The HR Works Video Podcast: NASA, Nordstrom, and Fixing Burnout

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.