount companies benefit most 12:09 — Inside the isolved product roadmap process 13:48 — The balance of agility and vision in product planning 14:54 — Feature bloat, user adoption, and killing your darlings 17:50 — Why product teams resist removing features (and why they shouldn’t) 20:02 — A deleted feature no one noticed: when silence is insight 21:22 — Chocolate vs. broccoli: stretching users past what they think they want 22:14 — Competitor analysis and the trap of roadmap smoke and mirrors 23:19 — Real product = live software, not demo videos 23:48 — People Heroes defined: energy, advocacy, and showing up for humans This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  What happens when a standalone ATS evolves into a fully integrated talent strategy? You get a platform that doesn’t just fill roles—it fills gaps in bandwidth, strategy, and execution.

Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with Bridget Fleagle to talk talent acquisition, product strategy, and how isolved Talent Services is reshaping support for small HR teams.

Bridget shares the real reason standalone solutions still matter, why some HR pros don’t even know what tools they already have, and how isolved’s services team quietly does the heavy lifting for businesses too small to build an HR department.

They also dig into the tension between adding features and killing them off—why product teams struggle to sunset, what "broccoli vs. chocolate" has to do with innovation, and how listening to customers is both a gift and a trap.

For anyone building product, managing people, or just trying to hire faster with fewer hands, this one hits home.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: regional events, live crowds, and podcast energy

00:49 — Bridget’s origin story: from ApplicantPro to leading TA at isolved

02:27 — Rebranding and integration: from standalone ATS to isolved Talent Acquisition

03:40 — Turning on tools customers didn’t know they had

05:17 — Smart upsells vs. feature frustration

06:14 — Real customer stories and the power of data continuity

07:01 — Why isolved TA isn’t just “another ATS”

07:48 — Deep integrations and strategy alignment

08:00 — Presentation breakdown: candidate experience and talent services

09:01 — How isolved supports small teams lacking HR resources

10:15 — Screening, video interviewing, and hiring assessments explained

11:03 — Why trades and sub-50 headcount companies benefit most

12:09 — Inside the isolved product roadmap process

13:48 — The balance of agility and vision in product planning

14:54 — Feature bloat, user adoption, and killing your darlings

17:50 — Why product teams resist removing features (and why they shouldn’t)

20:02 — A deleted feature no one noticed: when silence is insight

21:22 — Chocolate vs. broccoli: stretching users past what they think they want

22:14 — Competitor analysis and the trap of roadmap smoke and mirrors

23:19 — Real product = live software, not demo videos

23:48 — People Heroes defined: energy, advocacy, and showing up for humans


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 1543 no Building Belief: Amberly Dressler on Brand-Led Growth, Community Loyalty, and the Human Face of HCM Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Amberly Dressler, VP of Corporate Marketing at isolved, to uncover how a vibrant brand and thriving user community can drive adoption, advocacy, and trust. In this episode, they explore what makes isolved more than a software platform—from a pink cape movement to customers turning into evangelists. Amberly walks through how isolved’s community evolved from a digital engagement idea to a frontline knowledge network, powered by HR pros helping HR pros. They dive into the real business impact: certifications that follow users across jobs, feature updates based on user feedback, and a brand that shows up in Halloween costumes and job descriptions. Amberly also breaks down what it means to be a “People Hero” and why it’s not just HR leaders—but every manager on the ground—who shapes employee experience. If you're in HCM and still treating marketing as decoration instead of a strategic driver of loyalty and product growth, this one’s your mirror. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: intros, inside jokes, and isolved love 00:45 — What corporate marketing owns at isolved (spoiler: nearly everything but payroll) 02:00 — Why isolved customers name-drop their CSMs 03:19 — Building trust you can't fake: community-first service model 04:10 — The rise of isolved’s Community: from FAQ board to digital lifeline 05:25 — 30–40% of product updates come from customer input 06:10 — People Heroes certification: why isolved built one and what it covers 07:51 — Product adoption, job descriptions, and customers taking isolved with them 09:03 — Brand as adoption engine: pink swag, capes, and real-life buy-in 10:45 — Could isolved Community power a job board? (and why it might already be happening) 11:59 — Empowering the selfless: certifications, credits, and 8-hour growth windows 13:10 — Expanding the definition of People Heroes: managers, not just HR 14:32 — The daily mindset: “Who wakes up thinking about this?” defines your impact 15:11 — Wrapping up: on the road again, together This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 13 WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Amberly Dressler, VP of Corporate Marketing at isolved, to uncover how a vibrant brand and thriving user community can drive adoption, advocacy, and trust. In this episode, they explore what makes isolved more than a software platform—from a pink cape movement to customers turning into evangelists. Amberly walks through how isolved’s community evolved from a digital engagement idea to a frontline knowledge network, powered by HR pros helping HR pros. They dive into the real business impact: certifications that follow users across jobs, feature updates based on user feedback, and a brand that shows up in Halloween costumes and job descriptions. Amberly also breaks down what it means to be a “People Hero” and why it’s not just HR leaders—but every manager on the ground—who shapes employee experience. If you're in HCM and still treating marketing as decoration instead of a strategic driver of loyalty and product growth, this one’s your mirror. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live from Charlotte: intros, inside jokes, and isolved love 00:45 — What corporate marketing owns at isolved (spoiler: nearly everything but payroll) 02:00 — Why isolved customers name-drop their CSMs 03:19 — Building trust you can't fake: community-first service model 04:10 — The rise of isolved’s Community: from FAQ board to digital lifeline 05:25 — 30–40% of product updates come from customer input 06:10 — People Heroes certification: why isolved built one and what it covers 07:51 — Product adoption, job descriptions, and customers taking isolved with them 09:03 — Brand as adoption engine: pink swag, capes, and real-life buy-in 10:45 — Could isolved Community power a job board? (and why it might already be happening) 11:59 — Empowering the selfless: certifications, credits, and 8-hour growth windows 13:10 — Expanding the definition of People Heroes: managers, not just HR 14:32 — The daily mindset: “Who wakes up thinking about this?” defines your impact 15:11 — Wrapping up: on the road again, together This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Amberly Dressler, VP of Corporate Marketing at isolved, to uncover how a vibrant brand and thriving user community can drive adoption, advocacy, and trust.

In this episode, they explore what makes isolved more than a software platform—from a pink cape movement to customers turning into evangelists. Amberly walks through how isolved’s community evolved from a digital engagement idea to a frontline knowledge network, powered by HR pros helping HR pros.

They dive into the real business impact: certifications that follow users across jobs, feature updates based on user feedback, and a brand that shows up in Halloween costumes and job descriptions. Amberly also breaks down what it means to be a “People Hero” and why it’s not just HR leaders—but every manager on the ground—who shapes employee experience.

If you're in HCM and still treating marketing as decoration instead of a strategic driver of loyalty and product growth, this one’s your mirror.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live from Charlotte: intros, inside jokes, and isolved love

00:45 — What corporate marketing owns at isolved (spoiler: nearly everything but payroll)

02:00 — Why isolved customers name-drop their CSMs

03:19 — Building trust you can't fake: community-first service model

04:10 — The rise of isolved’s Community: from FAQ board to digital lifeline

05:25 — 30–40% of product updates come from customer input

06:10 — People Heroes certification: why isolved built one and what it covers

07:51 — Product adoption, job descriptions, and customers taking isolved with them

09:03 — Brand as adoption engine: pink swag, capes, and real-life buy-in

10:45 — Could isolved Community power a job board? (and why it might already be happening)

11:59 — Empowering the selfless: certifications, credits, and 8-hour growth windows

13:10 — Expanding the definition of People Heroes: managers, not just HR

14:32 — The daily mindset: “Who wakes up thinking about this?” defines your impact

15:11 — Wrapping up: on the road again, together


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 980 no Power, Perception, and Payroll: Stacey Harris on Bias, Budget Battles, and the Future of HR Tech Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with industry analyst and keynote speaker Stacey Harris for a candid conversation that starts with leveling up HR—and doesn’t let up. From who really controls HR tech budgets (hint: not always HR) to why women in HR leadership still need more data to be trusted, this episode breaks down the hidden dynamics shaping the profession. Stacey unpacks why "HR is female-led" is both true and misleading, and how bias, brand perception, and clustering tech stacks intersect with business outcomes. The trio tackle tough topics: why women hold back other women, what trust really looks like in the C-suite, and the silent shift of HR tech decisions back to IT and finance. If you think compliance is boring, or gender equity is a solved problem, this one will force a second look. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live in Charlotte: pre-show chaos, banter, and keynote aftermath 01:00 — Leveling up HR: bias, perception, and why it still holds the function back 03:01 — Budget control shifts: from HR to IT, and the strategic consequences 04:43 — Branding HR tech to the C-Suite: who needs to know your name 06:00 — The Frankenstein effect: point solutions, data silos, and creeping IT takeover 08:04 — The “clustering model” explained: 3-4 anchors + best-of-suite agility 09:05 — Who should own vendor relationships? HR vs IT and business outcomes 10:00 — Why native integrations beat shallow “whizzy-wig” solutions 10:33 — The gender gap at the top: 70% female in HR, but not in leadership 13:00 — Why time tracking is a leadership issue, not just a process 14:50 — AI, wearables, and HR's frontline role in privacy and compliance 17:10 — The new compliance reality: constant change, no time to catch up 18:33 — Selling HR strategy: know your execs, brand, and organizational dynamics 21:25 — Women holding women back: the zero-sum trap in executive rooms 24:30 — Bias vs preference: how unconscious filters shape hiring and promotion 27:00 — Why women in HR bring more data—and why it’s expected of them 30:00 — Transformational leadership traits: how gender impacts process priorities 32:11 — Metric visibility gaps for female HR leaders 33:30 — Trust, retention, and why staying power matters more than ever This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:00:00 -0000 full 3 7 WRKdefined Podcast Network Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with industry analyst and keynote speaker Stacey Harris for a candid conversation that starts with leveling up HR—and doesn’t let up. From who really controls HR tech budgets (hint: not always HR) to why women in HR leadership still need more data to be trusted, this episode breaks down the hidden dynamics shaping the profession. Stacey unpacks why "HR is female-led" is both true and misleading, and how bias, brand perception, and clustering tech stacks intersect with business outcomes. The trio tackle tough topics: why women hold back other women, what trust really looks like in the C-suite, and the silent shift of HR tech decisions back to IT and finance. If you think compliance is boring, or gender equity is a solved problem, this one will force a second look. Timestamps: 00:00 — Live in Charlotte: pre-show chaos, banter, and keynote aftermath 01:00 — Leveling up HR: bias, perception, and why it still holds the function back 03:01 — Budget control shifts: from HR to IT, and the strategic consequences 04:43 — Branding HR tech to the C-Suite: who needs to know your name 06:00 — The Frankenstein effect: point solutions, data silos, and creeping IT takeover 08:04 — The “clustering model” explained: 3-4 anchors + best-of-suite agility 09:05 — Who should own vendor relationships? HR vs IT and business outcomes 10:00 — Why native integrations beat shallow “whizzy-wig” solutions 10:33 — The gender gap at the top: 70% female in HR, but not in leadership 13:00 — Why time tracking is a leadership issue, not just a process 14:50 — AI, wearables, and HR's frontline role in privacy and compliance 17:10 — The new compliance reality: constant change, no time to catch up 18:33 — Selling HR strategy: know your execs, brand, and organizational dynamics 21:25 — Women holding women back: the zero-sum trap in executive rooms 24:30 — Bias vs preference: how unconscious filters shape hiring and promotion 27:00 — Why women in HR bring more data—and why it’s expected of them 30:00 — Transformational leadership traits: how gender impacts process priorities 32:11 — Metric visibility gaps for female HR leaders 33:30 — Trust, retention, and why staying power matters more than ever This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network.  Live from isolved Connect in Charlotte, Ryan Leary and William Tincup sit down with industry analyst and keynote speaker Stacey Harris for a candid conversation that starts with leveling up HR—and doesn’t let up.

From who really controls HR tech budgets (hint: not always HR) to why women in HR leadership still need more data to be trusted, this episode breaks down the hidden dynamics shaping the profession.

Stacey unpacks why "HR is female-led" is both true and misleading, and how bias, brand perception, and clustering tech stacks intersect with business outcomes. The trio tackle tough topics: why women hold back other women, what trust really looks like in the C-suite, and the silent shift of HR tech decisions back to IT and finance.

If you think compliance is boring, or gender equity is a solved problem, this one will force a second look.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Live in Charlotte: pre-show chaos, banter, and keynote aftermath

01:00 — Leveling up HR: bias, perception, and why it still holds the function back

03:01 — Budget control shifts: from HR to IT, and the strategic consequences

04:43 — Branding HR tech to the C-Suite: who needs to know your name

06:00 — The Frankenstein effect: point solutions, data silos, and creeping IT takeover

08:04 — The “clustering model” explained: 3-4 anchors + best-of-suite agility

09:05 — Who should own vendor relationships? HR vs IT and business outcomes

10:00 — Why native integrations beat shallow “whizzy-wig” solutions

10:33 — The gender gap at the top: 70% female in HR, but not in leadership

13:00 — Why time tracking is a leadership issue, not just a process

14:50 — AI, wearables, and HR's frontline role in privacy and compliance

17:10 — The new compliance reality: constant change, no time to catch up

18:33 — Selling HR strategy: know your execs, brand, and organizational dynamics

21:25 — Women holding women back: the zero-sum trap in executive rooms

24:30 — Bias vs preference: how unconscious filters shape hiring and promotion

27:00 — Why women in HR bring more data—and why it’s expected of them

30:00 — Transformational leadership traits: how gender impacts process priorities

32:11 — Metric visibility gaps for female HR leaders

33:30 — Trust, retention, and why staying power matters more than ever


This episode was recorded live at isolved Connect on the UNC Charlotte campus.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

Learn more about isolved: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

Powered by the WRKdefined Podcast Network. 

