HR Works Podcast: 2025 DEI Trends—What HR Leaders Need to Know (Part I)

In this episode of HR Works, Maureen O’Neill, DEI Officer at Consilio, the global leader in legal enterprise technology solutions and services, joins to discuss the latest DEI trends in the workplace and what HR leaders can expect in the coming year. We’ll also discuss the importance of listening to employees’ unique needs, the challenges of overemphasizing talk over action, and much more.

In this episode of A Seat at the Table, we dive deep into the world of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with Veronica Calderon, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at DeVry University. Calderon shares invaluable insights on how HR leaders can leverage education and training to drive meaningful DEI change, the importance of embedding DEI into an organization’s DNA, and the power of authentic leadership. We also explore the critical role of belonging in a successful DEI strategy and much more.

This week’s episode of HR Works is a powerful clip from HRDA‘s panel session, “The Great Retention: Strategies for Building a Resilient and Engaged Workforce.” Presented as part of our HR Employee Retention & Turnover NOW, listen in to find out where organizations can start to effectively engage and retain employees, including remote employees, practical strategies for building a strong sense of community within the workplace, the role company culture plays in employee retention, and more. Listen to the full webinar here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4698472/A92333EA12FEA15DE2B84DDD80FC0010?partnerref=BHsocial Speakers: Daniela Elazari, Director of Well-Being, Columbia University’s Office of Work/Life Lisa Ryan, Chief Appreciation Strategist at Grategy KristyAnne Thompson Boyd, Employment Attorney & HR Practitio

In the final episode of this three-part series, we dive deep into the critical role of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the legal industry with Katherine “Kat” Mateo, a seasoned litigator at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP. Kat is a champion for DEIB, and she brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. Tune in as she discusses the firm’s DEI efforts, her advice for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds who want to pursue a legal career, and more.

This episode of HR Works honors our veterans not just for their service, but for the valuable skills they bring to the civilian workforce. Eric Ryan, a Marine Corps veteran and senior director of Military Operations at the University of Phoenix, joins to explore the unique challenges and opportunities faced by veterans transitioning to new careers. Listen in as we discuss some of the biggest challenges veterans face when transitioning from the military to a civilian career, how veterans can effectively translate their military experience and skills into civilian job descriptions, how companies create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for transitioning veterans, best practices for attracting and recruiting veterans, and more.

In this episode of HR Works podcast, we explore the complex issue of employee retention and turnover. I’m excited to have Charlie Anderson, Strategic Director for Talent Management Solutions and George Boone, Director of Organizational Effectiveness and Talent Management at Mitratech. Listen in as our experts discuss strategies to address common challenges, including career planning, goal setting, employee expectations for feedback, tough conversations, and more. If you’re an HR professional looking to discover actionable insights to create a more fulfilling and rewarding workplace this episode for you.

In August, the New York Times published an article about the distrust employees have toward HR professionals, sparking conversation across LinkedIn about the differences between "boots-on-the-ground" HR leaders and HR "influencers." Sarah Deveraux, Co-Founder and Executive Coach at White Pine Leadership Collective and HCI Facilitator, joins HR Work Break to discuss this article, why there's a history of animosity toward HR, and what leaders can do to humanize their HR departments.

With recent setbacks and growing skepticism, many are wondering if the end of DEI as we know it is imminent. We’ve curated a powerful clip from HR Daily Advisor‘s webinar, “Is It the End of DEI as We Know It?” Listen in as our expert panelists discuss the decline in DEI efforts, their personal perspectives on the issue, the importance of curiosity in fostering meaningful dialogue, and more. Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation that explores the challenges and opportunities facing DEI in the workplace. Listen to the full webinar here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4699198/B037E143BB70131E1B8996E612E24D49 Speakers: Dr. Lisa Coleman, President, Adler University Reggie Willis, Chief Diversity Officer, Ally Financial, Inc. Rachel Bourne, Transformation Director, Cummins Antoine Andrews, Chief Diversity and Social Impact Officer, SurveyMonkey

Tune in for part two of my conversation with Sarah Devereaux, Co-Founder and Executive Coach at White Pine Leadership Collective & HCI Facilitator! As we continue our conversation about HR burnout, we'll delve into the role culture plays on burnout, how remote work has affected work life balance, and more.

In the latest episode of HR Works podcast, we wrap up our conversation on the transformative impact of kindness and empathy in workplace leadership with Jamie Graceffa, VP, Learning, Development & Culture at Quanterix. Jamie is also author of Kind Cards, which he created to help HR leaders and organizations develop kindness skills at work. In part three, listen in as we discuss the importance of developing workplace leadership skills, how leaders can balance the need for kindness with the demands of a competitive business environment, and more. Link to Kind cards: https://getkindcards.com/