The HR Sound Off Podcast Show

In this HR Sound Off podcast episode, we welcome Bill Brown, Principal and Chief People Officer at Think People.Culture. Bill shares his inspiring journey through HR, offering valuable advice for those aspiring to become a Chief People Officer. We dive into his book Don't Suck At Recruiting, and get a sneak peek into his upcoming release, Don't Suck at Culture. Bill emphasizes the importance of ethical consistency in HR and building early company wins. He also shares his favorite reads, including Redefining HR by Lars Schmidt and insights from the Harvard Business Review. This episode is packed with practical insights and resources for HR professionals aiming to excel in their careers. Don't miss out!

In this episode of HR Sound Off, I'm thrilled to welcome Kim Blue, Chief Executive Officer at K Blue Consulting. Kim takes us through her inspiring HR journey, from her corporate beginnings to becoming an entrepreneur and a leader in Fractional HR. She shares valuable insights on how to articulate boundaries for better work/life integration and the importance of evolving as a strategic partner in HR. Kim also gives us a peek into her favorite reads, including Atlas of the Heart, the Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. Plus, she offers special shoutouts to Minda Harts and Dr. Meisha-ann Martin, two thought leaders who continue to inspire her. One of the highlights of our conversation is Kim's take on a common HR misconception—HR is often seen as the bottleneck in processes, but she’s excited about the evolution of the field. "pivot past the discord," Kim says, as she looks forward to the future of HR.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Organizational Ombuds with the remarkable Dina (Lynch) Eisenberg, Founder and President of Ombudsology LLC. Dina shares her extensive experience and insights, having dedicated three decades to the role of an Ombuds. Are you curious about stepping out of corporate HR? Dina offers invaluable advice on how to transition into this rewarding career path, highlighting the unique opportunities and challenges it presents. Whether you're considering a career change or simply want to broaden your understanding of conflict resolution within organizations, this episode is a must-listen. Dina's book recommendation, In Sheep’s Clothing, by Dr. George K. Simon, also provides practical strategies for dealing with manipulative people at work—an essential read for anyone navigating complex workplace dynamics.

In this episode of HR Sound Off, I sit down with Kara Boyce, the Director of Human Capital for Guyana & Dutch Caribbean at Unicomer. Kara brings a wealth of experience and insights from her journey in the HR world, sharing her unique perspective on mentorship, change management, and the common misconceptions that often cloud the profession. Kara reflects on her transformative experiences of being mentored, highlighting the profound impact it has had on her career and personal growth. She delves into her passion for change management, emphasizing the importance of guiding organizations and employees through transitions with empathy and strategic planning. She candidly discusses the realities of working in HR and offers her thoughts on how the profession can better communicate its true value. Kara shares her current reading list, which includes "Ego Is the Enemy" by Ryan Holiday and "The Diary of a CEO" by Steven Bartlett. These books have influenced her leadership style and approach to personal development, and she explains why they are must-reads for anyone looking to grow in their career. Check out Kara's thought-provoking LinkedIn newsletter, "Letters of Apology Signed a Corporate Leader," where she addresses various leadership topics with honesty and insight.

This week, I am talking to Sally Loftis, a trailblazing consultant in human resources, organization development, and social justice. Sally shares her unique HR origin story and delves into the critical issue of pay equity and its profound impact on the workplace. She also reveals her current reading list and dispels a common HR misconception that you won't want to miss! Don't miss this enlightening episode. The HR Sound Off Podcast is brought to you by HRatHeart Consulting Inc. - The HR Safe Space

This week, we're thrilled to have Emma Djemil join us. Emma is the Founder of Be Unstoppable, a movement dedicated to transforming workplaces for everyone, one brave woman at a time. In our conversation, Emma emphasizes the importance of truly knowing yourself as a human being to discover who you are as an HR professional. She shares her captivating HR origin story, detailing her journey and the lessons learned along the way. Emma also introduces us to her initiatives, the HR Club and HR Big Meet event, which she hosts in the UK. These gatherings are designed to foster community and growth among HR professionals. As someone who has stepped outside corporate HR, Emma discusses her journey and the significance of self-care in maintaining her well-being as an Entrepreneur. Her insights are invaluable for anyone looking to navigate the complex world of HR while staying true to themselves. This episode is brought to you with the compliments of HRatHeart Consulting Inc. - The HR Safe Space.

When I share success stories from my coaching practice, I always tell the story of my guest's today. Melissa Lockhart and I met at a pivotal moment in her HR career. Our work together led her to leave a successful career in HR to start her very own nightwear brand, Melda Moda. Today, Melissa joins me to share her HR story and explain why she left corporate HR to pursue her passion. It was a pleasure speaking with Melissa to learn about the drivers that led her to make the choice she did and about her success so far. Melissa is a true success story of what life looks like on the other side of HR burnout. She has been featured in Essence, Brides, and Uptown, and her line is worn by everyday women as well as Real Housewives and Influencers. I am so proud of Melissa for doing the work internally to help her get to where she is today. I am honoured to have been a part of her story, and we hope her story will encourage you. Melissa also recommended checking out the book Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie by Bevy Smith. Check out Melda Moda https://meldamoda.com/  Follow Melissa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissalockhart/. Her tagline is "People Ops & Pajamas." This episode is brought to you by HR@Heart Consulting Inc. - The HR Safe Space.    

The brilliant Stephanie Lemek is joining me in the studio this week. Stephanie left In-house HR after spending 16 years working in various industries. Why? Like many of us who took the time to reflect on our HR careers during the pandemic, she realised corporate HR was not serving her gifts as an HR professional. Today, Stephanie runs her own HR consultancy and spends time on a pet project she likes to call The Wounded Workforce, where she helps HR professionals recognise employees experiencing trauma by first recognising their trauma. You do not want to miss this episode. HR professionals experience trauma in the workplace, and often they brush it aside to move on to the following work task; as time passes, that trauma builds until it explodes and shows up in your body and behaviour in ways that make you have to take a step back to address the trauma. Stephanie and I take some time to talk about our workplace traumas and why the work we both do matters at this time. Stephanie's resources: What Happened To You? - Dr. Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey The Deepest Well - Nadine Burke-Harris Go check out The Wounded Workforce to learn more about Stephanie's work. https://www.thewoundedworkforce.com/certifications This HR Sound Off Podcast Show episode is brought to you with the compliments of HR@Heart Consulting Inc. - The HR Safe Space. www.hratheart.com

This week's guest joins me from New Zealand as I talk to fellow HR for HR Coach - Lisa Young. Lisa joins me to share her HR origin story (coming into HR having started her career in TV). Lisa is very passionate about the work she is doing now to support HR professionals in building their competencies and skills. Check out her online community and follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn to keep up to date with her work. Lisa shares some podcasts she is listening to, including Bridget James Ling's The Business Coaching Podcast. We also talk about confidence anchors and Beyonce. The episode is sponsored by HRatHeart Consulting Inc. - The HR Safe Space.

Join me in the sound booth this week as I sit down with the dynamic Bria McCray! Bria's journey from her first HR role to becoming the VP of People at RelationalAI and Founder of HRBP Consulting is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, Bria shares her unique HR origin story and invaluable advice for anyone seeking an HR internship. Her passion for creating innovative and effective people ops strategies that support rapid growth without compromising company culture is truly captivating.  Discover the tools and techniques Bria used to thrive as an HR department of one and hear what currently excites her most about the HR world. Plus, you won't want to miss the HR misconception that's got her buzzing!  📚 Bria's book pick: The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Morgan and Michael Lennington.