]]> 2362 no Inside Payroll Fraud: Steve Lenderman on Modern Threats, Old Mistakes, and What HR Still Doesn’t See Coming This isn’t about phishing emails or stolen credit cards. This is payroll fraud—organized, scaled, and already inside your systems. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, fraud prevention leader Steve Lenderman sits down with William Tincup to reveal the silent crisis sweeping payroll operations. From transnational crime rings and deepfakes to credential farming and spoofed login portals, this episode unpacks the tactics that make fraud not just inevitable—but invisible. Steve breaks down what most HR teams get wrong, why prevention isn't just an IT job, and what it really takes to protect employee data and paychecks. Forget the hoodie-wearing hacker trope—these are structured organizations with org charts and playbooks. If your payroll process still relies on passwords, hope, or outdated KYC checks, this one’s required listening. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Steve Lenderman, Head of Fraud Prevention at isolved 01:04 — Why fraudsters are targeting payroll, not just banks 02:16 — The business of fraud: organized crime and economic desperation 04:01 — Pirates, playbooks, and the modern model of digital theft 06:02 — Why most KYC programs don’t actually prevent fraud 08:26 — Continuous monitoring and perpetual KYC 11:00 — Biometric authentication and passkeys: the future of security 14:33 — ACH transfers, onboarding errors, and Nacha compliance 16:07 — What payroll gets wrong that HR can’t afford to 18:10 — Top security hygiene tips for every HR practitioner 22:00 — Credential farming, SEO poisoning, and the rise of GenAI-powered scams This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Steve Lenderman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-lenderman/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network This isn’t about phishing emails or stolen credit cards. This is payroll fraud—organized, scaled, and already inside your systems. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, fraud prevention leader Steve Lenderman sits down with William Tincup to reveal the silent crisis sweeping payroll operations. From transnational crime rings and deepfakes to credential farming and spoofed login portals, this episode unpacks the tactics that make fraud not just inevitable—but invisible. Steve breaks down what most HR teams get wrong, why prevention isn't just an IT job, and what it really takes to protect employee data and paychecks. Forget the hoodie-wearing hacker trope—these are structured organizations with org charts and playbooks. If your payroll process still relies on passwords, hope, or outdated KYC checks, this one’s required listening. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Steve Lenderman, Head of Fraud Prevention at isolved 01:04 — Why fraudsters are targeting payroll, not just banks 02:16 — The business of fraud: organized crime and economic desperation 04:01 — Pirates, playbooks, and the modern model of digital theft 06:02 — Why most KYC programs don’t actually prevent fraud 08:26 — Continuous monitoring and perpetual KYC 11:00 — Biometric authentication and passkeys: the future of security 14:33 — ACH transfers, onboarding errors, and Nacha compliance 16:07 — What payroll gets wrong that HR can’t afford to 18:10 — Top security hygiene tips for every HR practitioner 22:00 — Credential farming, SEO poisoning, and the rise of GenAI-powered scams This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Steve Lenderman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-lenderman/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ This isn’t about phishing emails or stolen credit cards. This is payroll fraud—organized, scaled, and already inside your systems.

Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, fraud prevention leader Steve Lenderman sits down with William Tincup to reveal the silent crisis sweeping payroll operations. From transnational crime rings and deepfakes to credential farming and spoofed login portals, this episode unpacks the tactics that make fraud not just inevitable—but invisible.

Steve breaks down what most HR teams get wrong, why prevention isn't just an IT job, and what it really takes to protect employee data and paychecks. Forget the hoodie-wearing hacker trope—these are structured organizations with org charts and playbooks.

If your payroll process still relies on passwords, hope, or outdated KYC checks, this one’s required listening.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Steve Lenderman, Head of Fraud Prevention at isolved

01:04 — Why fraudsters are targeting payroll, not just banks

02:16 — The business of fraud: organized crime and economic desperation

04:01 — Pirates, playbooks, and the modern model of digital theft

06:02 — Why most KYC programs don’t actually prevent fraud

08:26 — Continuous monitoring and perpetual KYC

11:00 — Biometric authentication and passkeys: the future of security

14:33 — ACH transfers, onboarding errors, and Nacha compliance

16:07 — What payroll gets wrong that HR can’t afford to

18:10 — Top security hygiene tips for every HR practitioner

22:00 — Credential farming, SEO poisoning, and the rise of GenAI-powered scams

This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1615 no Building HR From the Ground Up: Dianne Vaughn on Trust, Talent, and Servant Leadership When you’re the first HR pro in the building, every decision counts. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Dianne Vaughn, HR Manager for a radiology group in Chattanooga, shares what it’s like to build HR from scratch—no playbook, no precedent. From tackling pay disparities with Excel to solving talent gaps in a competitive healthcare market, Diana walks us through how she’s stabilized a workforce and built trust through servant leadership. We talk quality candidates, remote radiology, pay band creation, and how observing the small things—like a new haircut—can change everything. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Dianne Vaughn, HR Manager in healthcare 01:28 — The challenge: no HR infrastructure, no playbook 02:23 — Recruiting radiologists without $20K bonuses 03:26 — Creative role placement and realistic hiring filters 04:14 — Empowering managers to lead interviews 05:08 — Fixing pay equity with simple data and hard truths 06:13 — Wins that stabilize retention and reporting 06:32 — Advice for new HR pros: win hearts and minds 07:14 — Military leadership lessons in civilian HR 07:40 — The power of small gestures in people work 08:15 — What being a people hero actually means This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network When you’re the first HR pro in the building, every decision counts. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Dianne Vaughn, HR Manager for a radiology group in Chattanooga, shares what it’s like to build HR from scratch—no playbook, no precedent. From tackling pay disparities with Excel to solving talent gaps in a competitive healthcare market, Diana walks us through how she’s stabilized a workforce and built trust through servant leadership. We talk quality candidates, remote radiology, pay band creation, and how observing the small things—like a new haircut—can change everything. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Dianne Vaughn, HR Manager in healthcare 01:28 — The challenge: no HR infrastructure, no playbook 02:23 — Recruiting radiologists without $20K bonuses 03:26 — Creative role placement and realistic hiring filters 04:14 — Empowering managers to lead interviews 05:08 — Fixing pay equity with simple data and hard truths 06:13 — Wins that stabilize retention and reporting 06:32 — Advice for new HR pros: win hearts and minds 07:14 — Military leadership lessons in civilian HR 07:40 — The power of small gestures in people work 08:15 — What being a people hero actually means This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ When you’re the first HR pro in the building, every decision counts.

Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Dianne Vaughn, HR Manager for a radiology group in Chattanooga, shares what it’s like to build HR from scratch—no playbook, no precedent. From tackling pay disparities with Excel to solving talent gaps in a competitive healthcare market, Diana walks us through how she’s stabilized a workforce and built trust through servant leadership.

We talk quality candidates, remote radiology, pay band creation, and how observing the small things—like a new haircut—can change everything.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Dianne Vaughn, HR Manager in healthcare

01:28 — The challenge: no HR infrastructure, no playbook

02:23 — Recruiting radiologists without $20K bonuses

03:26 — Creative role placement and realistic hiring filters

04:14 — Empowering managers to lead interviews

05:08 — Fixing pay equity with simple data and hard truths

06:13 — Wins that stabilize retention and reporting

06:32 — Advice for new HR pros: win hearts and minds

07:14 — Military leadership lessons in civilian HR

07:40 — The power of small gestures in people work

08:15 — What being a people hero actually means


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 596 no HR of One: Emily Arthur on Culture, CNC Talent, and Knowing When to Let Go When you're the only HR pro in the building, control is easy—letting go isn’t. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Emily Arthur, HR Director at Riverhawk Company, shares what it means to run people ops solo at a 100-person manufacturing firm in upstate New York. From recruiting skilled CNC machinists to building talent pipelines with local colleges, Emily walks through how she handles hiring, onboarding, culture, and compliance—while learning to step back and let managers lead. We explore the myths of HR ownership over culture, what it takes to be a real partner to leadership, and how being a people hero sometimes means not being the hero. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Emily Arthur, HR Director at Riverhawk Company 01:13 — From higher ed to manufacturing HR 02:22 — The challenge: recruiting skilled CNC machinists 04:00 — Building a community college internship-to-hire pipeline 06:41 — Culture is everyone’s responsibility, not just HR 08:14 — Knowing when to jump in—and when to step back 10:53 — Delegation, scaling, and growth in small orgs 13:25 — Advice for new HR pros: set up systems, not dependencies 15:14 — Why HR should work without you, not because of you 16:49 — Caring about people without calling them "family" 17:57 — HR outside of work: nonprofit board leadership and self-awareness 22:13 — How isolved powers solo HR success 23:10 — What role Emily would hire next—and why This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network When you're the only HR pro in the building, control is easy—letting go isn’t. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Emily Arthur, HR Director at Riverhawk Company, shares what it means to run people ops solo at a 100-person manufacturing firm in upstate New York. From recruiting skilled CNC machinists to building talent pipelines with local colleges, Emily walks through how she handles hiring, onboarding, culture, and compliance—while learning to step back and let managers lead. We explore the myths of HR ownership over culture, what it takes to be a real partner to leadership, and how being a people hero sometimes means not being the hero. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Emily Arthur, HR Director at Riverhawk Company 01:13 — From higher ed to manufacturing HR 02:22 — The challenge: recruiting skilled CNC machinists 04:00 — Building a community college internship-to-hire pipeline 06:41 — Culture is everyone’s responsibility, not just HR 08:14 — Knowing when to jump in—and when to step back 10:53 — Delegation, scaling, and growth in small orgs 13:25 — Advice for new HR pros: set up systems, not dependencies 15:14 — Why HR should work without you, not because of you 16:49 — Caring about people without calling them "family" 17:57 — HR outside of work: nonprofit board leadership and self-awareness 22:13 — How isolved powers solo HR success 23:10 — What role Emily would hire next—and why This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ When you're the only HR pro in the building, control is easy—letting go isn’t.

Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Emily Arthur, HR Director at Riverhawk Company, shares what it means to run people ops solo at a 100-person manufacturing firm in upstate New York. From recruiting skilled CNC machinists to building talent pipelines with local colleges, Emily walks through how she handles hiring, onboarding, culture, and compliance—while learning to step back and let managers lead.

We explore the myths of HR ownership over culture, what it takes to be a real partner to leadership, and how being a people hero sometimes means not being the hero.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Emily Arthur, HR Director at Riverhawk Company

01:13 — From higher ed to manufacturing HR

02:22 — The challenge: recruiting skilled CNC machinists

04:00 — Building a community college internship-to-hire pipeline

06:41 — Culture is everyone’s responsibility, not just HR

08:14 — Knowing when to jump in—and when to step back

10:53 — Delegation, scaling, and growth in small orgs

13:25 — Advice for new HR pros: set up systems, not dependencies

15:14 — Why HR should work without you, not because of you

16:49 — Caring about people without calling them "family"

17:57 — HR outside of work: nonprofit board leadership and self-awareness

22:13 — How isolved powers solo HR success

23:10 — What role Emily would hire next—and why


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1486 no From Underwriting to HR Ops: Macy Ewing on Growth, Grit, and Saying No Scaling a business is messy. Doing it while managing HR, payroll, and compliance from a distance? Even messier. In this episode, Macy Ewing—CEO of Aaronson Group—joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to talk about her transition from truck insurance underwriter to leading operations for a rapidly growing virtual company. From paper-based retirement plans to compliance thresholds that come with scaling past 50 employees, Macy shares the real challenges behind small business HR. We get into what it means to meet people where they are, why saying no is a leadership skill, and how digital transformation (even as simple as switching from checks to 401K integrations) changes everything for small teams. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Macy Ewing, CEO of Aaronson Group 01:00 — From underwriting to virtual operations 02:39 — HR priorities vs. entrepreneurial urgency 04:09 — Scaling people while staying compliant 06:05 — Learning through audits and external perspective 08:04 — 401K win: ditching paper for payroll integration 10:11 — Let experts be experts: the power of partnership 12:41 — What being a People Hero really means 13:24 — Meeting employees where they are (literally and digitally) 16:51 — Communication skills, generational gaps, and teachable moments 19:05 — Recharge strategy: the discipline of saying no 21:07 — Empowerment through boundaries and mistakes This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Macy Ewing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macy-ewing-649434236/ Website: http://www.aronsongroup.net/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Scaling a business is messy. Doing it while managing HR, payroll, and compliance from a distance? Even messier. In this episode, Macy Ewing—CEO of Aaronson Group—joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to talk about her transition from truck insurance underwriter to leading operations for a rapidly growing virtual company. From paper-based retirement plans to compliance thresholds that come with scaling past 50 employees, Macy shares the real challenges behind small business HR. We get into what it means to meet people where they are, why saying no is a leadership skill, and how digital transformation (even as simple as switching from checks to 401K integrations) changes everything for small teams. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Macy Ewing, CEO of Aaronson Group 01:00 — From underwriting to virtual operations 02:39 — HR priorities vs. entrepreneurial urgency 04:09 — Scaling people while staying compliant 06:05 — Learning through audits and external perspective 08:04 — 401K win: ditching paper for payroll integration 10:11 — Let experts be experts: the power of partnership 12:41 — What being a People Hero really means 13:24 — Meeting employees where they are (literally and digitally) 16:51 — Communication skills, generational gaps, and teachable moments 19:05 — Recharge strategy: the discipline of saying no 21:07 — Empowerment through boundaries and mistakes This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Macy Ewing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macy-ewing-649434236/ Website: http://www.aronsongroup.net/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Scaling a business is messy. Doing it while managing HR, payroll, and compliance from a distance? Even messier.

In this episode, Macy Ewing—CEO of Aaronson Group—joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to talk about her transition from truck insurance underwriter to leading operations for a rapidly growing virtual company. From paper-based retirement plans to compliance thresholds that come with scaling past 50 employees, Macy shares the real challenges behind small business HR.

