HR Works: The Podcast for Human Resources

Action plans are only as good as the system that supports them. After the survey closes and priorities are set, managers are often expected to deliver results without the structures, skills, or motivation needed to succeed. So, what can HR professionals do help managers actually function? We asked upcoming SPARK HR speaker, I/O psychologist, and host of the Manager to Manager podcast, Kamaria Scott, for her solutions in the face of these hurdles. Scott focuses on the organizational enablers that help managers follow through with confidence, shifting the focus from planning to doing. Check out part one of our conversation below!

In this week’s podcast episode, Erika Randall, Content Director for HR Daily Advisor, talks with Nicholas Lawrence (Nicholas L.), Executive Director of People & Culture at Chick-fil-A Restaurants (local franchise – Indianapolis), and speaker at SPARK HR 2026. Lawrence shares from his personal journey on how to be an organizational culture architect and how to make your organization a gold standard of service. You'll get a firsthand look at the themes he’ll be diving into during his SPARK HR session, and a sneak preview into the secrets behind Chick-fil-A’s conviction-driven leadership. Whether you're deep into engagement and experience or just getting started, this is your chance to hear from one of the field’s most thoughtful leaders—and get inspired before the big event April 28–30. Check out the full episode below!

The great tech shift has been slowly approaching since the internet’s invention, and with the advent of AI, the workplace as we know it is already in the past. So, how can HR shepherd the next generation of workers into this new business world? Thanks to Chelsea MacMullen, Org Change Management lead for Meta, we have an idea on how the world’s biggest name in tech is transitioning and training their employees for the future. On this week’s episode of the HR Works Podcast, we sat down with MacMullen ahead of her presentation at SPARK HR 2026 to get a sneak peek at the need-to-know advice she’ll be giving to HR professionals for the future of tech. Check out the full episode below!

As the Director of Talent Development at LinkedIn, Dr. Chrissy Roth-Francis currently oversees the growth of 3,000 leaders. She is at the forefront of a major cultural shift: the “Human Plus” future. Ahead of her sessions at SPARK HR 2026, HR Daily Advisor sat down with Dr. Roth-Francis to discuss how HR professionals and people leaders can navigate the rapid adoption of AI in HR while keeping human connection at the core. Check out our latest episode of the HR Works Podcast to hear exactly how Roth-Francis is reshaping the world of HR!

What do NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Disney, and Nordstrom have in common? They’ve all turned to Betsy Lopez-Riley to navigate their biggest moments of reinvention. A senior transformation leader with over 20 years of experience, Lopez-Riley knows that big ideas only work when they work for the people executing them. Ahead of her sessions at SPARK HR 2026, HR Daily Advisor sat down with Lopez-Riley to discuss why traditional HR strategies often fail and how to bridge the gap between corporate vision and everyday execution. Check out the latest episode of the HR Works Podcast for the full discussion!

The world seems to be changing at a faster rate every single day, and employees taking the brunt of the change, and fearing for the future. Job loss is rampant, economic uncertainty looms around every corner, and no one truly knows if their same job will be around tomorrow. So, how do leaders guide their teams through such tumultuous times? According to Adam Hickman, Ph.D., VP of Org & Employee Dev, Partners; The Walt Disney Company, it's a tale as old as time. That is to say, leaders looking to the past, and focusing on the most human aspects of work, are going to find themselves best prepared for the future. In part two of our conversation, Hickman previews his presentation at SPARK HR 2026, where he'll be teaching HR professionals how to reimagine employee support and connection in the era of AI.

The world seems to be changing at a faster rate every single day, and employees taking the brunt of the change, and fearing for the future. Job loss is rampant, economic uncertainty looms around every corner, and no one truly knows if their same job will be around tomorrow. So, how do leaders guide their teams through such tumultuous times? According to Adam Hickman, Ph.D., VP of Org & Employee Dev, Partners; The Walt Disney Company, it's a tale as old as time. That is to say, leaders looking to the past, and focusing on the most human aspects of work, are going to find themselves best prepared for the future. In part one of our conversation, Hickman tells his HR story, and how HR professionals can reimagine employee support and connection in the era. Listen below and check back in next week for part two!

As HR professionals, and really as people, we opt to be nice and polite when dealing with anything in the workplace. But what happens when that blanket “agreeable”-ness produces a stagnant and stale environment instead of something productive? When the status quo becomes more harm than good, how can you break the mold? On today’s episode of HR Works, here to help us answer these questions is Amira Barger, Professor, Global Comms Executive, and Author of the upcoming book “The Price of Nice.” Listen in to part two of our conversation that breaks down what it means to be “nice” in the workplace, and what it means to be genuine, and effective.

