HR Works Podcast: Leading the AI Leap—Why Your Managers are Key to Workplace Transformation

In a world where consumers crave authenticity and employees demand purpose, how can HR leaders bridge the gap between internal culture and external brand? In this episode, we talk with Jill Waite, Chief People Officer of Portillo’s, about their groundbreaking Internal Influencer Program. This isn’t your average employee-generated content initiative. By empowering 15 team members to become brand storytellers, Portillo’s is fueling its marketing, social media, and internal training with authentic, behind-the-scenes content. Waite shares a new blueprint for building your brand from the inside out. You’ll learn how this program drives employee engagement, provides a cost-effective content strategy, and offers a fresh model for internal brand-building that can transform your organization’s culture and credibility.

On this special episode of HR Works, HR Daily Advisor editor Griffin Cobb sat down with Peter Lynch, Chief People Officer at Cardinal Group Companies and speaker at SPARK Talent, to discuss the "Human Advantage" and how AI is helping the workplace be more human, not less.

In today’s fast-changing workplaces, AI isn’t just a tech trend; it’s reshaping how we work, from the top floor to the front lines. But for this big shift to truly succeed, your managers are the secret ingredient. In this episode, we sit down with Julie Bedard, Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). Bedard is a leading voice in workplace transformation, and she’s here to share why it’s crucial for HR teams to equip middle and frontline managers with the skills to use AI.

In the final part of our three-episode series, Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at Feast & Fettle, highlights how ongoing training and reinforcement ensures empathy and emotional intelligence remain sharp skills for her entire team, and provides actionable steps HR leaders can take this week to begin embedding more empathy and emotional intelligence into their own daily operations.

Welcome back to HR Works! In part two of this episode, we continue our conversation on what it means to run a successful, rapidly growing business with a truly human touch. Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at Feast & Fettle, returns to discuss her commitment to leading with empathy and building environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Listen in as she shares how her organization leverages technology to support empathetic leadership, how Feast & Fettle measures emotional intelligence, and more.

In this episode, we're joined by an incredible leader who's redefining what it means to run a successful, rapidly growing business with a truly human touch. Joining us is Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, Chief Operating Officer and Head of People at Feast & Fettle – one of the country's fastest-growing food brands. With years of experience witnessing both the magic and the tough realities of the food and hospitality world, Kyla brings a unique perspective. As a single mother of two and a senior executive, she's passionately committed to leading with empathy and building environments where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Since joining Feast & Fettle in 2021, Kyla has been pivotal in scaling the team from 30 to 300 employees. Today, she's here to share her insights on how she embeds empathy and emotional intelligence into every single aspect of operations – from how they hire, to how they serve customers, and even how they navigate tough times. It's about making sure these aren't just values, but operational mandates that drive real success.

In this episode, HR Daily Advisor Content Director Erika Randall chatted it up with Tyrese Manigault, Manager of Employee Engagement at NASCAR, at SPARK HR 2025, about creative ways to engage employees—whether they’re new and onboarding or seasoned and looking for career pathways. Manigault shares how NASCAR engagement initiatives are meeting employees where they are and engaging them in a modern and creative way. Learn also about NASCAR’s peer recognition program that’s embedded in this top-ranked motorsports organization of the world! Did you miss SPARK HR this spring? Not to worry! Join us live in San Antonio at SPARK TALENT 2025 and get practical strategies focusing on workforce planning, talent acquisition, and AI-driven processes! Discover proven solutions from top HR thought leaders from PepsiCo, Walmart, Staples, The Coca-Cola Company, Marriott, and GE HealthCare, and get ready to adapt your talent strategy for the future.

In this episode, HR Daily Advisor Content Director Erika Randall catches up with the delightful Ben Eubanks, author and Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse Research & Advisory, at SPARK HR 2025 in Disney Springs. Eubanks’ research includes surveying thousands of workers each year to understand the latest workplace trends. In this podcast, Randall and Eubanks have a lively chat about Eubanks’ books, the workshops he led at SPARK, and how to help HR leaders solve workplace issues using “innovation sprints.” Eubanks’ books include: Artificial Intelligence for HR: Use AI to Support and Develop a Successful Workforce Talent Scarcity: How to Hire and Retain a Shrinking Workforce Payroll Promise: Trust, Not Just Transactions Did you miss SPARK HR this spring? Not to worry! Join us live in San Antonio at SPARK TALENT 2025 and get practical strategies focusing on workforce planning, talent acquisition, and AI-driven processes! Discover proven solutions from top HR thought leaders from PepsiCo, Walmart, Staples, The Coca-Cola Company, Marriott, and GE HealthCare, and get ready to adapt your talent strategy for the future.

Welcome back to part two of our conversation with Lawrence Armstrong, Chairman of Ware Malcomb and author of Layered Leadership. In today’s fast-paced business world, traditional leadership models often fall short. Tune in as we dive into the groundbreaking concepts of “Layered Leadership,” Armstrong’s holistic, humanist approach to leadership, which centers on developing well-rounded leaders within any organization. In this episode of HR Works, discover how to tap into both the creative and strategic sides of your brain to drive double-digit growth, build resilient teams, and cultivate a culture of innovation.

In today's fast-paced business world, traditional leadership models often fall short. Tune in as we dive into the groundbreaking concepts of "Layered Leadership" with Lawrence Armstrong, Chairman of Ware Malcomb and author of the new book of the same name. In this episode of HR Works, discover how to tap into both the creative and strategic sides of your brain to drive double-digit growth, build resilient teams, and cultivate a culture of innovation. This episode is a must-listen for any HR professional seeking to unlock their team's full potential and achieve sustainable success.