We get into what it means to meet people where they are, why saying no is a leadership skill, and how digital transformation (even as simple as switching from checks to 401K integrations) changes everything for small teams.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Macy Ewing, CEO of Aaronson Group

01:00 — From underwriting to virtual operations

02:39 — HR priorities vs. entrepreneurial urgency

04:09 — Scaling people while staying compliant

06:05 — Learning through audits and external perspective

08:04 — 401K win: ditching paper for payroll integration

10:11 — Let experts be experts: the power of partnership

12:41 — What being a People Hero really means

13:24 — Meeting employees where they are (literally and digitally)

16:51 — Communication skills, generational gaps, and teachable moments

19:05 — Recharge strategy: the discipline of saying no

21:07 — Empowerment through boundaries and mistakes


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1414 no From Transactions to Trust: Megha Shah on Elevating Customer Relationships Retention doesn’t start at renewal—it starts at go-live. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Megha Shah, SVP of Relationship Management at isolved, joins us to unpack what it really means to build lifelong customer partnerships. In this episode, Megha breaks down the shift from reactive support to proactive enablement, how her team uses active listening and roleplay to scale trust, and why optimization shouldn’t be a billable line item. She shares insights on structuring long-term renewals, building referenceable relationships, and managing the inevitable chaos of implementation with empathy and follow-through. This one’s for anyone who believes retention is earned, not assumed. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Megha Shah, SVP of Relationship Management at isolved 01:04 — What it means to be a customer’s trusted advisor 02:15 — Teaching active listening and consultative service 03:54 — Role-playing with AI to train for real conversations 05:37 — Building trust with introverted and extroverted teams 07:00 — Referenceability and the long game of retention 08:28 — Multi-year renewals and financial predictability 10:26 — Why success starts at go-live, not renewal 12:07 — Optimization as a service, not a charge 14:10 — The goal: 90% proactive relationship management 15:24 — Psychological safety and solution-oriented culture This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Megha Shah LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtshah/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Retention doesn’t start at renewal—it starts at go-live. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Megha Shah, SVP of Relationship Management at isolved, joins us to unpack what it really means to build lifelong customer partnerships. In this episode, Megha breaks down the shift from reactive support to proactive enablement, how her team uses active listening and roleplay to scale trust, and why optimization shouldn’t be a billable line item. She shares insights on structuring long-term renewals, building referenceable relationships, and managing the inevitable chaos of implementation with empathy and follow-through. This one’s for anyone who believes retention is earned, not assumed. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Megha Shah, SVP of Relationship Management at isolved 01:04 — What it means to be a customer’s trusted advisor 02:15 — Teaching active listening and consultative service 03:54 — Role-playing with AI to train for real conversations 05:37 — Building trust with introverted and extroverted teams 07:00 — Referenceability and the long game of retention 08:28 — Multi-year renewals and financial predictability 10:26 — Why success starts at go-live, not renewal 12:07 — Optimization as a service, not a charge 14:10 — The goal: 90% proactive relationship management 15:24 — Psychological safety and solution-oriented culture This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Megha Shah LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mtshah/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Retention doesn’t start at renewal—it starts at go-live.

Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Megha Shah, SVP of Relationship Management at isolved, joins us to unpack what it really means to build lifelong customer partnerships. In this episode, Megha breaks down the shift from reactive support to proactive enablement, how her team uses active listening and roleplay to scale trust, and why optimization shouldn’t be a billable line item.

She shares insights on structuring long-term renewals, building referenceable relationships, and managing the inevitable chaos of implementation with empathy and follow-through. This one’s for anyone who believes retention is earned, not assumed.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Megha Shah, SVP of Relationship Management at isolved

01:04 — What it means to be a customer’s trusted advisor

02:15 — Teaching active listening and consultative service

03:54 — Role-playing with AI to train for real conversations

05:37 — Building trust with introverted and extroverted teams

07:00 — Referenceability and the long game of retention

08:28 — Multi-year renewals and financial predictability

10:26 — Why success starts at go-live, not renewal

12:07 — Optimization as a service, not a charge

14:10 — The goal: 90% proactive relationship management

15:24 — Psychological safety and solution-oriented culture


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1095 no Listening First: Donna Miller on Turnover, Trust, and Being Steady in the Storm Sometimes HR isn't about solving problems—it’s about hearing them clearly. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Donna Miller, Employee Relations Manager at Phil Long Dealerships, shares how three decades in the automotive industry shaped her people-first approach. From turnover challenges to commission delays, Donna opens up about what she’s hearing from the ground and how she’s helping leadership respond with empathy and urgency. We talk about fixing payout gaps for new hires, facilitating PTO cash-outs during personal crises, and what it means to be truly reliable in HR. Through patience, presence, and quiet consistency, Donna models what employee relations is really about: showing up when it counts, not when it's convenient. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Donna Miller of Phil Long Dealerships 01:05 — From front office to HR leadership over 30 years 02:00 — Managing employee relations through COVID 03:01 — Turnover, commission delay, and why sales teams leave 04:09 — Restructuring pay cycles to retain talent 05:05 — PTO cash-outs and supporting employees in crisis 06:34 — Building long-term trust through short-term action 08:00 — The power of loyalty and being seen by your employer 08:43 — Advice for new HR pros: patience isn’t optional 10:16 — Reliability, empathy, and consistency as HR currency 12:58 — When life gets hard, what keeps you moving This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Sometimes HR isn't about solving problems—it’s about hearing them clearly. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Donna Miller, Employee Relations Manager at Phil Long Dealerships, shares how three decades in the automotive industry shaped her people-first approach. From turnover challenges to commission delays, Donna opens up about what she’s hearing from the ground and how she’s helping leadership respond with empathy and urgency. We talk about fixing payout gaps for new hires, facilitating PTO cash-outs during personal crises, and what it means to be truly reliable in HR. Through patience, presence, and quiet consistency, Donna models what employee relations is really about: showing up when it counts, not when it's convenient. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Donna Miller of Phil Long Dealerships 01:05 — From front office to HR leadership over 30 years 02:00 — Managing employee relations through COVID 03:01 — Turnover, commission delay, and why sales teams leave 04:09 — Restructuring pay cycles to retain talent 05:05 — PTO cash-outs and supporting employees in crisis 06:34 — Building long-term trust through short-term action 08:00 — The power of loyalty and being seen by your employer 08:43 — Advice for new HR pros: patience isn’t optional 10:16 — Reliability, empathy, and consistency as HR currency 12:58 — When life gets hard, what keeps you moving This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Sometimes HR isn't about solving problems—it’s about hearing them clearly.

Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Donna Miller, Employee Relations Manager at Phil Long Dealerships, shares how three decades in the automotive industry shaped her people-first approach. From turnover challenges to commission delays, Donna opens up about what she’s hearing from the ground and how she’s helping leadership respond with empathy and urgency.

We talk about fixing payout gaps for new hires, facilitating PTO cash-outs during personal crises, and what it means to be truly reliable in HR. Through patience, presence, and quiet consistency, Donna models what employee relations is really about: showing up when it counts, not when it's convenient.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Donna Miller of Phil Long Dealerships

01:05 — From front office to HR leadership over 30 years

02:00 — Managing employee relations through COVID

03:01 — Turnover, commission delay, and why sales teams leave

04:09 — Restructuring pay cycles to retain talent

05:05 — PTO cash-outs and supporting employees in crisis

06:34 — Building long-term trust through short-term action

08:00 — The power of loyalty and being seen by your employer

08:43 — Advice for new HR pros: patience isn’t optional

10:16 — Reliability, empathy, and consistency as HR currency

12:58 — When life gets hard, what keeps you moving


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 969 no Trust, Trailheads, and the Truth About Implementations: Jura Slattery on Customer Success Done Right What makes or breaks a customer relationship? It’s not the product. It’s the path. In this episode, we sit down with Jura Slattery, Head of Customer Success at isolved, live from isolved Connect in Chicago. With decades of implementation experience and a strong philosophy on trust, Jura unpacks why great support starts before go-live—and why most vendors get it wrong. From emotional intelligence to user adoption to “champagne and failure cake,” this episode breaks down the human and operational side of onboarding, implementation, and optimization. If you think support ends at launch, listen closer. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Jura Slattery at isolved Connect 07:25 — Building trust in the first 100 days 08:18 — Leading with authenticity and one-take intros 09:11 — What great customer experience really takes 10:36 — Balancing scale with care in customer support 11:49 — Automation, AI, and implementation gaps 13:04 — Implementation never really ends 14:23 — Why onboarding needs calibration over completion 15:23 — Optimize before you implement 18:17 — Escalation ≠ failure, it’s part of the process 20:08 — Emotional intelligence in vendor partnerships 23:44 — Why experience matters more than perfection 26:39 — Feature bloat, anxiety, and the myth of progress This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Jura Slattery LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juraslattery/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network What makes or breaks a customer relationship? It’s not the product. It’s the path. In this episode, we sit down with Jura Slattery, Head of Customer Success at isolved, live from isolved Connect in Chicago. With decades of implementation experience and a strong philosophy on trust, Jura unpacks why great support starts before go-live—and why most vendors get it wrong. From emotional intelligence to user adoption to “champagne and failure cake,” this episode breaks down the human and operational side of onboarding, implementation, and optimization. If you think support ends at launch, listen closer. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Jura Slattery at isolved Connect 07:25 — Building trust in the first 100 days 08:18 — Leading with authenticity and one-take intros 09:11 — What great customer experience really takes 10:36 — Balancing scale with care in customer support 11:49 — Automation, AI, and implementation gaps 13:04 — Implementation never really ends 14:23 — Why onboarding needs calibration over completion 15:23 — Optimize before you implement 18:17 — Escalation ≠ failure, it’s part of the process 20:08 — Emotional intelligence in vendor partnerships 23:44 — Why experience matters more than perfection 26:39 — Feature bloat, anxiety, and the myth of progress This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Jura Slattery LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juraslattery/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ What makes or breaks a customer relationship? It’s not the product. It’s the path.

In this episode, we sit down with Jura Slattery, Head of Customer Success at isolved, live from isolved Connect in Chicago. With decades of implementation experience and a strong philosophy on trust, Jura unpacks why great support starts before go-live—and why most vendors get it wrong.

From emotional intelligence to user adoption to “champagne and failure cake,” this episode breaks down the human and operational side of onboarding, implementation, and optimization. If you think support ends at launch, listen closer.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Jura Slattery at isolved Connect

07:25 — Building trust in the first 100 days

08:18 — Leading with authenticity and one-take intros

09:11 — What great customer experience really takes

10:36 — Balancing scale with care in customer support

11:49 — Automation, AI, and implementation gaps

13:04 — Implementation never really ends

14:23 — Why onboarding needs calibration over completion

15:23 — Optimize before you implement

18:17 — Escalation ≠ failure, it’s part of the process

20:08 — Emotional intelligence in vendor partnerships

23:44 — Why experience matters more than perfection

26:39 — Feature bloat, anxiety, and the myth of progress


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1820 no From Post-Its to Product: Kelli Rico on Building, Balancing, and Securing the Future of HCM What happens when a product leader with 13 years of HCM experience still prototypes with sticky notes? You get real innovation—built from the ground up, user-first. In this episode, Kelli Rico, VP of Product Management at isolved, joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to share how her team turns napkin ideas into powerful platform features. From customer co-creation and UX-led design to product marketing alignment and R&D tax credits, this conversation reveals the mechanics behind isolved People Cloud—and what it takes to stay secure while shipping fast. We dive into how her team balances customer input with market insight, avoids feature bloat, and prioritizes trust over flash. Plus, Kelli explains why slowing down for security is the fastest way to earn loyalty in payroll tech. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Kelli Rico, VP of Product at isolved 01:06 — Starting in implementation and growing with the company 03:09 — What drives the product roadmap at isolved 04:48 — Balancing feedback, data, and scale in a SaaS world 06:34 — Feature bloat and the challenge of removal 08:53 — Innovation by observation: ideation sessions and user behavior 11:14 — R&D in payroll, perfect payroll, and AI-driven UX 16:04 — Product marketing alignment and internal education 17:00 — Biweekly releases, change management, and in-app training 20:33 — Security over speed: fraud, trust, and data protection 22:56 — Slowing features to prioritize safety in HCM 23:59 — If not HCM, what would Kelli be doing? This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Kelli Rico LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellirico/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network What happens when a product leader with 13 years of HCM experience still prototypes with sticky notes? You get real innovation—built from the ground up, user-first. In this episode, Kelli Rico, VP of Product Management at isolved, joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to share how her team turns napkin ideas into powerful platform features. From customer co-creation and UX-led design to product marketing alignment and R&D tax credits, this conversation reveals the mechanics behind isolved People Cloud—and what it takes to stay secure while shipping fast. We dive into how her team balances customer input with market insight, avoids feature bloat, and prioritizes trust over flash. Plus, Kelli explains why slowing down for security is the fastest way to earn loyalty in payroll tech. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Kelli Rico, VP of Product at isolved 01:06 — Starting in implementation and growing with the company 03:09 — What drives the product roadmap at isolved 04:48 — Balancing feedback, data, and scale in a SaaS world 06:34 — Feature bloat and the challenge of removal 08:53 — Innovation by observation: ideation sessions and user behavior 11:14 — R&D in payroll, perfect payroll, and AI-driven UX 16:04 — Product marketing alignment and internal education 17:00 — Biweekly releases, change management, and in-app training 20:33 — Security over speed: fraud, trust, and data protection 22:56 — Slowing features to prioritize safety in HCM 23:59 — If not HCM, what would Kelli be doing? This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Kelli Rico LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellirico/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ What happens when a product leader with 13 years of HCM experience still prototypes with sticky notes? You get real innovation—built from the ground up, user-first.

In this episode, Kelli Rico, VP of Product Management at isolved, joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to share how her team turns napkin ideas into powerful platform features. From customer co-creation and UX-led design to product marketing alignment and R&D tax credits, this conversation reveals the mechanics behind isolved People Cloud—and what it takes to stay secure while shipping fast.

We dive into how her team balances customer input with market insight, avoids feature bloat, and prioritizes trust over flash. Plus, Kelli explains why slowing down for security is the fastest way to earn loyalty in payroll tech.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Kelli Rico, VP of Product at isolved

01:06 — Starting in implementation and growing with the company

03:09 — What drives the product roadmap at isolved

04:48 — Balancing feedback, data, and scale in a SaaS world

06:34 — Feature bloat and the challenge of removal

08:53 — Innovation by observation: ideation sessions and user behavior

11:14 — R&D in payroll, perfect payroll, and AI-driven UX

16:04 — Product marketing alignment and internal education

17:00 — Biweekly releases, change management, and in-app training

20:33 — Security over speed: fraud, trust, and data protection

22:56 — Slowing features to prioritize safety in HCM

23:59 — If not HCM, what would Kelli be doing?


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1561 no Onboarding, Benefits, and Being Human: Inside Healthcare HR with Emma Birriel and Christine Padilla Healthcare HR isn’t just about policies—it’s about people. In this episode recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Emma Birriel and Christine Padilla from Shared Imaging to talk about the realities of recruiting, onboarding, and employee care in healthcare. From working in mobile imaging units to handling benefits confusion, they break down what HR looks like when it’s human-centered, not just compliance-driven. Emma shares the value of proactive benefits communication and why trust matters more than process. Christine walks us through her path from filmmaking to onboarding and how creating emotional safety can change a first day. Together, they show how empathy and clarity shape better workplaces. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Emma and Christine from Shared Imaging 00:44 — From hospital floors to remote HR: Emma’s journey 01:30 — Film school to HR: Christine’s career pivot 04:00 — Recruiting challenges in mobile healthcare 06:31 — Communicating benefits without the jargon 09:44 — Making benefits real through proactive support 11:16 — Wins that remind us why HR matters 13:20 — Building trust before problems escalate 15:44 — Redesigning onboarding for human connection 18:33 — The three first days: onboarding complexity in healthcare 20:54 — Advice for HR newcomers: stay curious, stay compassionate 26:39 — What being a People Hero really means This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Emma Birriel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-birriel-shrm-cp-234744140/ Website: https://www.sharedimaging.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Healthcare HR isn’t just about policies—it’s about people. In this episode recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Emma Birriel and Christine Padilla from Shared Imaging to talk about the realities of recruiting, onboarding, and employee care in healthcare. From working in mobile imaging units to handling benefits confusion, they break down what HR looks like when it’s human-centered, not just compliance-driven. Emma shares the value of proactive benefits communication and why trust matters more than process. Christine walks us through her path from filmmaking to onboarding and how creating emotional safety can change a first day. Together, they show how empathy and clarity shape better workplaces. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Emma and Christine from Shared Imaging 00:44 — From hospital floors to remote HR: Emma’s journey 01:30 — Film school to HR: Christine’s career pivot 04:00 — Recruiting challenges in mobile healthcare 06:31 — Communicating benefits without the jargon 09:44 — Making benefits real through proactive support 11:16 — Wins that remind us why HR matters 13:20 — Building trust before problems escalate 15:44 — Redesigning onboarding for human connection 18:33 — The three first days: onboarding complexity in healthcare 20:54 — Advice for HR newcomers: stay curious, stay compassionate 26:39 — What being a People Hero really means This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Emma Birriel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-birriel-shrm-cp-234744140/ Website: https://www.sharedimaging.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Healthcare HR isn’t just about policies—it’s about people.

