HR Leaders

Chris Rainey
  • 4.9 (20)
  • Management
  • Updated Daily

Join host Chris Rainey on the HR Leaders Podcast, where he sits down with top Chief People Officers, CHROs, and leading HR experts to uncover the strategies, trends, and insights shaping the future of human resources. Each episode dives into best practices in people management, leadership challenges, and transformative HR innovations that impact both business success and society at large. Whether you're an HR professional or simply passionate about modern workplace strategies, this podcast delivers expert advice, real-world experiences, and the latest trends in HR, making it your go-to resource for all things human resources.

  1. 15 hrs ago

    How to Rebrand the Industries Everyone Gets Wrong

    In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Björn Axelsson, EVP and CHRO at Sandvik, to unpack how one of Sweden’s largest industrial technology companies is changing the way people think about mining, manufacturing, AI, sustainability, and future talent. Björn explains why mining is one of the most misunderstood industries in the talent market. Many people still picture it as old-fashioned, unsafe, or disconnected from the future, when in reality Sandvik has been working with autonomous vehicles, connected fleets, electrified equipment, digital mining, software, and AI-powered solutions for years. Most importantly, Björn shares how Sandvik is building a future-ready workforce by investing in STEM talent, early careers, mining academies, global mobility, employee-led storytelling, AI adoption, and local communities, all while helping customers access the minerals needed for the green transition. 🎓 In this episode, Björn discusses: Why mining is one of the most misunderstood career paths for young talentWhy employee-led storytelling is helping show the real future of industrial workHow Sandvik uses autonomous vehicles, electrification, and AI across its businessHow Sandvik builds talent through 15 mining academies, graduate programs, and leadership pathwaysWhy STEM talent becomes more interested in mining when they understand its role in the green transition 🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    26 min

  2. 2d ago

    How to Build an HR Tech Stack Employees Actually Use

    In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Arun Serikar, VP, HR Technology, Digital Platforms & AI Innovation, Corp Functions at Schneider Electric, to unpack what it really takes to simplify HR technology, scale AI, and build a better employee experience across a global enterprise. Arun shares how Schneider Electric went from 545 HR applications to 303, reducing tech debt, breaking regional silos, and building stronger governance around the tools, data, and platforms used across the business. He explains why employees are not looking for the “best system”, they are looking for fewer systems that actually work together. Most importantly, Arun breaks down how Schneider Electric is using AI to move HR from a back-office function to an intelligence layer for the enterprise, from internal chatbots and ticket reduction, to performance review AI assistance, agentic workflows, and a future where employees can complete tasks without jumping between systems. 🎓 In this episode, Arun discusses: Why employees want fewer systems, not more “best-in-class” toolsHow AI is reducing HR tickets and improving employee service at scaleWhy Schneider Electric reduced its HR tech stack from 545 applications to 303Why governance, data quality, and integration matter more than buying more toolsHow agentic AI could reshape HR workflows, manager support, and employee experience 🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    38 min

  3. 6d ago

    How to Make Culture Your Biggest Competitive Advantage

    In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Marcus Collins, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker and Professor at University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, to unpack why culture is the most powerful force shaping human behavior, inside and outside organizations. Marcus explains why most companies misunderstand culture by reducing it to slogans, rituals, values, or “how we do things around here.” In reality, culture starts with how people think, what they believe, how they make meaning, and what behaviors those shared beliefs produce. Most importantly, he reveals why the future of work will not be won by technology alone. It will be won by organizations that understand the culture of work, align the front stage and backstage of the business, and build environments where people are truly connected to the beliefs, behaviors, and conviction behind the work. 🎓 In this episode, Marcus discusses: Why purpose is weaker than convictionHow beliefs shape behaviors inside organizationsWhy culture is more than “how we do things around here”Why the future of work will be cultural, not just technologicalHow companies accidentally confuse data with real human understanding 🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    45 min

  4. Jun 16

    Your Employees Are Learning AI From TikTok. Send Help.

    Welcome to Work in Progress with Chris and Keyanna, your weekly workplace news hit, but with less corporate waffle, more real talk, and the occasional “wait… are we allowed to say that?” moment. All in under 10 minutes. No jargon. No doom-mongering. No pretending everything is fine when clearly… it is not. 🧪 Episode 1: The AI Pressure Test This week's big theme? AI is testing every leader right now. Not just your tech strategy.Not just your HR roadmap.Not just your shiny new tools.It is testing whether your people actually know what to do with AI, whether HR is in the room where decisions are being made, and whether leaders can explain the value they bring when AI starts doing the admin faster, cheaper and with fewer coffee breaks.s. Here's what we get into: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    10 min

