Episodes

  • Chad Atwell and Haris Ikram - Bridging the HR and Finance Divide in Workforce Planning

    Chad Atwell and Haris Ikram - Bridging the HR and Finance Divide in Workforce Planning
    Oct 16 2025
    Haris Ikram, Co-founder and CEO of CandorIQ, and Chad Atwell, Head of Customer Success and Advisory Services at CandorIQ, join us this episode to discuss the critical, yet often disconnected, relationship between HR and finance in workforce planning. They explore why these teams often operate in silos and how they can collaborate more effectively on headcount and compensation to drive business success. The conversation also gets into the changing definition of the workforce, the role of data in strategic planning, and how AI is shaping the future of work and employee skills. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Haris and Chad! Today’s Topic: Bridging the Gap Between HR and Finance in Workforce Planning [5:50] Why HR and finance teams don’t collaborate, even though they should The different objectives driving each team. How to manage a multifaceted and flexible approach to getting work done in the modern economy. [20:06] What’s workforce planning and what challenges might be present? Workforce planning is about having the right people—and now AI agents—in place to get the work done. How to manage a multifaceted and flexible approach to getting work done in the modern economy. [37:53] How AI and agents are influencing workforce planning How AI is automating tactical work, creating a greater need for employees with skills in critical thinking, creativity, and strategy. The importance of measuring the true productivity impact of AI over time, and why companies must be thoughtful about its implementation. [43:46] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “Layoffs cause an immense amount of harm for the companies as well. I mean, there's lots of research out there that will show dips or even just outright dives in company confidence, people's belief in future career opportunities, confidence in leadership.”
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    46 mins
  • HR TENNESSEE: Compensation Planning Bootcamp

    HR TENNESSEE: Compensation Planning Bootcamp
    Oct 9 2025
    In this special solo episode, recorded live at the HR Tennessee Conference, David takes a deep dive into the fundamentals of compensation planning. He demystifies the complex processes behind pay decisions, breaking down everything from base pay and bonuses to the strategic importance of pay philosophy, market analysis, and effective communication. Listen in for a masterclass on how to build a fair, transparent, and effective compensation strategy. [0:00] Introduction Welcome to this special presentation! Today’s Topic: A Deep Dive into Compensation Planning [0:26] What Are the Core Components of Compensation? Breaking down the differences between base pay, bonuses, and incentives Navigating complex pay elements like overtime, tips, and perquisites (“perks”) [10:59] Building the Compensation Framework The essential strategic steps from pay philosophy and job analysis to market analysis and implementation Identifying the key players in the planning process, from executives and HR to managers and employees [22:43] How Can You Truly Pay for Performance? Why merit increases may no longer be an effective tool for driving performance in today's economy Aligning variable pay and bonuses with individual, team, and company performance for maximum impact [37:58] Compensation Planning in Action: Case Studies & Real-World Scenarios How to craft a compelling narrative around pay decisions to make them a true investment in employees Adapting compensation strategies for non-profits by focusing on mission-critical metrics [49:30] Q&A and Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “Incentive plans only work if the manager and the employee have a conversation and there's communication about why this happened . . . No one likes wasting money, and that lack of a story is a waste of money.”
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Misty Bolt - Demystifying the Medicare Maze

