HR Works Podcast: All About AI Agents

As companies begin settling into this new workforce with AI, we're seeing the rise of AI Agents more and more. But for many that begs the question: What are AI Agents really, and how can they help your business? Today, we’re joined by Cassie Colton, AI for HR and Senior People Science Lead at Owens Corning, and we'll be diving in to discover what agentic AI means for HR professionals in terms of productivity, job rolls, skills, and how to know if AI agents are a fit for your business.

Despite the constant hype of technology the past couple years, AI can’t do it all, despite companies trying to make it so. Technology can streamline some processes, but there are times when AI simply can’t replace human judgment and may even have their own unintentional biases. In today's episode, we break down when expert guidance is necessary and when relying on algorithms could put a company at risk. Vanessa Matsis-McCready, VP of HR services and associate general counsel for Engage PEO, joins to share her thoughts on where AI should be helping, but also where AI is hurting your business, and how to know the difference before it's too late.

The talent game has changed—and résumés alone won’t cut it. In today’s market, do HR talent acquisition leaders ditch outdated filters like degrees, job titles, and years of experience? Or do they go all-in with skills-based hiring because what matters more is what talent can do than what’s printed on paper? In this episode, we’ll explore the shift to skills-based hiring—the pros and cons, AI’s role, and how a skills-based focus shapes workforce planning. In today's episode, we’re joined by Alissa Durbin, Vice President of HR at IGS Energy, as well as Lindsay LaSala, Community Relationship Partner at IGS Energy to discuss how any and all professionals can start incorporating skills-based hiring into their recruiting strategy. Watch the full conversation below, or listen at the SoundCloud link above!

During her session at SPARK Talent 2025, GE Healthcare’s Head of Talent Programs, Tabitha Wright, asked the audience, not only what they wanted to accomplish, but how. In a rapidly developing world, your business and people strategies are only as good as the quality of pieces they’re built from. HR Daily Advisor got a chance to sit down with Wright after her session and ask her all the burning questions we had left over. Interested in learning the leading expert’s thoughts on all things HR, people strategy, and onboarding? Check out our full conversation below!

Forget chasing the latest software—the biggest challenge in the AI era is the human equation. Carlee Wolfe, Associate Vice President of Leader Development and Organizational Effectiveness at Hyatt Hotels Corporation, is tackling this head-on. She sees the future of talent management not in code alone, but in a powerful partnership between technology and organizational values. After her SPARK Talent session, HR Daily Advisor had the chance to talk to Wolfe about our most burning questions and discussing what HR professionals need to know right now if they're going to get ahead in the workforce. Check out the full conversation below!

SPARK Talent saw some of the greatest minds in HR speak on the most pressing topics in the workforce. They didn’t just talk theory; they handed us a playbook for the AI and outlier era: First, know exactly what work needs to change. Second, know who can lead the change. Third, design the experience that attracts them. Bertrand Dussert, VP of Talent Acquisition at Staples, detailed in his session exactly who HR needs to fill and drive these roles being transformed by technology: Talent Outliers. These are the people who don’t just work within the system; they change and reframe it. After his presentation, HR Daily Advisor had the chance to sit down with Dussert and pick his brain on all things AI and talent acquisition, where he gave us a behind-the-scenes look at what he considers is the most important changes HR leaders need to be aware of. If you want to stay ahead in the HR world, listen to our full conversation below!

Over the summer, the Senate and House passed President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, enacting sweeping changes across all facets of the country, including substantial increases in funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, changes to AI policy, and many other facets that have cause anxieties among both employees and employers to skyrocket. Today, we’re joined by Amanda Czepiel (SEE-pea-ill), HR legal expert at Brightmine, to discuss the three critical areas HR leaders can’t afford to overlook regarding the passing of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

HR Works Podcast: What Starbucks’ RTO Policy Means for HR Everywhere: Here’s What CMP Research Says Pt. 2 by HR Daily Advisor

In a world still debating the future of work, Starbucks is making a bold, definitive statement. By offering a cash exit package to corporate employees unwilling to return to the office, CEO Brian Niccol is sending a clear signal: this isn't just about office policy, it's about reshaping the company's culture. For today's episode, we're sitting down with Nicole Kyle, Managing Director of CMP Research, to unpack this move and its broader implications. Kyle shares why this unprecedented step is an indicator of a hardline approach to cultural alignment, what it means for other employers considering similar strategies, and how HR leaders can make in-office time truly meaningful—not just a mandate. Check out part one of our talk below!

How can you do it all at once? It’s a question that rings in the mind of many HR professionals, saddled with goal after goal, and for good reason. The workload of HR professionals is mighty, and the deliverables are grand. Upholding a business model, supporting your people strategy, keeping up with everchanging legal issues, all while attempting to plan for the future of work—it feels like carrying an entire tray of freshly shaken bottles of Coca-Cola, waiting to explode. But what if you could work towards these goals all at once, one sip at a time? Sue Lam, VP of People Insights, Strategy, and Culture at The Coca-Cola Company and HCI Advisory Board Member, suggests to the HR world that a proper people strategy can work to help every part of the business, not just the people. Lam is set to speak at the SPARK Talent 2025 conference in San Antonio, Texas in October, where she’ll discuss how to not only align but embed your people strategy into your business strategy, and the tips and tricks on how to get there. On today's episode, HR Daily Advisor got to sit down with Lam to get an early look at her insights, and how she’s innovating just what HR can do.