From “War for Talent” to “War on Talent”: Change, and Executive Alignment in NerdWallet’s AI Shift

What does it take to lead people well when the rules of work keep changing?In this episode of The Leader Lab, Lynee Luque, Chief People Officer at NerdWallet, shares how she’s navigating AI adoption, organizational change, acquisitions, and remote-first leadership, while keeping the human side of work at the center.Hear how Lynee approaches leading through ambiguity, why copying and pasting playbooks rarely works, and how People teams can act as the testing ground for change before it scales across the organization.🎧 Tune in to learn:How to lead through uncertainty without over-relying on processWhy mindset shifts need to come before AI skill-buildingWhat it takes to support a truly remote-first workforceHow NerdWallet approaches acquisitions by elevating, not absorbing, new companiesWhy today’s shift from the “war for talent” to the “war on talent” matters for every People leaderA thoughtful, practical conversation for People leaders building resilient, adaptive teams in a fast-changing world.

What’s the role of L&D in the age of AI?In this episode of The Leader Lab, Will Feng (VP of People, Fabletics) shares how TechStyle Fashion Group is rethinking learning, from the ground up. Hear how they’re developing human skills, engaging middle managers, and building an “AI-first mindset” across brands.🎧 Tune in to learn:The power of peer-based learning and clear communicationWhat an AI-first mindset really looks likeHow middle managers can be your greatest asset in transformationHow they reached 90% L&D program participation A practical, real-world conversation for People leaders shaping the future of work.

AI is transforming how we learn at work, but it can’t replace human connection or the practice it takes to turn knowledge into lasting skills. In this episode of The LeaderLab, LifeLabs CEO Priscila Bala and Facilitation Manager Michelle King share why people skills remain essential in the age of AI. They discuss the risks of relying too heavily on technology in leadership development and why live, human-centered learning is critical for building trust, collaboration, and resilient teams.📌 Explore more resources:AI for HR Resource HubAI for HR PlaybookManager Training Resource HubThe Great Managers Playbook 

Change is hard, especially on the brain. In this episode, LifeLabs Learning Facilitaton Manager Brendon Nimphius introduces the CAMPS Check—a science-backed framework that helps leaders anticipate the psychological impact of change. Learn how to use Certainty, Autonomy, Meaning, Progress, and Social Inclusion to listen better, lead more effectively, and reduce resistance. Whether you're navigating a reorg, new process, or cultural shift, this episode will give you simple, actionable tools to lead through change with clarity and care.CAMPS Resources:Article: What’s Your CAMPS Score?Article: CAMPS: The Best Model for Leading Change at WorkWorkshop: Effective 1-1s Video: CAMPS VideoLeading Change Resources:Playbook Leading Change In Uncertain TimesWorkshop: Leading ChangeArticle: Decoding the Secrets to Change ResilienceTemplate: Change Checklist

In this Episode What if the biggest blockers to collaboration and innovation... were the leaders themselves?In this episode of The Leader Lab, Kristin Correa Blanco, Head of People at Harry’s and Flamingo, shares how the Harry’s team turned employee feedback into action. From overloaded meetings to unclear decision-making, they realized: the problem started at the top.Hear how they responded with vulnerability, rolled out practical frameworks like situational leadership and DRIs, and kickstarted a cultural shift toward ownership, trust, and faster execution.🔑 Topics covered:How to lead change (even when you’re part of the problem)Creating high-performing teams with clarity and trustPractical frameworks Harry’s used to build momentumAbout the guest:Kristen Correa Blanco, Head of People for Global Harry's and Flamingo. Harry’s is shaking up the consumer goods industry by putting people first and meeting real, unmet consumer needs—and Kristen is at the heart of that mission. She leads the global business unit, overseeing 400 people across the US, Canada, and the UK. With nearly 15 years of experience in fast-paced, high-growth environments, Kristen’s a trusted partner to executive leadership, driving talent and culture strategies that align with business goals and fuel organizational success. Before joining Harry’s, Kristen played a pivotal role as an HR Business Partner at Squarespace, helping shape talent strategies during a time of rapid expansion. She’s also held key roles at Equinox and New York Life Insurance. Kristen’s expertise spans coaching, talent development, change management, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives."Usually if you’re feeling that tipping point, someone else is too. Saying out loud that you see something—or don’t feel great—provides relatability. It accelerates change."— Kristen Correa Blanco, Head of People at Harry’s and FlamingoHere's a few LifeLabs workshops the Harrys team enjoyed:Feedback Skills WorkshopLeading Change WorkshopResources:Leading Change Playbook - Our Leading Change in Uncertain Times Playbook is a comprehensive resource for guiding your entire team through the change process. It covers the three layers of organizational changePerformance Review Playbook  - This playbook is designed for People Ops Leaders building or revamping their performance review systems. In it, we’ll flag common pitfalls and outline concrete steps to take right away.Articles:Deal Out Better Feedback at Work With The Playing Cards Method™The rise of feedback: Why feedback skills have become urgentContinuous Feedback: Making Every Conversation Count

The LeaderLab Podcast is back — with a fresh twist. Originally launched over five years ago by a passionate group of Labmates at LifeLabs Learning, this podcast quickly became a go-to resource for bite-sized leadership skills.Now, we’re relaunching with the same beloved format — short, practical episodes — plus a new layer: candid conversations with senior people leaders. You'll hear from LifeLabs facilitators teaching our signature Tipping Point Skills™, and from real-world changemakers tackling today’s toughest leadership challenges.Still quick. Still actionable. Now with even deeper insight.

When we look at change in the workplace, it can often be challenging to navigate. As a leader, there are ways to guide your team in an empowering and empathetic way. Join us for this special panel-style conversation on Grow Kind Leadership in times of uncertainty.Want training for your team? Get in touch with us to find out which learning experiences are right for your team.[Music by Blue Dot Sessions]

In this week’s episode of The LeaderLab, we continue our discussion about how leaders can play an active role in helping their teams and people through periods of growth in the kindest way possible. We invite Annie-Rose London, a Facilitator at LifeLabs Learning, to explain how leaders can harness the power of easy focus to quickly create space for their teams to think, feel, and connect by using the "I could talk abouts" primer.Want to help your organization grow kind? Get in touch with us to find out which learning experiences are right for your team.[Music by Blue Dot Sessions]

In this week’s episode of The LeaderLab, we continue our discussion about how leaders can play an active role in helping their teams and people through periods of growth in the kindest way possible. We invite Rachel Glick, Director of Consulting & Team Enablement at LifeLabs Learning, to explain how leaders can take a look beneath the surface of their team’s data to uncover the inputs contributing to performance outcomes using a Data Diiiive (and no, that’s not a typo — find out what the four I’s stand for by listening to the full episode). Want to help your organization grow kind? Get in touch with us to find out which learning experiences are right for your team.[Music by Blue Dot Sessions]

In this week’s episode of The LeaderLab, we continue our discussion about how leaders can play an active role in helping their teams and people through periods of growth in the kindest way possible. We invite Massella Dukuly, Director of Team Enablement at LifeLabs Learning, to explain why using vision statements is one of the best ways to get people on board with, and even excited about, change. Want to help your organization grow kind? Get in touch with us to find out which learning experiences are right for your team.[Music by Blue Dot Sessions]