In this episode recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Emma Birriel and Christine Padilla from Shared Imaging to talk about the realities of recruiting, onboarding, and employee care in healthcare. From working in mobile imaging units to handling benefits confusion, they break down what HR looks like when it’s human-centered, not just compliance-driven.

Emma shares the value of proactive benefits communication and why trust matters more than process. Christine walks us through her path from filmmaking to onboarding and how creating emotional safety can change a first day. Together, they show how empathy and clarity shape better workplaces.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Emma and Christine from Shared Imaging

00:44 — From hospital floors to remote HR: Emma’s journey

01:30 — Film school to HR: Christine’s career pivot

04:00 — Recruiting challenges in mobile healthcare

06:31 — Communicating benefits without the jargon

09:44 — Making benefits real through proactive support

11:16 — Wins that remind us why HR matters

13:20 — Building trust before problems escalate

15:44 — Redesigning onboarding for human connection

18:33 — The three first days: onboarding complexity in healthcare

20:54 — Advice for HR newcomers: stay curious, stay compassionate

26:39 — What being a People Hero really means


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/

Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1722 no Fear Is the Enemy: Joey Price on Thriving Through AI, Soft Skills, and Chaos AI isn’t the threat—fear is. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Joey Price joins the Heroes of HR podcast to talk about the real tension in today’s HR landscape: navigating technological change without losing your grip on human connection. From soft skills to return-to-office strategies, Joey lays out how HR professionals can calm the chaos, shift mindsets, and thrive in the age of AI. He challenges outdated academic models, calls out the failure of traditional career prep, and makes the case for immersive, practical learning as the next frontier for HR development. We cover burnout, flexibility, intergenerational skill gaps, and why "best practices" might be holding your team back. Timestamps: 00:00 — Joey Price on stage at isolved Connect 01:06 — The real enemy isn't AI—it's fear and confusion 03:00 — Why tech predictions never quite kill HR 04:14 — Return to office: what smart companies are doing 06:08 — Building culture through structured soft-skill days 08:18 — From syllabus to ambiguity: preparing early-career pros 10:15 — Why universities are falling behind 12:32 — Joey’s new book: The Power of an HR Budget 14:45 — Gen Z, ChatGPT, and rethinking how we learn 17:00 — Chaos theory, Joker metaphors, and managing AI anxiety 22:00 — Personal stories on authorship, impact, and audience 27:40 — Best career advice: build your well before you’re thirsty This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Joey Price LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyvprice/ Website: http://www.jumpstart-hr.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network AI isn’t the threat—fear is. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Joey Price joins the Heroes of HR podcast to talk about the real tension in today’s HR landscape: navigating technological change without losing your grip on human connection. From soft skills to return-to-office strategies, Joey lays out how HR professionals can calm the chaos, shift mindsets, and thrive in the age of AI. He challenges outdated academic models, calls out the failure of traditional career prep, and makes the case for immersive, practical learning as the next frontier for HR development. We cover burnout, flexibility, intergenerational skill gaps, and why "best practices" might be holding your team back. Timestamps: 00:00 — Joey Price on stage at isolved Connect 01:06 — The real enemy isn't AI—it's fear and confusion 03:00 — Why tech predictions never quite kill HR 04:14 — Return to office: what smart companies are doing 06:08 — Building culture through structured soft-skill days 08:18 — From syllabus to ambiguity: preparing early-career pros 10:15 — Why universities are falling behind 12:32 — Joey’s new book: The Power of an HR Budget 14:45 — Gen Z, ChatGPT, and rethinking how we learn 17:00 — Chaos theory, Joker metaphors, and managing AI anxiety 22:00 — Personal stories on authorship, impact, and audience 27:40 — Best career advice: build your well before you’re thirsty This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Joey Price LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeyvprice/ Website: http://www.jumpstart-hr.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ AI isn’t the threat—fear is.

Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Joey Price joins the Heroes of HR podcast to talk about the real tension in today’s HR landscape: navigating technological change without losing your grip on human connection.

From soft skills to return-to-office strategies, Joey lays out how HR professionals can calm the chaos, shift mindsets, and thrive in the age of AI. He challenges outdated academic models, calls out the failure of traditional career prep, and makes the case for immersive, practical learning as the next frontier for HR development.

We cover burnout, flexibility, intergenerational skill gaps, and why "best practices" might be holding your team back.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Joey Price on stage at isolved Connect

01:06 — The real enemy isn't AI—it's fear and confusion

03:00 — Why tech predictions never quite kill HR

04:14 — Return to office: what smart companies are doing

06:08 — Building culture through structured soft-skill days

08:18 — From syllabus to ambiguity: preparing early-career pros

10:15 — Why universities are falling behind

12:32 — Joey’s new book: The Power of an HR Budget

14:45 — Gen Z, ChatGPT, and rethinking how we learn

17:00 — Chaos theory, Joker metaphors, and managing AI anxiety

22:00 — Personal stories on authorship, impact, and audience

27:40 — Best career advice: build your well before you’re thirsty

This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1808 no From Go-Live to Growth: How Optimization Creates People Heroes Implementation doesn’t end at go-live. That’s where the real work begins. In this episode, live from isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Sandy Barnett and Theresa Breunig—Directors of Optimization at isolved—to unpack how the optimization team bridges the gap between system setup and business outcomes. From recalibrating systems post-launch to unlocking untapped value inside isolved, they share how their work helps HR teams save time, stay aligned with changing priorities, and become the heroes their people need. We talk about streamlining processes, driving adoption, preventing burnout, and how tools like predictive analytics and AI-powered chat features are reshaping HR’s role in the business. This one’s about making the system work for the people—not the other way around. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Sandy and Theresa from isolved's Optimization Team 04:05 — What optimization really means post-implementation 07:10 — Saving time, boosting satisfaction, and delivering impact 10:10 — Calibrating systems as businesses evolve 13:00 — Why AI and chat features are game-changers 15:00 — The power of an integrated HCM ecosystem 17:00 — Predictive analytics in action 18:56 — What “People Heroes” really means This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Sandy Barnett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-barnett-41936311/ Website: https://www.claconnect.com/ Theresa Breunig LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresabreunig/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Implementation doesn’t end at go-live. That’s where the real work begins. In this episode, live from isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Sandy Barnett and Theresa Breunig—Directors of Optimization at isolved—to unpack how the optimization team bridges the gap between system setup and business outcomes. From recalibrating systems post-launch to unlocking untapped value inside isolved, they share how their work helps HR teams save time, stay aligned with changing priorities, and become the heroes their people need. We talk about streamlining processes, driving adoption, preventing burnout, and how tools like predictive analytics and AI-powered chat features are reshaping HR’s role in the business. This one’s about making the system work for the people—not the other way around. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Sandy and Theresa from isolved's Optimization Team 04:05 — What optimization really means post-implementation 07:10 — Saving time, boosting satisfaction, and delivering impact 10:10 — Calibrating systems as businesses evolve 13:00 — Why AI and chat features are game-changers 15:00 — The power of an integrated HCM ecosystem 17:00 — Predictive analytics in action 18:56 — What “People Heroes” really means This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Sandy Barnett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-barnett-41936311/ Website: https://www.claconnect.com/ Theresa Breunig LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresabreunig/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Implementation doesn’t end at go-live. That’s where the real work begins.

In this episode, live from isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Sandy Barnett and Theresa Breunig—Directors of Optimization at isolved—to unpack how the optimization team bridges the gap between system setup and business outcomes. From recalibrating systems post-launch to unlocking untapped value inside isolved, they share how their work helps HR teams save time, stay aligned with changing priorities, and become the heroes their people need.

We talk about streamlining processes, driving adoption, preventing burnout, and how tools like predictive analytics and AI-powered chat features are reshaping HR’s role in the business. This one’s about making the system work for the people—not the other way around.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Sandy and Theresa from isolved's Optimization Team

04:05 — What optimization really means post-implementation

07:10 — Saving time, boosting satisfaction, and delivering impact

10:10 — Calibrating systems as businesses evolve

13:00 — Why AI and chat features are game-changers

15:00 — The power of an integrated HCM ecosystem

17:00 — Predictive analytics in action

18:56 — What “People Heroes” really means

This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/

Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1311 no What AI Can’t Replace: Pamela Stroko on Talent, Truth, and the Human Advantage You can’t automate empathy—and that’s the difference. In this episode, recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago, industry veteran Pamela Stroko joins William Tincup to talk truth in HR tech. With over two decades across Oracle, analyst firms, and practitioner trenches, Pamela cuts through the noise around AI, hiring mistakes, and vendor hype. She shares lessons from launching The Five Talents That Matter podcast series, what 300,000 listens taught her about real talent signals, and why most companies are still getting hiring wrong—by design. From her earliest days in HR to her sharpest critiques of today’s tech landscape, Pamela makes one thing clear: connection still wins. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Pamela Stroko: from practitioner to Oracle to analyst 02:24 — The Five Talents book and podcast: a talent strategy case study 04:46 — 85–95% of execs say they’re hiring the wrong people 06:15 — What you can’t teach: innate traits that drive leadership 08:11 — Getting honest about the cost of bad hires 09:02 — First impressions of isolved and what energy signals in a vendor 11:04 — Real customer love: isolved’s people-first approach in action 13:35 — How isolved’s roots shaped its culture and impact 15:00 — What vendors get wrong: overpromising features and roadmaps 17:12 — Why authenticity and humanity still differentiate great software 20:33 — AI can’t fall in love. That’s still your job This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Pamela Stroko LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelastroko/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network You can’t automate empathy—and that’s the difference. In this episode, recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago, industry veteran Pamela Stroko joins William Tincup to talk truth in HR tech. With over two decades across Oracle, analyst firms, and practitioner trenches, Pamela cuts through the noise around AI, hiring mistakes, and vendor hype. She shares lessons from launching The Five Talents That Matter podcast series, what 300,000 listens taught her about real talent signals, and why most companies are still getting hiring wrong—by design. From her earliest days in HR to her sharpest critiques of today’s tech landscape, Pamela makes one thing clear: connection still wins. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Pamela Stroko: from practitioner to Oracle to analyst 02:24 — The Five Talents book and podcast: a talent strategy case study 04:46 — 85–95% of execs say they’re hiring the wrong people 06:15 — What you can’t teach: innate traits that drive leadership 08:11 — Getting honest about the cost of bad hires 09:02 — First impressions of isolved and what energy signals in a vendor 11:04 — Real customer love: isolved’s people-first approach in action 13:35 — How isolved’s roots shaped its culture and impact 15:00 — What vendors get wrong: overpromising features and roadmaps 17:12 — Why authenticity and humanity still differentiate great software 20:33 — AI can’t fall in love. That’s still your job This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Pamela Stroko LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelastroko/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ You can’t automate empathy—and that’s the difference.

In this episode, recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago, industry veteran Pamela Stroko joins William Tincup to talk truth in HR tech. With over two decades across Oracle, analyst firms, and practitioner trenches, Pamela cuts through the noise around AI, hiring mistakes, and vendor hype.

She shares lessons from launching The Five Talents That Matter podcast series, what 300,000 listens taught her about real talent signals, and why most companies are still getting hiring wrong—by design. From her earliest days in HR to her sharpest critiques of today’s tech landscape, Pamela makes one thing clear: connection still wins.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Pamela Stroko: from practitioner to Oracle to analyst

02:24 — The Five Talents book and podcast: a talent strategy case study

04:46 — 85–95% of execs say they’re hiring the wrong people

06:15 — What you can’t teach: innate traits that drive leadership

08:11 — Getting honest about the cost of bad hires

09:02 — First impressions of isolved and what energy signals in a vendor

11:04 — Real customer love: isolved’s people-first approach in action

13:35 — How isolved’s roots shaped its culture and impact

15:00 — What vendors get wrong: overpromising features and roadmaps

17:12 — Why authenticity and humanity still differentiate great software

20:33 — AI can’t fall in love. That’s still your job

This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1378 no Tech Troubles, Tenure, and Code of Conducts: Samantha Kenworthy on Evolving HR in Nonprofits What happens when long-tenured employees meet new tech, and a swim coach becomes the HR lead? You get creative adaptation, empathy in action, and a code of conduct for kids. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Samantha Kenworthy, HR Coordinator at Skyline Center, shares how she’s navigating digital transformation in a nonprofit world—where mission matters, tenure runs deep, and change doesn’t come easy. From training employees to check their own pay stubs to surviving accreditation and building HR systems from scratch, Samantha’s story is one of real-world resilience. We explore her unexpected journey into HR, how she’s personalizing legacy systems, and why being a People Hero starts with protecting your own energy while showing up for everyone else. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Samantha Kenworthy, HR at Skyline Center 01:32 — Legacy employees, new tools, and user adoption challenges 03:15 — Small wins: self-service and digital literacy 04:19 — Accreditation survival and nonprofit compliance 05:40 — From “Sure, I’ll try HR” to full system overhaul 06:12 — Why you can’t inherit someone else’s HR system 08:11 — Mission-driven HR and nonprofit motivation 09:05 — Doing HR at swim practice: the code of conduct story 12:00 — Youth sports, parents, and HR chaos off the clock 13:36 — Being a People Hero means showing up and staying filled This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network What happens when long-tenured employees meet new tech, and a swim coach becomes the HR lead? You get creative adaptation, empathy in action, and a code of conduct for kids. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Samantha Kenworthy, HR Coordinator at Skyline Center, shares how she’s navigating digital transformation in a nonprofit world—where mission matters, tenure runs deep, and change doesn’t come easy. From training employees to check their own pay stubs to surviving accreditation and building HR systems from scratch, Samantha’s story is one of real-world resilience. We explore her unexpected journey into HR, how she’s personalizing legacy systems, and why being a People Hero starts with protecting your own energy while showing up for everyone else. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Samantha Kenworthy, HR at Skyline Center 01:32 — Legacy employees, new tools, and user adoption challenges 03:15 — Small wins: self-service and digital literacy 04:19 — Accreditation survival and nonprofit compliance 05:40 — From “Sure, I’ll try HR” to full system overhaul 06:12 — Why you can’t inherit someone else’s HR system 08:11 — Mission-driven HR and nonprofit motivation 09:05 — Doing HR at swim practice: the code of conduct story 12:00 — Youth sports, parents, and HR chaos off the clock 13:36 — Being a People Hero means showing up and staying filled This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ What happens when long-tenured employees meet new tech, and a swim coach becomes the HR lead? You get creative adaptation, empathy in action, and a code of conduct for kids.

Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, Samantha Kenworthy, HR Coordinator at Skyline Center, shares how she’s navigating digital transformation in a nonprofit world—where mission matters, tenure runs deep, and change doesn’t come easy. From training employees to check their own pay stubs to surviving accreditation and building HR systems from scratch, Samantha’s story is one of real-world resilience.

We explore her unexpected journey into HR, how she’s personalizing legacy systems, and why being a People Hero starts with protecting your own energy while showing up for everyone else.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Samantha Kenworthy, HR at Skyline Center

01:32 — Legacy employees, new tools, and user adoption challenges

03:15 — Small wins: self-service and digital literacy

04:19 — Accreditation survival and nonprofit compliance

05:40 — From “Sure, I’ll try HR” to full system overhaul

06:12 — Why you can’t inherit someone else’s HR system

08:11 — Mission-driven HR and nonprofit motivation

09:05 — Doing HR at swim practice: the code of conduct story

12:00 — Youth sports, parents, and HR chaos off the clock

13:36 — Being a People Hero means showing up and staying filled


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 994 no Empathy Over Policy: Melanie Zakrzewski on Culture, Change, and the Human Side of HR Insurance changes, community impact, and why empathy still wins. In this episode, Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing and Westmark Enterprises, joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to break down what happens when HR leads with people first. From overhauling a 15-year healthcare plan to building bikes for local kids, Melanie shares how culture shows up in the small moments—and how empathy transforms HR from a function into a force. We dig into managing benefits communication, involving spouses in the process, and navigating fear and uncertainty during change. Plus, Melanie explains why “smile files” matter more than you think, and what advice she’d give to any HR pro just starting out. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Melanie Zakrzewski from Kendall Hunt and Westmark 02:18 — Switching insurance providers after 15 years 03:59 — Communicating change with empathy and clarity 06:06 — Good Works Committee: culture beyond the office 07:41 — Building goodwill and community trust 09:35 — Why empathy is the most underrated HR skill 13:18 — “Being a people hero means…” 14:45 — Smile files and the power of small recognition This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Melanie Zakzerwski LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-zakrzewski/ Website: http://www.kendallhunt.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Insurance changes, community impact, and why empathy still wins. In this episode, Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing and Westmark Enterprises, joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to break down what happens when HR leads with people first. From overhauling a 15-year healthcare plan to building bikes for local kids, Melanie shares how culture shows up in the small moments—and how empathy transforms HR from a function into a force. We dig into managing benefits communication, involving spouses in the process, and navigating fear and uncertainty during change. Plus, Melanie explains why “smile files” matter more than you think, and what advice she’d give to any HR pro just starting out. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Melanie Zakrzewski from Kendall Hunt and Westmark 02:18 — Switching insurance providers after 15 years 03:59 — Communicating change with empathy and clarity 06:06 — Good Works Committee: culture beyond the office 07:41 — Building goodwill and community trust 09:35 — Why empathy is the most underrated HR skill 13:18 — “Being a people hero means…” 14:45 — Smile files and the power of small recognition This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Melanie Zakzerwski LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-zakrzewski/ Website: http://www.kendallhunt.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Insurance changes, community impact, and why empathy still wins.

In this episode, Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing and Westmark Enterprises, joins us live from isolved Connect in Chicago to break down what happens when HR leads with people first. From overhauling a 15-year healthcare plan to building bikes for local kids, Melanie shares how culture shows up in the small moments—and how empathy transforms HR from a function into a force.

We dig into managing benefits communication, involving spouses in the process, and navigating fear and uncertainty during change. Plus, Melanie explains why “smile files” matter more than you think, and what advice she’d give to any HR pro just starting out.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Melanie Zakrzewski from Kendall Hunt and Westmark

02:18 — Switching insurance providers after 15 years

03:59 — Communicating change with empathy and clarity

06:06 — Good Works Committee: culture beyond the office

07:41 — Building goodwill and community trust

09:35 — Why empathy is the most underrated HR skill

13:18 — “Being a people hero means…”

14:45 — Smile files and the power of small recognition


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1030 no Balancing Change and Connection: Amberly Dressler on HR’s Real Priorities Forget buzzwords and look at what’s actually holding HR teams back. It’s not AI. It’s paper. In this episode, we sit down with Amberly Dressler, VP of Corporate Marketing at isolved, to unpack her new book Center the Pendulum and the real stories that inspired it—from applicant tracking bottlenecks to generational filing cabinets in Alaska. Amberly shares what it means to document transformation, why naming real customers matters, and how HR leaders can shift from resistance to readiness. We get into the friction between employer needs and employee expectations, how to prioritize digital transformation, and why mentorship and succession planning still move the needle more than any shiny tech. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Amberly Dressler of isolved 01:07 — Writing Center the Pendulum and blending fiction with real HCM stories 02:20 — Why change is the recurring character in every HR story 04:48 — From pushback to progress: change management in action 06:56 — The business case behind HR tech decisions 08:28 — Paper applications and missed talent 09:46 — Succession planning and mentorship in HR 10:39 — When priorities matter more than data archives 11:36 — AI interest vs. operational reality on the ground 13:30 — Regional Connect events and customer-centricity in motion This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Amberly Dressler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network Forget buzzwords and look at what’s actually holding HR teams back. It’s not AI. It’s paper. In this episode, we sit down with Amberly Dressler, VP of Corporate Marketing at isolved, to unpack her new book Center the Pendulum and the real stories that inspired it—from applicant tracking bottlenecks to generational filing cabinets in Alaska. Amberly shares what it means to document transformation, why naming real customers matters, and how HR leaders can shift from resistance to readiness. We get into the friction between employer needs and employee expectations, how to prioritize digital transformation, and why mentorship and succession planning still move the needle more than any shiny tech. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Amberly Dressler of isolved 01:07 — Writing Center the Pendulum and blending fiction with real HCM stories 02:20 — Why change is the recurring character in every HR story 04:48 — From pushback to progress: change management in action 06:56 — The business case behind HR tech decisions 08:28 — Paper applications and missed talent 09:46 — Succession planning and mentorship in HR 10:39 — When priorities matter more than data archives 11:36 — AI interest vs. operational reality on the ground 13:30 — Regional Connect events and customer-centricity in motion This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Amberly Dressler LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberlydressler/ Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Forget buzzwords and look at what’s actually holding HR teams back. It’s not AI. It’s paper.

In this episode, we sit down with Amberly Dressler, VP of Corporate Marketing at isolved, to unpack her new book Center the Pendulum and the real stories that inspired it—from applicant tracking bottlenecks to generational filing cabinets in Alaska. Amberly shares what it means to document transformation, why naming real customers matters, and how HR leaders can shift from resistance to readiness.

We get into the friction between employer needs and employee expectations, how to prioritize digital transformation, and why mentorship and succession planning still move the needle more than any shiny tech.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Amberly Dressler of isolved

01:07 — Writing Center the Pendulum and blending fiction with real HCM stories

02:20 — Why change is the recurring character in every HR story

04:48 — From pushback to progress: change management in action

06:56 — The business case behind HR tech decisions

08:28 — Paper applications and missed talent

09:46 — Succession planning and mentorship in HR

10:39 — When priorities matter more than data archives

11:36 — AI interest vs. operational reality on the ground

13:30 — Regional Connect events and customer-centricity in motion


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 1010 no Legal Isn’t Optional: Tom Von Jess on Why HR Needs to Rethink Employee Protection HR isn't just about payroll and PTO—it’s about protection. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Tom Von Jess, Director of Strategic Partnerships at LegalShield, to unpack the overlooked benefit every employee actually needs: legal support. From navigating assisted living contracts to identity theft recovery, Tom shares how LegalShield is helping HR teams bring peace of mind to workforces and why this benefit is more relevant than ever. We explore LegalShield’s integration with isolved, the power of real partnerships, and how AI might finally help employees make smarter benefit decisions. Plus, Tom reveals what HR gets wrong about open enrollment—and how to fix it. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Tom Von Jess of LegalShield 03:00 — What LegalShield actually solves for employees 04:34 — Identity theft protection and private investigators on call 05:41 — Customer stories from the isolved network 07:32 — Building real community through People Heroes 08:47 — Supporting lean HR teams with strategic benefits 10:06 — How AI could help employees choose the right benefits 11:17 — The caregiving squeeze: legal needs across generations 12:19 — Estate planning, elder fraud, and HR's expanding role in employee wellbeing This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Tom Von Jess LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-von-jess/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000 full WRKdefined Podcast Network HR isn't just about payroll and PTO—it’s about protection. Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Tom Von Jess, Director of Strategic Partnerships at LegalShield, to unpack the overlooked benefit every employee actually needs: legal support. From navigating assisted living contracts to identity theft recovery, Tom shares how LegalShield is helping HR teams bring peace of mind to workforces and why this benefit is more relevant than ever. We explore LegalShield’s integration with isolved, the power of real partnerships, and how AI might finally help employees make smarter benefit decisions. Plus, Tom reveals what HR gets wrong about open enrollment—and how to fix it. Timestamps: 00:00 — Meet Tom Von Jess of LegalShield 03:00 — What LegalShield actually solves for employees 04:34 — Identity theft protection and private investigators on call 05:41 — Customer stories from the isolved network 07:32 — Building real community through People Heroes 08:47 — Supporting lean HR teams with strategic benefits 10:06 — How AI could help employees choose the right benefits 11:17 — The caregiving squeeze: legal needs across generations 12:19 — Estate planning, elder fraud, and HR's expanding role in employee wellbeing This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with the guest: Tom Von Jess LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-von-jess/ Connect with Us: William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with us on social: Site: http://www.wrkdefined.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wrkdefined LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wrkdefined Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WRKdefined/ Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/WRKdefined Substack: https://wrkdefined.substack.com/ HR isn't just about payroll and PTO—it’s about protection.

Live from isolved Connect in Chicago, we sit down with Tom Von Jess, Director of Strategic Partnerships at LegalShield, to unpack the overlooked benefit every employee actually needs: legal support. From navigating assisted living contracts to identity theft recovery, Tom shares how LegalShield is helping HR teams bring peace of mind to workforces and why this benefit is more relevant than ever.

We explore LegalShield’s integration with isolved, the power of real partnerships, and how AI might finally help employees make smarter benefit decisions. Plus, Tom reveals what HR gets wrong about open enrollment—and how to fix it.

Timestamps:

00:00 — Meet Tom Von Jess of LegalShield

03:00 — What LegalShield actually solves for employees

04:34 — Identity theft protection and private investigators on call

05:41 — Customer stories from the isolved network

07:32 — Building real community through People Heroes

08:47 — Supporting lean HR teams with strategic benefits

10:06 — How AI could help employees choose the right benefits

11:17 — The caregiving squeeze: legal needs across generations

12:19 — Estate planning, elder fraud, and HR's expanding role in employee wellbeing


This conversation was recorded live at isolved Connect in Chicago.

The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM platform that modernizes HR, benefits, and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with the guest:

Connect with Us:

Connect with us on social:

]]> 811 no Navigating Job Applications with Confidence: Insights from Michelle Hamilton, Head of Payroll and HR Operations at Adore Me Michelle Hamilton from Adore Me joins the Heroes of HR podcast to discuss flexibility in job applications, navigating career changes, and the value of community. With insights from isolved’s customer service excellence and the People Heroes community, this episode is packed with actionable advice for HR professionals. In this episode, we look at HR, job applications, career growth, flexibility, community, customer service, isolved, Adore Me, Michelle Hamilton, and People Heroes. Michelle emphasizes that job descriptions are guidelines, not barriers, and shares strategies to empower HR professionals through supportive networks and exceptional service standards. Key Takeaways Adore Me is a fashion brand prioritizing sustainability and green practices Applicants should view job descriptions as flexible guidelines, not rigid criteria Applying for jobs outside your comfort zone fosters growth People Heroes is a supportive community for HR professionals to share and recharge Flexibility in HR is essential for navigating career changes and fostering resilience isolved is known for responsive and reliable customer service Timely support in payroll is critical to business success Webinars and master classes help HR professionals stay current Community challenges and activities bring fun and connection to the HR world Building communities like People Heroes strengthens the HR industry isolved sets a high bar for customer satisfaction in HR tech Flexibility and support networks are key to long-term success The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:53:22 -0000 Navigating Job Applications with Confidence: Insights from Michelle Hamilton, Head of Payroll and HR Operations at Adore Me full 1 11 WRKdefined Podcast Network Exploring career growth, community, and exceptional customer service in HR with Michelle Hamilton. Michelle Hamilton from Adore Me joins the Heroes of HR podcast to discuss flexibility in job applications, navigating career changes, and the value of community. With insights from isolved’s customer service excellence and the People Heroes community, this episode is packed with actionable advice for HR professionals. In this episode, we look at HR, job applications, career growth, flexibility, community, customer service, isolved, Adore Me, Michelle Hamilton, and People Heroes. Michelle emphasizes that job descriptions are guidelines, not barriers, and shares strategies to empower HR professionals through supportive networks and exceptional service standards. Key Takeaways Adore Me is a fashion brand prioritizing sustainability and green practices Applicants should view job descriptions as flexible guidelines, not rigid criteria Applying for jobs outside your comfort zone fosters growth People Heroes is a supportive community for HR professionals to share and recharge Flexibility in HR is essential for navigating career changes and fostering resilience isolved is known for responsive and reliable customer service Timely support in payroll is critical to business success Webinars and master classes help HR professionals stay current Community challenges and activities bring fun and connection to the HR world Building communities like People Heroes strengthens the HR industry isolved sets a high bar for customer satisfaction in HR tech Flexibility and support networks are key to long-term success The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Michelle Hamilton from Adore Me joins the Heroes of HR podcast to discuss flexibility in job applications, navigating career changes, and the value of community. With insights from isolved’s customer service excellence and the People Heroes community, this episode is packed with actionable advice for HR professionals.