As HR professionals, and really as people, we opt to be nice and polite when dealing with anything in the workplace. But what happens when that blanket "agreeable"-ness produces a stagnant and stale environment instead of something productive? When the status quo becomes more harm than good, how can you break the mold? On today's episode of HR Works, here to help us answer these questions is Amira Barger, Professor, Global Comms Executive, and Author of the upcoming book "The Price of Nice." Listen in to part one of our conversation that breaks down what it means to be "nice" in the workplace, and what it means to be genuine, and effective.

Few understand the AI landscape in HR like Ben Eubanks, Chief Research Officer of Lighthouse Research & Advisory, bestselling author, and seasoned SPARK speaker. HR Daily Advisor had the chance to sit down with Ben to ask our most burning questions about what 2026 holds for AI and HR and get a sneak peek into what he'll be discussing during SPARK HR 2026 in just a few months. In today's episode of HR Works, we went over the ins and outs of AI, how leaders and employees alike are using it, and what to watch out for when coming up with an AI strategy.

Let’s be real: bad managers don’t just frustrate employees; they drive your best talent out the door. The difference between a manager people tolerate and a leader people love comes down to skills HR must develop right now. Thankfully, HR Daily Advisor sat down with some of the top leadership experts to discuss practical, actionable ways in which HR can turn their middling managers into effective, strong leaders. Want to turn your managers into magnetic leaders who inspire loyalty, performance, and trust? In today’s episode of HR Works, we’re taking a look at part two of our latest and greatest webinar, featuring Ricky Brown, CEO of Speak Life Inc., LeAnne Lagasse, SHRM-SCP Certified HR Consultant, Speaker, and Author, and Megan Leasher, Organizational Psychologist and Founder of Disruptive Journeys.

Let’s be real: bad managers don’t just frustrate employees; they drive your best talent out the door. The difference between a manager that people tolerate and a leader that people love comes down to skills HR must develop right now. And lucky for you, we sat down with leading experts to hear how HR professionals can start making a real difference with their managers. Want to turn your managers into magnetic leaders who inspire loyalty, performance, and trust? In today's episode of HR Works, we're taking a look at part one of our latest and greatest webinar, featuring HR experts Ricky Brown, CEO of speak life, LeAnne Legasse, HR consultant, speaker, & author, as well as Megan Leasher, Founder of Disruptive Journeys. Listen in for practical solutions on how to spot behaviors that break or make great leadership and how to equip and elevate managers.

So much of HR today is talked about in terms of strategy. What's the best strategy for improving retention? How can I create an effective people strategy? But as effective as planning ahead can be, it all falls apart when you don't know how to follow through. So, the real question HR professionals need to be asking now is not "what's the best strategy?" but "how can I effectively implement my strategy?" On the week's episode of HR Works, we're joined by John Hadeed, US VP of People & Culture at Primark, and together we'll be tackling how to translate HR strategies from exciting theory to actionable commitments that create results and leave you with a healthy, growing business.

With AI's advent and constant changes, we're watching Entry Level Jobs change as we know it. Gone are the days where entry level positions assist with notetaking, research, and organization, now that a few simple prompts can achieve that same work in a fraction of the time. But what is the future of entry level jobs, then? We've seen a sharp decline in job openings in general this year, especially in junior and associate roles. Mixed with other economic uncertainty and worldly events, it's a difficult job market for young people looking to enter the workforce. So, what can HR professionals do? On today's episode of HR Works, we're joined by Madeline Miller, Gen Z Leadership and Culture Strategist, and we'll be looking at how HR leaders can reimagine their entry level positions and utilize the strengths of young workers to elevate their business.

In recent months, we've seen weaker and weaker job reports, coupled with greater frustrations around talent, or lack thereof, available to employers. From AI advancements, growing dissonance between workplace expectations and reality, to economic uncertainty, it seems increasingly hard for good talent to find roles, and for companies to fill roles with good talent. So, how can HR professionals bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, and stay innovative and driven during these challenging times? In today's episode of HR Works, we’re joined by Travis Hunsicker, Leader of Talent Development at Kassouf, to talk about what HR is missing when it comes to meeting talent where they're at and filling those must-have positions.