    Misty Bolt - Demystifying the Medicare Maze
    Oct 2 2025
    In this episode, which was recorded live from the HR Tennessee Conference in Nashville, David welcomes Misty Bolt, also known as "Medicare Misty." Misty demystifies the complexities of Medicare, explaining what it is and how it's funded, and she explains the critical differences between it and Medicaid. She also discusses the current state of Medicare, common misconceptions employees have as they approach retirement, and why early and continuous financial education is essential for ensuring a secure future. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Misty! Today’s Topic: Demystifying Medicare and Planning for a Secure Retirement [3:16] The Current State and Future of Medicare How recent legislation is impacting Medicare Advantage plans and doctor’s funding. Navigating disruptions as some insurance plans are terminated, and the importance of open enrollment. [7:03] Why Employees Are Unprepared for Retirement Decisions How to navigate being "thrown out to the wolves" with no transitional support after decades of your company making healthcare decisions for you. The challenge of suddenly having to make complex decisions about Medicare, Social Security, and long-term care all at once. [15:58] Proactive Steps for Financial Wellness and Retirement The importance of engaging a financial advisor early in your career to plan for the future. Using financial tools like Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as a retirement tool, not just for medical expenses. [18:15] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “[When you retire] you're thrown out to the wolves and [navigating Medicare] is . . . so hard and so complicated that nobody understands it.”
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    22 mins
  • AI-Off: Part 2 - The HR Professional's Guide to Low-Code AI

    AI-Off: Part 2 - The HR Professional's Guide to Low-Code AI
    Sep 25 2025
    In this episode, David and Dwight continue their “AI-Off,” a deep dive into using AI development tools to automate everyday tasks and create custom applications for HR. They explore the concept of "vibe coding" with platforms like Replit and Base44, discussing how HR professionals can leverage natural language to build powerful tools without extensive coding knowledge. They cover the iterative development process, the importance of subject matter expertise, and the practical realities of cost and security when deploying AI solutions. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, David and Dwight! Today’s Topic: The AI-Off Part Two - Building AI Applications with Natural Language [8:19] The Pros and Cons of AI Development Tools How platforms like Replit and Base 44 handle the entire application stack, from the user experience to the backend data. The power of these tools to quickly build dashboards, scorecards, and data aggregation tools that once took significant time and effort. [17:38] How to build AI Applications with Natural Language Why subject matter expertise is crucial for guiding the AI to build a useful and accurate application. The importance of providing context to the AI, much like a product manager creates user stories for a development team. [24:09] The Reality of Building with AI: Costs, Security, and Deployment Understanding the costs associated with using these platforms and weighing them against the time and effort saved. The need for human oversight and professional review, especially for security and compliance, before deploying an application externally. [30:24] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “If you want [AI] to help you use your job better, [using tools like Replit or Base44] is potentially a really great way of being able to utilize your skills and your knowledge in this area.”
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    33 mins
  • Sarah Smart - The Future of Talent Acquisition in the Age of AI

    Sarah Smart - The Future of Talent Acquisition in the Age of AI
    Sep 18 2025
    Sarah Smart, founder of Horizon Human Resources and a seasoned talent acquisition (TA) leader, joins us this episode to discuss the transformational impact of AI on talent acquisition. We explore how AI is reshaping TA roles, from coordinators to sourcers, and make the case for a fundamental shift in how organizations structure and skill their recruiting teams for the future. Sarah also provides critical advice for CHROs on adopting a skills-first strategy and integrating workforce planning directly into the TA organization to create a more predictive, data-driven, and effective hiring engine. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Sarah! Today’s Topic: The Transformation of Talent Acquisition in the Age of AI [5:28] How is AI impacting Talent Acquisition today? AI has been a part of TA for over a decade, but its implementation requires more wisdom and due diligence now than ever before. The ROI for new technology should be based on strategic outcomes, like quality of hire or speed, not just headcount reduction. [20:32] How will TA structure and skills evolve over the next two years? Sourcing will become a more strategic function, using AI to combine talent marketing with deep candidate intelligence to nurture relationships over time. Workforce planning should be owned by Talent Acquisition to enable “predictive demand control” and align hiring strategy with business capacity and needs. [36:18] What is your advice for CHROs? Effective TA organizations are no longer built on “super recruiters”; they require investment in creating metrics-driven, data-literate, and technology-fluent teams. Organizations must adopt a “skills-first” approach, mapping current capabilities to future needs to inform buy vs. build talent strategies. [44:19] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “When you flip everything on its head and think skills first, it completely changes the structure of your organization.”
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    47 mins
  • AI Off: Building an HR Application Using AI – Part One