In this episode, we look at HR, job applications, career growth, flexibility, community, customer service, isolved, Adore Me, Michelle Hamilton, and People Heroes. Michelle emphasizes that job descriptions are guidelines, not barriers, and shares strategies to empower HR professionals through supportive networks and exceptional service standards.


Key Takeaways

  1. Adore Me is a fashion brand prioritizing sustainability and green practices
  2. Applicants should view job descriptions as flexible guidelines, not rigid criteria
  3. Applying for jobs outside your comfort zone fosters growth
  4. People Heroes is a supportive community for HR professionals to share and recharge
  5. Flexibility in HR is essential for navigating career changes and fostering resilience
  6. isolved is known for responsive and reliable customer service
  7. Timely support in payroll is critical to business success
  8. Webinars and master classes help HR professionals stay current
  9. Community challenges and activities bring fun and connection to the HR world
  10. Building communities like People Heroes strengthens the HR industry
  11. isolved sets a high bar for customer satisfaction in HR tech
  12. Flexibility and support networks are key to long-term success


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 821 Overcoming HR Challenges in Hyper Remote Communities with Jaylene Owens, HR Director The Hames Corporation In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Jaylene Owens shares her experiences as an HR professional in Sitka, Alaska, navigating the unique challenges of talent retention and employee wellbeing in a remote community. From the critical importance of mental health to leveraging AI and automation to enhance HR processes, Jaylene highlights the role of ‘People Heroes’ in creating a supportive work environment. With isolved as a trusted HR solution, she offers actionable strategies for overcoming obstacles and prioritizing self-care as an HR leader. We explore HR, talent retention, mental health, AI, automation, employee experience, isolved, People Heroes, wellbeing, and HR challenges to uncover practical insights for today’s HR professionals. Key Takeaways: Securing and retaining talent is especially challenging in remote areas. Limited mental health resources can significantly impact employee wellbeing. AI and automation streamline HR processes, improving efficiency and experience. People Heroes are central to fostering a positive and productive work environment. isolved serves as a comprehensive tool for managing HR and payroll effectively. Self-care practices like time blocking and prioritizing tasks help HR professionals manage stress. Technology and physical wellness are key to achieving work-life balance and maintaining wellbeing. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Jaylene Owens? 03:03: Challenges in HR: Talent Retention and Wellbeing 06:06: The Future of HR: Embracing AI and Automation 08:54: Understanding the Role of People Heroes 10:58: Describing isolved: A Comprehensive HR Solution 12:00: Recharging the HR Battery: Self-Care Strategies The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Jaylene Owens here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlineberry/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:14:00 -0000 Overcoming HR Challenges in Hyper Remote Communities with Jaylene Owens, HR Director The Hames Corporation full 1 7 WRKdefined Podcast Network A conversation with Jaylene Owens on tackling talent retention, mental health challenges, and the power of automation in HR. In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Jaylene Owens shares her experiences as an HR professional in Sitka, Alaska, navigating the unique challenges of talent retention and employee wellbeing in a remote community. From the critical importance of mental health to leveraging AI and automation to enhance HR processes, Jaylene highlights the role of ‘People Heroes’ in creating a supportive work environment. With isolved as a trusted HR solution, she offers actionable strategies for overcoming obstacles and prioritizing self-care as an HR leader. We explore HR, talent retention, mental health, AI, automation, employee experience, isolved, People Heroes, wellbeing, and HR challenges to uncover practical insights for today’s HR professionals. Key Takeaways: Securing and retaining talent is especially challenging in remote areas. Limited mental health resources can significantly impact employee wellbeing. AI and automation streamline HR processes, improving efficiency and experience. People Heroes are central to fostering a positive and productive work environment. isolved serves as a comprehensive tool for managing HR and payroll effectively. Self-care practices like time blocking and prioritizing tasks help HR professionals manage stress. Technology and physical wellness are key to achieving work-life balance and maintaining wellbeing. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Jaylene Owens? 03:03: Challenges in HR: Talent Retention and Wellbeing 06:06: The Future of HR: Embracing AI and Automation 08:54: Understanding the Role of People Heroes 10:58: Describing isolved: A Comprehensive HR Solution 12:00: Recharging the HR Battery: Self-Care Strategies The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Jaylene Owens here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlineberry/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Jaylene Owens shares her experiences as an HR professional in Sitka, Alaska, navigating the unique challenges of talent retention and employee wellbeing in a remote community. From the critical importance of mental health to leveraging AI and automation to enhance HR processes, Jaylene highlights the role of ‘People Heroes’ in creating a supportive work environment. With isolved as a trusted HR solution, she offers actionable strategies for overcoming obstacles and prioritizing self-care as an HR leader.

We explore HR, talent retention, mental health, AI, automation, employee experience, isolved, People Heroes, wellbeing, and HR challenges to uncover practical insights for today’s HR professionals.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Securing and retaining talent is especially challenging in remote areas.
  2. Limited mental health resources can significantly impact employee wellbeing.
  3. AI and automation streamline HR processes, improving efficiency and experience.
  4. People Heroes are central to fostering a positive and productive work environment.
  5. isolved serves as a comprehensive tool for managing HR and payroll effectively.
  6. Self-care practices like time blocking and prioritizing tasks help HR professionals manage stress.
  7. Technology and physical wellness are key to achieving work-life balance and maintaining wellbeing.

Chapters:

00:00: Who is Jaylene Owens?

03:03: Challenges in HR: Talent Retention and Wellbeing

06:06: The Future of HR: Embracing AI and Automation

08:54: Understanding the Role of People Heroes

10:58: Describing isolved: A Comprehensive HR Solution

12:00: Recharging the HR Battery: Self-Care Strategies


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Jaylene Owens here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlineberry/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 959 Tackling Nonprofit HR Challenges with Brandon Rumler, Executive Director at Skyline Center Inc. Summary: In this episode of the Heroes of HR Limited Series podcast, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Brandon Rumler, Executive Director of Skyline Center, to explore the unique HR challenges in the nonprofit sector. From talent acquisition hurdles to the transformative power of isolved’s HR technology, Brandon highlights how passion and thoughtful employee recognition drive success. He shares insights on building a supportive workplace culture and finding joy in making a difference for individuals with disabilities. We cover nonprofit, talent acquisition, employee management, passion, isolved, Skyline Center, community service, HR technology, employee experience, and disability services to provide actionable insights for HR professionals in the nonprofit sector. Key Takeaways: Skyline Center provides essential services for individuals with disabilities, making employee commitment crucial. Finding quality candidates remains a significant challenge for nonprofits in competitive job markets. Passion for service is a vital attribute for nonprofit employees. isolved’s HR technology streamlines employee management and enhances the employee experience. Celebrating employee milestones fosters a positive and engaging workplace culture. Wage competitiveness continues to challenge nonprofits compared to for-profit organizations. Employee recognition and community-building are vital for nonprofit success and retention. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Brandon Rumler? 02:51: Brandon Rumler's Role and Skyline Center Overview 05:54: Challenges in Nonprofit Talent Acquisition 08:54: The Importance of Passion in Nonprofit Work 12:03: isolved's Impact on Employee Management 14:55: Finding Joy in Nonprofit Work 17:59: Closing Thoughts and Call to Action The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Brandon Rumler here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-rumler-04282576/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:28:00 -0000 Tackling Nonprofit HR Challenges with Brandon Rumler, Executive Director at Skyline Center Inc. full 1 11 WRKdefined Podcast Network Brandon Rumler, Executive Director of Skyline Center, discusses nonprofit HR challenges, the importance of passion, and how iSolved enhances employee management. Summary: In this episode of the Heroes of HR Limited Series podcast, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Brandon Rumler, Executive Director of Skyline Center, to explore the unique HR challenges in the nonprofit sector. From talent acquisition hurdles to the transformative power of isolved’s HR technology, Brandon highlights how passion and thoughtful employee recognition drive success. He shares insights on building a supportive workplace culture and finding joy in making a difference for individuals with disabilities. We cover nonprofit, talent acquisition, employee management, passion, isolved, Skyline Center, community service, HR technology, employee experience, and disability services to provide actionable insights for HR professionals in the nonprofit sector. Key Takeaways: Skyline Center provides essential services for individuals with disabilities, making employee commitment crucial. Finding quality candidates remains a significant challenge for nonprofits in competitive job markets. Passion for service is a vital attribute for nonprofit employees. isolved’s HR technology streamlines employee management and enhances the employee experience. Celebrating employee milestones fosters a positive and engaging workplace culture. Wage competitiveness continues to challenge nonprofits compared to for-profit organizations. Employee recognition and community-building are vital for nonprofit success and retention. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Brandon Rumler? 02:51: Brandon Rumler's Role and Skyline Center Overview 05:54: Challenges in Nonprofit Talent Acquisition 08:54: The Importance of Passion in Nonprofit Work 12:03: isolved's Impact on Employee Management 14:55: Finding Joy in Nonprofit Work 17:59: Closing Thoughts and Call to Action The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Brandon Rumler here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-rumler-04282576/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Summary:

In this episode of the Heroes of HR Limited Series podcast, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Brandon Rumler, Executive Director of Skyline Center, to explore the unique HR challenges in the nonprofit sector. From talent acquisition hurdles to the transformative power of isolved’s HR technology, Brandon highlights how passion and thoughtful employee recognition drive success. He shares insights on building a supportive workplace culture and finding joy in making a difference for individuals with disabilities.

We cover nonprofit, talent acquisition, employee management, passion, isolved, Skyline Center, community service, HR technology, employee experience, and disability services to provide actionable insights for HR professionals in the nonprofit sector.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Skyline Center provides essential services for individuals with disabilities, making employee commitment crucial.
  2. Finding quality candidates remains a significant challenge for nonprofits in competitive job markets.
  3. Passion for service is a vital attribute for nonprofit employees.
  4. isolved’s HR technology streamlines employee management and enhances the employee experience.
  5. Celebrating employee milestones fosters a positive and engaging workplace culture.
  6. Wage competitiveness continues to challenge nonprofits compared to for-profit organizations.
  7. Employee recognition and community-building are vital for nonprofit success and retention.

Chapters:

00:00: Who is Brandon Rumler?

02:51: Brandon Rumler's Role and Skyline Center Overview

05:54: Challenges in Nonprofit Talent Acquisition

08:54: The Importance of Passion in Nonprofit Work

12:03: isolved's Impact on Employee Management

14:55: Finding Joy in Nonprofit Work

17:59: Closing Thoughts and Call to Action


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Brandon Rumler here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-rumler-04282576/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 1055 Balancing People, Technology, and Innovation with Isela Conley, Director of Talent Acquisition at isolved Summary: In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Isela Conley, Director of Talent Acquisition at isolved, to explore the evolving world of recruiting and employee experience. From her journey from accounting to talent acquisition to the critical role of AI and data-driven insights, Isela provides a candid look at the challenges and opportunities in modern HR. She emphasizes the balance between candidate advocacy and business needs, the importance of meaningful workplace culture, and her personal strategies for recharging as a leader. We discuss HR, talent acquisition, recruiting, employee experience, technology, AI, staffing, workplace culture, career development, and people hero to uncover actionable strategies for navigating the future of work. Key Takeaways: Isela Conley’s leadership drives innovation in talent acquisition at isolved. Post-COVID competition for top talent has fundamentally changed recruiting. Creating meaningful employee experiences is critical for retention and engagement. AI and data-driven tools are essential to optimize the recruiting process. Recruiters must balance candidate advocacy with achieving business goals. Building a culture where employees feel valued fosters loyalty and productivity. Personal well-being and discipline, including fitness, are key to effective leadership. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Isela Conley? 06:01: Challenges in Talent Acquisition Today 12:07: Defining the People Hero Role 17:52: Personal Insights and Recharge Strategies The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Isela Conley here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iselaconley/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:22:00 -0000 Balancing People, Technology, and Innovation with Isela Conley, Director of Talent Acquisition at isolved full 1 10 WRKdefined Podcast Network Isela Conley, Director of Talent Acquisition at isolved, shares her journey, insights on AI in recruiting, and her vision for 2025. Summary: In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Isela Conley, Director of Talent Acquisition at isolved, to explore the evolving world of recruiting and employee experience. From her journey from accounting to talent acquisition to the critical role of AI and data-driven insights, Isela provides a candid look at the challenges and opportunities in modern HR. She emphasizes the balance between candidate advocacy and business needs, the importance of meaningful workplace culture, and her personal strategies for recharging as a leader. We discuss HR, talent acquisition, recruiting, employee experience, technology, AI, staffing, workplace culture, career development, and people hero to uncover actionable strategies for navigating the future of work. Key Takeaways: Isela Conley’s leadership drives innovation in talent acquisition at isolved. Post-COVID competition for top talent has fundamentally changed recruiting. Creating meaningful employee experiences is critical for retention and engagement. AI and data-driven tools are essential to optimize the recruiting process. Recruiters must balance candidate advocacy with achieving business goals. Building a culture where employees feel valued fosters loyalty and productivity. Personal well-being and discipline, including fitness, are key to effective leadership. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Isela Conley? 06:01: Challenges in Talent Acquisition Today 12:07: Defining the People Hero Role 17:52: Personal Insights and Recharge Strategies The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Isela Conley here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iselaconley/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Summary:

In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, William Tincup and Ryan Leary sit down with Isela Conley, Director of Talent Acquisition at isolved, to explore the evolving world of recruiting and employee experience. From her journey from accounting to talent acquisition to the critical role of AI and data-driven insights, Isela provides a candid look at the challenges and opportunities in modern HR. She emphasizes the balance between candidate advocacy and business needs, the importance of meaningful workplace culture, and her personal strategies for recharging as a leader.

We discuss HR, talent acquisition, recruiting, employee experience, technology, AI, staffing, workplace culture, career development, and people hero to uncover actionable strategies for navigating the future of work.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Isela Conley’s leadership drives innovation in talent acquisition at isolved.
  2. Post-COVID competition for top talent has fundamentally changed recruiting.
  3. Creating meaningful employee experiences is critical for retention and engagement.
  4. AI and data-driven tools are essential to optimize the recruiting process.
  5. Recruiters must balance candidate advocacy with achieving business goals.
  6. Building a culture where employees feel valued fosters loyalty and productivity.
  7. Personal well-being and discipline, including fitness, are key to effective leadership.