  5. Jun 15

    How to Make Culture More Than Words on a Wall

    In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, I had an inspiring conversation with Kelly Costanza, Chief People Officer at CAVA, to unpack how one of the fastest-growing restaurant brands is turning culture, hospitality, and frontline careers into a real business advantage. Kelly shares why culture cannot just be a word on a wall. At CAVA, culture is operationalized through values, competencies, recognition, career pathways, frontline listening, stock grants, mental health benefits, and leadership rituals that make the employee experience feel just as intentional as the guest experience. Most importantly, Kelly explains how CAVA is building a place where people can have a career, not just a job, from hourly team members growing into general managers, to leaders staying connected to the restaurants through shoulder-to-shoulder service, town halls, and practical feedback from the frontline. 🎓 In this episode, Kelly discusses: How CAVA turns culture into everyday operating practicesWhy frontline careers are central to CAVA’s origin story and growth strategyWhy support center leaders work in restaurants every quarter to stay close to the frontlineHow values like generosity first always show up in benefits, recognition, and guest experienceHow CAVA is building career pathways through Flavor Your Future, stock grants, and leadership development 🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    31 min

  6. Jun 10

    The Burnout Problem Most Leaders Are Missing

    In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Anju Choudhary, Chief People Officer at Xoxoday, to unpack why burnout is not just a wellbeing problem, but a work design and change design problem. Anju explains why organizations often treat burnout as an individual resilience issue, when the real problem is often the way teams are overloaded with unclear priorities, constant change, weak manager support, and poor recognition systems. She shares why leaders need to stop rewarding unsustainable hustle and start designing cultures where people can perform, grow, and recover without burning out. Most importantly, Anju breaks down the practical ways HR leaders can reduce burnout, build trust, and create healthier performance cultures, from clearer feedback and better change management, to manager enablement, recognition, AI coaching, team playbooks, and reward strategies that actually connect to the lived employee experience. 🎓 In this episode, Anju discusses: How unclear change creates cognitive overload for teamsWhy burnout is a design issue, not just a resilience problemWhy leaders must stop rewarding unsustainable hustle behaviorsWhy managers need better support for crucial conversations and changeHow recognition and feedback shape the culture employees actually experience 🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    31 min

  7. Jun 8

    The Future of Learning at Work

    In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Allwyn Dsilva, VP HR & Global Head of L&D, Future of Work & Business HR at Tata Communications, to unpack why the future of learning must be built around business outcomes, skills, internal mobility, and AI-enabled career growth. Allwyn shares how Tata Communications moved beyond disconnected learning platforms and traditional course libraries to build a more connected ecosystem, linking skills, career aspirations, hiring, learning, coaching conversations, and AI-powered recommendations into one joined-up employee experience. Most importantly, he explains why learning teams must stop leading with the beauty of their programs and start proving behavior change, business impact, and real outcomes. From AI literacy and dark network operations to internal hiring, AI interview practice, and skills-based career pathways, this episode shows what it looks like when L&D becomes a true business engine. 🎓 In this episode, Allwyn discusses: How AI can help employees prepare for future roles and interviewsWhy learning teams must prove behavior change before selling designWhy skills-based platforms are changing internal mobility and career growthHow Tata Communications is building AI literacy across different roles and levels 🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    44 min

  8. Jun 3

    The AI Shift Every HR Leader Needs to Prepare for in 2026

    In this episode of the HR Leaders Podcast, we sit down with Khadija Ben Hammada, Member of the Executive Board and Chief People Officer at Merck Group, to unpack how HR can lead through AI transformation without losing the human heart of the organization. Khadija shares why leaders cannot run global organizations from an ivory tower, and why being close to employees on the ground creates the trust, safety, and pride people need to speak up. She explains how field visits, human connection, and a strong sense of global community help Merck stay united across regions, even as the world outside becomes more fragmented. Most importantly, she breaks down how Merck is building AI capability across the business, from AI literacy for everyone, to leader upskilling, internal AI tools, hackathons, flagship use cases, and HR agents that can improve employee experience at scale. Through it all, Khadija is clear: AI should take tasks, not humanity, and HR must stay at the intersection of business, technology, and empathy. 🎓 In this episode, Khadija discusses: How Merck is building AI literacy across employees, leaders, and top executivesWhy the future of HR sits at the intersection of business, technology, and humanityWhy AI should remove low value tasks so HR can focus on human and strategic workWhy leaders must stay close to employees on the ground, not lead from headquartersHow hackathons and flagship use cases help turn AI learning into real business impact 🙏 Thank you to our series partner, Arist Meet the end-to-end AI agent for enablement that finds talent gaps, builds personalized interventions, and delivers learning directly in the flow of work → https://arist.com/resources/webinars/agent?utm_source=hr_leaders_podcast&utm_medium=sponsored&utm_campaign=hr_leaders_podcast_cr_june_2026 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    37 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Join host Chris Rainey on the HR Leaders Podcast, where he sits down with top Chief People Officers, CHROs, and leading HR experts to uncover the strategies, trends, and insights shaping the future of human resources. Each episode dives into best practices in people management, leadership challenges, and transformative HR innovations that impact both business success and society at large. Whether you're an HR professional or simply passionate about modern workplace strategies, this podcast delivers expert advice, real-world experiences, and the latest trends in HR, making it your go-to resource for all things human resources.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Rainey
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    854
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    HR Leaders

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