    AI Off: Building an HR Application Using AI – Part One
    Sep 11 2025
    In this special episode, David and Dwight introduce an interesting live experiment: the “AI-Off.” They’ll explore how modern AI developer tools are making it possible for anyone (regardless of their coding background) to build powerful, enterprise-level applications. Listen in as they brainstorm an HR use case and plan the process of turning a simple idea into a functional app in real-time. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, David and Dwight! Today’s Topic: The AI-Off Part One - Planning to Build an HR Application Using AI [0:26] The Power of AI in Application Development How AI developer tools are changing the game for non-programmers. Comparing traditional software development cycles to rapid AI-powered prototyping. [8:07] Brainstorming the HR Use Case Exploring different ideas, from a simple to-do list to more complex market solutions [15:46] Closing Thanks for listening, and be sure to tune into Part Two coming out soon!
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    17 mins
  • David Noe - Improving Employee Experience Without Burning Out

    David Noe - Improving Employee Experience Without Burning Out
    Sep 4 2025
    In this episode, we welcome David Noe, host of the Speakeasy HR podcast and a fellow member of the WRKdefined podcast network. David Noe explains how HR leaders and managers can prioritize employee experience (EX) initiatives, even when everything feels urgent. We discuss how to improve EX without adding to already heavy workloads; the importance of effective manager training; and which small, simple changes—like a well-timed "thank you"—can have the biggest impact on employee satisfaction and morale. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, David! Today’s Topic: Prioritizing Employee Experience Without Burning Out [8:27] What employee experience initiatives should be prioritized when everything is urgent? Focus on the moments that matter most, like onboarding and manager relationships. Identify employee pain points through feedback and take small steps to fix them. [15:08] How can you improve employee experience without adding to the workload? The importance of properly training new managers instead of assuming they have the necessary skills. Using technology and data to help managers have more structured and supportive conversations with their teams. [23:29] What small changes create the biggest impact on employee satisfaction? The power of recognition, from a simple, unexpected "thank you" to a public shout-out. Fostering clear communication from leadership and respecting employees' time by eliminating unnecessary meetings. Taking the time to understand the unique motivations of all employees, from recent graduates to those nearing retirement. [31:39] Closing Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “A simple thank you goes a long way for some people, and it really can dramatically change the morale of that person.”
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    33 mins
  • Katherine Jones - The Hidden Costs of AI in HR

    Katherine Jones - The Hidden Costs of AI in HR
    Aug 28 2025
    Market Analyst Dr. Katherine Marie Jones joins us this episode to discuss the pervasive nature of artificial intelligence in the modern world of business. We explore how AI is more than just office automation—it's a force reshaping industries, creating new jobs while making others obsolete, and presenting HR with the critical challenge of upskilling or reskilling the workforce. Katherine also sheds light on the often-overlooked environmental and economic costs of AI, from massive power consumption to its inflationary potential. [0:00] Introduction • Welcome, Katherine! • Today’s Topic: The Pervasive Nature of AI and Its Impact on HR [8:22] Has AI Gotten to Where It’s Touched Every Aspect of Business? • How AI has evolved from a niche topic to an inescapable part of every industry. • Why the fear of AI taking jobs is a misunderstanding of how the workforce will be reshuffled, not replaced. [23:30] What is HR's Role in Preparing for an AI-Driven Future? • The critical need for upskilling and reskilling the workforce to manage and oversee new AI technologies. • Engage in long-term, strategic workforce planning instead of focusing only on the next quarter. • Planning for the improbable and how companies can prepare for drastic but possible shifts in the global landscape. [29:57] What are the Hidden Costs of Artificial Intelligence? • The immense environmental cost of new AI technology and data centers. • How major tech companies are influencing energy costs for everyone. • Why HR leaders should be aware of the tangible costs behind the AI tools their organizations use. [37:53] Closing • Thanks for listening!
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    41 mins