Chapters:

00:00: Who is Isela Conley?

06:01: Challenges in Talent Acquisition Today

12:07: Defining the People Hero Role

17:52: Personal Insights and Recharge Strategies


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Isela Conley here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iselaconley/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 1329 AI, Talent Acquisition, and Cultural Transformation with Amy Mosher, isolved's Chief People Officer Summary: In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, William Tincup, and Ryan Leary are joined by Amy Mosher, Chief People Officer of isolved, to explore the evolving role of HR in workplace transformation. With over 25 years of experience, Amy dives into optimizing talent acquisition with AI, the significance of performance management, and the transformative power of strong company culture. She discusses the concept of 'People Heroes' and offers practical strategies for HR professionals to recharge their passion for the profession. We cover HR, isolved, talent acquisition, AI, employee experience, performance management, company culture, People Heroes, leadership, and workplace transformation to provide actionable insights for driving organizational success. Key Takeaways: Amy Mosher’s 25+ years in HR bring a wealth of insight into industry challenges and solutions. Leveraging AI can significantly enhance talent acquisition and hiring processes. A strong focus on performance management is key to successful cultural transformation. A four-and-a-half-day workweek can improve employee morale and engagement. The concept of 'People Heroes' highlights the importance of HR’s advocacy for employees. Building trust within an organization fosters growth and collaboration. A supportive team is essential for recharging and sustaining passion in HR. Chapters: 00:00: Who is the real Amy Mosher, isolved Chief People Officer? 05:59: Optimizing Talent Acquisition with AI 12:07: Explaining isolved to the Uninitiated 17:57: Recharging the People Hero Battery The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Amy Mosher here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-m-mosher/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:16:00 -0000 AI, Talent Acquisition, and Cultural Transformation with Amy Mosher, isolved's Chief People Officer full 1 9 WRKdefined Podcast Network Amy Mosher, Chief People Officer of isolved, joins us to discuss AI-driven talent acquisition, cultural transformation, and recharging as an HR leader. Summary: In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, William Tincup, and Ryan Leary are joined by Amy Mosher, Chief People Officer of isolved, to explore the evolving role of HR in workplace transformation. With over 25 years of experience, Amy dives into optimizing talent acquisition with AI, the significance of performance management, and the transformative power of strong company culture. She discusses the concept of 'People Heroes' and offers practical strategies for HR professionals to recharge their passion for the profession. We cover HR, isolved, talent acquisition, AI, employee experience, performance management, company culture, People Heroes, leadership, and workplace transformation to provide actionable insights for driving organizational success. Key Takeaways: Amy Mosher’s 25+ years in HR bring a wealth of insight into industry challenges and solutions. Leveraging AI can significantly enhance talent acquisition and hiring processes. A strong focus on performance management is key to successful cultural transformation. A four-and-a-half-day workweek can improve employee morale and engagement. The concept of 'People Heroes' highlights the importance of HR’s advocacy for employees. Building trust within an organization fosters growth and collaboration. A supportive team is essential for recharging and sustaining passion in HR. Chapters: 00:00: Who is the real Amy Mosher, isolved Chief People Officer? 05:59: Optimizing Talent Acquisition with AI 12:07: Explaining isolved to the Uninitiated 17:57: Recharging the People Hero Battery The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Amy Mosher here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-m-mosher/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Summary:

In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, William Tincup, and Ryan Leary are joined by Amy Mosher, Chief People Officer of isolved, to explore the evolving role of HR in workplace transformation. With over 25 years of experience, Amy dives into optimizing talent acquisition with AI, the significance of performance management, and the transformative power of strong company culture. She discusses the concept of 'People Heroes' and offers practical strategies for HR professionals to recharge their passion for the profession.

We cover HR, isolved, talent acquisition, AI, employee experience, performance management, company culture, People Heroes, leadership, and workplace transformation to provide actionable insights for driving organizational success.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Amy Mosher’s 25+ years in HR bring a wealth of insight into industry challenges and solutions.
  2. Leveraging AI can significantly enhance talent acquisition and hiring processes.
  3. A strong focus on performance management is key to successful cultural transformation.
  4. A four-and-a-half-day workweek can improve employee morale and engagement.
  5. The concept of 'People Heroes' highlights the importance of HR’s advocacy for employees.
  6. Building trust within an organization fosters growth and collaboration.
  7. A supportive team is essential for recharging and sustaining passion in HR.

Chapters:

00:00: Who is the real Amy Mosher, isolved Chief People Officer?

05:59: Optimizing Talent Acquisition with AI

12:07: Explaining isolved to the Uninitiated

17:57: Recharging the People Hero Battery


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Amy Mosher here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-m-mosher/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 1328 Evolving Talent Acquisition and Payroll Strategies with Sagar Lakhani, HR Manager at Insulation Supply Company In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Sagar Lakhani brings over 11 years of HR expertise to the table, sharing insights on navigating the shifting landscape of talent acquisition, employee expectations, and payroll management. From the importance of quality in hiring to adapting to post-pandemic workforce needs, Sagar emphasizes the role of HR in improving employee lives. With isolved as a critical tool for streamlining payroll and workforce management, this episode delivers practical strategies for creating engagement and maintaining productivity in HR roles. We cover HR, talent acquisition, employee expectations, payroll, workforce management, compliance, staffing, work-life balance, employee engagement, and human resources to provide actionable insights for HR professionals. Key Takeaways: Finding and hiring the right talent remains a top priority for HR professionals. Quality in hiring processes has a lasting impact on workforce success. Post-pandemic, employee expectations demand flexibility and adaptation. isolved simplifies payroll management and reduces the risk of errors. Taking breaks and handling easier tasks helps maintain productivity and energy. Work-life balance and well-being are essential for both employees and HR teams. Engaging with employees drives satisfaction and retention. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Sagar Lakhani? 05:57: Understanding Employee Expectations 08:42: The Role of Payroll in Workforce Management 10:15: Recharging and Maintaining Productivity The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Sagar Lakhani here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagardlakhani/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 14:08:00 -0000 Evolving Talent Acquisition and Payroll Strategies with Sagar Lakhani, HR Manager at Insulation Supply Company full 1 6 WRKdefined Podcast Network Sagar Lakhani talks on talent acquisition, payroll, and creating balance in the modern workplace. In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Sagar Lakhani brings over 11 years of HR expertise to the table, sharing insights on navigating the shifting landscape of talent acquisition, employee expectations, and payroll management. From the importance of quality in hiring to adapting to post-pandemic workforce needs, Sagar emphasizes the role of HR in improving employee lives. With isolved as a critical tool for streamlining payroll and workforce management, this episode delivers practical strategies for creating engagement and maintaining productivity in HR roles. We cover HR, talent acquisition, employee expectations, payroll, workforce management, compliance, staffing, work-life balance, employee engagement, and human resources to provide actionable insights for HR professionals. Key Takeaways: Finding and hiring the right talent remains a top priority for HR professionals. Quality in hiring processes has a lasting impact on workforce success. Post-pandemic, employee expectations demand flexibility and adaptation. isolved simplifies payroll management and reduces the risk of errors. Taking breaks and handling easier tasks helps maintain productivity and energy. Work-life balance and well-being are essential for both employees and HR teams. Engaging with employees drives satisfaction and retention. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Sagar Lakhani? 05:57: Understanding Employee Expectations 08:42: The Role of Payroll in Workforce Management 10:15: Recharging and Maintaining Productivity The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Sagar Lakhani here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagardlakhani/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Sagar Lakhani brings over 11 years of HR expertise to the table, sharing insights on navigating the shifting landscape of talent acquisition, employee expectations, and payroll management. From the importance of quality in hiring to adapting to post-pandemic workforce needs, Sagar emphasizes the role of HR in improving employee lives. With isolved as a critical tool for streamlining payroll and workforce management, this episode delivers practical strategies for creating engagement and maintaining productivity in HR roles.

We cover HR, talent acquisition, employee expectations, payroll, workforce management, compliance, staffing, work-life balance, employee engagement, and human resources to provide actionable insights for HR professionals.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Finding and hiring the right talent remains a top priority for HR professionals.
  2. Quality in hiring processes has a lasting impact on workforce success.
  3. Post-pandemic, employee expectations demand flexibility and adaptation.
  4. isolved simplifies payroll management and reduces the risk of errors.
  5. Taking breaks and handling easier tasks helps maintain productivity and energy.
  6. Work-life balance and well-being are essential for both employees and HR teams.
  7. Engaging with employees drives satisfaction and retention.


Chapters:

00:00: Who is Sagar Lakhani?

05:57: Understanding Employee Expectations

08:42: The Role of Payroll in Workforce Management

10:15: Recharging and Maintaining Productivity


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Sagar Lakhani here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sagardlakhani/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 534 Addressing Healthcare Staffing Shortages with Mary Kay Kirgis HR Director at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, we’re joined by Mary Kay Kirgis, HR Director at Guttenberg Municipal Hospitals and Clinics, to dive into the unique challenges of healthcare staffing. From addressing the nursing shortage to creating talent pipelines through community engagement, Mary Kay shares actionable insights for HR professionals. With isolved as a trusted HR solution, she highlights the importance of advocacy, collaboration, and continuous learning in building a resilient workforce and a thriving workplace culture. We cover HR, healthcare staffing, talent pipelines, employee advocacy, human resources, nursing shortage, and community engagement to uncover strategies shaping the future of HR in healthcare. Key Takeaways: Nursing shortages remain a critical issue in healthcare staffing. Partnering with community colleges helps build sustainable talent pipelines. HR professionals must advocate equally for employees and the organization. isolved is a comprehensive tool for streamlining HR operations. Collaboration within HR teams boosts morale and efficiency. Understanding community needs enhances recruitment strategies. Continuous learning keeps HR professionals prepared for evolving challenges. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Mary Kay Kirgis 03:32: Challenges in Healthcare Staffing 05:53: Building Talent Pipelines for the Future 07:05: The Role of HR as Employee Advocates 09:11: Understanding isolved: A One-Stop HR Solution 10:06: Recharging the HR Battery: Personal Growth and Learning The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Mary Kay Kirgis here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kay-kirgis-40ba8b4a/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:48:00 -0000 Addressing Healthcare Staffing Shortages with Mary Kay Kirgis HR Director at Guttenberg Municipal Hospital & Clinics full 1 5 WRKdefined Podcast Network A thoughtful conversation with Mary Kay Kirgis, HR Director at Gettinburg Municipal Hospitals and Clinics, about healthcare staffing challenges, community engagement, and HR advocacy. In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, we’re joined by Mary Kay Kirgis, HR Director at Guttenberg Municipal Hospitals and Clinics, to dive into the unique challenges of healthcare staffing. From addressing the nursing shortage to creating talent pipelines through community engagement, Mary Kay shares actionable insights for HR professionals. With isolved as a trusted HR solution, she highlights the importance of advocacy, collaboration, and continuous learning in building a resilient workforce and a thriving workplace culture. We cover HR, healthcare staffing, talent pipelines, employee advocacy, human resources, nursing shortage, and community engagement to uncover strategies shaping the future of HR in healthcare. Key Takeaways: Nursing shortages remain a critical issue in healthcare staffing. Partnering with community colleges helps build sustainable talent pipelines. HR professionals must advocate equally for employees and the organization. isolved is a comprehensive tool for streamlining HR operations. Collaboration within HR teams boosts morale and efficiency. Understanding community needs enhances recruitment strategies. Continuous learning keeps HR professionals prepared for evolving challenges. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Mary Kay Kirgis 03:32: Challenges in Healthcare Staffing 05:53: Building Talent Pipelines for the Future 07:05: The Role of HR as Employee Advocates 09:11: Understanding isolved: A One-Stop HR Solution 10:06: Recharging the HR Battery: Personal Growth and Learning The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Mary Kay Kirgis here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kay-kirgis-40ba8b4a/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, we’re joined by Mary Kay Kirgis, HR Director at Guttenberg Municipal Hospitals and Clinics, to dive into the unique challenges of healthcare staffing. From addressing the nursing shortage to creating talent pipelines through community engagement, Mary Kay shares actionable insights for HR professionals. With isolved as a trusted HR solution, she highlights the importance of advocacy, collaboration, and continuous learning in building a resilient workforce and a thriving workplace culture.

We cover HR, healthcare staffing, talent pipelines, employee advocacy, human resources, nursing shortage, and community engagement to uncover strategies shaping the future of HR in healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Nursing shortages remain a critical issue in healthcare staffing.
  2. Partnering with community colleges helps build sustainable talent pipelines.
  3. HR professionals must advocate equally for employees and the organization.
  4. isolved is a comprehensive tool for streamlining HR operations.
  5. Collaboration within HR teams boosts morale and efficiency.
  6. Understanding community needs enhances recruitment strategies.
  7. Continuous learning keeps HR professionals prepared for evolving challenges.


Chapters:

00:00: Who is Mary Kay Kirgis

03:32: Challenges in Healthcare Staffing

05:53: Building Talent Pipelines for the Future

07:05: The Role of HR as Employee Advocates

09:11: Understanding isolved: A One-Stop HR Solution

10:06: Recharging the HR Battery: Personal Growth and Learning


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Mary Kay Kirgis here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kay-kirgis-40ba8b4a/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 717 Recharging HR: Employee Advocacy and Leadership with Melanie Zakrzewski at Kendall Hunt Publishing Company In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, we’re joined by Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing. Melanie shares her perspective on navigating talent retention, succession planning, and creating a people-first workplace. From leveraging isolved to streamline HR processes to fostering work-life balance through mental health initiatives, Melanie highlights the importance of small wins, continuous learning, and recharging your HR battery. We dive into HR, talent acquisition, employee benefits, recruitment, work-life balance, employee advocacy, isolved, leadership, and workplace culture to uncover practical strategies for today’s HR professionals. Key Takeaways: Retention and succession planning are top challenges for HR teams. Employee education, including benefits literacy, empowers a more engaged workforce. isolved enhances HR efficiency while creating a people-first culture. Work-life balance and mental health initiatives are critical for employee satisfaction. Celebrating small wins can keep HR professionals motivated and energized. Strong leadership requires continuous learning and adaptability. Building relationships within the workplace fosters a positive, collaborative culture. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing? 03:41: Talent Retention and Succession Planning 06:42: Empowering Employees Through Benefits Education 08:45: Leveraging isolved for HR Excellence 09:51: Recharging Your HR Battery The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Melanie Zakrzewski here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-zakrzewski/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:43:00 -0000 Recharging HR: Employee Advocacy and Leadership with Melanie Zakrzewski at Kendall Hunt Publishing Company full 1 4 WRKdefined Podcast Network A candid chat with Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing, on HR’s challenges, wins, and the power of isolved. In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, we’re joined by Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing. Melanie shares her perspective on navigating talent retention, succession planning, and creating a people-first workplace. From leveraging isolved to streamline HR processes to fostering work-life balance through mental health initiatives, Melanie highlights the importance of small wins, continuous learning, and recharging your HR battery. We dive into HR, talent acquisition, employee benefits, recruitment, work-life balance, employee advocacy, isolved, leadership, and workplace culture to uncover practical strategies for today’s HR professionals. Key Takeaways: Retention and succession planning are top challenges for HR teams. Employee education, including benefits literacy, empowers a more engaged workforce. isolved enhances HR efficiency while creating a people-first culture. Work-life balance and mental health initiatives are critical for employee satisfaction. Celebrating small wins can keep HR professionals motivated and energized. Strong leadership requires continuous learning and adaptability. Building relationships within the workplace fosters a positive, collaborative culture. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing? 03:41: Talent Retention and Succession Planning 06:42: Empowering Employees Through Benefits Education 08:45: Leveraging isolved for HR Excellence 09:51: Recharging Your HR Battery The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Melanie Zakrzewski here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-zakrzewski/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, we’re joined by Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing. Melanie shares her perspective on navigating talent retention, succession planning, and creating a people-first workplace. From leveraging isolved to streamline HR processes to fostering work-life balance through mental health initiatives, Melanie highlights the importance of small wins, continuous learning, and recharging your HR battery.

