HR Data Labs podcast

Send us a text As Season 8 of HR Data Labs comes to a close, David Turetsky and Dwight Brown reflect on the season’s episodes, guests, and key topics. They also revisit their predictions from the Season 7 finale and posit some new predictions for the future of HR. [0:00] Introduction [6:01] Looking back at Season 8’s major topics and themes [18:09] Reviewing predictions made in the Season 7 finale [25:57] David and Dwight’s predictions for what the next six months will bring for HR [33:07] Closing Quick Quote “With the implementation of AI, what people don’t realize is: you need significant resources for the care and feeding of that AI.” Contact: David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manger: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Bennett Sung, Strategic Marketing Advisor at Restworld and Fractional CMO at MeBeBot, joins us in this episode to explore AI’s current and future role in HR. He talks about where AI best fits within existing HR tech stacks and shares exciting prospects for AI implementation, while also considering how pay transparency is transforming recruitment strategies. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [7:36] How will AI fit into existing HR technology stacks? [15:51] Will pay transparency be a game changer for recruitment? [21:31] Will 2025 be a breakthrough year for AI in HR? [39:45] Closing Quick Quote “Following the money is important for HR to master . . . to build business cases for the long term.” Contact: Bennett's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Chris Havrilla, Vice President of HCM Product Management at Oracle, joins us in this episode to discuss the hurdles organizations face (or merely think they face) when looking to integrate new technologies into their workflows. She also explores how organizations can benefit from learning to work with AI. [0:00] Introduction •Welcome, Chris! •Today’s Topic: How to Reduce Technological Adoption Barriers in Organizations [4:34] How has HR evolved in the last few years? •HR is finally in a place where technology can work for it •The root causes of HR teams’ reluctance to adopt new technologies [16:06] How can organizations reduce technological adoption barriers? •Reframing new technology as a strategic “team member” rather than a threat •Mitigating fear, uncertainty, and doubt surrounding AI implementation [29:11] How can organizations practically integrate AI? •Shifting the conversation from “Will AI replace me?” To “How can AI help me work more efficiently?” •Why quality assurance remains essential in AI-assisted workflows [34:09] Closing •Thanks for listening! Quick Quote “I think the thing that is really messing people up is the notion of transformation [when adopting new HR technologies] . . . but if you can show people how to take baby steps, the momentum builds pretty quickly.” Contact: Chris' LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Jack Coapman, Chief Strategy Officer at GR8 People, joins us in this episode to discuss the evolution of recruitment and its relationship to compensation. He explores the pros and cons of emerging technologies and emphasizes that successful recruitment still fundamentally depends on people and processes. [0:00] Introduction [4:18] How is the relationship between recruitment and compensation evolving? [15:10] How has recruitment technology and processes evolved? [24:26] Was Jack shocked by anything he saw at HR Tech 2024? [34:18] Closing Quick Quote “You don’t want to get days, weeks, months into a screening process with somebody only to find at the end that you’re never going to be able to align the dots when it comes to [the compensation] that candidate is seeking and what the organization wants to pay.” Resource: GR8 People Contact: Jack's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Sapient Insights Group is the research and advisory firm that organizes the annual HR technology survey which seeks to shed light on HR professionals’ relationships with existing and emerging technologies. In this episode, Stacey Harris (Chief Research Officer & Managing Partner) and Teri Zipper (CEO & Managing Partner) join us to discuss HR’s technical revolution and how it has been affecting compensation. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [5:28] How has HR’s landscape changed (besides AI)? [12:44] HR’s technology paradox [20:33] How important is compensation in the modern HR ecosystem? [32:32] Closing Quick Quote “[Compensation] shows up in places we often forget inside the whole HR model—it’s part of your time and attendance . . . that’s a really important issues for those people who depend on it.” Resources: Sapient Insights Contact: Stacey's LinkedIn Teri's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Kathi Enderes, Senior Vice President of Research and Global Industry Analyst at The Josh Bersin Company, joins us in this episode to explore why compensation practices have stagnated and how organizations can modernize their approach to pay. [0:00] Introduction [5:13] How has compensation evolved in recent decades? [13:40] How can organizations make compensation more accessible? [23:10] Should organizations replace merit programs with targeted incentive programs? [31:39] Closing Quick Quote “In all areas of HR . . . if we speak our own language, business won’t understand it and you’re not going to gain any credibility.” Resource: Josh Bersin Company Contact: Kathi's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Noelle London, Founder and CEO of Illoominus, joins us in this episode to discuss the strides people analytics has made over the years, how the intersection of compensation and people analytics gives leaders another tool to better steer their organizations, and what organizations can expect of AI once the hype subsides. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [4:52] How are organizations using people analytics? [9:44] How do compensation and people analytics intersect? [20:35] Beyond the hype cycles, how will AI change HR? [29:40] Closing Quick Quote “HR is not administrative. Organizations that look at HR as administrative are not truly seeing . . . that investing in your people is investing in your business.” Resource: Illoominus Contact: Noelle's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Stacia Garr, Co-founder and Principal Analyst at RedThread Research, joins us this episode to explore the current state of AI in HR technology. Stacia dives into how vendors’ AI expectations often diverge from those of their customers and examines the disconnect in how employers and employees relate to AI in the workplace. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [4:33] How has HR technology evolved in recent years? [15:51] Beyond the hype cycle, where does AI land in the world of HR? [25:46] Is 2025 the year HR embraces and adopts AI? [34:56] Closing Quick Quote “Many of the [HR technology] acquisitions that are happening now are less about the technology and more about the data” Resource: RedThread Research Contact: Stacia's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Jay Polaki is the Founder and CEO of HR Geckos™ and the host of the HR Bytes™ Podcast. In this episode, Jay unpacks HR trends that everyone should be following in 2025, what happens when AI gets assigned the role of administrative assistant, and how AI will realistically contribute to HR once the hype settles. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [3:16] What’s the latest HR tech trend everyone should be following in 2025? [11:27] How does HR change if AI is used for administrative assistance? [17:16] What will AI be bringing to the table once the hype cycle dies down? [32:44] Closing Quick Quote “HR can never be automated 100% . . . the ‘H’ in ‘HR’ [stands for] ‘human,’ but the way AI is evolving, we can’t just sit back and say we’re not going to embed it into our workflow.” Resources HR Geckos HR Bytes podcast Contact: Jay's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Susan Richards is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sapient Insights Group. In this episode, Susan discusses the evolution of HR tech over the past year, the role consultants play in helping organizations effectively implement AI into their HR workflows, and how to prepare AI models to assist with administrative tasks. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [5:14] How has HR tech evolved in the last year? [11:53] Do organizations need consultants for AI implementation? [21:47] How does HR use AI for administrative assistance? [32:32] Closing Quick Quote “I believe there are a lot of compliant-related tasks that could be handled by an [AI model], and it could be done consistently, on time, and keep us out of hot water.” Resource: Sapient Insights Contact: Susan's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Mark Stelzner is the Founder and Managing Principal of IA, an HR consulting firm. In this episode, Mark discusses what people aren’t talking about when it comes to AI; why organizations should let their employees safely explore AI in the workplace; and how basic AI guidelines and data governance can be transformational. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [2:47] What are we missing when it comes to AI? [11:41] How can organizations safely explore AI? [22:49] What role does data governance play in an organization’s AI rollout? [32:26] Closing Quick Quote “If an organization has not invested in content that is accurate [and refreshed], an AI model will hallucinate . . . because the large language model is sourcing from content which is not truly authoritative.” Resource: IA HR Contact: Mark's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Danielle Bushen, Global Head of People Analytics Data Governance and Stewardship at Sanofi, joins us to explore how people analytics intersects with compensation. She shares insights on modernizing compensation through data-driven practices, the importance of pay transparency, and the role of well-designed HR processes in the successful integration of AI. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [3:08] When and how do people analytics and compensation intersect? [15:45] How should organizations approach pay transparency compliance? [33:47] How can organizations intentionally integrate AI into their HR systems? [42:40] Closing Quick Quote “I think the world of pay transparency is moving in exactly the same direction that data privacy went.” Contact: Danielle's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text This episode features two conversations that took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. Tracie Sponenberg is a Fractional Chief People Officer and Consultant for the distribution industry. In part one of this episode, she talks about why some organizations are slower to adopt new HR tech than others; the importance of adopting new technology with strong ethics and data governance; and how compensation has been affected by the latest developments in AI. Adriana DiNenno is the Senior Product Manager at Health eCareers. In part two of this episode, she talks about how emerging HR technology can help both job seekers and recruiters save lots of time; how pay transparency regulations will affect recruitment; and how AI-based recruitment systems won’t create an emotional connection with job seekers. [0:00] Introduction [1:20] Part One: Evolution of HR Tech with Tracie Sponenberg [25:33] Part Two: Evolution of Recruitment Technology with Adriana DiNenno Quick Quote “I found, in healthcare, within my own data set . . . that [job] seekers are more likely to view [job postings] and apply when the compensation and salary are listed.” -Adriana DiNenno Resources: Tracie's website Contact: Tracie's LinkedIn Adriana's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Tim Sackett is an HR Technology Analyst, a Top 10 Global HR Influencer, and the President of HRU Technical Resources. In this episode, Tim discusses the state of recruiting and applicant tracking systems, and how he thinks AI could help organizations not just scale their recruiting efforts but also eliminate biases. He also addresses some security concerns organizations have with integrating AI into their recruitment systems. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [4:50] How is recruiting technology evolving? seem[12:01] Have there been noteworthy developments in recruiting technology? [20:03] How can organizations avoid AI safety and security pitfalls? [32:26] Closing Quick Quote “We had this concept a year ago—maybe two years ago—where [we thought] ‘the technology is more biased than humans,’ and it was wrong . . . I truly believe the closest we’ll come to bias-free hiring is the use of AI in sourcing and screening.” Resources: Tim's website Contact: Tim's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Richard Rosenow is the VP of People Analytics Strategy at One Model. In this episode, Richard discusses the rapid evolution of HR technology and the role AI plays in enhancing productivity. He highlights how AI is helping employees focus on higher-value tasks and shares insights into the future of partnerships in HR tech. This conversation took place at the HR Tech 2024 conference in Las Vegas. [0:00] Introduction [2:57] How has HR Tech evolved over the last year? [10:22] How AI enables employees to focus on value-added tasks [23:59] What else is changing besides AI? [26:19] Closing Quick Quote “If I can leverage technology to get me to 90/10 consulting vs. data engineering, I can do a lot more of the stuff that I’m paid to do.” Resources One Model Contact Richard's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Summary: Kevin M. Yates, also known as the L&D Detective™, has 30 years of experience working in training, learning, and talent development. In his current role, he investigates the extent to which training and learning contributes to workplace performance. In this episode, Kevin talks about how training is measured today; how that might change in the future; and how organizations can start measuring the impact training has on business and employee performance. Chapters: [0:00 - 5:34] Introduction [5:35 - 18:19] How is training measured today? [18:20 - 32:06] What is the future of training measurement? [32:07 - 36:28] How can organizations begin measuring the impact training has on business and employee performance? [36:29 - 39:29] Closing Quotes: “We have tools that measure outcomes and then we have actual outcomes, and those two aren’t necessarily related.” “For some [L&D] goals, you’re going to be