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Belonging, Trust, and the Human Side of HR with Nae Hakala

Belonging, Trust, and the Human Side of HR with Nae Hakala

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 In this episode of Transform Your Workplace, Brandon Laws is joined by Nae Hakala, HR Business Partner at Xenium HR, for a thoughtful and practical conversation about leadership, empathy, and building workplaces that truly support people. Nae shares her career journey, from managing creative teams early in her career to supporting organizations through complex and often difficult people challenges today. Together, Brandon and Nae explore what it really means to lead with humanity, why belonging and trust are essential business strategies, and how leaders can balance results with empathy in a rapidly changing workplace. Listeners will hear real-world insights on recruiting with care, navigating hard conversations like reductions in force, the risks of over-automating HR with AI, and why everyday leadership behaviors matter more than big, performative initiatives. This episode is especially relevant for leaders, HR professionals, and nonprofit organizations navigating growth, change, and limited resources. Key Timestamps 00:00 – What Transform Your Workplace is all about and why this conversation matters 02:00 – Nae's early leadership experience managing creative teams and what it taught her 04:00 – Why getting involved builds community at work and beyond 05:30 – How retail and hospitality shaped Nae's empathetic approach to HR 07:00 – Seeing the human behind every HR request, especially in difficult moments 08:30 – Handling reductions in force with dignity, respect, and compassion 10:00 – Recruiting at scale without losing the human touch 11:30 – Where AI helps HR and where it risks doing harm 13:00 – Lessons from equity-focused work in public education 16:00 – Why discomfort is part of growth for leaders and organizations 18:00 – Turning belonging into a practical, everyday business strategy 20:00 – Moving from talent acquisition into a broader HR business partner role 22:00 – Studying leadership frameworks and applying them in real time 23:30 – What today's workforce is asking for that wasn't as visible before 25:00 – Consulting across different organizations, cultures, and constraints 27:00 – Supporting nonprofits with limited resources and long-term thinking 29:00 – Building strong HR foundations that reduce firefighting 31:00 – Why supporting employees drives results and reduces turnover 33:00 – Final thoughts on leadership, trust, and showing up for people A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought leaders." About Xenium HR Xenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more: https://www.xeniumhr.com/ Connect with Brandon Laws LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawsbrandon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsbrandon About Brandon: https://xeniumhr.com/about-xenium/meet-the-team/brandon-laws Connect with Xenium HR Website: https://xeniumhr.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xenium-hr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XeniumHR Twitter: https://twitter.com/XeniumHR Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xeniumhr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/XeniumHR
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