We dive into HR, talent acquisition, employee benefits, recruitment, work-life balance, employee advocacy, isolved, leadership, and workplace culture to uncover practical strategies for today’s HR professionals.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Retention and succession planning are top challenges for HR teams.
  2. Employee education, including benefits literacy, empowers a more engaged workforce.
  3. isolved enhances HR efficiency while creating a people-first culture.
  4. Work-life balance and mental health initiatives are critical for employee satisfaction.
  5. Celebrating small wins can keep HR professionals motivated and energized.
  6. Strong leadership requires continuous learning and adaptability.
  7. Building relationships within the workplace fosters a positive, collaborative culture.

Chapters:

00:00: Who is Melanie Zakrzewski, Payroll and Benefits Supervisor at Kendall Hunt Publishing?

03:41: Talent Retention and Succession Planning

06:42: Empowering Employees Through Benefits Education

08:45: Leveraging isolved for HR Excellence

09:51: Recharging Your HR Battery


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Melanie Zakrzewski here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-zakrzewski/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 591 Talent Acquisition Challenges and Work-Life Balance with Lacey Davidson, HR Manager at JumBurrito In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Lacey Davidson, HR Manager at JumBurrito, joins the conversation to share insights on overcoming talent acquisition challenges, attracting new generations to the workforce, and creating balance between employee satisfaction and business success. Lacey emphasizes the importance of HR’s role as a strategic partner in fostering engagement and retention, while also offering practical advice for recharging as an HR professional. With isolved as a valuable tool for streamlining processes, this episode is full of actionable takeaways for HR leaders. We look at HR, talent acquisition, workforce, employee benefits, recruitment, work-life balance, employee engagement, and isolved to uncover how HR professionals can lead with purpose and impact. Key Takeaways: Talent acquisition is a persistent challenge for many organizations. Attracting younger generations to the workforce brings fresh perspectives and energy. HR plays a vital role as a bridge between employee needs and business objectives. Leveraging isolved can enhance HR’s ability to meet workforce demands. Work-life balance is essential for retention and overall satisfaction. Building strong relationships within the workforce improves engagement and culture. Personal interests and community involvement help HR professionals recharge and stay effective. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Lacey Davidson here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-davidson-59b61b94/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:39:00 -0000 Talent Acquisition Challenges and Work-Life Balance with Lacey Davidson, HR Manager at JumBurrito full 1 3 WRKdefined Podcast Network A candid discussion with Lacey Davidson, HR Manager at JumBurrito, on talent acquisition, workforce culture, and HR’s role in work-life balance. In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Lacey Davidson, HR Manager at JumBurrito, joins the conversation to share insights on overcoming talent acquisition challenges, attracting new generations to the workforce, and creating balance between employee satisfaction and business success. Lacey emphasizes the importance of HR’s role as a strategic partner in fostering engagement and retention, while also offering practical advice for recharging as an HR professional. With isolved as a valuable tool for streamlining processes, this episode is full of actionable takeaways for HR leaders. We look at HR, talent acquisition, workforce, employee benefits, recruitment, work-life balance, employee engagement, and isolved to uncover how HR professionals can lead with purpose and impact. Key Takeaways: Talent acquisition is a persistent challenge for many organizations. Attracting younger generations to the workforce brings fresh perspectives and energy. HR plays a vital role as a bridge between employee needs and business objectives. Leveraging isolved can enhance HR’s ability to meet workforce demands. Work-life balance is essential for retention and overall satisfaction. Building strong relationships within the workforce improves engagement and culture. Personal interests and community involvement help HR professionals recharge and stay effective. The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Lacey Davidson here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-davidson-59b61b94/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Lacey Davidson, HR Manager at JumBurrito, joins the conversation to share insights on overcoming talent acquisition challenges, attracting new generations to the workforce, and creating balance between employee satisfaction and business success. Lacey emphasizes the importance of HR’s role as a strategic partner in fostering engagement and retention, while also offering practical advice for recharging as an HR professional. With isolved as a valuable tool for streamlining processes, this episode is full of actionable takeaways for HR leaders.

We look at HR, talent acquisition, workforce, employee benefits, recruitment, work-life balance, employee engagement, and isolved to uncover how HR professionals can lead with purpose and impact.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Talent acquisition is a persistent challenge for many organizations.
  2. Attracting younger generations to the workforce brings fresh perspectives and energy.
  3. HR plays a vital role as a bridge between employee needs and business objectives.
  4. Leveraging isolved can enhance HR’s ability to meet workforce demands.
  5. Work-life balance is essential for retention and overall satisfaction.
  6. Building strong relationships within the workforce improves engagement and culture.
  7. Personal interests and community involvement help HR professionals recharge and stay effective.


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Lacey Davidson here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-davidson-59b61b94/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 816 Employee Advocacy and Retention: HR in a Post-COVID World with Sara Busch, Payroll & Benefit Admin at Obermayer In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Sara Busch, a payroll and benefits administrator at a Philadelphia law firm, shares her perspective on navigating HR in today’s challenging landscape. From addressing post-COVID recruitment and retention struggles to reimagining employee benefits, Sara emphasizes the importance of advocacy and workplace relationships. With insights on leveraging isolved to streamline HR processes and the value of mental health initiatives, she offers actionable takeaways for building a resilient and engaged workforce. We look at HR, employee benefits, talent retention, recruitment, payroll, law firm, isolved, employee advocacy, mental health, and workplace culture to uncover the tools and strategies shaping the future of work. Key Takeaways: Retention and turnover rates remain top concerns for HR professionals. Evolving employee benefits, particularly in mental health and wellness, are game-changers. HR thrives as both a resource and advocate for employees. Building strong workplace relationships fosters a positive culture. Customizing HR tools like isolved creates tailored solutions for unique needs. Open communication is key to reshaping HR’s perception within organizations. Innovative benefits beyond the basics can significantly boost employee satisfaction. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Sara Busch, Payroll & Benefit Admin at Obermayer 08:04: The Role of HR in Employee Advocacy 14:27: Recharging the HR Battery: Personal Insights The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:33:00 -0000 Employee Advocacy and Retention: HR in a Post-COVID World with Sara Busch, Payroll & Benefit Admin at Obermayer full 1 2 WRKdefined Podcast Network A deep dive into employee advocacy, retention, and the evolving role of HR with Sara Busch. In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Sara Busch, a payroll and benefits administrator at a Philadelphia law firm, shares her perspective on navigating HR in today’s challenging landscape. From addressing post-COVID recruitment and retention struggles to reimagining employee benefits, Sara emphasizes the importance of advocacy and workplace relationships. With insights on leveraging isolved to streamline HR processes and the value of mental health initiatives, she offers actionable takeaways for building a resilient and engaged workforce. We look at HR, employee benefits, talent retention, recruitment, payroll, law firm, isolved, employee advocacy, mental health, and workplace culture to uncover the tools and strategies shaping the future of work. Key Takeaways: Retention and turnover rates remain top concerns for HR professionals. Evolving employee benefits, particularly in mental health and wellness, are game-changers. HR thrives as both a resource and advocate for employees. Building strong workplace relationships fosters a positive culture. Customizing HR tools like isolved creates tailored solutions for unique needs. Open communication is key to reshaping HR’s perception within organizations. Innovative benefits beyond the basics can significantly boost employee satisfaction. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Sara Busch, Payroll & Benefit Admin at Obermayer 08:04: The Role of HR in Employee Advocacy 14:27: Recharging the HR Battery: Personal Insights The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Sara Busch, a payroll and benefits administrator at a Philadelphia law firm, shares her perspective on navigating HR in today’s challenging landscape. From addressing post-COVID recruitment and retention struggles to reimagining employee benefits, Sara emphasizes the importance of advocacy and workplace relationships. With insights on leveraging isolved to streamline HR processes and the value of mental health initiatives, she offers actionable takeaways for building a resilient and engaged workforce.

We look at HR, employee benefits, talent retention, recruitment, payroll, law firm, isolved, employee advocacy, mental health, and workplace culture to uncover the tools and strategies shaping the future of work.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Retention and turnover rates remain top concerns for HR professionals.
  2. Evolving employee benefits, particularly in mental health and wellness, are game-changers.
  3. HR thrives as both a resource and advocate for employees.
  4. Building strong workplace relationships fosters a positive culture.
  5. Customizing HR tools like isolved creates tailored solutions for unique needs.
  6. Open communication is key to reshaping HR’s perception within organizations.
  7. Innovative benefits beyond the basics can significantly boost employee satisfaction.

Chapters:

00:00: Who is Sara Busch, Payroll & Benefit Admin at Obermayer

08:04: The Role of HR in Employee Advocacy

14:27: Recharging the HR Battery: Personal Insights


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 928 Diversity and AI: Redefining HR with Julie Montgomery VP of Human Resources at Community 1st Credit Union In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Julie Montgomery, VP of Human Resources at Community 1st Credit Union, joins us to explore the evolving HR landscape. We cover the persistent challenges of diversity hiring, the transformative role of AI, and how isolved helps streamline HR processes while aligning with strategic goals. Julie’s practical insights and actionable advice will leave you ready to recharge your HR battery and tackle the future of workforce management with confidence. We look at HR, diversity hiring, AI in HR, isolved, talent management, employee engagement, strategic planning, and workforce development to uncover how HR professionals can drive meaningful impact. Key Takeaways: Diversity hiring challenges demand innovative solutions and continuous effort. AI is reshaping HR, making job descriptions more inclusive and effective. isolved is a comprehensive platform simplifying HR processes and boosting efficiency. Networking with HR peers is key to learning and growth. Aligning with organizational goals ensures HR delivers strategic value. Streamlined workflows free HR teams to focus on high-impact initiatives. Staying informed and connected helps HR professionals recharge and stay resilient. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Julie Montgomery? 03:02: Challenges in Diversity Hiring 05:46: The Role of AI in HR 08:56: Understanding isolved and Its Benefits 11:10: Recharging the People Heroes Battery The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Julie Montgomery here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-montgomery-13855a9a/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network Thu, 12 Dec 2024 13:22:00 -0000 Diversity and AI: Redefining HR with Julie Montgomery VP of Human Resources at Community 1st Credit Union full 1 1 WRKdefined Podcast Network A candid conversation with Julie Montgomery on tackling diversity hiring, leveraging AI, and using isolved to shape strategic HR practices. In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Julie Montgomery, VP of Human Resources at Community 1st Credit Union, joins us to explore the evolving HR landscape. We cover the persistent challenges of diversity hiring, the transformative role of AI, and how isolved helps streamline HR processes while aligning with strategic goals. Julie’s practical insights and actionable advice will leave you ready to recharge your HR battery and tackle the future of workforce management with confidence. We look at HR, diversity hiring, AI in HR, isolved, talent management, employee engagement, strategic planning, and workforce development to uncover how HR professionals can drive meaningful impact. Key Takeaways: Diversity hiring challenges demand innovative solutions and continuous effort. AI is reshaping HR, making job descriptions more inclusive and effective. isolved is a comprehensive platform simplifying HR processes and boosting efficiency. Networking with HR peers is key to learning and growth. Aligning with organizational goals ensures HR delivers strategic value. Streamlined workflows free HR teams to focus on high-impact initiatives. Staying informed and connected helps HR professionals recharge and stay resilient. Chapters: 00:00: Who is Julie Montgomery? 03:02: Challenges in Diversity Hiring 05:46: The Role of AI in HR 08:56: Understanding isolved and Its Benefits 11:10: Recharging the People Heroes Battery The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more. You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/ Connect with Julie Montgomery here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-montgomery-13855a9a/ William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/ Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/ Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network In this episode of the Heroes of HR podcast, Julie Montgomery, VP of Human Resources at Community 1st Credit Union, joins us to explore the evolving HR landscape. We cover the persistent challenges of diversity hiring, the transformative role of AI, and how isolved helps streamline HR processes while aligning with strategic goals. Julie’s practical insights and actionable advice will leave you ready to recharge your HR battery and tackle the future of workforce management with confidence.

We look at HR, diversity hiring, AI in HR, isolved, talent management, employee engagement, strategic planning, and workforce development to uncover how HR professionals can drive meaningful impact.


Key Takeaways:

  1. Diversity hiring challenges demand innovative solutions and continuous effort.
  2. AI is reshaping HR, making job descriptions more inclusive and effective.
  3. isolved is a comprehensive platform simplifying HR processes and boosting efficiency.
  4. Networking with HR peers is key to learning and growth.
  5. Aligning with organizational goals ensures HR delivers strategic value.
  6. Streamlined workflows free HR teams to focus on high-impact initiatives.
  7. Staying informed and connected helps HR professionals recharge and stay resilient.


Chapters:

00:00: Who is Julie Montgomery?

03:02: Challenges in Diversity Hiring

05:46: The Role of AI in HR

08:56: Understanding isolved and Its Benefits

11:10: Recharging the People Heroes Battery


The Heroes of HR podcast is a limited series sponsored by isolved. isolved is an HCM solution modernizes HR, benefits and payroll across Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing & more.

You can learn more about isolved here: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/


Connect with Julie Montgomery here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-montgomery-13855a9a/

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/

Connect with WRKdefined on your favorite social network

The Site | Substack | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok

Share your brand across the WRKdefined Podcast Network

]]> 668