very specific with how you’re trying to move performance . . . that’s where you have to have a hypothesis [about the ROI].” Resources: L&D Detective Contact: Kevin's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Summary: Stefanie Krievins is the President of The Change Architects, a business coaching firm that helps organizations develop upskilling and change management programs. In this episode, Stefanie talks about the challenges organizations face when seeking to roll out upskilling programs; how organizations know if their employees need upskilling or reskilling; and some best practices for implementing an upskilling program. Chapters: [0:00 - 7:04] Introduction [7:05 - 20:11] What challenges do organizations face when upskilling their employees? [20:12 - 25:44] How do organizations know if there is a skill gap? [25:45 - 37:03] What are the best practices for developing and rolling out an upskilling program? [37:04 - 38:36] Closing Quotes: “[Leaders] have to spend some intentional time painting the future vision of the organization.” “There’s always going to be bias built into skilling inventory . . . it’s not inherently bad, we just have to know how to leverage it for good.” Resources: The Change Architects Contact: Stefanie's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Summary: Wendy Sellers (also known as The HR Lady®) is a speaker, trainer, consultant, podcast host, and author. In her over 25-year career, she has worked in many areas such as HR operations, downsizing, change management, corporate culture, coaching, training, education, and leadership development. In this episode, Wendy talks about employers’ top concerns regarding attracting and retaining talent; how managerial roles have changed in the last few decades; and why experienced managers should continue to receive training (even if they don’t want it). Chapters: [0:00 - 5:53] Introduction [5:54 - 16:04] What are employers’ top concerns these days? [16:05 - 29:04] How has the manager-employee relationship changed over the years? [29:05 - 36:06] How can managers benefit from recurring training [36:07 - 38:23] Closing Quotes: “Finding [employees] alone—never mind amazing [employees]—is very difficult, and it’s expensive since the pandemic.” “Managers shouldn’t feel bad about going to training, because the world has changed . . . and we need to keep those managers [up-to-date].” Resources: The HR Lady Suck It Up, Buttercup: Be a Leader People Will Follow Contact: Wendy's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Summary: Alyssa Dver is the CEO and Founder of American Confidence Institute, the Founder of ERG Leadership Alliance, a 2-time TEDx speaker, an 8-time author, and the host of the Real Confidence podcast. She is passionate about brain science, and with it she has helped executives, coaches, ERGs, and leaders understand the power of belonging and the confidence that it brings. In this episode, Alyssa talks about ERGs: how they came to be; what their future might be; and some guidance on getting one (or many) started within your organization. Chapters: [0:00 - 4:24] Introduction [4:25 - 17:42] What’s the backstory of ERGs? [17:43 - 25:55] What is the future of ERGs? [25:56 - 35:56] Where can you find the resources to build ERGs at your company? [35:57 - 37:31] Closing Quotes: “People who are in employee groups—good employee groups . . . have higher engagement; are more productive; are more satisfied.” “If you don’t have thorough buy-in from the top level, don’t bother [building an ERG].” Resources: ERG Leadership Alliance American Confidence Institute Alyssa's Books Alyssa's podcast Real Confidence Contact: Alyssa's LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manger: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media

Send us a text Summary: Chris Fusco is the SVP of Research and Content Creation at Salary.com and a career compensation professional who has worked in both corporate and consulting environments. In this episode, Chris talks about defining job satisfaction in organizations; how to figure out if your employees are satisfied with their jobs; and what you can do if you find that your employees are not satisfied with their jobs. Chapters: [0:00 - 6:51] Introduction [6:52 - 13:18] Why should we even care about job satisfaction? [13:19 - 21:15] How does a company know if its employees are satisfied? [21:16 - 31:29] What can companies do about low employee satisfaction scores? [31:30 - 32:56] Closing Quotes: “Sometimes organizations try to substitute money for satisfaction and wellbeing... not realizing it just doesn’t work that way.” “Transparency, growth potential, and workload are the sweet spots for organizations to focus on to improve job satisfaction in 2025.” Contact: Chris' LinkedIn David's LinkedIn Dwight's LinkedIn Podcast Manager: Karissa Harris Email us! Production by Affogato Media